|
A welcome surprise about two weeks ago was a Regent
Honeyeater in the backyard in suburban Bairnsdale in East Gippsland. We have a
Yellow Gum E. leucoxylon (red flowering form) which has been in bloom
for several weeks. The ground underneath the tree is a carpet of red blossoms
and dead bees. The tree is jealously guarded by a squadron of Red and
Little Wattlebirds and only the Rainbow Lorikeets manage to hold their ground
when visiting. The area is a veritable battleground from daylight till dusk. We
were sitting in the backyard when I noticed this smallish "Little
Wattlebird-type bird" being harassed by the Red Wattlebirds. It flew to the
crown of an adjoining large Black Wattle and I noticed something different about
it. I bolted indoors for the binoculars. When I approached the Yellow Gum the
Wattlebirds were disturbed and moved away. This gave our visitor some breathing
space and it very sociably flew back into the Yellow Gum and to a low branch
just above our heads. We were treated to some sensational views over a 5 minute
period as it fed happily without interference, virtually ignoring our presence.
However, unfortunately it didn't take long before the Wattlebirds recovered from
our intrusion and they returned to wreak their vengeance on the hapless, and
smaller, newcomer. It was forced again to flee and this time out over the house
into the court where we lost sight of it. A windstorm occured that afternoon and
we haven't seen it again. Since then a friend visiting the Mitchell River
national Park 30km to the north-west of Bairnsdale thinks he may have seen one
feeding in a eucalypt on the dry slopes above the river. A check with the
Natural Resources and Environment revealed that there have been 35 reported
sightings of the Regent Honeyeater in Gippsland. Visiting and resident birdoes
need to keep their eyes out for Regent Honeyeaters when travelling through
East Gippsland especially when the Ironbarks begin their winter
flowering.
|
