The third and last instalment in the current Gunbower Island series!
Back in February I reported the presence of relatively large numbers
of Red-chested Button-quails on Gunbower Island in north-central
Victoria. Subsequently a couple of Birding-Aus-ers went to have a
look - with mixed success - so here's a small progress report.
>From February-April 1999, the area around "86 Break" on GI featured
quite spectacular concentrations of the foraging scrapes (platelets)
of button-quail. This area is quite open woodland, but with deep and
extensive leaf litter - button-quail heaven perhaps. At the same
site I saw a pair of Red-chested Button-quail on one trip, and later
a covey of a dozen, as well as a few single birds. There were rarely
more than 2-3 Painted Button-quail present. By late April-May the
RCBQ numbers had declined, and on my recent visit I couldn't find
any; I found 1 PBQ. The extensive platelets were still in
evidence, but none appeared recent, and several had grass/herbs
sprouting from them.
The minor influx of RCBQ at GI may only have lasted a few months at
the end of the 1998/99 summer. Similar influxes may occur more
regularly than is currently realised, and would be worth checking on
to update the known status of RCBQ in Victoria.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lawrie Conole
Coarse Woody Debris Project
Monash University
Clayton Vic 3168
Phone +61 3 9905 5649
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