Hi Syd
Superb Lyrebirds in Toolangi State Forest and Yarra Ranges National Park ~60 to
80 km NE of Melbourne definitely sing all year round. I don't think I have
visited the area without seeing or hearing a lyrebird, no matter what time of
year. They are certainly doing a lot of singing right now. A few days ago I
was only a few metres from a beautiful (aren't they all) male that was going
through its repertoire of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, White-browed Scrubwren,
Pilotbird, Crimson Rosella, Grey Shrike-thrush, Golden Whistler, Eastern Yellow
Robin, Pied and Grey Currawong, Kookaburra, Whipbird, Grey Butcherbird, lots of
its own calls and to my amazement several times it miaowed clearly, just like a
cat. I have seen cats often enough in the area, but I have never before heard a
lyrebird mimic one.
Back to the subject, I have no experience of lyrebirds in Tasmania, but as they
were introduced from the mainland, it's possible that they behave in a similar
way and may also sing all year. I wonder.
Cheers,
Merrilyn
Syd Curtis wrote:
> Having more than a passing interest in lyrebirds, I took the opportunity
> when in Tasmania last week, to inquire about the Tasmanian introduced
> population. The Ranger at the Hobart NP Inquiry counter, recommended the
> Hasting's River Caves population as the most accessible. The Ranger at the
> Hasting's visitor centre advised that they were singing well near
> Chesterman's Road and that she wondered if they were already commencing
> their breeding season.
>
> As soon as we pulled up at Chesterman's road, my wife heard one calling. I
> donned hearing-aids and likewise could hear him. Within a few hundred
> metres of the road I saw two males and heard others. The day was heavily
> overcast and I had no map or compass, so I declined the lyrebirds'
> enticement to venture ever further into the forest. In my short walk I did
> see what appeared to be two mounds freshly scratched over. The forest is
> excellent lyrebird habitat, with deep litter over rich soil, and very little
> ground cover. (Contrast this latter with what I've heard is the situation
> in Sherbrooke Forest where wire-grass etc., is taking over in the absence of
> fire, and significantly reducing the area over which lyrebirds can forage.)
>
> The relatively open-floored nature of the forest did mean that I could have
> been mistaken in what I reckoned to be display mounds, but I don't think I
> was.
>
> I hope some time, not necessarily this year, to visit the Hasting's
> lyrebirds to tape record their breeding season song, and it would be most
> frustrating indeed were I to go there in June or July - the normal lyrebird
> breeding season - and then find that they have changed their breeding season
> to March/April, and I've wasted my trip.
>
> Can anyone guide me in this? (The Ranger at Hasting's River knew of no-one
> presently working on the lyrebirds there.)
>
> I recall Norman Robinson telling me of seeing occupied lyrebird nests in
> Tidbinbilla (near Canberra) covered in snow, so it seems unlikely that the
> Tasmanian lyrebirds would change their breeding season because of the colder
> winters.
>
> But on the other hand, Eastern Whipbirds nest in winter on Tamborine
> Mountain (southern Qld.) where I grew up, but I understand they are
> Spring/Summer breeders in the south.
>
> TIA
>
> Syd Curtis
>
>
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