Mt Ainslie woodland survey

[Michael Lenz <>]

The survey was conducted on 1 December on a  fine clear morning. 30 species were recorded at sites and a further 8 in other areas during the walk.Grey Fantail was the most wide-spread species (at 6 out of 9 sites), followed by Noisy Miner, Noisy Friarbird and Mistletoebird (each at 4 sites), Some sites were almost bird-free. Especially smaller bush birds were rare to absent at sites and also in many other areas I cover on my route. Of note were Little Eagle, Brown Goshawk, a pair of Grey Butcherbirds and White-browed Woodswallows.

Active nests were noted for Noisy Friarbird, White-winged Triller, Noisy Friarbird, Noisy Miner, Pied Currawong, Crested Pigeon (before a Pied Currawong got to it), and White-browed Woodswallow. Elizabeth Compston pointed out a group of  Sittellas putting final touches to their nest.

Of great concern is the increasing weediness of the area. The paddocks towards Majura Road  are in large parts covered with Saffron Thistles, and this plant has also spread into a number of once open grassland areas within the reserve. First signs are there that this development will affect  the dynamics of animal/bird movement and presence during and outside the breeding season.

Michael Lenz