Re: Pilotbirds in the Wollemi Wilderness

[Mick Roderick <>]

Hi David,

 

We were on the Hunter Main Trail (a wilderness fire trail managed for walkers only or on bicycle by permission...but you end up walking quite a bit even if you are on bicycle!). Yes, I wasn't surprised to find several Pilotbirds in the basalt cap of Coricudgy (as well as Monundilla, which I think is also another big basalt island...much more engulfed by sandstone than Coricudgy even).

 

But we encountered Pilotbirds in the majority of wetter sandstone gully areas, generally where tall wet sclerophyll forests prevailed. So they are definitely not restricted to the basalt stuff. I think you're correct about them being more common than we realise in large reserves...and the same goes for many species, including things like Masked and Barking Owls I would imagine. If a 'living fossil' tree can remain undiscovered for so long, there must be fauna in there that has evaded science too (a new bird species in Wollemi/Yengo, now there's an exciting prospect!!).

 

Paul / Irene - that record from the Watagans is very interesting, thanx - i know exactly where you're talking about too, time for a stake-out.

 

I look forward to other info from anyone else on this topic.

 

Thanx again,

 

Mick Roderick

wrote:

> Mick 
>
> Pilotbirds are quite common on Mt Coricudgy (a large basalt island in a sea of sandstone on the western side of the Wollemi).  I also encountered them on smaller basalt caps and nearby sandstone to the north and north-east of Coricudgy.  By the way, I assume you were on the Wollemi Trail. 
>
> Since then I've found them north-east of Rystone in damper sandstone areas west of Nullo Mountain and around the Growee River. 
>
> As you appreciate, access is difficult in huge areas and Pilotbirds are probably much more common there than we realise. 
>
> Cheers 
>
> David 
>
> David Geering
> Regent Honeyeater
>  Recovery Coordinator
> Department of Environment & Conservation
> P.O. Box 2111
> Dubbo  NSW  2830
> Ph: 02 6883 5335 or Freecall 1800 621 056
> Fax: 02 6884 9382
>
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>
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