Grey Butcherbirds

[martin butterfield <>]

I'm not sure about the reference to golf courses.  Perhaps things have changed, but in the past the reaction of most greenkeepers to the presence of insects or reptiles was to reach for their spraygun and some nasty chemicals.

Martin

On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 3:04 PM, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:

To summarise the usual sources, the species is not a seasonal migrant but
has shown a pattern of localised post-breeding wandering.  Until about 2000
it was regarded as 'rare' in Canberra [PV - possibly due to 'Pied
Currawongs'] or 'absent' from the city [COG Atlas - possibly due to 'poor
lizard fauna'].  Since then the pattern has been for a steady increase in
sightings in GBS sites  -  a trend which Martin expects to be strongly
confirmed in the current year.

What would be more interesting than the sight of the odd wanderer in the
suburbs would be information on new breeding territories.  We all know the
odd site or two where a pair can be found year-round.  It seems most likely
the resident population - and the number of nests -  in the woodlands just
outside the suburbs has increased.  For example in the 20-odd years I have
been walking over Callum Brae 2 pairs have taken up (or resumed) residence,
possibly from Mt Mugga over the road.  Was it 3 years ago that Terry Gourlay
had that nest just over his back fence in Mt Ainslie NR, which raised 4
young?  They must have gone somewhere, assuming they survived.

If that is so, it leaves the question: why such an increase in the near
woodlands, approaching 'suburban-normal' (or Melbourne or Sydney suburban
proportions)?   Has there been an increase in large insects, lizards or
small birds?  It will be interesting to see whether the species begins to
nest (like magpies and currawongs) within the actual suburbs, not just the
nature parks and golf courses.  If so they should be very evident in gardens
when they are feeding nestlings.

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Overs [
Sent: Sunday, 15 March 2009 10:09 AM
To: 'John Leonard'; 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: Grey Butcherbirds

Also a Grey Butcherbird in my yard in Scullin yesterday evening. A first for
my GBS.

An extraordinary influx of birds!

Anthony

-----Original Message-----
From: John Leonard [
Sent: Sunday, 15 March 2009 7:27 AM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: Grey Butcherbirds

It's the season for wandering Grey Butcherbirds: one in our backyard
in Hughes this morning. Great consternation amongst the Mynahs!

--
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net

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