Hi all,
Have just returned from a long weekend searching for Black-eared Miners in
Danggali Conservation Park (80 km N of Renmark SA) over 'Melbourne Cup
weekend' 3-7 Nov 2001.
We received excellent support from birders including a number that subscribe
to birding-aus (some drove for two days to assist for the weekend and I
estimate approximately 360 person hours were spent in the field over a four
day period!). For everyone's efforts I am very grateful.
Below are a summary of the results and a list of species recorded for the
weekend.
Participants: Khia Atkins, Paul Atkins, Giles Daubeney, Chantelle Derez,
Doug Holly, Lizzy Lewis, Phil Maher, Steven (sorry), Heather Shearer, Roy
Shearer, Phil Strachan, Aidan Sudbury, Michael Treblicock and David Web. A
special thanks also to Mate (Danggali CP) for providing such wonderful
facilities and Ed (Bookmark Biosphere) for the first class BBQ.
Miners
The BEM Recovery Team has known that Black-eared Miners extend from the
south (Gluepot/Calperum) into Danggali C.P. for some time but as this park
is quite large determining just how far north they do occur was very
important. Over a four day period approximately 80% of all tracks with
suitable habitat on Danggali were traversed. Tape recordings of miner calls
were played at 500 m intervals in suitable habitat and each site was
searched on foot for periods of between 10 mins and 1 hour. A fantastic
effort saw groups complete 160 of these 'area searches'. In addition to
several colonies we were already aware of on the southern boundary of
Danggali two more colonies of miners were located. One colony was
predominantly Yellow-throated miners, but contained several hybrids and at
least one Black-eared Miner while the other group appeared to be hybrids.
While we were disappointed not to find more colonies the absence of miners
at almost every site has provided the Black-eared Miner Recovery Team with a
much clearer understanding of the birds distribution and will allow us to
more accurately estimate the total population size of this endangered bird.
Other species
At each site surveyed for miners BA atlas forms were also completed.
Combined with some 'atlasing' undertaken in the afternoons the group
completed around 170 atlas forms.
Species recorded (with a few comments)
Emu, Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Australasian
Grebe (breeding), Brown Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle,
Little Eagle, Brown Falcon, Aust. Hobby, PEREGRINE FALCON, Nankeen Kestrel,
Black-tailed Native-hen, Eurasian Coot, Little Button-quail, Masked Lapwing,
Common Bronzewing (breeding), Crested Pigeon, Galah, Major Mitchell's
Cockatoo, Mallee Ringneck, Blue Bonnet, Mulga Parrot, Pallid Cuckoo,
Fan-tailed Cuckoo (at least 3 birds), BLACK-EARED CUCKOO (1), Horsfield's
Bronze Cuckoo, Southern Boobook (breeding), Tawny Frogmouth, Spotted
Nightjar, Australian Owlet Nightjar, Red-backed Kingfisher, Sacred
Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, White-browed Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper,
Splendid Wren, Variegated Wren, STRIATED GRASSWREN (at least 10 groups),
Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Shy Heathwren, Weebill, Inland
Thornbill, Yellow Thornbill (1), Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Southern
Whiteface, Red Wattlebird, Spiny Cheeked He, Striped He, Yellow-throated
Miner, BLACK-EARED MINER, Singing He, White-eared He, Yellow Plumed He,
GREY-FRONTED HE, Brown Headed He, White-fronted He, PIED HE (1),
White-fronted Chat, Jacky Winter, Hooded Robin, Red-capped Robin, Southern
Scrub-robin, White-browed Babbler, Chestnut crowned Babbler, Chestnut
Quail-thrush, Varied Sittella, Crested Bellbird, Gilbert's Whistler, Rufous
Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Restless Flycatcher, Willie Wagtail,
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-winged Triller, White-browed Woodswallow,
Masked Woodswallow, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird,
Magpie lark, Grey Currawong, Australian Raven, Little Crow, White-winged
Chough, Apostlebird, Richard's Pipit, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin (92
species)
Once again many thanks to all of those that participated.
Regards,
Rohan
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