What the members of the outing witnessed with the WTTC may not necessarily have been potential breeding activity. Locally both the WTTC and Brown Treecreepers (not sure about the Red-browed) often roost in holes, even during daylight hours. I think one of the reasons that the re-introduction of Brown Treecreepers to Mulligan’s Flat essentially failed was general lack of old logs on the ground with hollows and the birds couldn’t find sufficient refuge sites. When I was helping band Brown Treecreepers in Kama some time ago, you could often see where the birds had been roosting and the birds would regularly disappear into a hole that was not a nesting site, sometimes for quite lengthy periods which was a bit frustrating when you are trying to catch them.
I sometimes wonder if we are placing too much emphasis on birds IH as a supposed breeding record.
Mark
From: Christine [
Sent: Thursday, 21 August 2014 12:56 PM
To: COG List
Subject: [canberrabirds] White-throated Treecreepers on Mount Jerrabomberra
As a follow on from Martin's comments yesterday, I was wondering if anyone can add to our understanding of the White-throated Treecreeper behaviour we witnessed at Mount Jerrabomberra yesterday.
We heard the birds calling (both types of calls), and when we located them they flew around the general area for a while, both male and female having a food item. They would sometimes go to the entrance to the tree hollow, but it was only after a few minutes that the female entered the hollow, but came out still with the moth. On our return trip we did not see either bird.
