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Last Sunday morning, in an Ash tree (Fraxinus sp) in
Beach Place, Holt I noticed a Striated Pardalote fossicking through the
diminutive, subtle blossom – the tree was bare of leaves. Have seen a few
Striated Pardalotes hereabouts of late. A moment later, I saw a
Spotted Pardalote, and the pair gleaned in close proximity for 3 minutes
before flying off together. I stood there wondering if the two congeners were
"going steady." Such hypothetical thought burgeoned around 3pm when again I
saw the two species together in the Ash and they again they flew off
together. Yes, we've all seen the two species together in mixed feeding flocks,
but this one-on-one gig sent me searching HANZAB for mention of hybridisation
but to no avail. Had a look at Schodde & Mason The Directory of
Australian Birds,but no dice. So much for wild speculation, I guess. But,
never mind, I learnt a little more about pardalotes.
Jomn Layton
John Layton
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