Highlights from twice-weekly Canberra Ornithologists' Group (COG) hotline,
for fortnight ending 20 February (some reports are of earlier obs).
There are unusually early signs of movements among migratory birds,
presumably drought related, though no definite evidence of migration yet.
The first three records below are of this nature; the 4th & 5th MAY be part
of a movement of water birds towards the coast.
WHITE-BROWED WOODSWALLOWS 6/2 moving north over Canberra
RAINBOW BEE-EATERS (a common local breeding migrant which has been
remarkably scarce this year) 7/2 moving north over suburban Hackett
ROSE ROBIN (a regular autumn passage migrant) ~16/2 male, inner suburban
Deakin
DARTERS 18/2 9 soaring in thermal over dry clay of Jerrabomberra
'wetlands'
PELICANS 15/2 35 soaring in thermal over Goulburn bypass (Sydney
highway, 100k north of Canberra)
BLACK FALCON 14/2 suburban Hackett
SPOTLESS CRAKE 15/2 Nicholls golf course (in new Gungahlin northern suburbs)
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Hotline number: 02 6247 5530
COG web site: www.canberrabirds.dynamite.com.au/
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Ian Fraser, Canberra
Environment Tours; Vertego Environmental Writing Consultancy
ph: 02 62491560 fax: 02 62473227
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