Re: FW: [canberrabirds] Woodswallows at New Line Paddock

[Martin Butterfield <>]

The WBWS I saw at Stoney Creek yesterday were feeding down in the copious St Johns Wort (SJW).  Presumably on some invertebrates that were attracted to the weeds.  I have heard that a large flock were flying up from the hillside opposite which was very well endowed with that and other weeds.

Perhaps regular visitation from other-than-Dusky Woodswallows is the much sought after benefit of the plague of SJW?

On 11 November 2013 08:07, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:

I agree, Jack.  Within each influx a few pairs will start to nest, but apparently with no strong purpose. Could it be prompted by a rich temporary food source, as with the moths at present?  There have been a few years when a long-staying pair or two completes a nesting.    

 

From: Jack & Andrea Holland [
Sent: Monday, 11 November 2013 7:00 AM
To: Martin Butterfield
Cc:

Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Woodswallows at New Line Paddock

 

Martin, I think the higher than expected breeding reporting rate results from when the do come and stay around for any time, such as this year, they will attempt to breed.  Due to their habit of doing this in loose flocks, with some speed and using almost any site, breeding is relatively easy to detect than for other species.  I should add that it’s not always successful, often they abandon when conditions change, as they may do this time given the significant rain (and cold) over the past 24 hours.

 

This at least is my experience since I first saw them doing this in the Tharwa area round about 1980 during the RAOU atlas.

 

Jack Holland

 

From:

Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2013 9:03 PM

To:

Cc:

Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Woodswallows at New Line Paddock

 

Thanks Steve.  I find the breeding reporting rate to be higher than I would have expected in my experience. That is coloured by the GBS data (which doesn't really cover Woodswallow breeding habitat to any large extent ) and reports to the chatline which may not all get followed up with record sheets especially if breeding is not involved.

 

It is always good when facts correct gut feelings!

 

Martin

 

On 10 November 2013 20:22, Wallaces <> wrote:

See last two columns. However, records which are classified as breeding, without any indication if it was a nest or not, have been excluded so the last two columns are probably an underestimate. Also, the data is for the whole of the COG dataset which includes the Garden Bird Survey.

 

Steve

	Number of sighting only records	Number of breeding records	Total number of records	Percent breeding records	Number of years with records	Number of years with breeding records	Breeding records as percent of years with records	Number of nest breeding records	Nest breeding records as percent of records
Species
Dusky Woodswallow	5336	629	5965	10.5%	32	31	96.9%	314	5.3%
Masked Woodswallow	140	3	143	2.1%	22	3	13.6%	2	1.4%
White-browed Woodswallow	414	89	503	17.7%	28	13	46.4%	52	10.3%

 

 

From: Martin Butterfield [
Sent: Sunday, 10 November 2013 5:11 PM
To: Wallaces
Cc: COG List

Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Woodswallows at New Line Paddock

 

Steve

 

Can you separate the breeding records into the nest found records (combination of ON, NE, NY) and others?  The proportion of breeding records seems notably higher than average for these species.

 

Martin

 

On 10 November 2013 17:04, Wallaces <> wrote:

Some information on woodswallow breeding from the COG database.

 

Steve

 

	Number of sighting only records	Number of breeding records	Total number of records	Percent breeding records	Number of years with records	Number of years with breeding records	Number of years with breeding records as percent of years with records
Species
Dusky Woodswallow	5336	629	5965	11%	32	31	97%
Masked Woodswallow	140	3	143	2%	22	3	14%
White-browed Woodswallow	414	89	503	18%	28	13	46%

 

 

 

 

 

--
Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

 

--
Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

--
Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/