Where I live in Chadstone (SEish Melbourne Suburb) they are very common,
probably slightly fewer than blackbirds yet when i lived at Mt Waverley,
perhaps 2-3 km down the road I never saw nor heard a single one in 4 years of
living there. They seem to quite like the olives on a tree in my backyard so
maybe that has something to do with it?
Cheers
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrie Conole <>
To: "" <>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:33:47 +1000
Subject: Signs of spring in Melbourne - and Song Thrush
wrote:
> About that Song Trush. Anthea said "Nice to know some have survived
> the drought. I am certain that their numbers have been locally reduced
> over the last few years."
Mike, Anthea, et al.
No shortage of Song Thrushes north of the Yarra in Melbourne. Both at
Ascot Vale where I was living last year and Northcote where I am this
year, Song Thrushes are doing very nicely thankyou. In AV they just
about outnumbered Blackbirds, and are almost as abundant here. I think
of Song Thrush voice as a typical Melbourne winter sound - which peters
out in spring to be taken over by Blackbirds. "My" Song Thrushes have
been singing from before dawn well into the late morning for about the
last 6-8 weeks - typically waking me up each morning. More singing
again in the afternoon - here in competition with the Grey Butcherbirds
which have also been very vocal over the last 2 months. If you need
some Song Thrushes, you can have mine!!!!
I think the relative rarity of Song Thrushes in Melbourne is a bit of a
myth - influenced by where most birders live (ie. south of the Yarra).
Song Thrushes are widespread and variously uncommon - abundant in many
of the older suburbs north and west of the CBD, and some of the newer
ones too. As a youngster I associated Song Thrushes in Melbourne and
Geelong with the well established, ultra-European suburbs - such as
occur on and south of the Yarra - but only because that was what birders
and bird books held to be true. My own experience is that they're more
abundant in suburbs such as Northcote, Ascot Vale, Pascoe Vale South,
etc. - less lush, more native gardens, etc. - apparently atypical!!??
L.
--
=================================
Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology
Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd.
Flora and Fauna Consultants
88B Station Street
FAIRFIELD VIC 3078 Australia
E-mail:
Internet: http://www.ecologyaustralia.com.au/
Ph: (03) 9489 4191; Mob: (0419) 588 993
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