I expected Richard to describe his find for you, but as a poor
substitute I submit the following in the meantime.
Richard’s GBS site is remarkable both for the number of
years of operation and the number of species recorded. It is mainly
open grassland, sometimes mown, with some plantings of exotic trees.
Nonetheless it seems to be both a well-used corridor and a nesting patch for
quite a few species. Richard had noted the nesting orioles and had at
first taken the AFB to be a young oriole, which it certainly resembles.
(Whether you should add ‘superficially’ is a matter of
opinion.) However, not many observers would have taken the second –
or third or fourth – look needed to identify it as a first for this
area. The eye-patch and shape of bill are useful clues, but easily
overlooked. The flight is also a guide. Compared to the oriole, they seem
to work harder at their flying, tail spread, to cover short commuting
distances. If expecting it, you might know from a glance what it
was - if you were in Port Moresby or Brisbane or even, these days,
Merimbula.
Below for comparison, this figbird and a sub-adult oriole:
From: martin butterfield
[
Sent: Monday, 7 December 2009 3:09 PM
To: David McDonald
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Figbird
Perhaps now replace
'are" with "were".
Mark's services were excellent: his ear is as good as his eye!
Martin
On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 11:26 AM, David McDonald <>
wrote:
There are no inland records for this species (now called the
Australasian Figbird) south of the Hunter Valley in Birdata www.birdata.com.au -
regards - David
Ian Fraser wrote:
It's worth noting that, as far as I can tell, this is a
first ever record for the ACT. It was still there an hour ago, preening in the
big poplar outside #15 and cheeping meditatively to itself. If you can engage
the services of Richard's son Mark, do so - he has an excellent eye!
cheers
Ian
Geoffrey Dabb wrote:
Richard
Allen has just told me he has a juvenile figbird in trees at the back of his
house, 15 Peacock Place Curtin. g
--
Ian Fraser,
Environment Tours; Vertego Environmental Consultancy
GPO Box 3268, Canberra, ACT 2601
ph: 61 2 6249 1560
---
--
David McDonald
Canberra Ornithologists Group email lists manager
T: 02 6238 3706
M: 0416 231 890
E:
