Can't help with the Gibberbird eggs but you've had quite a run of
postings there with variation as the key thematic which I've found a
good wake up call. Useful reminder that the notion of species has to be
appreciated as something that isn't really static in any sense, there's
immense and fluid variations, even within the one nest. Even with the
Southern Boobooks in your yard, and yes it must be an honour to have
them so close, I've spotted Boobooks in the Toronto area recently that
are more your standard Southern Bookbook brown deep brown rather than
red. So it occurs to me just how fascinating the story might be here:
we have what appear to be quite dramatic colour variation of the same
species in a specific, local area. Any theories as to the significance
of this?
Hope it's an indicator of hyperadaptability: the heat may well be on
these populations in the short term given the extensive residential and
greenfield development likely in the locality. Do we know much about
Southern Boobooks and habitat "transformation".
Polite touch, which I hope is appreciated.
cheers
Craig
>>> Michael Todd <> 12/11/04 11:56 PM >>>
Hello all,
I'm fortunate at the moment to have a family of Boobooks lodging in the
backyard (in Toronto, Lake Macquarie, south of Newcastle). I believe
they
nested in a large Spotted Gum next door, but are using our backyard as
the
creche. For about a week there were two fledglings roosting in different
trees each morning. Then a third fledgling joined them and they began to
use a large Spotted Gum that is choked by a giant bougainvillea, about
20
metres high. They've been using the bougainvillea for a bout a week now
along with one of the parents. The other parent only occasionally roosts
with the family.
At dusk the young'uns fly to nearby trees and chitter continually while
the
parents frantically fly back and forth bringing as many large insects as
they can find.
The adults are very dark red in colour, similar to the colouration of
the
Red Boobook subspecies from the Atherton tableland. One bird has
virtually
no white markings on the face at all while the other has a small patch
of
white between the eyes. However, both birds have far more white spots on
the shoulders and wings than Red Boobooks that I've seen.
While on Red Boobooks I might mention a Red Boobook that I photographed
in
rainforest at Kuranda SF (Clohesy Fig Tree) in May this year. It had
some
features that definitely made it a Red Boobook however it had some
features
of the nominate subspecies as well, including some white markings on the
face. I think that they must be a very variable species and I'm a little
doubtful about the distinctiveness of the Red Boobook.
Cheers
Mick
Mick Todd
Toronto, NSW, Australia
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