Well out here on Lord Howe Island we have Lord Howe Woodhens and Buff Banded
Rails as dominant tip chooks with the odd Purple Swamphen or Blackbird thrown in
Hank Bower
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
Sent: Friday, 2 June 2017 2:30 AM
To:
Subject: Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 44, Issue 1
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re:
Contents of Birding-Aus digest..."
Today's Topics:
1.
(Laurie Knight)
2. Re: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
(Greg and Val Clancy)
3. Re: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
(Roger Giller)
4. Re: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
(Noel Luff)
5. Re: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
(John Harris)
6. Orts. Firetails. Hanzab? (Judith L-A)
7. Re: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
(John Leonard)
8. Re: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
(sandra henderson)
9. Re: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
(Mona Loofs-Samorzewski)
10. Re: Orts. Firetails. Hanzab? (Dick Turner)
11. Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation (Laurie Knight)
12. Re: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation (Dave Torr)
13. Re: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation (Laurie Knight)
14. Increased frequency of extreme weather events has a bigger
impact on Black Browed Albatross than increased mean temperature
(Laurie Knight)
15. Re: Orts. Firetails. Hanzab? (Martin Butterfield)
16. Re: Orts. Firetails. Hanzab? (Gordon Claridge)
17. Orts or Oorts? (Valentine, Peter)
18. Re: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation (Chris Corben)
19. Re: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation (Philip Veerman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 04:49:35 +1000
From: Laurie Knight <>
To: Birding Aus <>
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump chook at a
landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week?s episode of the War on
Waste.
The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places, Silver Gulls,
the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays. In Weipa, Pied Herons
filled the role.
How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
Regards, Laurie.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 07:17:26 +1000
From: "Greg and Val Clancy" <>
To: "Laurie Knight" <>, "Birding Aus"
<>
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252";
reply-type=original
Hi Laurie,
We have Pelicans at the South Grafton Waste facility, north coast NSW, as well
and of course Torresian Crows and Australian Magpies.
Regards
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide
| PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460
| 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960
http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com
http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Laurie Knight
Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2017 4:49 AM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump chook at a
landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week?s episode of the War on
Waste.
The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places, Silver Gulls,
the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays. In Weipa, Pied Herons
filled the role.
How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
Regards, Laurie.
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 08:05:44 +1000
From: "Roger Giller" <>
To: "'Laurie Knight'" <>, "'Birding Aus'"
<>
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Australian and Little Ravens at Jindabyne, with Silver Gulls as a back-up crew.
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
Laurie Knight
Sent: 1 June 2017 4:50 AM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in Australia?
It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump chook at a
landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week's episode of the War on
Waste.
The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places, Silver Gulls,
the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays. In Weipa, Pied Herons
filled the role.
How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
Regards, Laurie.
<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>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 08:41:12 +1000
From: Noel Luff <>
To: Roger Giller <>
Cc: Laurie Knight <>, Birding Aus
<>
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID:
<CAGPBdA5WUHP7g1MPaOOL=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Mugga Tip, Canberra - of late Magpie Larks at green waste dump
On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 8:05 AM, Roger Giller <>
wrote:
> Australian and Little Ravens at Jindabyne, with Silver Gulls as a
> back-up crew.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Birding-Aus On
> Behalf Of Laurie Knight
> Sent: 1 June 2017 4:50 AM
> To: Birding Aus
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] How many species of dump chook are there in
> Australia?
>
> It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump chook
> at a landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week's episode of
> the War on Waste.
>
> The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places,
> Silver Gulls, the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays. In
> Weipa, Pied Herons filled the role.
>
> How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
>
> Regards, Laurie.
> <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>
>
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 08:54:59 +1000
From: John Harris <>
To: Laurie Knight <>
Cc: Birding Aus <>
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID:
<CAAQ8HpkNOzWsMz2OVkp=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Hi Laurie,
Supposedly the Mildura tip is the most reliable place to see Little Crow in
Victoria!! Along with the other corvids already mentioned, that almost makes a
"full house" of corvids, only missing the Forest maybe.
Cheers
John
*Yours in all things* "*GREEN"*
*John Harris BASc, GDipEd*
*Croydon, Vic*
*Director - Wildlife Experiences Pty Ltd* *Principal **Zoologist/**Ecologist*
*Nature Photographer* *Wildlife Guide*
*www.wildlifeexperiences.com.au <http://www.wildlifeexperiences.com.au>*
*www.facebook.com/wildlifeexperiences/
<http://www.facebook.com/wildlifeexperiences/>*
<>*
*www.flickr.com/photos/wildlifeexperiences
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildlifeexperiences>*
*0409090955*
*Past President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria* *(www.fncv.org.au
<http://www.fncv.org.au/>)*
On 1 June 2017 at 04:49, Laurie Knight <> wrote:
> It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump chook
> at a landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week?s episode of
> the War on Waste.
