Hardy, J.W. & J.R. Farrell. 1990. A bird banding study in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales 1. Overview. Corella14: 1-15. (RMB 6121 Tapley Rd., Lisarow, NSW 2251, Australia).

Over seven years, 1977-1987, 3 450 birds were trapped and banded at Blue Gum Swamp Creek, Winmalee. New South Wales, 724 of which were recovered a total of 1 564 times The geography of the study site, its vegetation, climate and the local fire regime are documented, together with an overview of the results of the study. This paper sets the background for future papers which will more fully examine the results and discuss particular aspects of this study

Frith, C.B. & D.W Frith. 1990. Notes on the morphology and biology of Bower‚s Shrike-thrush Colluricincla boweri, a sexually dimorphic species. Corella 14: 16-23. (P.O. Box 581, Malanda, Qld. 4885, Australia).

Our examination of 56 live Bower's Shrike-thrushes Colluricincla boweri during 88 captures and of 25 skin specimens showed the species to be sexually monomorphic in size but dimorphic in plumage, contrary to contemporary literature. Adult females have a pale bill and retain the apparently juvenile characters of a rufous superciliary stripe, pale eye-ring feathers and rufous lores, whereas adult males have no rufous superciliary stripe and have pale greyish lores, grey eye-ring feathers and a black bill. Fifteen active nests and their sites agree with previous data but we report here the first three egg clutch and note that six eggs measured by us were larger than previous measurements. Published illustrations of this bird are reviewed because they are misleading, have caused confusion, and, in one instance, have clearly illustrated the sexual dimorphism we describe.

Bass, D. 1990. Pied Currawongs and seed dispersal. Corella14: 24-27. (Dept. Geogr. Planning, Univ. New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia).

Pied Currawongs congregate around the city of Armidale, New South Wales, in autumn and winter. Five observation periods showed that Pied Currawongs fly a regular route from a roost in the Armidale State Forest to town feeding areas. Birds fed extensively on berries of many ornamental and hedge plants during the day and returned to the roost in the late afternoon. Pied Currawongs regurgitate undigested material including seeds. Viable seeds of Pyracantha and Crataegus monogyna were recovered from regurgitated pellets. The implications of this diurnal movement is discussed with respect to seed dispersal.

Ewins, P.J., D.R. Bazely & H. Recher. 1990. Communal roosting of Eastern Reef Egrets Egretta sacra. Corella 14: 29. (Edward Grey Inst. Field Ornithol., Dept. Zool., S. Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK).

Taylor, R.J. & N.J. Mooney. 1990. Fungal feeding by Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Corella 14: 30. (Tas. For. Comm., 30 Patrick, St., Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia).

Wood, K.A. 1990. Seasonal abundance and marine habitat of Storm-Petrels (Oceanitidae) off central New South Wales. Corella 14: 37-43. (7 Eastern Ave., Mangerton, NSW 2500, Australia).

During monthly oceanic cruses off central New South Wales between April 1985 and March 1987, a total of 153 storm-petrels was observed. Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus and White-faced Storm-Petrels Pelagodromamarina comprised 70 and 25 per cent of the Oceanitidae population respectively. Only two Grey-backed Storm-Petrels Oceanitesnereis and six White-bellied Fregettagrallaria and/or Black-bellied Fregetta tropica Storm-Petrels were seen. All Oceanitidae were mostly pelagic and silent at sea. They occupied the air stratum within a few metres of the surface. The behaviour and seasonal abundance of Wilson's Storm-Petrels suggested that they purely migrated through the study area. White-faced Storm-Petrels were absent in autumn and most numerous in late winter. This pattern of abundance is evident elsewhere off New South Wales, suggesting a large-scale movement from (or through) the region in summer and a return in late winter.

Lashmar, A.F.C. 1990. Albatross studies - Kangaroo Island, South Australia: a complete summary 1971-1988. Corella14: 44-50. (P.O. Box 503, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA 5222, Australia).

In a previous summary, results from banding and retrap data over the years 1971-1983 for three species of albatross Diomedea spp, and two species of Giant Petrels Macronectes spp. in Kangaroo Island waters were presented, and methods of capture discussed (Lashmar 1984). The additional birds handled since then, most of which were captured in Eastern Cove, are now included in a complete summary from 1971 to 1988. Twenty-eight recoveries representing 26 birds banded elsewhere by other banders and not previously reported are described as are other species occasionally found in these waters.

