KEAST,A. 1995. Diel temporal vocalisation patterns in the Mistletoe Bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) and seasonal abundance relative to the flowering and fruiting of the Mistletoe Dendrophthoe vitellina.Corella 19: 2-7. (Dep. Biol., Queen's Univ., Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Can.)

Mistletoebirds inhabiting open eucalypt forest at Ebenezer, near Windsor, New South Wales, vocalized maximally from about 15 minutes before, until two hours after, sunrise. This contrasted with most other species whose peak vocalizations were before sunrise. There was negligible singing through the day, as in other species. An annual influx of birds into the areas of flowering, then fruiting, mistletoe (Dendrophthoe vitellina) was documented annually in late November--early December over five summers using levels of territorial song. Bird numbers were high during years of good mistletoe abundance and productivity, low in the poor years that followed plant die-off. Seasonal movements relative to the berry production cycle in mistletoe are confirmed as a major adaptation in Mistletoebirds.

WOOD, K.A. 1995. Temporal and spatial variations in density of landbirds at an urban bushland reserve.Corella19: 7-11. (7 Eastern Ave., Mangerton, NSW 2500, Australia)

Wide range of densities for particular species in various microhabitats.

ROGERS, D.I. & K.G. ROGERS. 1995. Commentary: Estimating sexes of Honeyeaters from head-bill measurements. Corella19: 12-17. ( 340 Ninks Rd., St. Andrews, Vic. 3761, Australia)

Criticises use of intermodal trough position as sexing criterion.

PYKE, G.H. 1995. A choice of methods for estimating sexes of birds using morphometric measurements: a reply to Rogers & Rogers (1995).Corella 19: 18-23. (Australian Mus., 6 College St., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia)

Discusses histograms, probability plots and analytical methods.

ROGERS, K.G. 1995. SHEBA: Computer programs for sexing birds on measurements using univariate data. Corella19: 25-34. (340 Ninks Rd., St. Andrews, Vic. 3761, Australia)

This paper presents a suite of user-friendly computer programs designed for univariate analysis of measurements of sexually size dimorphic birds which have not been sexed by other means. Two of the programs estimate the measurement parameters for each sex (number, mean, standard deviation) and two use these estimates to produce a sexing criterion or rule by which a sex can be assigned to individual birds. Utility programs for preparing bivariate histograms are also presented. Although designed for the problem of sexing birds on measurements, the programs can be used for other univariate problems involving the separation of mixed normal distributions. The programs are only available for IBM machines (or clones) operating under DOS and are available from the Australian Bird Study Association, PO Box A313, Sydney South, NSW 2000.

DEBUS, S.J.S. 1995. Surveys of large forest owls in northern New South Wales: methodology, calling behaviour and owl responses.Corella19: 38-50. (Zool. Dep., Univ. New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia)

Field surveys of large owls were undertaken in coastal, escarpment and tableland forests of north-east New South Wales in 1990-92. A combination of listening, playback of taped calls and spotlighting was used at 401 sites. Of these, 354 sites were surveyed at least twice each. Powerful Owls Ninox strenua were recorded at 76 sites (1 9 %), Sooty Owls Tyto tenebricosa at 74 sites (1 8%) and Masked Owls Tyto novaehollandiae at 35 sites (9%). Owls called spontaneously throughout the night, but particularly in the early evening and before dawn. The effects of moon visibility and cloud cover on spontaneous calling rates were not significant. Precipitation and wind were the two most important factors affecting owl detectability: owls were vocal on calm, dry nights but were not heard on nights of strong wind or heavy rain. Playback more than doubled the detection rate for all species; owls responded with distant calls, approached and called from a concealed or unconcealed perch, or occasionally approached silently. From a subsample of 48 sites surveyed five times each, the probability of detecting owls on a single visit was 26 per cent for Powerful Owl, 21 per cent for Sooty Owl and 20 per cent for Masked Owl. The number of visits required in order to determine owl presence or absence at a given site, with 90 per cent confidence, is seven for Powerful Owl, eight for Sooty Owl and nine for Masked Owl. For greater than 50 per cent probability of detection, the required number of visits per site is three for Powerful and Sooty Owls and four for Masked Owl.

