Following on from my reports of the honeyeater migration here in the Blue
Mountains, I have been asked a number of times how I identify the
composition of the flocks as they fly over. It's really easier than it
might seem to someone who hasn't witnessed this event.
The short answer is, mainly by their calls. Bear in mind that we are
talking about huge numbers of what are basically two main species.
Yellow-faced and White-naped Honeyeaters each have a distinctive contact
call which they make constantly as they fly. The brisk "clip... clip..." of
the Yellow-faced is such a characteristic sound that, for me, it is almost
synonymous with clear autumn days. The White-naped have a more mellow or
plaintive "mew".
They can also be distinguished visually, the much cleaner white breast and
shorter overall length of the White-naped standing out fairly noticeably
when compared to the darker and longer Yellow-faced. With a little practise
it's possible to estimate the proportion of each species simply by watching
the flocks flying overhead.
Most of the other species which migrate through here at the same time can
also be recognised by their flight calls. These include Silvereyes, Spotted
and Striated Pardalotes, and the odd Mistletoebird. Apart from the calls,
flocks of pardalotes in flight are visually recognisable by their size and
shape. Red Wattlebirds and Noisy Friarbirds present few difficulties. Apart
from the obvious differences, wattlebirds have a longer, rounder tail than
the friarbirds and this can be useful when the birds are seen in flight
from a distance.
Keep in mind that all these species migrate relatively low and in short
"hops" from treetop to treetop. By sitting and watching a bare tree along
their migration route you can easily check out the birds as they stop and
rest for a few seconds. Occasionally you find the odd Fuscous amongst them
- or something more unexpected.
I hope this helps to answer the questions of those who were wondering. If
you are yet to experience this incredible autumn phenomenon you'll probably
have to wait until next year now.
Cheers
Carol
Carol Probets
Katoomba
Blue Mountains NSW
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