Heatwole, H., P. Abbott & M. Jones. 1990. Egg-size and clutch-size of the Brown Booby Sula leucogaster, at Swains Reef, Great Barrier Reef. Corella 14: 51-52. (Dept. Zool., Univ. New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia).

Green, K., R. Williams & D.J. Slip. 1990. Diet of the Macquarie Island Cormorant Phalacrocorax atriceps purpurascens. Corella14: 53-55. (Antarctic Div., Channel Hwy., Kingston, Tas. 7050, Australia).

The diet of the Macquarie Island Cormorant Phalacrocorax atriceps purpurascens was investigated through examination of regurgitated casts. Fish remains occurred in all of 64 casts with the next major food items (either primarily ingested by the cormorants or their fish prey) being crustaceans (17.2%), gastropods (7.8%) and polychaetes (4.7%). Plant material, mainly algae, occurred in 32.8 per cent of casts. There has been little temporal change in the diet of P. a. purpurascens at Macquarie Island, but polystyrene beads were recorded in five of 64 casts, which is in contrast to the lack of any ingested plastic recorded for the same subspecies in the 1970s. There are important geographical differences in diet among subspecies of P. atriceps

Hamon, B.V. 1990. The nature of our seas. Corella14: 56-62. (7 Robin Pl., Caringbah, NSW 2229, Australia).

The ocean areas around Australia show many parallels with the better-studied oceans of the Northern Hemisphere. In particular, the mechanisms that lead to high biological productivity in high latitudes are the same. But the details of current systems are often very different. Our south-flowing Leeuwin Current is unique, and the East Australian Current is a much less definite feature than its north Atlantic counterpart, the Gulf Stream. Upwelling plays relatively little part near Australia, so that our waters are not among the most productive in the world. These differences must have a great influence on the distribution and abundance of seabirds in Australian waters, but detailed studies of this influence are only just beginning.

Wooller, R.D. & J.N. Dunlop. 1990. Predation of the eggs of Silver Gulls by reptiles. Corella 14: 62-63. (Biol. Sci., Murdoch Univ., WA 6150, Australia).

Brothers, N.P. & I.J. Skira. 1990. Seabird islands No. 202: Spences Reef, Furneaux Group, Tasmania. Corella 14: 67-68. (Dept. Pks. Wildl. Heritage, 134 Macquarie St., Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia).

Brown, R.J., M.N. Brown & E.M. Russell. 1990. Survival of four species of passerine in Karri forests in southwestern Australia. Corella14: 69-78. (RMB 253, Manjimup, WA 6258, Australia).

Estimates for survival for four species of passerine resident in Karri forest near Manjimup, south- western Australia were made from recapture (to April 1988) of birds banded between 1976 and 1986. Mean annual survival rates of adults were calculated for Golden Whistlers (78%), White-browed Scrub-wrens (77%), White-breasted Robins (72%) and Red-winged Fairy-wrens (67%). For White-breasted Robins and Red-winged Fairy-wrens, birds were banded as nestlings or juveniles and resighted as well as recaptured. Survival of these known-age birds as adults (calculated from recapture only) was similar to that for adults of unknown age. Survival of known breeding adults was higher than that for all adults (White-breasted Robin male 83%, female 73%; Red-winged Fairy-wren male 80%, female 78%). For older birds, survival estimates based on resightings and recaptures were higher than estimates based only on recaptures, suggesting that older birds were being seen but not recaptured.

Foreman, B. 1990. Computerised banding records: data storage, management and analysis. Corella 14: 79-81. (Arbury Pk. Outdoor Sch., Bridgewater, SA 5155, Australia).

Recently bird banding data from several locations of long-term study have been stored into a computer program from a card system. The process of this new system, along with its advantages and problems, are presented.

Lepshci, B.J. 1990. The incidence of albinism and melanism in Australian birds: a review of the literature. Corella14: 82-85. (24 Fullwood St., Weston, ACT 2611, Australia).
 
 

Brown, R.J., M.N. Brown & B. Pessotto. 1990. Sedentary Welcome Swallows Hirundo neoxena in the south-west of Western Australia. Corella14: 86-87. (RMB 253 QMS, Manjimup, WA 6258, Australia).
 
 

Mallinson, D., P. Olsen & J. Olsen. 1990. A note on the breeding of the Little Eagle Hieraeetus morphnoides and other raptors in the Mt Mugga Mugga area, ACT. Corella14: 88-91. (76 Bacchus Pl., Kambah, ACT 2608, Australia).
 
 

Claridge, G.F. 1990. Methods for attaching patagial tags, and a description of a new method. Corella 14: 91-93. (P.O. Box 5970, Townsville, Qld. 4812, Australia).
 
