In [1], Recher says this:
"Species, such as Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata, which were
abundant in suburban Sydney gardens as recently as the 1970s are now rare
(pers. obs.)."
I found this quote really surprising. I regularly hear and see Red
Wattlebirds where I live in urban inner-Sydney. Certainly not abundant -
few native species are in urban Sydney urban areas - but no more or less
common than I can remember in 17 years of living in this area
The Atlas of Australian Birds says "early this century the species
was unknown as breeding bird near Sydney where it is now abundant".
I gather from [2] in the 1930s it was only a winter visitor to Sydney,
although in large numbers.
I'd be grateful if people from other parts of Sydney could e-mail me
their estimate of Red Wattlebird abundance in their area and also any
feeling that have for change in status. As most subscribers presumably
have very limited interested in Red Wattlebird abundance in Sydney,
e-mail me only - I'll post to bird-aus a summary of any replies.
Andrew
[1] H. Recher, "The state of Australia's avifauna: a personal opinion and
prediction
for the new millennium", Australian Zoologist, 1999
[2] P.A. Gilbert, The Seaesonal Movement of Birds in Eastern New South Wales,
Emul Vol. XXXIV, p200-208, 1934
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