birding-aus

Regent Honeyeater at Newstead, Vic. again

To: "Lawrie Conole" <>, "Chris Tzaros" <>, "birding aus" <>
Subject: Regent Honeyeater at Newstead, Vic. again
From: "Philip A. Veerman" <>
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 14:49:32 +1000
Hi Lawrie,
 
Received. I was obviously appreciating, not being critical, of Chris, so I don't think he needed defending. Also each of your 1, 2 or 3 options is fine with me, especially as I don't have any better ideas.
 
The phenomenon is equally interesting whether the RH is mimicking Red or Little Wattlebirds. It is the context that is fascinating and unique and this is not the first RH that apparently mimics both Wattlebird species (or indeed both Friarbird species, but not across genera). I suspect they can't tell the difference. Previous records involving mimicry of Little Wattlebirds have been near Adelaide and southern Victoria. I am not familiar with Newstead, Vic. so wasn't offering an opinion as to whether the Little Wattlebird is there. Actually if they are not, this example might add something new, to the effect that the RH may actually be capable of remembering some of the models' calls. 
 
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrie Conole <>
To: Philip A. Veerman <>
Cc: Chris Tzaros <>; birding aus <>
Date: Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:27
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-AUS] Regent Honeyeater at Newstead, Vic.

Philip A. Veerman wrote:
Actually Chris, you mention "(well documented and summarised in HANZAB)", as the person who first described this phenomenon, I was disappointed that although HANZAB does mention it in passing, it does barely mention the significance and uniqueness of this behaviour (as acknowledged by various international experts on bird vocalisations such as Peter Slater of University of St Andrews, Clive Catchpole, David Dobkin and Peter McGregor). Mimicry of Little Wattlebird by the Regent Honeyeater is standard in those parts. 

In defence of Mr Tzaros, I think the reason he commented on the Little Wattlebird mimimcry in particular also occurred to me as interesting.  Little Wattlebirds don't occur within the current main range of the Regent Honeyeater in Victoria (mostly north-east Victoria, with odd forays into central and southern parts of the state).  

It occurred to me that this particular Regent Honeyeater might be:
  1. an old bird that has spent time down in Melbourne in the past (where Little Wattlebirds DO occur, and can be locally abundant), or
  2. a bird which spends/spent time within Little Wattlebird range in NSW, or
  3. dunno.
Either way, in Newstead it is well and truly lost - though in former Regent Honeyeater haunts ... and there are no Little Wattlebirds in those parts.

BTW, I haven't seen/heard this Newstead bird, but found the topic of interest.

--
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Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology

Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd.
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