>
> The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places,
> Silver Gulls, the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays. In
> Weipa, Pied Herons filled the role.
>
> How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
>
> Regards, Laurie.
> <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>
>
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 09:29:01 +1000
From: Judith L-A <>
To:
Subject: Orts. Firetails. Hanzab?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
(Are the allocas seed pods only called orts after they've been eaten from?)
Main query-- Yesterday I watched Red-browed Firetails systematically feeding
in Glossy Black-Cockatoo Allocasuarinas. The finches lean towards the ort,
delicately insert their beak, & remove themselves while eating.
Does Hanzab list this as a foraging activity / food genus for this species?
Cheers
Judith
Please check your Contacts-?
my email address is now JLA This note's from the mobile.
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 09:26:59 +1000
From: John Leonard <>
To: Noel Luff <>
Cc: Roger Giller <>, Birding Aus
<>
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
And at Mugga Lane Tip in Canberra there used to be a colony of Fairy Martins!
John Leonard
> On 1 Jun 2017, at 8:41 am, Noel Luff <> wrote:
>
> Mugga Tip, Canberra - of late Magpie Larks at green waste dump
>
> On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 8:05 AM, Roger Giller <>
> wrote:
>
>> Australian and Little Ravens at Jindabyne, with Silver Gulls as a
>> back-up crew.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Birding-Aus On
>> Behalf Of Laurie Knight
>> Sent: 1 June 2017 4:50 AM
>> To: Birding Aus
>> Subject: [Birding-Aus] How many species of dump chook are there in
>> Australia?
>>
>> It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump chook
>> at a landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week's episode of
>> the War on Waste.
>>
>> The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places,
>> Silver Gulls, the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays.
>> In Weipa, Pied Herons filled the role.
>>
>> How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
>>
>> Regards, Laurie.
>> <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>
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 09:33:37 +1000
From: sandra henderson <>
To: Noel Luff <>
Cc: Roger Giller <>, Birding Aus
<>
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID:
<CAMy=E2QaswqyLkJAb9=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
and typically at the main area of Canberra Tip (AKA Waste Management Resource
Centre) the silver gulls and white ibis are in big numbers, although at times
pelicans have also been there in large flocks sandra h
On 1 June 2017 at 08:41, Noel Luff <> wrote:
> Mugga Tip, Canberra - of late Magpie Larks at green waste dump
>
> On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 8:05 AM, Roger Giller <>
> wrote:
>
> > Australian and Little Ravens at Jindabyne, with Silver Gulls as a
> > back-up crew.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Birding-Aus On
> > Behalf Of Laurie Knight
> > Sent: 1 June 2017 4:50 AM
> > To: Birding Aus
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] How many species of dump chook are there in
> > Australia?
> >
> > It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump
> > chook at
> a
> > landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week's episode of the
> > War
> on
> > Waste.
> >
> > The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places,
> > Silver Gulls, the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays.
> > In Weipa,
> Pied
> > Herons filled the role.
> >
> > How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
> >
> > Regards, Laurie.
> > <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>
>
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 13:27:41 +1000
From: Mona Loofs-Samorzewski <>
To:
Subject: How many species of dump chook are there in
Australia?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Forest Raven are well represented at the South Hobart tip, along with Silver
Gull, Kelp Gull and the odd Pacific Gull. There have also been regular visits
by White-bellied Sea-eagle and Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Mona
> On 1 Jun 2017, at 8:54 am, John Harris <> wrote:
>
> Hi Laurie,
> Supposedly the Mildura tip is the most reliable place to see Little
> Crow in Victoria!! Along with the other corvids already mentioned,
> that almost makes a "full house" of corvids, only missing the Forest maybe.