 

Lenz, M. 1990. Multiple brood family unit of the Dusky Moorhen in Canberra. Corella 14: 94-95. (8 Sutton. St., Ainslie, ACT 2602, Australia).

Longmore, N.W. 1990. Bird in the Hand: Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus. Corella14: 96-97. (Qld. Mus., P.O. Box 300, S. Brisbane, Qld. 4101, Australia).
 
 

Woehler, E.J., M.R. Martin & G.W. Johnstone. 1990. The status of Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus at the Frazier Islands, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. Corella 14: 101-106. (Australian Antarctic Div., Channel Hwy, Kingston, Tas. 7050, Australia).

Censuses of the Southern Giant Petrel colonies on the Frazier Islands, Wilkes Land, recorded 140 nests on the three islands in November 1983 and an estimated 174 in December 1989. The population declined from approximately 200 nests in the mid 1950s to only 53 chicks in 1982/83, but an increased number of nests and chicks reported from the 1983/84 season onwards suggest that the population is presently increasing in numbers, with over 120 chicks fledging in 1984/85 and 1989/90.

Dunlop, J.N. & R.D. Wooller. 1990. The breeding seabirds of southwestern Australia: trends in species, populations and colonies. Corella14: 107-112. (Sch. Biol., Curtin Univ. Technol., Bentley, WA 6102, Australia).

Australia has the only continental west coast with a poleward flowing warm, low salinity boundary current. This water mass, the Leeuwin Current, masks the deeper, equatorward, cold water, Westralian Current along the continental slope for much of the year, although it flows strongly only from about April to August.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In southwestern Australia, apparently as a consequence of the Leeuwin Current, tropical seabird species breed much further south than their usual latitudinal limits and often share nesting islands with southern, cool water species in peculiar communities. On the south coast of Western Australia the cool water breeding seabird fauna is apparently depauperate, due to the intrusion of the tropical drift.

There are evidently both short and long-term cycles in the strength and dominance of the Leeuwin Current which profoundly affect the distribution and biology of the breeding seabird species. The prevalent conditions appear to influence nesting season, reproductive periodicity, and range extension or contraction. Trends may be evident at the species, population and colony level.

Cresswell, G. 1990. The Leeuwin Current. Corella14: 113-118. (CSIRO, Div. Oceanography, G.P.O. Box 1538, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia).

The Leeuwin Current is an unexpected current because it carries water from the tropics to south-western Australia and then eastward, possibly as far as Tasmania. In some places and at some times it has speeds up to 3.5 knots, thereby rivalling the East Australian Current. This paper outlines some of its features.

Martin, M.R., G.W. Johnstone & E.J. Woehler. 1990. Increased numbers of Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae breeding near Casey, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. Corella 14: 119-123. (35 Auburn Rd., Hawthorn, Vic. 3121, Australia).

Fourteen colonies of Adelie Penguins at Whitney Point, near Casey Station, Wilkes Land, which had been censused between 1959/60 and 1961/62, were censused again during late 1983. Of the 14 colonies, 13 were still recognizable, and all had increased in size. One very small colony, which had originally comprised two pairs, was no longer extant. Another 15 colonies had become established, ranging in size from 22 to 419 pairs. The total breeding population at Whitney Point has increased from 1,122 pairs in 1959/60 to 4,199+420 pairs in the 1983/84 summer.

Dyer, P.K. 1990. Observations of burrow covering activity by a Wedge-tailed Shearwater. Corella 14: 122-123. (Dept. Geogr. Sci., Univ. Qld., Qld. 4072, Australia).
 
 

Skira, I.J. & J.E. Wapstra. 1990. Control of Silver Gulls in Tasmania. Corella 14:124-129. (Dept. Pks. Wildl. Heritage, 134 Macquarie St., Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia).

A large increase in the number of Silver Gulls around Tasmania in the last thirty years has resulted in problems of motor and air traffic hazards. Discouraging breeding has been inadequate. Removal of eggs has been successful in reducing the problem at one site. Culling using alpha-chloralose baits, has provided an immediate but not long-term remedy; it has been used successfully however, to protect a long-term study area of the Short-tailed Shearwater from invasion by Silver Gulls, The elimination of additional food sources, such as garbage dumps, will probably be the only effective method of reducing gull numbers.

Meathrel, C.E. & N.I. Klomp. 1990. Predation of Little Penguin eggs by King‚s Skink on Penguin Island, Western Australia. Corella14: 129-130. (Biol. Sci., Murdoch Univ., WA 6150, Australia).

