Alan,
Thanks for all the information on Sydney's Rare Breeding Birds. I was
hoping for such a response. You are a wealth of information and we
appreciate your input! I have added a few more comments on some of the
species mentioned below. Do you know what happened to the biannual survey
of the birds of Cumberland as was formerly organised by Arnold McGill?
Was there a reason for dropping this program? It would seem to me given
the amount of development going on that it would be a good idea to start
it up again and at the same time consider recording the data for the Birds
Australia ATLAS program that is about to start.
Great Crested grebes
The Penrith lakes have been bulldozed out to make way for the 2000 Olympics
as far as I can tell and the Prospect birds have gone. There was only one
bird present last year and none this. Not sure about the Bringelly spot
though. Does anyone else know?
Musk Duck
They used to breed at Centennial Park and possibly East Lakes but due to
pollution (so I am told) these birds have gone.
Eastern Bristlebird
Ern Hoskins book states "rediscovered at Mt Ku-ring-gai in Ku-ring-gai
National Park on 11-October 1986 and seen again 8-April-1987". I suspect
the 1994 fires would have had an impact?
Brown Treecreeper
There was a sighting near Cobbitty in 1996, that is the last record I
know of for this species in Cumberland County. Quite a few people
have looked for them since without success.
Diamond Firetail
I saw one bird at Cobbitty last year after asking for permission to look on
private property, but there were none there this year the land owner told
me that the Bell miners had pushed many of the birds out.
All the best and thanks again
Tony
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