Koel in Hughes

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Yes it is very reasonable to expect that as the overall recording rate and abundance of the species has increased over the years, that the period of time that they are here will also increase, leading to earlier records. In terms of showing this in the GBS, there would be little doubt that in all parameters: A, F, R, W (and maybe even G) would have increased for the species over the years. The one most likely to reach a plateau and not continue to increase is W (a simple count of number of weeks observed). As being a migrant, they probably won't go much beyond mid to maybe high 20s regardless of how common they become.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: martin butterfield [
Sent: Thursday, 18 August 2011 4:09 PM
To: John Leonard
Cc: Canberra Birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Koel in Hughes

According to what has
been reported in the GBS - and given the focus of this species on the urban area
that is probably a good reflection of the situation-  this is a very early
record.   However Chris Ledger did raise a Koel call on the chatline a
week or so ago.

The number of records of Koel by GBS week for the 29
processed years of the GBS are shown in the attached graph: we are currently in
week 33 which is 4 weeks earlier than previously reported.  Both the week
37 and week 38 records date from Spring 2007 and refer to a site in
Ainslie.  More commonly the first Koel has been reported in week 41: 8
weeks away.  

While there has been a faint trend towards earlier
arrival 8 weeks ahead of usual, on a day more suited to penguins, is quite
remarkable.

Martin

On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 12:07 PM, John Leonard <> wrote:

At home in Hughes, my partner is reporting a female Koel being hassled
by Currawongs this morning. Wish I was there to see.

Seems very early.

John Leonard