>
> Cheers
>
> John
>
>
> *Yours in all things* "*GREEN"*
>
> *John Harris BASc, GDipEd*
> *Croydon, Vic*
> *Director - Wildlife Experiences Pty Ltd* *Principal
> **Zoologist/**Ecologist* *Nature Photographer* *Wildlife Guide*
>
> *www.wildlifeexperiences.com.au
> <http://www.wildlifeexperiences.com.au>*
>
> *www.facebook.com/wildlifeexperiences/
> <http://www.facebook.com/wildlifeexperiences/>*
> <>*
> *www.flickr.com/photos/wildlifeexperiences
> <http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildlifeexperiences>*
> *0409090955*
>
> *Past President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria* *(www.fncv.org.au
> <http://www.fncv.org.au/>)*
>
> On 1 June 2017 at 04:49, Laurie Knight <> wrote:
>
>> It was fascinating to see Aus Pelicans filling the role of dump chook
>> at a landfill [presumably around Melbourne] on this week?s episode of
>> the War on Waste.
>>
>> The dominant dump chooks in SEQ are white ibis. In other places,
>> Silver Gulls, the local corvids and Black Kites are the mainstays.
>> In Weipa, Pied Herons filled the role.
>>
>> How many other species of dump chook are there in Australia?
>>
>> Regards, Laurie.
>> <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>
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 15:04:04 +1000
From: Dick Turner <>
To:
Subject: Orts. Firetails. Hanzab?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
reply all,
I cannot locate the word ort in two botanical references.
But I do know that finches eat casuarina seed, including beautiful firetail
eating seed of Allocasurina littoralis in forests near Eden, N.S.W..
Dick Turner
On 1/06/2017 9:29 AM, Judith L-A wrote:
> (Are the allocas seed pods only called orts after they've been eaten
> from?)
>
> Main query-- Yesterday I watched Red-browed Firetails systematically feeding
> in Glossy Black-Cockatoo Allocasuarinas. The finches lean towards the ort,
> delicately insert their beak, & remove themselves while eating.
>
> Does Hanzab list this as a foraging activity / food genus for this species?
>
> Cheers
> Judith
>
>
> Please check your Contacts-?
> my email address is now JLA This note's from the
> mobile.
>
> <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>
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 17:56:54 +1000
From: Laurie Knight <>
To: Birding Aus <>
Subject: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Steve Garnett and Les Christidis say
"The assumption that species are fixed entities1 underpins every international
agreement on biodiversity conservation, all national environmental legislation
and the efforts of many individuals and organizations to safeguard plants and
animals. Yet for a discipline aiming to impose order on the natural world,
taxonomy (the classification of complex organisms) is remarkably anarchic.?
See today?s edition of Nature:
http://www.nature.com/news/taxonomy-anarchy-hampers-conservation-1.22064
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 18:00:06 +1000
From: Dave Torr <>
To: "L&L Knight" <>
Cc: birding-aus <>
Subject: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation
Message-ID:
<>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
If one accepts evolution then surely the corollary is that species change over
time. Else there would probably only be one species of bird Or am I missing
something?
On 1 Jun 2017 17:58, "Laurie Knight" <> wrote:
> Steve Garnett and Les Christidis say
>
> "The assumption that species are fixed entities1 underpins every
> international agreement on biodiversity conservation, all national
> environmental legislation and the efforts of many individuals and
> organizations to safeguard plants and animals. Yet for a discipline
> aiming to impose order on the natural world, taxonomy (the
> classification of complex organisms) is remarkably anarchic.?
>
> See today?s edition of Nature: http://www.nature.com/news/
> taxonomy-anarchy-hampers-conservation-1.22064
> <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>
>
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 18:03:15 +1000
From: Laurie Knight <>
To: Dave Torr <>
Cc: Birding Aus <>
Subject: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
That?s not the point of the paper
"There is reasonable agreement among taxonomists that a species should
represent a distinct evolutionary lineage. But there is none about how a
lineage should be defined. 'Species' are often created or dismissed
arbitrarily, according to the individual taxonomist's adherence to one of at
least 30 definitions. Crucially, there is no global oversight of taxonomic
decisions ? researchers can 'split or lump' species with no consideration of
the consequences.?
On 1 Jun 2017, at 6:00 pm, Dave Torr <> wrote:
> If one accepts evolution then surely the corollary is that species
> change over time. Else there would probably only be one species of bird Or am
> I missing something?
>
> On 1 Jun 2017 17:58, "Laurie Knight" <> wrote:
> Steve Garnett and Les Christidis say
>
> "The assumption that species are fixed entities1 underpins every
> international agreement on biodiversity conservation, all national
> environmental legislation and the efforts of many individuals and
> organizations to safeguard plants and animals. Yet for a discipline aiming to
> impose order on the natural world, taxonomy (the classification of complex
> organisms) is remarkably anarchic.?
