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After the two failed Wet Seasons of 2002-3 it seems
that some species are not waiting for their normal breeding time. Yesterday
(31/07) a male Papuan Frogmouth was spotted on a nest in Port
Douglas!
In the nine years that I have
resided locally my earliest nesting record is 15th of October and in that instance that pair bred again using the same nest
through the Wet Season. This indicates that food supply plays a big part in
breeding dynamics in the Wet Tropics.
Other species perhaps trying to
make up for lost breeding opportunity are Lovely Fairy-wrens, White-throated
Gerygones and Banded Honeyeaters. These honeyeaters would be the most nomadic
member of the genus in the north and don't normally show up until November, but
are established in savannah woodland due to the big flowering of
eucalypts.
Last week at Lake Mitchell north
of Mareeba there were about 15 young Pied Geese unable to fly which again is
unseasonal.
Del. Richards, Fine Feather
Tours, Mossman, NQ.
<www.finefeathertours.com.au>
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