McFARLAND, D.C. 1995. Notes on the corroboree behaviour of the New Holland Honeyeater.Corella19: 51-54. (15 Currong St., Kenmore, Qld. 4069, Australia)

The corroboree or congregation display occurs in a number of honeyeater species. This paper presents data on the display of New Holland Honeyeaters in New England National Park. Corroboree frequency is highest in the morning (0.85 displays/hr) and peaks in late summer and winter (up to 3.3 displays/hr) when breeding territories are being established. The displays involve an average of six birds with the majority of those identified being adult males occupying nearby territories. The relationship between corroboree activity and co-operative behaviour in honeyeaters is examined.

BLABER, S.J.M. 1995 Abundance, site fidelity, morphometrics and sex ratios of Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta at a site in south-east Queensland. Corella19: 55-60. (33 Wuduru Rd., Cornubia, Qld, 4130, Australia)

Scarlet Honeyeaters were banded at a study site at Mount Cotton, south-east Queensland from 1986 to 1993. The site consisted of sclerophyll woodland, creek vegetation and a rural garden. There was a marked seasonal change in Scarlet Honeyeater abundance, with numbers increasing from a minimum in March to a maximum in August followed by a decline to December. No birds were recorded in January or February. There was no significant interannual variation in mean trapping rates. The numbers of birds caught each month were significantly and negatively correlated with rainfall. Changes in abundance may not be related to availability of blossoms. Morphometric data indicate that males have significantly greater wing, tail and tarsus lengths than females, and are heavier. The sex ratio was skewed in favour of males (3:2) and this phenomenon is discussed. Retrap data show that a small proportion of birds return annually to the study site and are resident for part of the year. The remaining birds were assumed to be passage migrants, possibly moving inland to the Dividing Range during the wet season.

DETTMANN, E.B. 1995 Use of the Jolly-Seber model to detect variation in survival, population size and recruitment of Bridled Honeyeaters at Paluma, Queensland. Corella19: 61-67. (Australian Nat. Conserv. Agency, G.P.O. Box 8, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia)

Attention is drawn to deficiencies in some methods of estimating survival, including 'known to be alive' or 'calendar of captures' methods. The Jolly-Seber model is recommended for estimation of survival, population size and recruitment from capture-recapture data.

The Jolly-Seber model is described and used to analyse banding data collected from 184 Bridled Honeyeaters at Paluma, Queensland between 1982 and 1987. The average population size was 191 (±90) but population varied markedly with season. A large influx of birds was detected in the April/June quarter in 1984 and 1986 when populations were estimated at 750 and 322 birds respectively. The local population in non-influx seasons averaged 80 birds. Annual survival (interpreted as proportion of birds remaining in the population) averaged 0.751 (±0.256) overall with an expectation of further life of 3 years 6 months but survival also varied seasonally. In 1982-84 when most data were available annual survival averaged 0.672 during the period July-March (expectation of further life of 2 years 4 months) but dropped to 0.077 during the April-June influx period (expectation of further life of 4 months). Recruitment to the local population averaged 12 birds per quarter throughout the year but received a boost of several hundred birds during the April-June quarter in some years.

WOOD, K.A. 1995 Observations of a breeding pair of Buff-rumped Thornbills Acanthiza reguloides.Corella19: 68-69 (7 Eastern Ave., Mangerton, NSW 2500, Australia)

Feeding frequency and faecal sac removal by female.

CHATTO, R. 1995 The effects of fire on a breeding colony of Australian Pelicans. Corella19: 70 (Conserv. Commission NT, P.O. Box 496, Palmerston, NT 0831, Australia)

Young Pelecanus conspicillatus killed by direct heat radiation or abandonment by adults.

CLARKE, M.F. 1995 Co-operative Breeding in Australasian birds: a review of hypotheses and evidence.Corella19: 73-90 (Sch. Zool., La Trobe Univ., Bundoora, Vic. 3083, Australia)

Studies of co-operative breeding in Australia and New Zealand have made a considerable contribution to the current understanding of this phenomenon. This review considers the progress that has been made since 1. Rowley's pioneering work on the Superb Fairy-wren in the 1950s and 60s in testing hypotheses proposed to explain (a) why individuals refrain from dispersing from their natal territory (i.e. are philopatric) and (b) why philopatric individuals help to raise young that are not their own. I survey all Australian species that have been recorded as breeding co-operatively, and possible explanations for the disproportionately large number of Australian species that breed co-operatively are discussed.

