Yes, among the local increasers the Superb Parrot has certainly graduated from ‘rare visitor’, and the Koel from ‘rare non-breeding migrant’. ‘An uncommon species’ no longer accurately describes
the very numerous Little Corella. ‘Non-breeding’ to ‘breeding’ might just be a matter of a recent nest record, but the nesting Silver Gulls on LBG have made a dramatic entry into the ‘breeding’ category. The idea of a ‘non-breeding resident’ does seem to
leave an unanswered question. To take up Philip’s point it is a philosophical issue whether ‘rare to abundant’ is a more significant change than ‘never recorded to now recorded ’ (eg Long-toed Stint’, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Tawny Grassbird) or ‘locally
extinct to not-extinct (rare visitor)’ (eg Banded Lapwing’).
From: Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Sunday, 19 August 2018 3:35 PM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb' <>
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Birds of the ACT - Two centuries of change A question
Don’t forget the Canary (mentioned as only one record).
The cut-off date for this invaluable publication was more than 20 years ago. Having regard to reports since then, which bird species has a local occurrence that differs most markedly from the assessment by Steve Wilson in 1999? (There
are several candidates.)
Thank you to those who offered me a copy of the above book. This morning I walked into a used book store in beautiful downtown Fyshwick and there was one priced at just
$4:50 so Johnny went grab and left – after paying for it.
And on the way home, 12 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos rowing along Southern Cross Drive, Scullin at lamp-standard height.
John Layton
Holt.
