Editor's note:  Due to the time elapsed since publication, and the likelihood of change, the address of the author  has been omitted from these abstracts.
 

Milledge, D. 1977. One year's observations of seabirds in continental shelf waters off Sydney, N.S.W. Corella 1: 1-12.

The monthly occurrence and relative abundance of seabirds of inshore continental shelf waters off Sydney during one year's observations are recorded and discussed.  An annotated list of the species with comments on their feeding behaviour and presence in relation to breeding colonies is given.  The seabird assemblage of inshore waters off Sydney is characterised by four main components based on seasonal movements.  A peak in seabird abundance and biomass during spring may have reflected an increase in productivity and this was supported by the food utilisation of the species concerned,

Disney, H.J.deS.   1977.  Bird in the Hand: Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus.  Corella 1: 13-16.

Reynolds, E.G.  1977.  The Flame Robin at Mount Wilson, N.S.W.  Corella 1: 17.

Reilly, P.N.  1977.  Recovery of breeding Little Penguin. Corella 1: 18.

Boehm, E.F.  1977.  Results from banding Little Ravens. Corella 1: 29-32.

Banding of Little Ravens Corvus mellori has been carried out on the Mount Mary Plains, South Australia, as part of an Area Survey.  Although the species is generally nomadic, breeding pairs do not appear to wander great distances.  Some locally-bred birds either remain in, or return to, the region in which they were reared.  Information is given on trapping procedures and the reaction of Little Ravens to sheep carcases used for bait when there is abundant other food available nearby.  Some aberrant individuals with white feather-bases could possibly be mistaken for the Little Crow C. bennetti.

Boles, W.E.   1977.  Plumage notes on the Little Bittern.  Corella 1: 33.

Two species of the small bitterns Ixobrychus have been recorded from Australia, the Little Bittern I. minutus and the Yellow Bittern I. sinensis.  Although considered by Condon (1975) to be rare in Australia, the Little Bittern is the species that can be expected to be encountered in most instances.  The Yellow Bittern, found through India, China, and Southeast Asia, has only been recorded in Australia once, from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, in 1968.  It has, however, been recently reported from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (Hansen, 1976).  Problems occasionally arise in the identification of specimens of the small bitterns and, if based solely on plumage, misidentification, even of birds in the hand, can occur.

Smedley, D.I.  1977.  Sexing of Lewin‚s Honeyeaters. Corella 1: 34.

Data are presented which show that the sexes of the Lewin,s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii may be differentiated on the basis of wingspan measurement.

Lane, S.G.  1977.  White-faced Storm-petrels on Belowla Island, N.S.W.  Corella 1: 35.

Gibson, J.D.  1977.  Albatross banding 1974-76.  Corella 1: 36-37.

Since the last report (Aust. Bird Bander 12:61) on the banding of Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans off coastal New South Wales, three successful winter seasons have brought the total of banded birds, since the project commenced in 1956, to 3669.  In 1974, 63 birds were caught in two trips, in 1975, 244 birds were caught in 15 trips and, in 1976, 201 birds were caught in eight trips.  All excursions, except one from Austinmer, were made from Wollongong harbour.

Boles, W.E.  1977.  Aggressive display in two species of Chowchillas (Logrunners).  Corella 1: 38.

While participating in a faunal survey of Australian rainforest, observations were made on the aggressive display of the Northern Chowchilla Orthonyx spaldingii and Spine-tailed Chowchilla 0. temminckii.  In both instances the behaviour was exhibited by the male towards the author in response to capture of his mate.

Warham, J.  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 43: Raine Island, Queensland.  Corella 1: 45-47.

Jahnke, B.R..  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 44: Masthead Island, Queensland.  Corella 1: 48-50.

Reilly, P.N..  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 45: Gabo Island, Victoria.  Corella 1: 51-53.

Norman, F.I.  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 46: Granite Island, Corner Inlet, Victoria.  Corella 1: 54-55.

Norman, F.I.  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 47: Benison Island, Corner Inlet, Victoria.  Corella 1: 56-57.

Norman, F.I.  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 48: Doughboy Island, Corner Inlet, Victoria.  Corella 1: 58-59.

Serventy, D.L.  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 49: Fisher Island, Tasmania.  Corella 1: 60-62.

van Tets, G.F.  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 50: Wright & Egg Islands, Horseshoe Reef, Tasmania.  Corella 1: 63-64.

Paton, J.B. & D.C. Paton  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 51: West Island, South Australia.  Corella 1: 65-67.

Paton, J.B. & D.C. Paton  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 52: Wright Island, South Australia.  Corella 1: 68-69.

van Tets, G.F. & B.J. Marlow  1977.  Seabird Islands No. 53: Dangerous Reef, South Australia.  Corella 1: 70-71.

Liddy, J.  1977.  A note on the female plumage of the Leaden Flycatcher.  Corella 1: 73-76.

Attention is drawn to a generally overlooked phase of the female plumage of the Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula showing distinct white external edging and white tips to tail feathers.  The range of the Broad-billed Flycatcher M. ruficollis on the eastern coast of Queensland requires definition.  Satin Flycatchers M. cyanoleuca in the Queensland Museum collection are significantly larger than the Leaden Flycatchers, but most recent texts indicate that they are of similar size.

Morris, A.K. & N. Kurtz.  1977.  Red-chested and Little Button-quail in the Mudgee district of New South Wales.  Corella 1: 77-79.

The status of the Red-chested Button-quail Turnix pyrrhothorax and Little Button-quail T. velox at Cooyal in the Mudgee District of New South Wales is given.  The Red-chested Button-quail is an uncommon breeding resident of pasture land and crops whose numbers increase dramatically in years of favourable conditions.  The Little Button-quail is an uncommon but regular summer breeding visitor whose population becomes resident when conditions are favourable.  This is in contrast to previous published material relating to their status.  Seventy-two Red-chested Button-quail and 52 Little Button-quail were banded between 1969 and 1974 with no recoveries beyond 75 days, most much less, and no recoveries away from the banding site.  Measurements and mass of adult birds are provided.  Minor plumage differences exist between immature and adult Red-chested Button-quail.  An apparent sex bias towards adult males in banded populations is explained.

Keast, D.  1977.  Unusual sightings of the Azure Kingfisher. Corella 1: 80-81.

Sightings of the Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus have been made in the Darling Range area 30-40 km east of Perth, W.A.  Sightings have occurred over late winter/early summer in 1973 and 1974 and in October and November of 1976.  Should these observations be verified by others and the species be seen more regularly in future then the range for the Azure Kingfisher will be extended down the west coast of Australia as it is in the east.

Holmes, N.G.  1977.  Breeding seabirds on Statis Rock, New South Wales.  Corella 1: 81.

Brown, R.J. & M.N. Brown.  1977.  Observations on Swamphens breeding near Manjimup, W.A.  Corella 1: 82-83.

Observations of a breeding pair of Swamphen Porhpyrio porphyrio, breeding near Manjimup, 480 km south of Perth, during 1976/7, are presented.  After hatching the male constructs a nursery nest (Ridpath 1971) in a tussock of grass or amongst some reeds in a situation more easily accessible to the chicks where they can be brooded at night or at times during the day.  Two or three of these nursery nests may be built at different sites within the territory, perhaps, to lessen the risk of predation.