BOLES, W. & B.TYNAN 1995 Low altitude record of Rufous Scrub-bird Atrichornis rufescens.Corella19: 91. (Australian Mus., 6 College st., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia)

Soft part colours and measurements for presumed immature.

FARRELL, J.R. 1995 Movement patterns of Pied Currawongs Strepera graculina in Central Western New South Wales. Corella19: 95-102 (73 Ellison Rd., Springwood, NSW 2777, Australia)

During 1988 and 1989 a total of 254 Pied Currawongs was trapped and colour-banded at Springwood, New South Wales. The data resulting from this study show a build up of Pied Currawong numbers at Springwood from January to a peak in April. Numbers then declined with only isolated breeding pairs present from September to December. The arrival of immature birds peaked two months before the peak in adult numbers. Immature birds were far more mobile than adult birds and accounted for a greater percentage of movements within the Blue Mountains region. More than half of the immature birds disappeared from the study site after being banded while the adult birds stayed at the banding site, on average, nearly twice as long as the immature birds (1.5 months compared with 0.9/0.8 months). During 1989, 56 per cent of all the Pied Currawongs banded in the previous year returned to the banding site. Of these, 27 per cent were immature birds. Recoveries document a general easterly movement to lower altitudes during most months of the year. Westerly movements only commenced in July with banded birds not reaching Blackheath until September. Movement of a small number of birds was recorded to the north of the study site during August and September. Only immature birds were recorded moving away from the Blue Mountains region with recoveries high- lighting a north-easterly path through Blacktown, West Pennant Hills, Mooney Mooney, the central coast and on to Newcastle and Thornton. A small number also moved in a south/south-east direction.

WATERHOUSE, R.D. 1995 Observations on the diet of the Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii in the Illawarra Rainforest, New South Wales.Corella 19: 102-105. (4/1-5 Ada St., Oatley, NSW 2223, Australia)

Observations were made on the feeding behaviour of Lewin's Honeyeaters over a five year period. The species of plant which contributed fruit to the diet were recorded for each month of the year. Lewin's Honeyeaters in the Illawarra region of New South Wales were found to consume the fruit of 22 native and 2 introduced plant species, and some fruit of these species were available in all months of the year.

ER, K.B.H, A.P. ROBINSON, & C.R. TIDEMANN. 1995. Importance of sampling duration and strip width in use of the fixed-width strip transect method for estimation of bird abundance and species diversity. Corella19: 109--114. (Sch. Resour. Environ. Manage., Aust. Natl. Univ., ACT 2600, Australia).

The fixed-width strip transect method is increasingly becoming an important bird sampling technique in Australia. In this survey, different sampling durations and strip widths were evaluated for the sampling of birds in Yellow Box woodland remnants in the ACT.

The survey showed that the choice of sampling duration and strip width had a significant effect on the estimation of bird abundance and species diversity using the fixed-width strip transect method in Yellow Box woodland remnants. Different measures of bird abundance and species diversity were also found to vary in sensitivity with changes in strip width. Use of the logarithm link function to analyse bird counts further demonstrated that the appropriate strip width will depend upon the flocking behaviour of the birds. It is evident from this survey that there is a need for more intensive surveys to develop and validate the fixed-width strip transect method for the sampling of birds in savannah eucalypt woodlands. Until that is done, it is inappropriate to compare results between studies which employ the fixed-width strip transect method, but use different sampling durations and strip widths.

CHRISTY, M.T. 1995. Co-operative care in the Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens. Corella19: 115--117. (Div. Earth Environ. Sci., Aust. Mus., 6-8 College St., Sydney , NSW 2000, Australia).

A rehabilitated juvenile Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens was observed in a suburban garden, approximately 15 km from its place of hatching, for 11 days. The juvenile was visited by at least one adult Singing Honeyeater more than 20 times, and was fed on nine occasions. In addition, a distraction display involving three adult Singing Honeyeaters was observed. This is the first published indication of co-operative care in the Singing Honeyeater.

