Hello all,
Finally back in the modern world with internet connection restored. Bron
and I have moved to an 18 acre property at Molesworth which is about 30
km north-west of Hobart. Its regarded as remote and as such we are able
to get our internet connection via satellite dish. We have about 4
hectares of bushland and 3 hectares of ex-grazing country that is at
risk of becoming a thistle jungle after record rainfall since we moved
here a couple of months ago. This came after a long period of drought.
Our dam which was once a tiny thirsty pond has now transformed into an
80 metre long lake. So far on our dam we have had nesting Tasmanian
Native-hens, Pacific Black Ducks, Chestnut Teal and now the Australasian
Grebes are sitting on eggs. I have to say though that I don't know
exactly where the ducks nested. Parents and ducklings occur irregularly-
I assume they are using other dams in the area as well.
The native-hens had clutch of five, but only one seems to have survived
to the current moment. Dogs may be the culprits as I watched an unknown
dog harassing the native-hens a week or so ago. The parents approach
seems to be to run away making a great racket to attract attention. I
think our Masked Lapwings have a more effective approach. When a dog
gets too close they dive-bomb the offending animal mercilessly until it
gives way. It seems to work as they have successfully raised their four
chicks to the current moment. I find it interesting that the secretive
and shy native-hens haven't been as successful as the bold as brass
lapwings.
The migrants have all been returning including Welcome Swallows,
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Dusky Woodswallow, Striated Pardalote,
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo. The bird list is up to 41 species now,
respectable for Tasmania. Birds that I used to take for granted on the
mainland like cuckoo-shrikes and woodswallows are welcome and
fascinating migrants here. No sparrows, starlings or blackbirds yet
although I have had them all within a kilometre of our boundaries.
Probably the rarest bird on the list is the Spotted Quail-thrush which
we have had a few times but only irregularly. I suspect that our block
is only a small part of their territory. On the mammal front we have
Bennett's Wallaby, Tasmanian Pademelon, Tasmanian Bettong along with the
vegetable-marauding Brushtail Possums and rabbits.
The rosellas are another interesting feature. A few months ago I
reported to birding-aus my sighting of a suspected rosella hybrid. This
rosella along with its Green Rosella mate are regular visitors to our
backyard. I have managed to take many photos of the bird since we've
been here. I've put some of them up on my website
(www.wildlifing.smugmug.com). I suspect that it is a male and that its
Green Rosella mate is a female. It is the only "Eastern" that I have
seen in our vicinity so far. The hybrid rosella calls like an Eastern
when relaxed but like a Green when it is disturbed. It holds food in its
right foot. Its Green mate holds food in its left foot.
Cheers
Mick
--
Michael Todd
PhD Candidate- Tasmanian Masked Owl
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 05, Hobart, Tasmania 7001
Mobile: O458 394676
FAX: (03) 6226 2745
Wildlifing (www.wildlifing.smugmug.com)
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