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Philip,
Thanks for the prompt and comprehensive reply. I have
just joined this group. I did not think it so common as it was not in the "Birds
of the ACT" Book, but expect they can't list every bird.
The work in my native garden is paying off with more
visits from small and different birds (other than the usual parrots, crested
doves etc). I also saw a spotted pardalote in my yellow gum canopy
yesterday.
This year I have had numerous visits (and now they seem
to have settled in), from a group of pied currawongs. I believe that this may
not be a good thing as they are aggressive birds and may scare off other birds
and even feed on baby birds? There are certainly more in the local neighbourhood
this year. On the edge of Tuggeranong Hill, I even saw four of them chasing off
a wedgetail eagle. When the eagle roosted, one currawong still persisted to
harass it from a nearby branch. Are they bad news?
Victoria
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 4:05 PM
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] grey fantails
Hello
Victoria,
wondering if anyone else has had a visit
Yes most sites do (as shown from the F = 82.61% below)
and whether this is a normal Canberra
visitor. Yes very much
so
And
yes to that they are an appealing species. Also consistent with your comment,
this is the time of year for peak numbers of Eastern Spinebills in Canberra
gardens.
For
what it is worth (although more than you asked for), here is the text extracts
on these two species from The GBS Report. (Don't worry about the numbers at
this stage.)
Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
This species is a common inhabitant of woodland and forest. It is
conspicuous in its behaviour and voice and will readily approach and flutter
around people. Sometimes they even appear to follow people. The occurrence
pattern shows an interesting similarity to the Willie Wagtail but is more
marked. From a low in November and December rises smoothly to a peak in March,
then declines through winter with a minor second peak in September and October.
This shows the two periods of partial migration through
Canberra and the low numbers whilst
breeding. Long-term there has been a fairly even increase in abundance. This has
occurred in both the highs and lows of the monthly pattern. Breeding records are
some nest building from October, though mostly of dependent young from January
to early March. Most breeding records are one-off observations, one had nest
with eggs to dependent young over four weeks (Year 21 at Site 230).
Graphs on
page: 102, Rank: 20, Breeding Rank: 30,
A = 0.35350, F = 82.61%, W = 51.9,
R = 22.954%, G = 1.54.
Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus
tenuirostris
This
approachable, very vocal and active little bird is easily detected as it feeds
in the shrub layer. It is adapted to nectar feeding from tube flowers and has
been very successful in adapting to suburbs. It shows the typical altitudinal
migrant?s pattern, although less extreme than in other small honeyeaters. The
monthly pattern over the years combined is very smooth. It has a broad trough of
low numbers from October to February with minimum in December, then climbs to a
June peak then declines again. There has been a clear though not quite smooth
increase in abundance, having approximately doubled. The winter peaks have
increased slightly but more obvious is that the numbers in summer have increased
more, with more individuals staying through the summer than occurred earlier.
Breeding records fit neatly into two groups, from late August to late September
the only breeding information is activities at nest, nest building and
copulation. Dependent young have been noted from late October to as late as
early May. There are no complete nesting events described.
Graphs on page:
100, Rank: 18, Breeding Rank: 29,
A = 0.56115, F = 88.47%, W = 51.5,
R = 33.747%,
G = 1.66.
Philip
Have had a pair of what I believe to be grey fantails in
the garden and was wondering if anyone else has had a visit and whether this is
a normal Canberra visitor. I have not seen them in my garden before.
They are a really delightful bird, one that loves to
show off and then come up close to have a look - really cheeky but delightful!
Despite the weather, also just saw an Eastern Spinebill feeding on my
grevillea.
Victoria
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