Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps
lophotes
This
species has a broad Australian distribution, mostly occurring in the dry to
semi-dry areas. It has spread considerably in recent years. It is conspicuous
and approachable. It tends to occur in small groups on open short grass where it
feeds on seed. It will readily come into suburban gardens. Numbers vary only
slightly through the year, from a minimum in November, then rises steadily to a
peak in May and June. This may reflect the main breeding activity in Sept-Mar,
with a steady increase in the population as young birds enter the population up
to May. Followed by a decline as mortality or dispersion impacts and the
population returns to a more stable level. Its long-term change may even be
represented in the monthly histogram. The fact that June abundance is higher
than that of July (eleven months earlier), reflects the steady population
increase of the species. Numbers have risen dramatically. There were only three
observations of a total of four birds during the first five years. For the first
nine years there were 17 records from northern Canberra starting in Year 3, with
3 records from central Canberra
starting in Year 1 and 12 records from southern
Canberra starting in Year 6. So it
took about six years for the species to spread from its initial population in
the northern and central suburbs to southern
Canberra. The almost exponential
rise took off in Year 10. From about Year 11 onwards the distribution has been
generally uniform, though slightly more prevalent in northern and southern
suburbs than central ones. In Year 21 it ranked as the 13th most common species
and occurred at 95% of sites. It appears to be stable and evening off now.
Breeding
records have increased dramatically, the first in Year 8, the next in Year 13,
then several each year, with 14 in Year 21. Few complete breeding events and the
breeding period appears to be very broad with display at almost any time (though
least during February and March) and actual activity at nest from late September
to late March. Dependent young noted from August to February though peaking in
December.
Graphs on page: 93, Rank: 45, Breeding
Rank: 19, A = 0.59508, F = 39.91%, W = 33.7,
R = 20.986%, G = 2.84.
So it is early, but well within the usually,
very broad, range of dates. No doubt there is a lot more records in the GBS,
since that up to year 21. 