In the context of recent discussions on Red Wattlebird/
Noisy Miner interactions, a couple of comments:
One of the habitat requirements of the Noisy Miner is
apart from trees and scattered shrubs that a site has a lot of open ground. They
spent quite a bit of time foraging on the ground or around the base (where it is
easily accessible) of trees. I think the good ground coverage with shrubs etc.
at the Botanic Gardens may be a key factor that they have not yet spread into
this site yet (although the eucalypt laws would be ideal for them). Let?s hope
it stays that way. Planting open areas with shrubs etc. within a Noisy Miner
occupied site has proven to be a practical management technique to drive Noisy
Miners out.
Many years ago the Red Wattlebird was a very common
breeding bird throughout the ANU. These days numbers are down and the species is
confined to areas Noisy Miners have not/not yet colonized. Although the Red
Wattlebird is quite feisty, repeated ?interactions? with a mob of Noisy Miners
would wear even aggressive Red Wattlebirds down.
There are also various other parts of suburbia where
Noisy Miners are/are becoming the dominant large honeyeater (parts of Ainslie
are a good example). Which species can stay, which has to give in, may depend
very much on actual habitat
features at a given site.
Michael Lenz
