Mike and others
Re the White-chested White-eye on Norfolk Island, I just wanted to say that
after a visit to the island last November, I had some communication with
the ranger or project officer in charge of rare and threatened species on
the island and he said he had seen the White-chested White-eye only twice
in the last three years. His sightings were, I think, genuine ones -
someone working full time in the field on the island, and so perhaps one
should not write the bird off entirely yet.
The above-mentioned communication came about because I had seen a strange
bird that was not a Silvereye and not a Slender-billed White-eye, but a
very definite white-eye. I described what I had seen and asked for their
advice as to its identity. I was very wary of claiming to have seen a rare
bird, especially one that was totally new to me, but this bird was quite
distinctly not one of the other two, and just as distinctly a white-eye.
This was on a Qld Naturalists' Club trip to the island and we have sent
records of our sightings to the Bird Atlas - at their request- and with
these I included an unusual record form with details of this bird, again
with description and details.
I appreciate your skepticism, Mike, I'm a skeptic myself in such cases. I
would dearly love to have seen it again, or for someone else to have seen
it too (I was by myself). Have given it a great deal of thought, and am
happy to use the NI rangers' words that it was 'probably' a sighting.
Have to say, though, that it is a little memory that I now hug to myself
with a modicum of pleasure.
Yours
Helen Horton
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