It would appear from the various reports that the YFHE migration has
been progressing in other areas yet in our neck of the woods the
passage, yet again, has been very poor. I cannot help but think that we
may be looking at the effects of the 2003 bushfires. With the lack of
appropriate habitat for a number of years after the fire there is every
chance that we are seeing a local breeding bottle neck. With little if
any breeding over say 3-4 years and usual mortality it may not be
surprising that we are seeing low numbers and this has been cause by a
lack of breeding rather than them using other routes. It is this year
for the first time since the fires that the eucalypts at Tidbinbilla
flowered.
If this is the case it is most interesting for it points to the same
birds returning to the same areas each year. This, to my knowledge is
the first time that this has been shown.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: William Compston
Sent: Wednesday, 2 May 2007 12:13 PM
To: canberra ornithological group
Subject: yfhes
So, what has happened to all the yellow faced honeyeaters tthis year?
those
that used to migrate in huge numbers down the Murrumbidgee corridor.
Last
year there were not so many and this year no migration along that route
has
been reported. Well, they have not all stayed in the mountains, surely.
They must have gone on a different route. When I went to Warragandra
where thousands of migrating birds have been seen in the past, I saw a
few
hundred. But numbers change from day to day. I saw about 50 red wattle
birds, on their way.
We went to the Blue Mountains last week to see the thousands of birds
migrating there. Well it rained and was foggy, so no birds flying.
Except
on the Friday when I visited Carol Probets. The sun was shining,
intermittently and we saw some honeyeaters in migratory mode. Her home
is
a wonerful spot for viewing the birds.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Compston
8 Wells Gardens
Griffith, ACT 2603
02 6295 3028
************************************************************************
*******************************
|
