Ryu
Your post-fire observations are not surprising. Locally I’ve seen robins, especially, foraging in recently burnt areas, most recently after a prescribed
burn at Tidbinbilla. Birds are presumably attracted there not just because any insects are very visible in the absence of understorey, but also because certain types of insect (‘pyrophilous’ insects) are attracted to burnt ground or burnt wood, particularly
beetles that lay their eggs in the freshly burnt or exposed wood to take advantage of that resource before competitors arrive. Some wood-rotting fungi are also stimulated to produce fruiting bodies by fire.
Steve
From: Ryu Callaway [
Sent: Saturday, 11 June 2016 3:13 PM
To: COG Chat <>
Subject: [canberrabirds] Wanniassa Hills and Fadden Hills Pond this morning
I walked the section that was burned by the prescribed burns for the first time since it was carried out, and came across 2 speckled warblers, 2 scarlet robins, and 2 grey shrike-thrush,
all feeding together. They were well within the burnt area, and I followed the group as they fed for about 10 minutes. Why would they choose that area of all places? Is there a side effect of the burns that makes it preferred for birds that feed on the ground?
Otherwise, my usual area of the reserve was very quiet and devoid of birdlife, even most of the common large species were absent. A significant change from a fortnight ago when
mixed feeding flocks covered every inch of the area.
I would attribute this to the weather- sunny and windy today compared to foggy and still last visit.
In contrast, the gully leading to the pond was teeming with activity, with thornbills, pardalotes, Golden Whistlers, Eastern Spinebill, and White-eared HE. The definite highlight
(and surprise) was a male Rose Robin towards the far end of the gully which had a splash in the creek, possibly the same one as last year. The pond itself was surprisingly devoid of waterbirds, with no Pacific Blacks and just 4 Wood Ducks.
No virus found in this message.
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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2016.0.7639 / Virus Database: 4598/12396 - Release Date: 06/10/16
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