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Hi Birders,
Terry Pacey suggested on 19 May 2000, that maybe
the movement pattern for Superb Parrots must have changed since he was in NSW
five years ago. However this is not the case. It has been known for along time
that part of the population of Superb Parrots migrates northwards April-August
to the Bogan, Castlereagh & Macquarie River River Valleys extending
eastwards to Binnaway and Gunnedah, northwards to Narrabri and Moree and as far
west as Hermidale & Nymagee ( and once to Milparinka!). Flocks of up to 260
birds have been recorded during winter in this area, mainly centred around
Nyngam, Tottenham, Warren, Coonamble and Baradine. This fact was first brought
to light by M. Kaveny 1979 "The Superb Parrot in the Central West of New South
Wales". Aust. Birds 13, 47 and N. Schrader 1980 "A
Review of the Distribution of the Superb parrot in Central New South Wales"
Aust. Birds 14, 46-50. This migratory pattern was
acknowledged in the book Morris, McGill & Holmes 1981 "Handlist of Birds
in New South Wales". NSWFOC Sydney, and is now an accepted fact. The
NSW "Annual Bird Reports" annually publish records to show the extend
of this movement. As to which part of the population actually moves is not fully
understood. In normal circumstances the most southerly breeding birds are
generally the ones that move the furthest northwards and those in between may
not move at all!.
All intersting stuff! At least the movement of the
Superb Parrots does not appear to be as half as complex as that of the Regent
Honeyeater within NSW.
Alan Morris
NSWFOC Records Officer
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