David - Almost certainly White-browed Woodswallows - called ‘Martin’ (Fraser/Gray). The irruptive pattern fits and I have actually seen them nesting in
briars and other low shrubs at Callum Brae.
Re Snipes, just possibly other species. See below sign at Lake Wolumboola. I had taken that to refer probably to godwits. Hereabouts might include sandpipers.
Of course, could be snipe at Gidleigh. The snipe was a sought gamebird in Europe only because it was difficult to shoot. Its eating properties probably no different from others in the family.
From: David McDonald (personal)
[
Sent: Saturday, 27 January 2018 3:32 PM
To: CanberraBirds
Cc: Lori Gould; Jeannie Gray; Ian Fraser
Subject: [canberrabirds] Bungendore birds 1879, 1882 & 1897, including snipe and 'martins'
Hedrich, K 2015, Bungendore: from our correspondent: a history from 1835 to 1954, Barrallier, West Geelong.
Quote pp. 454-5
The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle, Monday 29 September 1879
A party of gentlemen went out shooting near Gidleigh last week and got thirty snipe. The wet weather seems to be bringing them back to their old quarters again. [now p. 455]
...
Goulburn Herald, Thursday 27 July 1882
Shooting Party. — A party of gentlemen from the metropolis bent on seeing the end of the shooting season out at Lake George, have managed to bag a considerable amount of game within the last few days; what with swans, ducks of several species, plover, quail,
&c., they will have quite a load to return with.
Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Thursday 9 December 1897
BUNGENDORE. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
THE NEW BIRD. -- The new specimen of the martin species has arrived in large numbers during the last three weeks and the gardens and briars are full of nests, which the youngsters around here are destroying wholesale. It is the first appearance in this locality
of these birds, and it is a pity the children do not allow them to brood, as from all accounts they are very destructive on insects and should be protected.
unquote
Has anyone any thoughts about 'The new specimen of the martin species'? Fraser & Gray (2013) record 'martin' as being used only for swallows, woodswallows and what we call martins, none of which nest in large numbers in 'gardens and briars'.
And perhaps I should contact my friends at Gidleigh Station (off the Kings Highway a short distance SE of Bungendore Village) about doing the snipe survey there? It is interesting that the 1879 correspondent attributed the return of the snipe to the wet weather,
rather than to a regular pattern of annual migration of Latham's Snipe. Or perhaps the snipe were of the Painted species, attracted by wet weather in that region that year?
Cheers - David
--
David McDonald
1004 Norton Road
Wamboin NSW 2620
Australia
T: (02) 6238 3706
M: 0416 231 890
F: (02) 9475 4274
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