White-headed Pigeon - Vict.?

[Dr Richard Nowotny <>]

At 14:13 02/12/2002 +1100, you wrote:
> From: Martin  on
> 02/12/2002 02:13 PM
> To:   
> Subject:  White-headed Pigeon - Vict.?
>
> Michael Mules report of a White-headed Pigeon deserves some
> attention.
> The Handbook of Australian NZ and Antarctic Birds (Vol. 3, 1996 p. 848)
> gives
> the following account of this species in Victoria:
> 'No confirmed records; claims include Metung 1990, 1991; Powelltown
> 1992;
> Bairnsdale 1994.' ****This is surprising,
> Martin.  My recollection is of a number of reported sightings over
> the past few years, including several in the Warburton/Powelltown
> area.  Chris Lester, Diana Bryant and I some years ago (? 6 or 7)
> observed 2 or 3 birds at close range which had been feeding daily at an
> artist's house in Warburton, and I'm sure there had been previous
> sightings in the same area.  We didn't report our sighting, not
> considering it particularly rare (and we weren't the first to see these
> particular birds).**
> The Atlas of Victorian Birds (1987) has no mention of the species but the
> Atlas
> of Victorian Wildlife Database has 28 records of this bird, with
> additonal
> observations from just east of Melbourne. The Narracan observation would
> fall
> between the Melbourne and Bairnsdale sightings.
> This new sighting should be forwarded to the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife
> (tel.
> 039 450 8600) so the observation can be confirmed or otherwise.
>
> Martin O'Brien
> Executive Scientific Officer, Scientific Advisory Committee
> Department of Natural Resources and Environment
> 4/250 Victoria Pde., East Melbourne  3002

                
RICHARD NOWOTNY
8 Pier St   Port Melbourne
VIC  AUSTRALIA  3207
(H)  61-3-9645.6870
(M)  0438 224456