Yes Philip. I think the composition and the nucleus issue might very well depend on the location/vegetation. The SFW (insect-eater)/RBF(seed-eater) combination might be another issue, closely related to habitat
preference (maybe throw in the Silvereye there too although the mobility of Silvereye flocks is yet another complication).
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Monday, 4 April 2016 5:27 PM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb';
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] MSFs
I suspect any decision on who will be
was the nucleus of such flocks
is rather fraught. Might apply very well to just one area. They are so changeable. One thing I reckon is you rarely find Red-browed Finches in places without Superb Fairy-wrens.
Philip
From: Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Monday, 4 April 2016 4:42 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] MSFs
A little stroll on Black Mountain this morning in connection with a talk on the birds there next week. I was preparing to preach to the text: Small insect-eaters found there in non-breeding months will probably be associated with a mixed
species flock. There were a few such flocks about and a good one on the precipitous southern slopes with more than 30 birds. I remember hearing the view that the Yellow-rumped Thornbill was the nucleus of such flocks and perhaps it is in some places but
on Black Mountain it is surely the Buff-rumped Thornbill/Grey Fantail combination, the YRT being something of a rarity there. This is supported by Harry Bell’s early work on MSFs (Emu 80 p227), also on Black Mountain as it happens.
