Hi Peter,
Given the large amount of rainfall across much of south-eastern Australia
(including inland areas) over the last few weeks, I'm not that suprised that
a White-fronted Honeyeater (WFHE) has been recorded in the ACT.
A huge influx (thousands) of WFHE's into the mallee woodland around the Eyre
Bird Observatory (EBO) in Western Australia occurred in 1982 while I was
conducting my Ph.D there. Prior to that time (1975-81) the WFHE was recorded
at Eyre only as a very occasional vagrant. The influx coincided with very
heavy rainfall at Eyre and subsequent copious flowering of the mallee. WFHEs
remained the most abundant honeyeater around Eyre for the next 3 years, but
then moved on (to where? I don't know). Interestingly, the Purple-gaped
Honeyeater was one of the most common honeyeater species at Eyre prior to
the arrival of the WFHEs, but virtually disappeared from the area when the
WFHE moved in en masse. My feeling is that the WFHE competively excluded the
PGHE from the area by sheer force of numbers.
Peter Congreve, the Warden at Eyre Bird Observatory from 1981-85 was in an
unprecedented situation of being able to study in detail the moulting
patterns of WFHEs, the results of which were eventually published in the
Corella.
I don't know if there have been similar invasions of WFHEs at Eyre since
then.
Stephen
Dr Stephen Ambrose
Director
AMBROSE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PTY LTD
PO Box 246,
Ryde NSW 1680
|
