Interesting. I hope it will not be seen as an unwelcome quibble if I point out that more than one issue is being brought together here.
The label for RWB locally is ‘Common breeding resident. Part of the population is migratory, especially in the ranges’. Ryu’s original question related to
birds apparently on the move:
‘is this early?’ The answer, I think, is that, if these were through-movers from the ranges or further south, we don’t know. However, certainly the main movement
is much later. Are very early mini-waves usual? I don’t know.
I don’t think we know the extent to which local birds, those that nest in Canberra gardens or the ANBG for example, move north in the non-breeding season.
If most of them did, the local population should be labelled ‘mainly migratory’, rather than ‘resident’. However I do not believe that to be the case. That leaves the question suggested by Michael: Are exceptionally dry conditions this year causing the
usually migratory component to move north earlier than usual - or (more interestingly) causing movement in the component that would normally remain in Canberra gardens year-round? If the answer to the second question is ‘yes’, is that movement part of
a south-north migration or to the coast or only towards other nearby food sources?
Below is a comparison of summer and winter reporting rates from the COG website –
More illuminating is the monthly number of records report –
That suggests seasonal through-movers inflate the numbers, as does the cells graph (look at April)
and even more the abundance graph (look at October and April) –
Unfortunately I can’t find the corresponding GBS graphs, which should be particularly useful for this species.
From: Jack & Andrea Holland [
Sent: Friday, 16 February 2018 8:33 PM
To: Michael Lenz; Ryu Callaway
Cc: COG Chat
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Wattlebirds + Friarbirds on the move
I had some RWBs moving on the S fence of Narrabundah Hill at the end of January, perhaps a little early but it is a species that moves around quite a bit.
For the first time in ages I only have a couple in my GBS site, with the last fledgling being fed over a week ago. As is often the case here that’s similar timing to when the
last Koel fledgling was seen/heard. For both it’s relatively early.
One very positive aspect of this has been the return of smaller species (Brown Thornbill, Scrubwren, Superb Fairy-wren and Weebill) to my garden.
I can’t say anything about Noisy Friarbirds since they have been absent from my local area, with just one heard since the New Year. That’s one reason why it’s easy to rule them
out as Koel hosts if I can’t confirm that the RWB is.
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 12:33
PM
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Wattlebirds
+ Friarbirds on the move
Red Wattlebirds have thinned out from the areas I visit, incl. my GBS site for a while. In early Feb. a group of 31 wattlebirds were passing through Lyneham Ridge. Friarbirds
also appear to have left some areas at least for some time. The very dry conditions may make it difficult for these species to find enough food here, hence they have/are departing relatively early.
On 16 February 2018 at 09:57, Ryu Callaway <> wrote:
This morning along the back fence of Callum Brae, flocks of about 6 wattlebirds and friarbirds each (more of the former) seemed to be on the move
everywhere. Is this around when they usually start or is it early?
Ryu
*******************************************************************************************************
This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra Ornithologists Group.
Emails posted to the list that exceed 200 kB in size, including attachments, will be rejected.
All emails distributed via the list are archived at
http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/canberrabirds. It is a condition of list membership that you agree to your contributions being archived.
When subscribing or unsubscribing, please insert the word 'Subscribe' or 'Unsubscribe', as applicable, in the email's subject line.
List-Post: <>
List-Help: <>
List-Unsubscribe: <>
List-Subscribe: <>
List manager: David McDonald, email <>
