Callum Brae woodland survey

[sandra henderson via Canberrabirds <>]

Callum Brae woodland survey

 

The survey was conducted on 6 December. Before I’d stepped through the gate the noise from cicadas was very obvious, and ranged from loud to deafening right around the reserve. Listening for small birds was very difficult throughout. There were Common Brown butterflies throughout in very large numbers.

The bird species count (28) was the lowest I’ve ever had for the summer survey, and much lower than we saw on the recent Canberra Birds outing to the reserve. The most obvious birds were Australian Ravens, with a loose group of well over 30 birds at the high point near quarry fence. The throat hackles and distinctive calls ensured there was no confusion about the species ID.  Perhaps they were feasting on the cicadas.

At my first site light rain started to fall, but by the final site it was sunny and very warm. I heard no White-throated Gerygones, only a single White-throated Treecreeper, no pardalotes, no cuckoos, and very few thornbills. The Southern Boobook seen in the previous survey appears to have moved on, and all parrot numbers were very low.

 

Sandra Henderson

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