My home observations are similar to Mark & Ian.
Eastern Spinebills not overly associated with other species, when I had the White-fronted
Honeyeater here there was some aggression between them as the one Grevillea patch was very favoured by both, but minimal a both species are very active, the best strategy was just to keep moving. As for other comments I think the strongest association of
Superb Fairy-wrens is with Red-browed Finches. Not in associating but Red-browed Finches are rarely in a place that
Superb Fairy-wrens are not. But does that mean anything other than they like the same habitat?
Philip
From: Baird, Ian [
Sent: Friday, 24 June, 2016 9:49 AM
To: Mark Clayton; 'Nathanael Coyne'; 'COG'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Eastern Spinebill symbiosis [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Eastern Spinebills observed/heard most days in winter/spring. Hey don’t always call, so can be missed. Usually appear when Red Wattlebirds are absent. 2 birds
not unknown, but mostly singles at my place in Fairfax St O’Connor quite close to reserves. Always visiting flowering Grevilleas or Correas. Not often in company with other species, which appears to be incidental rather than preferred.
Ian Baird
From: Mark Clayton [
Sent: Friday, 24 June 2016 9:31 AM
To: 'Nathanael Coyne'; 'COG'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Eastern Spinebill symbiosis
I only ever get Eastern Spinebills as single individuals in my yard.. I would imagine that the distance from the nearest patch of “bush” would have some bearing
on just what turns up in people’s gardens.
Mark
From: Nathanael Coyne
Sent: Friday, 24 June 2016 8:40 AM
To: COG
Subject: [canberrabirds] Eastern Spinebill symbiosis
Symbiosis may be too strong a word, but whenever I see Eastern Spinebills in my neighbourhood they're always hanging around with and following a flock of smaller birds, usually Silvereyes or Superb Fairy-wrens.
Anyone else noticed this?
At the ANBG the Spinebills are usually content to forage solo, but here they seem to prefer the company of other species.
Of course, it's entirely possible I'm only noticing the visiting Spinebills that are in the company of large noisy flocks and am missing the individuals who silently and quickly move through the garden.
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