Dear Nicci
There are some records in the literature on the movement of Willie Wagtails.
The "Atlas of Australian Birds" gives some descriptions of movements:
at Jandowae (just north of you) Willies were noted moving into the fields in
April, returning Aug-Sept,
At Inverell numbers reduced in autumn and winter, similarly in Canberra.The
Atlas provides the original references for these accounts.
The results I published of the 1979-80 QOS Garden Bird Survey
(Sunbird 25: 1-17, 1995) showed that Willies had a marked increase in
frequency in winter (34% to 54%) but who knows where they come from.
You should also look at Helen & Neil McKilligan's report of garden birds in
Toowoomba (Sunbird 17: 17-27, 1987).
I am sure that there is an interesting story to be uncovered here. Get
back to me if you want further help.
All the best
Peter
Dr Peter Woodall email =
Division of Pathobiology
School of Veterinary Science Phone = +61 7 3365 2300
The University of Queensland Fax = +61 7 3365 1355
Brisbane, Qld, Australia 4072 WWW = http://www.uq.edu.au/~anpwooda
"hamba phezulu" (= "go higher" in isiZulu)
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