Swift Parrots on the south west slopes of NSW

Following on from Chris' earlier message about Swift Parrots out near Cootamundra (and the various other messages about swift parrots since the national survey weekend), I have just returned from a trip on the south west slopes with 129 Swift Parrots recorded at the following locations over the past 1-2 weeks:

Mates Gully (Tarcutta area - following David MacDonald's record ) - 8 
Ingalba NR (Temora area) - 65
Combaning SF (Temora/Cootamundra area) - 40
Jindalee SF (Cootamundra area) - 16

Despite all of these areas having Mugga Ironbark in flower, most of their time was spent foraging on lerps in Grey Box.  Great to also hear about the other records of swift parrots reported on birding aus over the past couple of weeks.  Records from the national survey weekend will now start to be compiled - thanks to everyone for their survey forms!

Cheers Deb

Debbie Saunders
Swift Parrot Recovery Officer
National Swift Parrot Recovery Team
PO Box 2115 Queanbeyan NSW 2620

02 6298 9733 or 1800 66 57 66
 or 

Please note:  The views expressed in this email may be those of the author and/or the Swift Parrot Recovery Team, and therefore are not necessarily views of the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation.

"Chris Armstrong" <> Sent by: 30/05/2004 05:38 PM

To:        "birding-aus" <>         cc:                 Subject:        [BIRDING-AUS] Swift Parrots near Cootamundra!

Spent morning and early afternoon of Friday 28/5 birding 12 kms north of Cootamundra. Overcast and cold (5-10*C), with a chilling SW breeze, had the 2 of us thinking that this would be a low counting morning. 
Total was 38 species, including White-browed Babbler, Speckled Warbler and Hooded Robin. The highlight was around 1pm when 5 Swifties circled a Red Stringybark and landed in the next one. We observed them for 1/2hr (other commitments meant we had to move on) as they foraged in the 1 tree, working their way through the whole tree. 
It wasnt yet flowering, but they appeared to be nipping the unopened flower buds. Red Wattlebirds, Fuscous and Yellow-Tufted H/E were also in this and adjacent trees. The only trees in flower were some of the Ironbarks (Muggas?), although their will be a better flowering in a month or 2 as the Grey and White Box start.
Regs
Chris



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