>
> See today?s edition of Nature:
> http://www.nature.com/news/taxonomy-anarchy-hampers-conservation-1.220
> 64
> <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>
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 18:09:46 +1000
From: Laurie Knight <>
To: Birding Aus <>
Subject: Increased frequency of extreme weather events
has a bigger impact on Black Browed Albatross than increased mean
temperature
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
see https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170530140735.htm
------------------------------
Message: 15
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 15:36:25 +1000
From: Martin Butterfield <>
To: Dick Turner <>
Cc: birding-aus NEW <>
Subject: Orts. Firetails. Hanzab?
Message-ID:
<CANX9cvhaGjWVpfm9K+sW9hHf1mZm4uacLGCAhCxxiYWQ_6Xg=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Googling "ort" many general dictionaries define it as a scrap of left over
food. It seems to come from Middle and Old English and to be cognate with a
similar word in Middle Low German. Possibly the word is not of relevance to
botanists because it only applies when the plant has been eaten?
I was tempted to suggest a link to the O*ort* cloud of scraps of material
around the solar system but that appears wrong as it is actually named after an
astronomer Jan Oort!
To answer Judith's question HANZAB cites one reference to red-brows dining on
casuarina cones.
Martin Butterfield
http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
On 1 June 2017 at 15:04, Dick Turner <> wrote:
> reply all,
>
> I cannot locate the word ort in two botanical references.
>
> But I do know that finches eat casuarina seed, including beautiful
> firetail eating seed of Allocasurina littoralis in forests near Eden,
> N.S.W..
>
>
>
> Dick Turner
>
>
> On 1/06/2017 9:29 AM, Judith L-A wrote:
>
>> (Are the allocas seed pods only called orts after they've been eaten
>> from?)
>>
>> Main query-- Yesterday I watched Red-browed Firetails systematically
>> feeding in Glossy Black-Cockatoo Allocasuarinas. The finches lean
>> towards the ort, delicately insert their beak, & remove themselves while
>> eating.
>>
>> Does Hanzab list this as a foraging activity / food genus for this
>> species?
>>
>> Cheers
>> Judith
>>
>>
>> Please check your Contacts-?
>> my email address is now JLA This note's from the
>> mobile.
>>
>> <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>
>
------------------------------
Message: 16
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 16:02:23 +1000
From: Gordon Claridge <>
To: Dick Turner <>
Cc:
Subject: Orts. Firetails. Hanzab?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
It?s not a botanical term. It is an ecological term used to describe the
broken remains of Allocasuarina seed cones lying under the tree after being
broken by birds (usually Glossy Black-Cockatoos) in the process of extracting
the seeds. The number of orts under a tree is used as a measure of the level
of food/feeding activity at the tree and the colour of the orts provides a
guide to the length of time that has elapsed since they were broken.
regards
Gordon Claridge
> On 1 Jun 2017, at 3:04 pm, Dick Turner <> wrote:
>
> reply all,
>
> I cannot locate the word ort in two botanical references.
>
> But I do know that finches eat casuarina seed, including beautiful firetail
> eating seed of Allocasurina littoralis in forests near Eden, N.S.W..
>
>
>
> Dick Turner
>
> On 1/06/2017 9:29 AM, Judith L-A wrote:
>> (Are the allocas seed pods only called orts after they've been eaten
>> from?)
>>
>> Main query-- Yesterday I watched Red-browed Firetails systematically
>> feeding in Glossy Black-Cockatoo Allocasuarinas. The finches lean towards
>> the ort, delicately insert their beak, & remove themselves while eating.
>>
>> Does Hanzab list this as a foraging activity / food genus for this species?
>>
>> Cheers
>> Judith
>>
>>
>> Please check your Contacts-?
>> my email address is now JLA This note's from the
>> mobile.
>>
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 11:18:34 +0000
From: "Valentine, Peter" <>
To: Martin Butterfield <>
Cc: Dick Turner <>, birding-aus NEW
<>
Subject: Orts or Oorts?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Oorts are fragments of chewed up grass (or other similar material) that are
spat out by small mammals, especially Bettongs, probably because these remnants
are too fibrous to swallow. Ecologists are using them to help measure activity
of bettongs at different sites and also to collect DNA from fresh saliva-rich
oorts (as a non-invasive sampling technique). It makes sense given the
definition Martin found for ?orts" (food scraps). I wonder whether there is a
different spelling by chance or deliberately (Gordon Claridge?) as the context
seems the same (food scraps).
An interesting thread ?
Peter
On 1 Jun 2017, at 3:36 pm, Martin Butterfield
<<>> wrote:
Googling "ort" many general dictionaries define it as a scrap of left over
food. It seems to come from Middle and Old English and to be cognate with a
similar word in Middle Low German. Possibly the word is not of relevance to
botanists because it only applies when the plant has been eaten?
