Over recent weeks we had several reports of early
nesting activity, perhaps a reflection of a relatively mild winter. However, my
impression is, we get similar observations every winter, the main candidates
being thornbills, ravens and magpies. If members would add all those
observations to the database, we should be able in due course to separate
?impressions? from ?facts?, and we may well see possible shifts (for example,
earlier start in the timing of breeding).
As far as early observations of migrants are
concerned, I agree with Philip?s comments: they could be from displaced birds
from further South or West (eg. with changes in weather or exhaustions of their
local food supply, forcing them to move onwards to appear in our area). Very
limited calling/singing may also be an indication that they are not really early
spring arrivals.
However, for me the 2008 winter is notably
different to that of 2007 with
regard to two common species. In 2007 we saw a great exodus of Red Wattlebirds
(RW) from our area, in all likelihood joining the mass migration along the coast
heading North; and that movement lasted for weeks ( I still remember those
fascinating reports on the chat line). At the same time we had a good influx of
Weebills into suburbia - and they were not there for just short periods but
stayed for weeks. Both events were most likely linked to the extreme drought
conditions.
In this winter RWs are every where in town and the
surrounding country, and in good numbers, but so far I have not seen any
weebills at the various suburban sites
they frequented last year. In fact, one
of the key sites for weebills I found in 2007 was Haig Park in Braddon
(utilizing the many Argyle Apples along Henty Street). At
the time there were almost no RWs present which would, no doubt, have made life
for the Weebils difficult and prevented a build-up in Weebill numbers.
This year,
Henty
Street is home to many RWs
(30 to 80 max.), but not to any Weebills.
These observations are just a glimpse into very
different ecological circumstances for our birds in both winters. In 2007 the
drought meant there was only limited food for the larger honeyeaters and they
moved out of town, while in 2008 there is plenty of food for them (mainly lerps
at the moment), hence many birds can stay. For the Weebill, in 2007 the
woodlands no longer provided enough food, and some found reprieve in suburbia,
but in 2008, it seems, they have no need to leave the woodlands. No doubt, many
factors are involved, and the situation is different for every species, but very
exciting, indeed.
By the way, the group of Noisy
Friarbirds in the Ainslie/Braddon area along
Limestone
Ave. is still around. They
are remarkably quiet, and often rather hidden deep in the foliage: perhaps a
strategy to limit the attention RWs may otherwise pay to them and to reduce the
number of incidences of being chased by them.
Michael
Lenz
