A trip to the Capertee Valley last week confirmed all reports that I had
been receiving - the number of Regent Honeyeaters returning to the Capertee
Valley in central NSW is well below that reported for the past three
breeding seasons. This could be explained in terms of the exceptionally
wet winter and spring that has been experienced. The birds have dispersed
far and wide. But how far and how wide?
The only reports I have received of Regent Honeyeaters in central NSW have
been the few birds in the Capertee Valley, 5 at Kandos, 10 in the Widen
Valley (to the north east) and one at Blackville (north of Merriwa and west
of Quirindi). This is even more peculiar considering the large numbers (at
least 400) in the valley last year and the success of last years breeding
season. There are obviously a lot of Regent Honeyeaters hiding out there.
But where??
Of even greater interest is the apparent lack of interest the birds that
have been found in breeding. We are now in the middle of the usual
breeding season and no nest, or breeding behaviour, has been reported.
Given the, apparently, excellent conditions this is baffling.
I would like to encourage Sydney birdo's, in particular, to make a
concerted effort to locate these missing Regents for us. They have to be
out there somewhere and there must be colour-banded individuals among them.
David Geering
Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator
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