Many thanks to all for help with this grasshopper/locust – the clicks were dramatic , and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in such numbers (almost plague proportions?)
as at Googong on Saturday.
Are there any local birds that take advantage of these insect hordes? (like in WA-
http://www.waderstudygroup.org/pubs/wsgbull/v117i2/117_103a.pdf)
Robin
From: Peter Ormay [
Sent: Monday, 6 January 2014 10:11 AM
To: 'Harvey Perkins'; 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] not birds ...Googong grasshopper query
These have been a common grasshopper around the Canberra region since forever, at least since the mid ‘50s. Their yellow wing flashes and clicks
as they fly are a typical feature of walking in grassland on hot summer days in the district.
Peter
From: Harvey Perkins
Sent: Sunday, 5 January 2014 9:22 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] not birds ...Googong grasshopper query
I agree with Steve that it is a Yellow-winged grasshopper (or locust) Gastrimargus musicus. There were lots of them at Uriarra Crossing yesterday too, sufficient that I included a brief comment about them in just my second
posting on my brand new blog which ended up being more about insects than the birds I was looking for.
On 5 January 2014 16:35, Steve Holliday <> wrote:
Hi Robin
Looks like Yellow-winged Locust (Gastrimargus musicus), see
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_grasshoppers/YellowWinged.htm
A widespread and common species in eastern and northern Australia. They occasionally occur in plague numbers – this might be a big season for them. They
also come in a brown morph.
Steve
From: Robin
Hide [
Sent: Sunday, 5 January 2014 3:20 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] not birds ...Googong grasshopper query
Yesterday walking along the grassy western foreshore at the northern end of Googong every step saw tens/hundreds of these grasshoppers (about 30-40 mm in length) take dramatically
to the air, with a few flying into ones face etc.
Any suggestions re identification?
Few birds seen - Pipits, White-faced Herons, and on the water, coots and a few gulls.
Robin Hide
