Hi Peter and all,
The mallee of northern Victoria is similarly kicking on, with most of the
arrivals from earlier in spring hanging around and calling again. In recent
years migrant numbers have been low, and many have moved away by later in
spring/early summer.
We have also had some nice rains recently, and the current cool weather had
everything in full song this week up in Hattah, Murray Sunset and Wyperfeld
National Parks.
Makes you wonder if the bush birds have a sixth sense that the summer is going
to continue in a similar vein, ( how do those waterbirds know when to move ?),
or is it going to come to a sudden end when we get some more extreme heat?
Chestnut Quail-thrush and Crested Bellbirds have been more vocal than I've
heard for some time, Trillers and Songlarks continue their displays, Malleefowl
continue to work their mounds and Woodswallows are in abundance everywhere you
go, including many flocks along mallee roadsides. Cuckoos are still calling ,
even Black-eared , and a pleasant change to see the huge grain receival depots
in operation ( that cleared mallee is being useful ).
Parrot numbers generally seem to be as high as ever in the mallee, though Pink
Cockatoos may be the exception with no large numbers observed recently.
Striated Grasswrens have gone through a breeding cycle, but Mallee Emu-wrens
have seemingly vanished from the areas I have found them most reliably over the
last few years. There has been a very noticeable decline in their numbers over
the last 4 or 5 years, to the point now where I'm struggling to find them at
all.
I think that their current status as endangered is well justified, with numbers
being at a low, and the threat of bushfire very real. I am still finding 1's
and 2's but the days of finding 6 or 8 at a time are long gone.
Areas of Emubush that have been attracting so many Black and Pied Honeyeaters
are starting to decline, with fruiting taking place and not as much flowering,
but honeyeaters still remain in some numbers.
The Lakes at Hattah have a range of waterbirds, and no doubt will remain very
lively throughout the summer.
Great to see conditions so improved, for the moment at least.
Simon Starr,
Firetail Tours.
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