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Not sure how to interpret "Is there any precedent for them doing
this in Canberra suburbs." I'm sure there is. My guess is they would be eating
larvae in the soil. Here is the text from The GBS Report (which you
have). Which although there was not much data to go on at the time, it is
quite consistent with what you wrote. No doubt there are many more records since
then, that could if it was complied clarify the occurrence pattern. This does
really underline that it is well overdue for The GBS Report to be
updated. The COG Atlas is also a useful reference on this.
Philip
Little Raven Corvus mellori
This species was only recognised as specifically separate from the
Australian Raven in 1967. It is quite difficult to distinguish if seen briefly
and not accompanied by detecting the difference in their calls. Even so the
species is clearly marginal in Canberra, occurring in the
outskirts, open fields, etc. It is usually recorded as large flocks flying over,
with mean group size of 17.03. This may be
significantly understated from its true value. Of the 218 observations recorded
as this species, there was a surprisingly high 122 observations that were of
less than 8 individuals. This raises a suspicion that some of these may have
actually been misidentified Australian Ravens, which typically occur
individually or in small groups. There were 37 observations of 30 or more birds,
which is characteristic of this species. As the Little Raven has far fewer
records than the Australian Raven (104 to 1220), a few errors have a far greater
effect on their statistics. The available evidence indicates a very different
pattern for this species. It shows an enormous peak in January
(disproportionately contributed to by several very large flocks at several sites
in Year 17) but generally many more in the warmer months up to April. There are
many months (especially during winter) during which it was not observed at all.
Numbers have fluctuated dramatically but appear to be increasing.
Graphs on
page: 103, Rank: 91, A = 0.07212,
F = 8.40%, W = 8.7, R = 0.423%,
G = 17.03.
For four
Mondays in March a flock of Little Ravens ( about 140) has been present near
'Strathnairn' Holt. They have milled about the golf course , 'Pine Ridge",
'Strathnairn" and towards the Murrumbidgee. At times just a few are drifting
around at others, a big stream. Is there any precedent for them doing this in
Canberra suburbs. What is keeping them here?
Bill Graham
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