Wayne,
You may be interested in the following article by Harry Recher:
Ecology of Co-existing White-cheeked and New Holland Honeyeaters
HF Recher
Emu 77(3) 136 - 142
Abstract
The ecology and breeding biology of White-cheeked Phylidonyris nigra and New
Holland P. novaehollandiae Honeyeaters has been studied since 1967 in the
Brisbane Waters National Park north of Sydney, NSW. This is an area where
the ranges of the two birds overlap and in one study plot, a heath, both
nest close to each other. Only the White-cheeked occurs in a second plot, a
dry sclerophyll woodland, near the heath. Breeding bird censuses have
revealed that during most years similar numbers of honeyeaters nest during
the autumn and spring but there can be considerable variation in numbers
between years. The number of nesting pairs may be related to weather and to
long-term changes in vegetation but there is no consistent pattern and
numbers may be determined by environmental factors outside the study area.
Both species forage in similar ways and take insects and nectar from the
same places. It is suggested that the presence of both on the heath for part
of the year is related to the abundance of nectar. In other places where the
species overlap they are separated by habitat. Data on clutch size, nest
sites and breeding success are presented and discussed.
Full text doi:10.1071/MU9770136
C CSIRO 1977
Kind regards,
Stephen
Dr Stephen Ambrose
Ryde, NSW
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Russ Lamb
Sent: Tuesday, 17 January 2012 11:18 AM
To: Wayne Ellis;
Subject: White cheeked and new Hollands
Wayne,
No it's not common, in fact quite rare, to see these species
together. I've only seen them together (well, within 100 m ) at the same
site once in 18 years on the Sunshine Coast, in 2010 near Baroon Pocket Dam,
North Maleny. White-cheeked inhabit mostly coastal banksia heath and
adjacent lowland scrub with taller banksia, whilst New Holland H/E is less
frequently seen, and then usually on the Blackall Range in euc. woodlands
(though I have seen New Hollands on the lowlands, near Landsborough).
Russ Lamb, Maleny,SEQ
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