White-faced Herons

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Robin,

 

As this is two birds in a tree, yes quite likely they are considering nesting there. However with no nest yet, it would be hard to say it (or anything they may be doing)  is early. HANZAB says "May only month in which nesting not started." That information dates from 1990. Yes the reddish breast plumes are a breeding plumage. HANZAB says nothing about distinguishing the sexes.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Eckermann [
Sent: Sunday, 28 August 2011 6:57 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] White Faced Herons

With a little
encouragement from Elizabeth Compston, I thought I'd post this picture of a pair
of White Faced Herons - taken yesterday at last year's WFH nesting site in
Campbell Park. Its not a great photo, but Elizabeth though it interesting that
these birds should be checking out a possible nesting site so early in the
season - so perhaps it is of ornithological significance ...

 

Some questions:

1. Is it unusual
for this species to be checking out a nest so early - or has this become "par
for the course" given the warm weather we've had recently. Yesterday there were
certainly many species checking out hollows, and I was bemused to see a pair of
galahs forcibly evict a wood duck. Not sure the wood duck was similar bemused as
he fell to the ground very unceremoniously and landed with quite a
thump.

2. Is the buff-coloured collar significant in terms of breeding
stage?

3. On checking the Morcombe guide, there was no guidance as how to
distinguish male and female. Is anyone able to venture an opinion as to which is
which in this photo?

Regards ... Robin Eckermann