two honeyeater questions

[Penny Brockman <>]

There has been a noticeable lack of medium size honeyeaters in the Gloucester area ever since we were shrouded in smoke during the bush fires.

The oddity in my garden, however, is a Little Wattlebird.  First time I've seen one here.  It's taken up residence (2 weeks ago) perching in the almost bare mulberry and croaking in hope of getting a reply. Rest of its daily activity is feeding in a banksia spinulosa and a heavily flowering grevillea with the occasional bath.  The Red Wattlebird sees it off sharply from time to time.

I think most of our smaller honeyeaters went to the coast during that horrible time and haven't returned.

Penny in Gloucester

On 17/07/2020 5:05 PM, Kim Sterelny wrote:

Hi Folks: two queries


  1.  Today at my place near Central Tilba, NSW far south coast, I saw for the first time white-eared honeyeaters (at least two). The distribution maps do not exclude them, but I thought they were more inland, dry country birds. Possible that fires and drought have pushed them east, and they are still here? Others more expert (almost everyone) will probably know whether this sighting is genuinely unusual
  2.  For the last couple of months, I am getting dozens, if not more, of white napped honeyeaters coming into drink at my various watering stations. I have always had a few, but lately they have been the most common bird on the property, by quite a way. Has anyone else noted a spike in their numbers?

Hope you are all doing OK in these weird times

Kim


Kim Sterelny, School of Philosophy, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, 0200, ACT, Australia
m("anu.edu.au","Kim.Sterelny");"> or m("vuw.ac.nz","Kim.Sterelny");">

61-(0)2-6125-2886

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