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Quite true. It is also the case in Canberra.
Here is the relevant extract from my 130 page book Canberra
Birds: A Report on the first 21 years of the Garden Bird Survey.
CUCKOOS
Four fairly common species (and two less so), all show a similar occurrence
pattern. They are all migrants, though some more so than others, arriving in
spring and become fairly conspicuous by their calling, then observations
decline. Most species have average group size as close to one. All local species
are nest parasites. Fledglings being fed by foster parents are conspicuous by
the noise they make. They and newly independent juveniles can be difficult to
identify, so many may not be recorded. They pass through the city during late
summer.
(other species deleted)
Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis
This is a forest and woodland inhabitant. It is less migratory than other
cuckoos, so its monthly pattern, although typical of cuckoos, is much less well
defined. This species is quite vocal, especially during spring. However the call
is probably not as far-carrying as Pallid or Brush Cuckoo. From a mid winter low
with very few observations, numbers increase sharply from August to a peak in
October, then decline quickly till December, staying in even reduced numbers
through summer and autumn before declining to the winter low. Numbers have
declined significantly, at about half the abundance from Years 12 to 21 as for
the first 11 years.
Graphs on page: 95, Rank: 66, Breeding Rank: 84, A = 0.01168, F = 15.43%, W =
18.3, R = 1.113%, G = 1.05.
Philip
ps Please note the plural of cuckoo is cuckoos (NOT
cuckoo's)!
-----Original Message-----
From:
Dave Torr <>
To:
<>;
<>
Cc:
<>
Date:
Friday, 30 July 2004 18:29
Subject: RE: [BIRDING-AUS] Re:
Cuckoo's at Fyansford near Geelong
Fan tailed don't
always migrate - I have seen them in the You Yangs in May
and near
Werribee a week ago.
>From:
>To:
Birding-Aus <>
>CC:
Lorraine Phelan <>
>Subject:
[BIRDING-AUS] Re: Cuckoo's at Fyansford near Geelong
>Date: Fri, 30
Jul 2004 17:42:41 +1000
>
>The first cuckoos have arrived down
at Fyansford, Geelong - Fantailed i
>think. A lady said
she'd heard them there for the last week or so.
This
>seems very early for cuckoos???
>
>I also saw mating
displays from Eastern Yellow Robins and Crested Shrike
>Tits, so it
seems the change to spring is well on its way.
>
>The White
Morph Grey Goshawk was again seen up in a pine on the
hill.
>
>Peter
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