canberrabirds

FW: [canberrabirds] Update on Pine Island nests

To: "" <>
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Update on Pine Island nests
From: Patrick Colmer <>
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2015 01:57:23 +0000

 

I’ve been away so just missed this!  But here is a photo from yesterday morning 8.45am which shows all three chicks and the mother.  Many thanks for the photo to Pam Malone.

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Wednesday, 25 November 2015 11:42 AM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Update on Pine Island nests

 

I have found the most convenient quick reference on incubation and fledging periods is the ‘National Photographic Index’ series of volumes, which in this case gives ‘incubation 14-15 days; fledging 12-15 days’.  The source of the data is not stated but it probably comes from Birdlife Australia’s long-running Nest Record Scheme, to which Philip may have contributed.  The NRS is also used in the HANZAB accounts, but there the format of the  presentation makes the information a little difficult to follow sometimes.  The entry for this species says the fledging period is 13.1 days.  This is based on a 1994 study by an honours student at the University of New England, but whether this came from a period of field study or was drawn from other published data you would not know without access to the unpublished thesis.  The NRS is cited as the source of one record of a fledging period ‘> 14 days’.    The specified 13.1 days is analysed in the form ‘(0.90;12-14; 7)’.  This follows the form used for analysing measurements and indicates that there were 7 periods involved in the study and the range of these was 12 to 14 days, with the average of 13.1.  The ‘0.90’ represents the ‘standard deviation’,  whatever that is.  While physical measurements would be precise, one would expect an uncertainty of a half day or so in the recording of the time of hatching, but perhaps the relevant study was conducted with greater precision.  For a comparison with another species, HANZAB cites 2 separate authors for the fledging period of the Ob Oriole, one giving ‘single records of 15 and 17 days’ and the other ‘c.3 weeks’.  For the oriole the NPI volume gives a fledging period of 15 to 17 days.

 

From: Tun Pin Ong
Sent: Tuesday, 24 November 2015 10:46 PM
To: Philip Veerman
Cc: canberra birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Update on Pine Island nests

 

Hi,

The 3rd young left the nest too in late afternoon. Saw it half meter above the nest before 6pm. It eventually reached near the canopy with other sibling and another flew across to the casuarina.

The chicks grew tremendously fast. How long did it take from hatching to leaving the nest? 8 or 9 days?

Regards,

TunPin

Sent from my iPhone


On 24 Nov 2015, at 2:21 PM, Philip Veerman <> wrote:

I normally go to Tuggeranong a few times a week for other things. So I have been to check the Leaden Flycatchers most days and along with at least 4 other people that I know of (and thanks for their observations) I can report the following: The male has definitely vanished. Last confirmed presence was last Thursday 6pm. The female has remained and flies around calling a lot but no reply or presence from the dad, who was until Thursday always present and sharing duties. Most likely he was taken by a predator. (It was reported – not by me - to chase away a Grey Butcherbird on Thursday). At mid day today, two of the young have left the nest, one still in the nest. The two are clearly capable of limited flight (although I didn’t see this and you would hardly think it by looking at them). One was perched in the middle of an adjoining Casuarina, about 3 metres higher than the nest (thus I know it can fly). The other one perched about a metre away in the same tree as the nest. The mother was feeding and defending all 3. She fussed over a Satin Bowerbird (presumably the one nesting nearby) and a few minutes later gave a spirited attack on an Olive-backed Oriole (both in the same tree as the one chick). If I did not know what the young chicks were or see the mum feeding them I would have real trouble working out what they are. The chicks all give buzzing calls and it appears that is the way the mum keeps track of where they are. Of course none of this is unusual but they are cute birds and this is the first time I have had an opportunity to conveniently monitor them.....

Sounds from the Noisy Friarbird nest suggest they have chicks.

Philip

 

From: Philip Veerman
Sent: Thursday, 19 November 2015 2:48 PM
To:
Subject: Update on Pine Island nests

 

Today definitely 3 chicks in the Leaden Flycatcher’s nest. Lifting heads up high and panting. The 2 parents continued to bring in moths etc, even when a lawn mower tractor and sprayers were working the immediate vicinity below. Interestingly I found another Noisy Friarbird nest much closer, in the Casuarina tree immediately adjacent. The 2 trees bases are about 2.5 metres apart. Judging by the sounds I’m guessing that also has chicks. Strange that I had missed finding that one before. But I can’t find the original one.

 

Philip

 

From: Philip Veerman
Sent: Tuesday, 17 November 2015 2:37 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Update on Pine Island nests

 

For what it is worth, as at mid day today, the Leaden Flycatchers are still attending the nest. Today there are at least 3, or maybe even 5 half grown chicks. Both parents bringing caterpillars and other things, The mother also removing droppings. One of the parents gave a spirited chase to an O-b Oriole that flew over, but appeared not to bother this time with a Noisy Friarbird nearby.

 

Philip

 

From: Philip Veerman
Sent: Friday, 13 November 2015 3:51 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Update on Pine Island nests

 

For what it is worth, as at mid day today, the Leaden Flycatchers are still attending the nest (no doubt incubating). The site is easy to find and photograph, only a few metres from the car park (though don’t walk backwards and fall in the wombat hole)..... A few little notes, they appear to change over incubating shifts every about 10 to 20 minutes. That is on the basis that on all the times I have been there, it has been of close to that duration, and I have always seen them change over either once or twice. Accompanied by a lot of calling either from the bird whilst sitting or the replacer approaching. I recall many years ago watching Satin Flycatchers at their nest and was intrigued how they would have a rapid change over, one would arrive as the other departed, looking almost as though it was one bird in one movement. The Leaden Flycatchers don’t do that. Although that is only comparing two pairs. Also whilst one is on the nest, the other has not been more than about 20 or 30 metres distant, just foraging or calling in the adjacent trees or fussing over other birds.

 

The Noisy Friarbird nest and Satin Bowerbird nest in neighbouring trees are still there and presumably still occupied, although too high to see what is going on.

 

Philip

 

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