Two and a Half Centuries of Birdwatching
"The trees over our heads abounded very much with Loryquets and Cocatoos of
which we shot several; both these sorts flew in flocks of several scores
together." Joseph Banks, Botany Bay, May 1, 1770
And so began the written accounts of Sydney's birdlife. Long-standing
Cumberland Bird Observers' Club member Andrew Patrick has become the most
recent author on the subject with the publication of Birds of Sydney, Two
and a Half Centuries of Birdwatching.
His book is an annotated list of the 474 bird species which have been
recorded in Sydney since 1770. The book is a reminder to us all that most
bird populations are constantly changing, albeit slowly by the measure of
one human lifespan. Some species such as Hooded Robin, Brolga and Brown
Treecreeper have disappeared from Sydney due to habitat changes. Others like
the Turquoise Parrot and Diamond Firetail were trapped in huge numbers for
the avicultural trade.
The Eastern Ground Parrot used to be found in Botany Bay, Long Bay,
Maroubra, the Royal National Park, North Head and Narrabeen. Its decline can
be attributed in part to hunting. Sportsmen used dogs to flush the bird
which "flies in jerks, goes away very sharp before a wind, and is very
pretty shooting". It was apparently excellent eating too.
Not all species are in decline though. We are all familiar with the
continuing rise of the Australian Brush-turkey. White-plumed Honeyeater,
Australasian Figbird and Crested Pigeon used to be totally unheard of in
Sydney only two generations ago. And Bell Miners were only found on the
western fringe of Sydney in the 1950s.
Vagrants also add considerably to Sydney's list of species. Banded Stilt,
Spotted Bowerbird and Painted Finch have all visited at some stage in the
past. If you missed them you may have caught up with more recent visitors
such as Grey-headed Lapwing and Paradise Shelduck.
The book makes fascinating reading about birdlife in our changing city.
Sydney's bird populations will no doubt continue to change in the future and
one wonders what will happen over the next 250 years.
The book costs $20 and is available from the author at club meetings and
some outings. The next Cumberland Bird Observers' Club meeting is being held
this Tuesday, July 19, at the Castle Hill Community Centre, "Castle Grand",
on the corner of Castle and Pennant Streets, Castle Hill at 8pm. The
Community Centre is on level one, under the library, and the car park
entrance is in Castle Street, opposite the Police Station. Parking is also
available in the shopping centre across the road.
Andrew can be contacted on 9639 8549 or by email
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