Eucalypts are generally unpredictable, but it isn't unusual to have seasons
with little or no blossom in an area. For instance, last year was a big
"Spotted Gum year" that attracted the birds I listed below to the
Cessnock-Kurri forests. At the same time there was virtually nothing flowering
in the Swamp Mahogany dominated forests on the coast (that Al Richardson talks
about below).
Spotted Gums flower on a 2 to 3 year cycle and can actually hold bud for a long
time (maybe up to 2 years?). Apiarists would be good to ask these sorts of
questions. In the Hunter, the last 6 big "Spotted Gum years" appear to have
been 1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2012. Not too sure what happened between
2000 and 2005. In each of these years we had significant numbers of Regent
Honeyeaters and Swift Parrots in the Cessnock-Kurri forests. In other years (eg
2002) the Swamp Mahogany forests flowered and attracted good numbers of these
birds.
Note that I'm only talking about what has happened in the Hunter here - despite
last year being a big Spotted Gum year on the NSW South Coast it appears that
there is a reasonable amount of blossom down there this year as well.
Note also that these birds (especially Swifties) love feeding on lerp as well.
Mick
________________________________
From: Allan Richardson <>
To: Peter Madvig <>
Cc: Carl Weber <>; 'Mick Roderick'
<>;
Sent: Wednesday, 22 May 2013 4:04 PM
Subject: Werakata SCA and NP - where is the Car Park?
Hi Carl,
Around Morisset I've found individual cohorts of Swamp Mahogany to fire in
different years.
In 2011, the last time we had Regent Honeyeaters here, the blossom was out in
very good densities, but the following season (last year) was dominated by
trees setting seed.
Trees the birds were using in 2011 are out again this year, but there are some
patches in the wider locality that aren't firing at all this season and aren't
carrying any bud.
Locally it looks like a 2 year cycle prevails. However, I think the extent to
which the trees flower depends on how dry the habitat is in a given year.
Allan Richardson
Morisset NSW
On 22/05/2013, at 3:54 PM, Peter Madvig wrote:
> Hi Carl,
>
> There have been days with 'Muskies', Carl, such as Wed 8th. September, where
> the CBOC had an outing... They do move about, tho'.
> Cheers
> Peter Madvig
>
>
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