Double-barred finches are very common around my building at CSIRO in Crace (across the barton hwy from Kaleen). I've had 45 in the trees outside my office a few weeks ago, and they have been resident as long as I've been working there (they bred last summer).
Damien
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 17:43:06 +1000
From:
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Unknown unknowns
I visited a friend's place in
Kaleen on Sunday (not a birdo), and my eye was caught by the large
flock of sparrows (c.20) in his back garden. The attraction was a large
feeding tray full of budgie seed. My eyebrows went up still further
when I realized that the sparrows were accompanied by a small flock of
10-12 double-barred finches -- regular visitors according to my friend
-- as were red-browed finches. Also briefly present was a solitary
yellow-faced HE. My friend's place backs onto the open grassland
between Kaleen and the Barton Hwy, which I suppose explains the
presence of the finches, but I was still surprised to see so many.
This caused me to wonder just how much we don't know (and don't know
that we don't know, as Rummy would say) about bird populations in
Canberra, despite all
our collective ticking/surveying/record-keeping efforts. Any thoughts?
Was I wrong to be surprised?
John Brannan
--
36 Challinor Cres., Florey, Canberra ACT 2615, Australia
Ph.: (+612) 6258 6038 Fax: (+612) 6258 6238
at CarPoint.com.au It's simple! Sell your car for just $30
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