Hi Graeme,
While not wanting to rule out your suggestion that the Pink Robin may have
originated fairly close to Wianamatta, as it may well have, I would think
that it would be more likely a latitudinal migrant as we are just learning
now how extensive the northern movement of birds from southern latitudes in
winter really is. We have known for many decades about the Tasmanian and
Victorian Silvereyes moving into New South Wales and Southern Queensland but
it is now known that Tasmanian Grey Fantails and Tasmanian and Victorian
Golden Whistlers move north. The Tasmanian Boobook is thought to move to
the mainland as well but this has been recently challenged. I wouldn't be
at all surprised if the presumed altitudinal migrants such as the Rose Robin
and Pied Currawong, are in fact latitudinal migrants. The abundance of
Willie Wagtails on the NSW north coast during the winter is also highly
suggestive of an influx of migrants (from southern latitudes?). Other
species known to migrate north in autumn-winter include the Yellow-faced and
White-naped Honeyeaters. Red Wattlebirds move to the north coast in the
autumn-winter but again it is not known whether they are altitudinal or
latitudinal migrants.
It is clear that there is much to learn about the migration of Australian
birds, particularly during the autumn-winter months.
Regards
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide
| PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460
| 02 6649 315302 6649 3153 | 0429 601 9600429 601 960
http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com
http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Graeme Chapman
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 10:46 AM
To:
Subject: Pink Robins in NSW
The recent banding record of a female Pink Robin at Wianamatta Reserve near
Penrith, same bird for second year in a row, started me thinking.
The nearest breeding location that I know of is at Mt Ginini west of
Canberra, just below the tree line at about 1600 M above sea level.
When this area is deep in snow, (which it would be at present ) these birds
would presumably move.
Years ago, Steve Wilson and his team operated a banding station lower down
in the Brindabellas and they used to catch Pink Robins, in winter if I
remember correctly.
It seems unlikely to me that the female near Penrith has come from the
A.C.T. - more likely it has come from somewhere not so far away.
There are areas above 1300 M just straight up the valley from Penrith that
might bear investigation if suitable habitat occurs.
At Thredbo, where they are known to breed, the suitable habitat is
creekline, lined with tree ferns.
At Mt Ginini, the habitat is less distinctive, a fairly light scrub about 6m
M high which is fairly open underneath, lots of mosses etc.
Cheers
Graeme Chapman
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
|