Egg loss of Little Penguins by King‚s Skink predation on Penguin Island, Western Australia, is reported over two avian breeding seasons. Predation may depress the reproductive success of penguins at this colony.

Johnstone, R.E., L.A. Smith & N.I. Klomp. 1990. Seabird Islands No. 203: Wickham Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia. Corella14: 131-132. (WA Mus., Francis St., Perth, WA 6000, Australia).
 
 

Johnstone, R.E., L.A. Smith & N.I. Klomp. 1990. Seabird Islands No. 204: Gulch Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia. Corella14: 133-134. (WA Mus., Francis St., Perth, WA 6000, Australia).
 
 

Johnstone, R.E., L.A. Smith & N.I. Klomp. 1990. Seabird Islands No. 205: Skink Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia. Corella14: 135-136. (WA Mus., Francis St., Perth, WA 6000, Australia).
 
 

Johnstone, R.E., L.A. Smith & N.I. Klomp. 1990. Seabird Islands No. 206: Harlequin Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia. Corella14: 137-138. (WA Mus., Francis St., Perth, WA 6000, Australia).
 
 

Rogers, D.I. 1990. The use of feather abrasion in moult studies. Corella14: 141-147. (340 Ninks Rd., St. Andrews N., Vic. 3741, Australia).

Four stages of feather abrasion have been defined for fully grown feathers; they can be recognized in the remiges, rectrices, and primary and secondary coverts of most birds. A code is given for each abrasion stage, allowing abrasion to be recorded in conventional moult formulae. Systematic recording of abrasion condition may help establish when moult occurs in species for which few other data are available. Partial and arrested primary moults, staffelmausers and slow continuous primary moults all produce distinctive patterns of abrasion; all these types of moult need more study. Feather abrasion can be an indispensable ageing guide in birds in which we have some knowledge of the moult history.

Liddy, J. 1990. Wing length, wingspan and body length measurements of live birds at banding stations. Corella14: 148-155. (5 Ben St., Chermside, Qld. 4032, Australia).

Aspects of wing length, wingspan and body length measurements of live birds at banding stations are reviewed, using as examples data from a banding station at Cowiebank, southeastern Queensland. The histogram of the extended length measurement is a useful tool for sexing some morphometric species, and its use at banding stations is recommended: it has good reproduceability, is relatively consistent over periods of years, and is unlikely to result in injury to the bird.

Aumann, T. 1990. Morphological notes for Accipiter species in northern Queensland. Corella 14: 156-160. (Lot 1, Hansens Creek Rd., Hoddles Creek, Vic. 3139, Australia).

Morphological data are given for some forms of Accipiter species and a few other raptors captured in northern Queensland. The complexity of tropical Australian Accipiter assemblages is briefly discussed in terms of intraspecific and interspecific differences.

Clancy, G.P. 1990. Observations on breeding Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrikes Coracina lineata. Corella 14: 160-161. (56 Armidale Rd., Coutts Crossing, NSW 2460, Australia).

McKilligan, N.G. 1990. The breeding biology of the Intermediate Egret. Part 1: the physical and behavioural development of the chick, with special reference to sibling aggression and food intake. Corella 14: 162-169. (Sch. Appl. Sci., Univ. Coll. S. Qld., P.O. darling Heights, Toowoomba, Qld. 4350, Australia).

The development and behaviour of marked chicks in two broods of the Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia plumifera are described. Incubation was 26 (±1)days, the chicks flew at six and seven weeks old, and were fed at the nest until about ten weeks, when they left the heronry. The rate of food bolus delivery to the nest was greatest when chicks were 8-16 days old but the frequency of feeding visits increased after brooding finished (chicks older than 20 days). About twice as much food was delivered to the nest with twice as many chicks. Feeding success was directly related to age and to success in fights among three siblings to 12 days old. Older siblings seldom fought and had about equal feeding success overall. Aggressive and begging displays which may enhance feeding success are described.

Debus, S.J.S. 1990. Daily food consumption of two captive Little Eagles. Corella14:169-171. (P.O. Box 1015, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia).

Two Little Eagles Hieraaetus morphnoides were fed ad libitum over two and 12 months in an outdoor enclosure in which they could exercise. In winter, daily food consumption averaged 122 g (10% of body weight) for the female and 78 g (11% of body weight) for the male The female's mean daily food consumption ranged between 122 g and 163 g (10-15% of body weight, Ö =12%) in the other three seasons, during which she was gaining weight, replacing feathers, or both.