In 2004 I authored "Birds of Willoughby: Survey Update 2004." This
was published by Willoughby City Council.
Willoughby municipality is centred on Chatswood and is 7 km., as the
Bristlebird flies, north of the City of Sydney, NSW..
The following comment was made:
"Eastern Bristlebird. Two pre-1910 specimens from Flat Rock Gully in
the H.L. White collection in the Museum of Victoria. Jackson (1907)
also notes that they bred at this site in September 1903; his
photograph shows a nest in heathy swamp that includes Banksia robur
at the nest site."
Jackson also noted the nest and eggs of Southern Emu-wren. These were
only 20 yards away from the Bristlebirds' nest. At about the same
time and in the same locality he collected specimens of Beautiful
Firetail. My educated guess tells me that all three species would
have been present in Artarmon, a local suburb, until the early 1930s.
Increasing development at that stage almost certainly led to their
rapid local extinction. I would suggest that there was enough
appropriate habitat for these three species to be quite common in
northern Sydney, certainly through the 1800s and possibly well into
the 20th century.
The Jackson referred to was Sid Jackson, a famous egg collector who
was employed (1907 - 1927) by HL White as collector and curator of
White's egg and bird specimen collection. White's collection is one
of Australia's most significant and as far as I am aware is all
housed at the Museum of Victoria. It left NSW with instructions for
it never to return to that State!!
"The Flight of the Emu" by Libby Robin has references to both of
these fascinating men.
I should also acknowledge Ian McAllan's contribution for it was he
who visited the Museum of Victoria and obtained this information. We
jointly authored the first report on the birds of Willoughby in 1996.
Andy Burton
Hi All
A recent determination by the NSW Scientific Committee for the
southern subspecies of Eastern Bristlebird states that it "formerly
occurred around Sydney and north to the Myall Lakes".
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/easternbristlebirdsthnpd.htm
HANZAB doesn't mention it occurring this far north and I haven't
been able to find any records from this area.
Does anyone have information on the historical occurence of this
subspecies north of Sydney?
Cheers
Shawn
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