A couple of random comments. On Birdline (Vic) there have been some
recent postings about unusual Spotted Pardalote sightings in inner
suburbia, which may be a reflection of the species moving out of its
more typical range (in search of food presumably) and hence less
sightings where they might be expected. I'd also make the suggestion
that it is a species which is quite vulnerable to prevailing conditions.
I remember finding many dead pardalotes around the eastern suburbs of
Melbourne in the wake of the droughts of the late sixties and early
eighties. I think there may be a paper somewhere on this phenomenon? As
for feeding on the ground; I was surprised recently to see a small flock
of Striated Pardalotes working their way along the nature-strip in the
main street of Tanunda (Barossa Valley), quite Sparrow-like. Never seen
this behaviour before.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Sean Dooley
Sent: Monday, 6 July 2009 11:22 AM
To: ; 'birding birding-aus'
Cc: 'Marlene Lyell'
Subject: Missing Pardalotes Central Victoria
Hi Bob, Jenny and others,
Perhaps many pardalotes could have been lost in the fires but I suspect
there may be more going on with the lack of pardalote sightings in
(particularly Central) Victoria. While there has been little flowering
of
eucalypts, particularly in the box-ironbark woodlands due to the drought
(although I am not sure we can call this a drought anymore as this is
the
thirteenth year of below average rainfall in much of Victoria- thirteen
years of both El Nino and La Nina weather patterns; we currently are
supposed to be in a "good" year yet it has been our driest first six
months
in a year ever) more importantly for pardalotes, there has been very
little
lerp activity. Lerp are the sugar-rich casings of insects that bury
themselves in the leaves of eucalypts, and constitute a major part of a
pardalote's diet. Interestingly, Swift Parrots have virtually abandoned
Victoria this year- another species that can feed extensively on lerp.
Whether the pardalotes have moved out of the state or died off, I guess
we
will only know once we have another good, wet year (which feels at the
moment like we will be waiting for a long time.)
I recently also had a pardalote experience at Long Forest, though not in
the
league of Jenny's thousand odd birds. But two weeks ago while there I
came
across a feeding party of 20+ Spotted Pardalote and at least a single
Striated (probably of the substriatus race). The unusual thing was that
they
were all feeding on the ground. I couldn't determine what they were
eating
but suspect that as they weren't feeding in the trees there was no lerp
about.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Bob Cook
Sent: Sunday, 5 July 2009 10:31 PM
To: birding birding-aus
Cc: 'Marlene Lyell'
Subject: Missing Pardalotes Central Victoria
Hi all
I am wondering whether anyone else has observed the "disappearance" of
Pardalotes, both Spotted & Striated, from Central Victoria over the last
few
months. Here at Axedale, between Bendigo & Heathcote, Pardalotes have
been
constant residents and active breeders (especially Striated) ever since
we
have been here - now 3 years. We have not seen any Striated since March
and
only one or two sightings of Spotted in April. We would regularly see
up to
25 Striated Pardalotes around the house and perhaps 3 rounds of breeding
(in
especially placed boxes) during 2008. I am wondering whether it has
anything to do with either the aftermath of the Vic bushfires, or just
generally a very dry start to 2009, or what??.
We are about 30 kms North of the bushfire at Redesdale and 25 kms East
of
the fire in Bendigo, so I don't really see how that could be a reason.
Has anyone else noticed a significant change in Pardalote presence??
Any
explanation suggested?
Bob Cook
Axedale
(now a lot wetter since reasonable rain starting in May)
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