nesting

[martin butterfield <>]

Geoffrey

I have had Speckled Warblers a few times on our property at Carwoola.  On some occasions they have been bouncing around on our lawn(!!) with all sorts of exotic plants in the vicinity.  On other occasions they have been in the upper reaches of the property feeding in and around cumps of Acacia dealbata and/or Bursaria.

When we used to live in Bruce they were often seen near some Pyracanthus plants and acted as you described wrt the eucalypts.

Cutting a thin semanic slice, perhaps rather than "habitat" what is needed is an indication of the species/genus of plants with which they are associated and how they are interacting? 

Perhaps there is also a need to emphasise planting suitable new shrubs before the old ones are removed from the site?  I have noticed that piles of dead prickly things (not sure if that term is a genus or a species) at Newline are very popular with Southern Whiteface and Superb Fairy-wrens.  I also recall Jack Holland commenting that leaving, rather than burning,  heaps of briars and brambles after they have been cut provides refuges for small birds.

Martin

On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 12:37 PM, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:

It might add a little value to Speckled Warbler reportings if note could be
taken of the habitat.  In my experience they are almost invariably
associated with exotic weeds:  pyracantha, blackberry, briars, hawthorn.
Occasionally the native bursaria.  Often when disturbed they fly up into the
branch of a euc for a look, but don't feed there.  They feed on the ground
near the woody weed cover.  At Callum Brae where some attempt is being made
at weed removal, I expect a further reduction in small birds in due course.

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Compston [
Sent: Saturday, 15 August 2009 7:35 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: nesting


At Callum Brae this morning  we saw 3 speckled warblers.  One had a
beak full of nesting material.

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