LEACH, G.J. 1995. Relative abundance of bird species in roadside vegetation at Marburg, south-east Queensland.Corella19: 118--126. (P.O. Box 568, Kenmore, Qld. 4069, Australia).

Nine transects in south-east Queensland were censused eight times over two years to determine relative abundance of bird species and their distribution between roadside softwood scrub remnants and eucalypt associations. Eighty-eight species were observed; 80 in the softwood scrub and 56 in the eucalypt associations, with 48 common to both habitats. On average, 50 individual birds (42 / ha) were observed in each census of the softwood scrub remnants and 21 (18 / ha) in the eucalypt associations.

Silvereye, Double-barred Finch, Superb Fairy-wren, Willie Wagtail and Lewin's Honeyeater were the most frequently observed species in the softwood scrub, with Double-barred Finch (mean of 8.9 individuals per census), Zebra Finch (6.5), Silvereye (5.2), Superb Fairy-wren (3.4) and Lewin's Honey- eater (1.6) most abundant. In the eucalypt associations, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Butcherbird, Rufous Whistler and Lewin's Honeyeater were most frequently observed, with Noisy Miner (7.4), Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (1.5), Grey Butcherbird (1.0), Pale-headed Rosella (0.8) and Rufous Whistler (0.6) most abundant.

BASS, D.A. 1995. Contribution of introduced fruits to the winter diet of Pied Currawongs in Armidale, New South Wales.Corella19: 127--132. (Faculty Resour. Sci. Manage., Southern Cross Univ., P.O. Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia).

Pied Currawong abundance was surveyed in 1988, 1989 and 1990 in Armidale, New South Wales. Pied Currawongs congregated each April and dispersed in the following September. This pattern is consistent with other studies in south eastern Australia and is best explained in terms of a combination of dietary shifts and breeding pressure. The seed dispersal role of Pied Currawongs was assessed in 1989 by collection of regurgitated pellets containing seeds of ornamental plants. Seeds of 22 species of introduced plants were dispersed by Pied Currawongs. Ligustrum and Pyracantha were the most common genera dispersed by Pied Currawongs. These plants and others such as Pistacia chinensis will continue to be dispersed by Pied Currawongs and invade bushland. This may possibly increase numbers of Pied Currawongs, increase nestling predation rates on small birds, and promote invasion by introduced fleshy fruiting plants.

BRIGGS, S.V. & S.A. THORNTON. 1995. Management of River Red Gums for Waterbird nesting.Corella19: 132--138. (C/- CSIRO, P.O. Box 84, Lyneham, ACT 2602, Australia).

In order to breed, waterbirds require appropriate sites for their nests. Most nests of waterbirds (families Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes) in River Red Gum wetlands were in clumps of live, mature trees next to open water. Often these Red Gums had branches leaning over the water. Retention of these nest trees is essential for waterbird conservation. The Red Gum wetlands of the Murrumbidgee River, which contain more mature trees than the Millewa and associated Red Gum wetlands of the Murray River, provide extensive and valuable breeding habitat for waterbirds.

WILSON, S.J. 1995. Survival of Brown and Striated Thornbills in the Brindabella Range, Australian Capital Territory. Corella19: 138--146. (56 Harrington Circuit, Kambah, ACT 2902, Australia).

Brown and Striated Thornbills were banded at New Churns Road in the Brindabella Range, Australian Capital Territory from 1961 to 1982. Both species appeared to be sedentary once they established territories although there is some indication that the territories of Striated Thornbills were held by small groups. The mean annual survival rate of adult Brown Thornbills was 59 per cent and Striated Thornbills 68 per cent. The oldest Brown Thornbill recaptured was 13 years and 7 months and the oldest Striated Thornbill was 15 years and 7 months.

MILLER, M.A. 1995 Size differences in male and female 'Green' Satin Bowerbirds Ptilonorhynchus violaceus.Corella19: 146--148. (Healesville Sanctuary, P.O. Box 248, Healesville, Vic. 3777, Australia).

Satin Bowerbirds were trapped, measured and surgically sexed. Sexing criteria were established using tarsus length and wing length. Males are considered to have a tarsus length greater than 57.5 mm and a wing length greater than 161 mm. Females had a tarsus length less than 58.0 mm and a wing length less than 162 mm.

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