Thanks Matt (and Philip). Hooded Plovers fit my second scenario.
They would once have been scattered pretty continuously all along
the south-eastern (and south-western) sandy coasts, but beach
disturbance has largely fragmented them into isolated populations
where they are relatively protected from disturbance. For instance
earlier this year I had 13 in the binocs at once in the Coorong
National Park, but there is no question that for the most part - and
in most parts - they are a rare bird.
Thanks for an interesting discussion.
cheers
Ian
On 14/10/2012 11:54, pardalote wrote:
Thanks everyone.
The species I saw was the Hooded Plover. I did a road trip around
Victoria (Melbourne to the eastern coastal border) last week and
found a pair of hooded plovers on Squeaky Beach at Wilson's
Promontory. There was a tourist building at the Nobbies (Phillip
Is) which had a display saying the number of breeding pairs on the
Nobbies were down to 10. I hope that helps clear up the issue, at
least a little bit.
Matt.
On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 8:22 PM, Philip
Veerman <m("pcug.org.au","pveerman");" target="_blank">>
wrote:
Well I think
that is an excellent answer. We had a good example at
the COG meeting this week about the Bush Stone-curlew.
The only other thing to add is that we are dealing
with a very big continent. One book trying to explain
status of each species across a big area is a big ask.
Of course there is the issue that these words
ultimately are not well defined. Also that there is no
word for in-between, so we get even more
intermediaries like moderately, very, etc.
Ultimately
even the most abundant species are still rare in other
places.
Philip
I think the answer Matt, is that it
depends where you saw it. We could offer a better answer
if we knew what you'd seen, but one example could be a
rare species - say a honeyeater or a finch - which is in
low numbers overall, but which sometimes flocks when
resources (flowers or seeds respectively in their case)
are concentrated. For a while, in that one place, the
bird would be 'locally common'. There is also the
situtation of an overall rare species which survives in
good numbers in a few isolated sites. You might drive
for days without seeing one, then camp in a particular
forest site and have them all round you - but they might
be the only ones for 500km. There are doubtless other
circumstances that others might suggest too, but overall
the concept isn't as daft as it first sounds.
Now, what was it? (and where!)
cheers
Ian
On 13/10/2012 17:26, pardalote wrote:
Hi All
I have recently encountered a bird species which is
described in my Slater Field Guide as being "rare to
locally common." I don't understand what this means,
and to me, seems to be a contradiction of itself. My
understanding of "rare" and "common" don't seem to
fit. Could someone please explain to me what this
means? Is the bird species I have seen rare, or
common?
Matt.
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Environment Tours; Vertego Environmental Consultancy
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