Swanson N.M. and Merritt F.D. (1974). The Breeding Cycle of the Wedge-tailed Shearwater on Mutton Bird Island, N.S.W.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:3-9

The Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus  breeds on most of the islands off the coast of eastern Australia, yet despite its abundance and numerous references to its presence, little critical work has been reported. A study was initiated on Mutton Bird Island, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales (30degrees 18 minutes south, 153degrees 9 minutes east) in September 1969 to determine the breeding cycle of this Shearwater, and the findings of this study to date are reported in this paper.

Lane S.G. (1974). The Shearwater Colony on Lion Island. The Australian Bird Bander 12:10

Robertson J.S. (1974). Spangled Drongo Age Indicators.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:11-13

Spangled Drongos Chibia bracteata  are present at Wellington Point, Moreton Bay, Queensland from March to September. Apparently they find this a suitable wintering area.

Lane S.G. (1974). Seabird Islands. No. 6, North Solitary Island, New South Wales.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:14-15

Reilly P.N. and Balmford P. (1974). Penguin Study Group: Fourth Report. The Australian Bird Bander 12:27-31

This report brings up-to-date, to 30 June 1973, information published in previous reports which have appeared in this journal. The work of the Penguin Study Group (VORG) has now extended over five full years and the results obtained enable a number of useful generalisations to be made about the Little Penguin Eudyptula minor  at Phillip Island, Victoria.

Templeton M.T. (1974). Banding of Swamp Harriers on King Island, Tasmania.  The Australian Bird Bander 12: 32-33

Between January 1971 and June 1973, 26 Swamp Harriers Circus approximans  were banded at Loorana on the central west coast of King Island, Tasmania. King Island is situated in Bass Strait about 100 km north-west of mainland Tasmania.

Purchase D. (1974). First Overseas Recoveries of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Banded in Australia.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:34-35

Three recent recoveries in the Phillipines of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Puffinus pacificus banded on islands off the coast of New South Wales suggest that the species may be less sedentary than has been previously thought. This is supported by the fact that of the 16,630 of these birds which have been banded on the coast of New South Wales none has been recovered (or banded) in Australia during June or July.

Gray D.F. and Gwynne A.J. (1974). Seabird Islands. No. 7, Moon Island, New South Wales.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:36-37

Pratt E.K. (1974). Some Details of Satin Bowerbird Nesting. The Australian Bird Bander 12:38-40

On 7 January 1972. a Satin Bower-bird Ptilonorhyncus violaceus commenced building her nest in a tree on the farm beside a path between the house and the dairy. The spot chosen was on a limb about 18 metrres above ground; although in a patch of leaves on a limb, it was far from secluded as the track is the busiest on the farm. The bird's activities could be seen readily and the nest building proceeded at a good pace. by 14 January she had started to brood; thus nest-building took about seven days.

Mees G.F. (1974). The Migration of the Tasmanian Race of the Silvereye. The Australian Bird Bander 12:51-54

In a recent contribution to this journal, Lane (1972a) reviewed results hitherto achieved through the Co-operative Silvereye Project, and posed a number of questions for future study. The purpose of this paper is to add a few more questions, and to modify some of those listed by Lane.

Lane S.G. (1974). Soft Part Colours in Fuscous Honeyeaters. The Australian Bird Bander 12:55-57

In the Sydney district, New South Wales, Fuscous Honeyeaters Meliphaga fusca  of both sexes have a black bill, black gape and a black or darkish eye-ring when breeding, after which the colours change to yellow gape, horn to yellow base to the bill which has a black or dark tip, and a yellow eye-ring. Available evidence indicates that these colour changes apply generally throughout the distribution of the species. Males are larger than females but there is an overlap which is accentuated by the moult of juvenile / first year  primaries.

Morris A.K. (1974). Fuscous Honeyeaters in the Mudgee District. The Australian Bird Bander 12:58

Disney H.J. de S. (1974). Nesting of Grey Butcherbirds.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:59-60

In September 1065 my neighbours were feeding regularly with meat a pair of Grey Butcherbirds Cracticus torquatus, which were nesting in their garden. A trap was baited with meat and the first adult captured was banded and dyed with picric acid for identification. The other adult was found to be one I had netted and banded in my own garden in 1963. The young were subsequently banded in the nest. The notes reported here are on the nesting of this pair in 1965 and 1966.

Gibson J.D. (1974). New South Wales Albatross Study, 1973. The Australian Bird Bander 12:61

A total of 251 Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans was caught during 1973 of which 44% were retraps (see table below). One of the retraps (528-72713 / 140-25494) originally banded off Bellambi in 1959, has since been recorded at South Georgia twice and at the banding place five times.  The total number banded off the coast of New South Wales is now 3422.

Morris A.K. (1974). Seabird Islands. No.8, Brush Island, New South Wales.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:62-64

van Gessel F.W. and Kendall T.G. (1974). Trapping Migratory Waders at Kooragang Island, Newcastle, N.S.W.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:71-75

This paper outlines the success of various trapping methods used at Kooragang Island to catch waders. It provides advice on the correct placement of mist nets and setting of cannon nets. Data on types and numbers of birds caught during between July 1972 and June 1974 are also included.

 

Boehm E.F. (1974). Results from Banding Chestnut-crowned Babblers. The Australian Bird Bander 12:76-78

This paper provides information on the banding data of Chestnut-crowned Babblers caught on the Mount Mary Plains in South Australia. Between 1964 and 1974 329 Chestnut-crowned Babblers were banded. The proportion of retraps was 24% , the longest time interval between banding and recapture was 7 years 1 month. Data on survival rates are also shown. It was noted that band wear was high and that monel bands should be replaced at least every 6 years and that aluminium bands should not be used.

 

Lane S.G. (1974). Seabird Islands. No. 9, Split Solitary Island, New South Wales.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:79

Conoy J.W.H. and Jones B.J. (1974). Follow the Band!: Southern Giant Petrel 5022741.  The Australian Bird Bander 12:80-81

Giant petrels Macronectes spp. banded on Antarctic Islands are regular visitors to coastal waters in temperate regions. This is the first record of a breeding adult, banded on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, being recovered in Australian waters, and subsequently being recovered again breeding on Signy Island.