In response to Robbie Brown's request for Pink Robin localities near
Phillip Island.
We recently saw both Pink and Rose Robins at the Tarra Valley (Fernholme)
Caravan Park south of Balook in the Strzelecki Ranges, South Gippsland.
This was a month or so ago and the conditions were wet, overcast and a bit
gloomy light-wise, ideal robin weather! We sat on the little cabin
verandah after cycling up from Traralgon over Mt Tassie the day before in
sunshine.
The Atlas of Victorian Birds (1987, p. 182) has some useful information to
point one to the right habitat for the species:
'During spring and summer, Pink Robins inhabit high rainfall upland forests
containing Myrtle Beech or Southern Sassafrass, and some, similarly wet,
upland ash gully forests. They feed amongst damp litter on the ground and
occasionally from foliage.
...In March and April many birds disperse into drier coastal scrubs (eg.
teatree) foothill forests and lowland gullies, where they spend the
winter.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This may mean the birds we saw have now moved down to the coast towards The
Prom, but the Atlas also mentions that some birds remain in the uplands
where they move locally into more open habitats.
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer, Scientific Advisory Committee
Department of Sustainability and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde., East Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9412 4567 Fax: 9412 4586
(prefixes: Interstate 03 International 613)
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