Dear Bron
I have been seeing Little Correllas in Canberra regularly for at least 7
years. I live in West Belconnen and have observed a small group present
from late spring though autumn each year, which varies in size from 4 to 12
or so birds. I hear them far more often than see them and I do not know
where they go in winter. Galahs and Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos are present
in the area throughout the year, in peak numbers between January and
September. I know another group used to haunt the areas to the east of
Lake Burley Griffin. On one occasion in winter a small group appeared on
the ANU campus for several days. Their origins and movements are unkown as
far as I know. I think they were overlooked in the ACT atlas on the
assumption that the species was not known in the wild in the ACT. The
birds of recent observation are apparently wild.
There are populations of Little Corella (and Long-Billed) on the south
coast of NSW, e.g. Sydney, Bateman's Bay which one assumes would derive
from captive origin, although the Galah has also colonised these areas. To
the west, the range of Little Corella has become rather blurred. They are
relatively numerous to the south and east of the 'text-book' range. In the
summer in particular they are present in the wheat belt areas of the
western slopes of NSW, perhaps these are 'natural colonisers'. I have seen
large flocks within 100km of Canberra on occasion in mid-summer.
The occasional Long-billed Corella appears in Canberra, in my experience
usually single birds with S.C. Cockatoo which I never seem to see
again..... quite different from the regular pattern of occurences of Little
Corella. My hunch is that Little Corella, of unknown origin, have started
to utilise the Canberra region on a regular basis and will become more
numerous over time. The Crested Pigeon has recently become established as
a breeding resident so perhaps the Little Corella will be next, I hope so.
cheers
Milburn
|
