birding-aus

Migrating honeyeaters

To: Andy Burton <>
Subject: Migrating honeyeaters
From: Kim Sterelny <>
Date: Mon, 30 May 2016 23:46:10 +0000
Hi Folks

I am just back from Central Tilba; there was some spotted gum in flower (though 
by no means a huge amount), and the bush around our place was alive with yellow 
face honey eaters. We always have some, but every second bird was a YFH. Lots 
of Lewins too; maybe more than usual, and the typical squadrons of spinebill

Kim


Kim Sterelny
Philosophy Program
RSSS, ANU

e-mail
 <>, 
 <>

ANU Contact Information
Philosophy Program
Research School of the Social Sciences
Australian National University
0200 Canberra, ACT, Australia

phone

61- (0)2 6125-2886; messages:  Philosophy Program

61-(0)2 -6125 2341,
fax 61-(0)2 - 6125 3294



> On 31 May 2016, at 8:20 am, Andy Burton <> wrote:
>
> I find this north vs south migration interesting. But as I understand it, 
> during the cooler months, there are more Yellow-faced Honeyeaters in the 
> north and fewer in the south This is strongly suggestive of a northerly 
> movement.
>
> I wonder whether movements other than the northward one, are of birds 
> travelling in search of food resources within the general northern movement. 
> It is quite possible that the smell of Eucalyptus blossom carried by a 
> southerly breeze would encourage the birds to turn back, on a temporary basis.
>
> Andy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> On 30 May 2016, at 10:04 PM, Roger Giller <> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I have just reviewed an eBird record of 4000 in a 1hr 25min period from
>> Wattamolla in Royal National Park. Date May 6 2016. The record comment
>> mentions that "all but a few were flying south"
>>
>> Cheers
>> Roger.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Birding-Aus  On Behalf Of
>> Roger Giller
>> Sent: Monday, 23 May 2016 10:39 PM
>> To: 'Carol Probets'
>> Cc: 
>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Migrating honeyeaters
>>
>> Hi Carol,
>>
>>
>>
>> I have been keeping a weekly bird list from home for a few years, just
>> recording presence or absence for each week of the year. The results for
>> Yellow-faced Honeyeater
>>
>> are:-
>>
>>
>>
>> 2012 Weeks 15-23
>>
>> 2013 Weeks 13-25
>>
>> 2014 Weeks 12-26
>>
>> 2015 Weeks 18-20
>>
>> 2016 Weeks 13-21 (now)
>>
>>
>>
>> In all years I have not noticed any strong directional component in their
>> flight apart from the fact that they don't appear to be moving northward.
>>
>> It looks like I will be paying closer attention to them for the rest of this
>> season, and in years to come.
>>
>>
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Roger
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Carol Probets 
>> Sent: Monday, 23 May 2016 11:41 AM
>> To: Roger Giller
>> Cc: Paul Doyle; 
>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Migrating honeyeaters
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Paul and Roger,
>>
>>
>>
>> This is intriguing. Normally I'd guess it's some sort of local irregularity
>> but I've also heard other recent reports of southward movement, not only in
>> Sydney but from north coast NSW. As I wrote last month, this autumn we saw a
>> bumper northward honeyeater migration through the Blue Mountains, especially
>> during April, and this was reinforced by the spectacular movement through
>> the Hunter Valley as reported by Mick Roderick and others. I assume this was
>> due to very dry conditions further south.
>>
>>
>>
>> Why many are now heading south again this early beats me. As far as I know
>> the banksias are flowering OK up the coast...? Interesting that Roger has
>> noted the same thing in previous years (was it this early, Roger?). It all
>> shows just how how much we still don't know about these common yet
>> mysterious little travellers.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'd be interested to hear where else people are seeing them (especially
>> Yellow-faced and White-naped) in significant numbers, either migrating or
>> feeding.
>>
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>>
>>
>> Carol
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 23 May 2016, at 9:31 am, Roger Giller <> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>
>>> I am at Barden Ridge, about 5 km SW of Paul, and have noted the same
>> thing,
>>
>>> in previous years as well as now. Manly south with some random excursions
>>
>>> between various trees but of all the directions north would be the
>> minority.
>>
>>> Roger.
>>
>>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>>> From: Birding-Aus  On Behalf
>> Of
>>
>>> Paul Doyle
>>
>>> Sent: Sunday, 22 May 2016 1:36 PM
>>
>>> To: 
>>
>>> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Migrating honeyeaters
>>
>>>
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>
>>> For the last few weeks I have been watching flocks of honeyeaters, mainly
>>
>>> Yellow-faced as far as I can tell, moving past my place at Como, in
>> southern
>>
>>> Sydney (34degree 59 S, 151 degrees, 04 E).
>>
>>> Interested to see that every one of them so far, without exception, have
>>
>>> been moving pretty much due South. I realise that there could be some
>>
>>> irregularity in the directions travelled as they follow topography, etc.,
>>
>>> but it still seems strange.
>>
>>> Any ideas anyone?
>>
>>> Paul
>>
>>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>> <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>
>>
>> <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>
>
>
> <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>

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU