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Hi Birders,
CRESTED SHRIKE-TITS IN THE SYDNEY
REGION
David & Sonia Frew on 20 May 2001 on
Birding-aus asked about recent records for Crested Shike-tits in the Sydney
Region. Generally Crested Shrike-tits are considered in Sydney to be birds of
the Cumberland Palins Woodland and Shale areas, as it is unusual for them to
venture into the sandstone forests and urban areas of Sydney. However I have
noted some recent Sydney records include 2 at Mirrabeena Park, Milperra on 29
January 1995 and 1 West Chatswood (possibly Mowbray Park?) on 2 July 1995. These
records come from the NSW Bird Reports where Sonia & David's record will be
recorded because Crested Shrike-tits are one of the decling woodland
species particularly in the Sydney Region.
To all those people out there who
like the odd drop of Hunter Valley Shiraz or Semillion, remember that it is
grown on land once previously covered in box/ironbark woodland and unfortunately
this habitat is still being cleared in the Hunter Valley for wine-growing
purposes! While most of the Cumberland Plains Woodland has been destroyed and
hence the habitat for Crested Shrike-tits in the Sydney Region is almost no
more, the same fate awaits the Hunter Valley Box/Ironbark forests, particularly
in the Cessnock area but unfortunately, it has no protection. At least the
Cumberland Plain Woodland is now a Threatened Ecological Community and controls
on its clearing are pretty restrictive.
Alan Morris
Records Officer
NSWFOC
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