Pink-eared Ducklings

[Martin Butterfield <>]

Looking at the species account in Pizzey and Doyle the description of the nest mentions "  hollow tree or branch .. old nest of Eurasian Coot or other waterbird; usually over water".  There are relatively few records of breeding coots in the ACT.  Off the top of my head I can think of nowhere else in the ACT 

1. frequented by Pink-eared Ducks; and
   
2. where there are as many old dead trees in the middle of a water body as at the Big Dam at Mullies.  
   

So the answer to the question may be that it is the first time fat least for a while that there has been suitable habitat for them to breed.

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

On 26 March 2016 at 18:13, Philip Veerman <> wrote:

Steve Wilson’s book says: “Breeding does not occur in the ACT”. Notably “The Birds in the Australian High Country” which covers a much wider area, says the same. I wonder why it has not happened before. They are regular here and don’t migrate a long way.

 

Philip

 

From: David McDonald (personal) [
Sent: Saturday, 26 March 2016 5:54 PM
To: CanberraBirds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Pink-eared Ducklings

 

Well done Christine and Milburn, apparently the first breeding records for this sp in the ACT.

Noela and I had a good visit this arvo to Gambles TSR (Sutton Road) http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28546467 . Heaps of honeyeaters tho not showing any signs of migrating. Other highlights were Jacky Winter and O-B Oriole.

David

On 26/03/2016 4:22 PM, Christine wrote:

Just posting as no-one else seems to have posted, and as I could not find any breeding records for the ACT. The six ducklings were recorded by Peter Milburn on Thursday. Still present yesterday and today. Staying fairly well hidden near the centre of the big dam at Mullies.