I wonder how many new species have been added since that book....... Also it is curious that the issue of species that have allegedly declined or disappeared
(the opposite of ‘rare to abundant’), over that period, has not been mentioned............. Only increases.
A species can be a
‘non-breeding resident’
if in the fairly small area of ACT, some individuals of the species (maybe not the same ones) are present all year but the species is not known to breed in the ACT. I don’t know an example.
Philip
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Monday, 20 August, 2018 4:17 PM To: Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Birds of the ACT - Two centuries of change A question
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).
Yes plus Crested Pigeon, Rainbow Lorikeet, Satin Bowerbird. Although the increases so obvious now were at least hinted at by SW back then. Or to give a simple
answer to the question it can be qualitative, rather than quantitative and include all those species of which we have a record now, that were not in the book at all, not thought likely at the time-------- Red Knot, White-fronted Honeyeater, etc.
Philip
From: Martin Butterfield [
Sent: Sunday, 19 August, 2018 12:16 PM To: Geoffrey Dabb
Cc: COG List
Subject: Re: FW: [canberrabirds] Birds of the ACT - Two centuries of change A question
I suggest a tie between Superb Parrot and <whatever qualifier is in use this week> Koel.
Martin Butterfield
http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
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.)
