Very true comment. Not only in total, but that consideration applies in respect
of each species. Also it requires data from a wide range of sites. That is why
The GBS Report ("Canberra Birds: A Report on the first 21 years of the Garden
Bird Survey") relies so heavily on data compiled over a long time and many
places and presents graphs that show and text that explains both average
monthly abundance graphs and long term over many years. Though The GBS report
is now 20 years old (1981 to 2002) and desperately needs a complete update.
At COG on Wednesday night for example, Michael Lenz showed how complex the
numbers issue can be, on just one species (Coots).
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Canberrabirds
On Behalf Of regeraghty--- via Canberrabirds
Sent: Friday, 12 May, 2023 3:58 PM
To: ;
Subject: Fewer birds around
Wouldn't you need to take the time of year into account? The long term data for
bird sightings in Canberra should show whether there's an overall drop year on
year.
-----Original Message-----
From: Canberrabirds <> On
Behalf Of j.stewart.deans--- via Canberrabirds
Sent: Thursday, 11 May, 2023 12:47 PM
To:
Subject: Fewer birds around
Hi
I wonder if people noticed fewer birds around lately.
When doing GBS I would see 25 - 30 species on a walk around the area and now
perhaps half as many.
I have been surveying the area for 2 years or more and it seemed like there
have always been good numbers until perhaps 6 months ago.
I look at one of the Holder ponds which always had swamphens moorhens and
coots. Often fairywren reedwarblers etc. One day the swamphens left and then
the rest. Perhaps the pond went sour. I used to see ducks visiting there but
not now.
I have seen a bit of a return now but ones and twos a like visitors.
I would see a dozen fairywren on a walk around now none. Today I saw a group of
four, the first I’ve seen for a while.
Red Wattlebirds were always there, then gone, even the currawongs that nested
there have been absent.
Grey fantails were very dependable, now I don’t see them.
Perhaps things will change when the Spring arrives.
When we moved in 10 years ago we had skylarks opposite us but haven’t seen them
in that location for some years. Perhaps they don’t like the development nearby.
Stewart
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