I was tempted to suggest a link to the O*ort* cloud of scraps of material
around the solar system but that appears wrong as it is actually named after an
astronomer Jan Oort!
To answer Judith's question HANZAB cites one reference to red-brows dining on
casuarina cones.
Martin Butterfield
http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
On 1 June 2017 at 15:04, Dick Turner <> wrote:
reply all,
I cannot locate the word ort in two botanical references.
But I do know that finches eat casuarina seed, including beautiful firetail
eating seed of Allocasurina littoralis in forests near Eden, N.S.W..
Dick Turner
On 1/06/2017 9:29 AM, Judith L-A wrote:
(Are the allocas seed pods only called orts after they've been eaten
from?)
Main query-- Yesterday I watched Red-browed Firetails systematically feeding
in Glossy Black-Cockatoo Allocasuarinas. The finches lean towards the ort,
delicately insert their beak, & remove themselves while eating.
Does Hanzab list this as a foraging activity / food genus for this species?
Cheers
Judith
Please check your Contacts-?
my email address is now JLA This note's from the mobile.
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Adjunct Professor Peter Valentine
College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University
Malanda 4096 6171
0427 634 136 (no reception at home)
<>
------------------------------
Message: 18
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 08:20:24 -0500
From: Chris Corben <>
To:
Subject: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
So taxonomy should be a political activity? It is already basically a
political decision that only species matter. Yet believe it or not, back in the
early 90s Qld Forestry accepted the notion that they should protect the
viability of local populations, not just broader categories like species or
subspecies. Northern Spotted Owl got protection in the USA despite not even
being a subspecies!
Cheers, Chris.
On 6/1/2017 3:03 AM, Laurie Knight wrote:
> That?s not the point of the paper
>
> "There is reasonable agreement among taxonomists that a species should
> represent a distinct evolutionary lineage. But there is none about how a
> lineage should be defined. 'Species' are often created or dismissed
> arbitrarily, according to the individual taxonomist's adherence to one of at
> least 30 definitions. Crucially, there is no global oversight of taxonomic
> decisions ? researchers can 'split or lump' species with no consideration of
> the consequences.?
>
> On 1 Jun 2017, at 6:00 pm, Dave Torr <> wrote:
>
>> If one accepts evolution then surely the corollary is that species
>> change over time. Else there would probably only be one species of bird Or
>> am I missing something?
>>
>> On 1 Jun 2017 17:58, "Laurie Knight" <> wrote:
>> Steve Garnett and Les Christidis say
>>
>> "The assumption that species are fixed entities1 underpins every
>> international agreement on biodiversity conservation, all national
>> environmental legislation and the efforts of many individuals and
>> organizations to safeguard plants and animals. Yet for a discipline aiming
>> to impose order on the natural world, taxonomy (the classification of
>> complex organisms) is remarkably anarchic.?
>>
>> See today?s edition of Nature:
>> http://www.nature.com/news/taxonomy-anarchy-hampers-conservation-1.22
>> 064
>> <HR>
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--
Chris Corben.
------------------------------
Message: 19
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2017 00:02:05 +1000
From: "Philip Veerman" <>
To: "'Birding Aus'" <>
Subject: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
I suspect it is not the "change over time" that is the issue, because that
scale of time is longer than the scope of current bureaucratic issues. However
that the change occurs over time but that we are at a particular point in time,
so that it is obvious that at any one point in time there will be some species
that are in a stable state and easily defined, especially if no other close
relatives still exist (think for example of the platypus), whereas other
species will be at a stage of variation at which it is hard to set dividing
lines as to the boundaries of particular species.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
Dave Torr
Sent: Thursday, 1 June, 2017 6:00 PM
To: L&L Knight
Cc: birding-aus
Subject: Taxonomical Anarchy Hampers Conservation
If one accepts evolution then surely the corollary is that species change over
time. Else there would probably only be one species of bird Or am I missing
something?
On 1 Jun 2017 17:58, "Laurie Knight" <> wrote:
> Steve Garnett and Les Christidis say
>
> "The assumption that species are fixed entities1 underpins every
> international agreement on biodiversity conservation, all national
> environmental legislation and the efforts of many individuals and
> organizations to safeguard plants and animals. Yet for a discipline
> aiming to impose order on the natural world, taxonomy (the
> classification of complex organisms) is remarkably anarchic.?
>
> See today?s edition of Nature: http://www.nature.com/news/
> taxonomy-anarchy-hampers-conservation-1.22064
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