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Hi Birders
Anthony Katon on 13 July 2003 enquired as to
whether the Brown-headed & Lewin's Honeyeater and an Eastern Spionebill seen
feeding at a spot on a eucalypt tree where sap was flowing, were feeding on
the sap or taking insects. My note is to confirm that it is most likely that the
birds were feeding on sap from the tree, which would provide them with melitose
sugars. It is a known fact that Honeyeaters gain nourishment from a such a
source, usually from sap flowing from smooth-barked eucalypts.
The late Pat Bourke in an article
"Meliphagaidae & Melitose" 1972 Aust Birds 6,
55-56, points out that this phenonema was first reported by George Caley who
lived at Parramatta during most of his stay in the colony (1800-1810) in respect
to Noisy Miners. Other honeyeaters to be observed feeding in this way include
Bellminers, Lewin's, Yellow-faced, Yellow-tufted, White-eared,
Brown-headed, White-naped and Regent Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebird and Yellow
Wattledbird.
Many mammals of course also feed on the sap and are
the most likely animal who cuts the notch into the bark to make the sap flow,
particluarly Yellow-bellied, Sugar and Squirrel Gliders.
Alan Morris
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