EGAN, K.H., FARRELL J.R.& D.L. PEPPER-EDWARDS. 1997. Historical and seasonal changes in the community of forest birds at Longneck Lagoon nature reserve, Scheyville, New South Wales. Corella21: 1--16. (1 Bowman St., Mortdale, NSW 2223, Australia).

Observations dating back to 1937, banding data accumulated from 1965 to 1994 and census data collected from 1992 to 1995 have been used to show the changes in a community of forest birds at Longneck Lagoon Nature Reserve on an historical and seasonal level. Many resident species have disappeared from the site. These include Diamond Firetail, Zebra Finch, Hooded Robin, Red-capped Robin, Scarlet Robin, Flame Robin and Black-eared Cuckoo. Other species have declined markedly (Speckled Warbler, Weebill, Brown Treecreeper, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Jacky Winter and Fuscous Honeyeater) while some species have increased in numbers (Brown Thornbill, Superb Fairy-wren and Red-browed Finch). New additions to the community include Spotted Turtle-Dove, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Common Blackbird, Common Myna, Common Starling and House Sparrow, but these have not as yet made an observable impact on the proportions of native species within the community. Seasonal fluctuations in the community are quite marked with up to 34 non-resident species visiting the site with the Rose Robin being the only exclusively winter visitor. The only recorded movement greater than 2 km from the site, was that of a Sacred Kingfisher that travelled to central eastern Queensland. Interaction between the Brown and White-throated Treecreepers as well as the three species of finch (Red-browed Finch, Diamond Firetail and Double-barred Finch) is examined in light of their proportional representation of the resident community. Natural and human induced changes at the site and their effects on the decline and demise of species are also examined.

LANE, S.G. 1997. An unusual plumage for a Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus.Corella 21: 16. (66 Fairview Rd., Moonee via Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia).

Almost entirely white underwings on measured specimen.

WATERHOUSE, R.D. 1997. Some observations on the ecology of the Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus in Oatley, South Sydney. Corella 21: 17--24. (4/1-5 Ada St., Oatley, NSW 2223).

The Rainbow Lorikeet was a familiar bird during the early days of settlement of Sydney. It became less common by the 1920s, but is now common again throughout Sydney.

A weekly survey conducted during 1993 and 1994 in Oatley, along the Georges River in southern Sydney established that the birds feed, roost and breed in the area.

Major sources of food varied according to season but pollen and nectar was taken from a mix of native and exotic species. The introduced Coral Tree provide a major and reliable source of food, especially during the winter months and while the birds were breeding. Fruit of the Small-leaved Fig was the only major fruit observed to be taken. Sunflower and other seeds were provided by local residents and were an additional source of food for the birds.

Rainbow Lorikeets also seem to compete successfully for breeding hollows with other suburban bird species, including native and introduced species such as Southern Boobook, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Eastern Rosellas, Galahs, Dollarbirds, Common Mynahs. Suitable nesting hollows were found in Blackbutts and Rusty Gums growing in some small local bushland reserves.

ROSE, A.M. 1997. Band discomfort on Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufa. Corella 21: 25. (Dept. Conserv. Land Manage., Locked bag 104, Bentley Delivery Ctr., Bentley, WA 6983, Australia).

Band slips back to intertarsal joint as bird climbs trunk.

KIKKAWA, J. 1997. Individual colour banding for 8000 birds. Corella 21: 26--31. (Dept. Zool., Univ. Qld., Brisbane, Qld. 4072, Australia).

Individual identification of banded birds is indispensable for behaviour and population studies in the field. By carefully selecting the colours for leg bands and assigning numbers to them, up to 8 000 individuals can be banded uniquely and systematically for easy field identification and record keeping, allowing long-term study of large populations with overlapping generations.

DOBBS, K.A.L. , J.D.MILLER, M.A. CARD, M. MATHER & J. HASELMAYER. (1997). Birds of Milman Island.Corella21: 37--43. (Inst. Mar. Life Sci., Texas A&M Univ., 4700 Ave. U. Bldg. 303, Galveston, TX 77551 USA).

Fourteen Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service and Department of Environment surveys were made of Milman Island from 1985 to 1995. A total of 81 seabird and non-seabird species were observed. Numerous vegetation communities provide varied habitats and food sources for birds at the island. Seven non-seabird species were observed either in breeding plumage or breeding. Low-level human disturbance has little effect on nesting birds because of the remote location of the island. Predation by amethystine pythons and estuarine crocodiles has been recorded.

NOSKE, R.A. (1997). Short breeding season of Figbirds Sphecotheres viridis in Darwin, Northern Territory. Corella21: 44--47. (Sci. Fac., NT Univ., P.O. Box 41046, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia).

Opportunistic observations of 55 nests of Figbirds over eight years on the Northern Territory University campus suggest that nesting commences in early September and that the breeding season lasts between two and three months only. Laying was apparently synchronized and two eggs were usual. Nests were often close together indicating some advantage in quasi-colonial nesting, either through improved predator surveillance or defense, or facilitation of post-breeding dispersal and feeding activities.

FRANKLIN, D.C. (1997). The foraging behaviour of avian nectivores in a monsoonal Australian woodland over a six month period. Corella 21: 48--54. (Sci. Fac., NT Univ., Darwin, NT 0909, Australia).

The foraging behaviour of one lorikeet and six honeyeater species were compared over a six month period in tropical woodland near Darwin, Northern Territory. The study identified three broad groupings of nectarivores - the Rainbow Lorikeet, small honeyeaters (Brown, Dusky) and large honeyeaters (Silver-crowned and Little Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater and Yellow-throated Miner). These groups were differentiated principally on relative dependence upon flowers and choice of flower types, but also on non-nectar foraging strategies. Larger nectarivores fed predominantly in eucalypts and smaller nectarivores at a greater variety of sources. There was surprisingly little variation between honeyeater species in their dependence upon flowers (54-74% of foraging observations), but the Rainbow Lorikeet fed almost exclusively at flowers. The study suggests several ways in which tropical Australian nectarivore communities may differ from their temperate-zone counterparts.

DE REBEIRA, P. (1997). A weighing cone design for use on electronic balances. Corella 21: 55--77. (12 Glenwood Ave., Glen Forrest, WA 6071, Australia).

Free standing on balance pan.

HILL, G.J.E., CARTER J.L.,. BARNES A, DYER P.K. & ROSIER D.J. (1997). The Black Noddy breeding population at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef: 1985-1989. Corella 21: 58--64. (Fac. Sci., NT Univ., Darwin, NT 0909, Australia).

The population size of the Black Noddy Anous minutus was monitored over five years at Heron Island, a 13.5 ha coral cay located on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The population which reached around 67 000 breeding pairs in 1989 appears to be increasing, although the rate of expansion is difficult to determine. Highest nesting densities are found in large Pisonia grandis, probably due to higher nesting site availability. Nesting densities appear to be independent of the degree of habitat modification; differences in breeding success with disturbance remain to be investigated.

BRIDGMAN, H.A., MADDOCK, M. & GEERING, D. (1997). Cattle Egret migration, satellite telemetry and weather in south-eastern Australia.Corella21: 69--76. (Dept. Geogr., Univ. Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia).

Two adult Cattle Egrets, captured near Raymond Terrace in the Williams River Valley, New South Wales, in April 1994 were each fitted with a PTT100, battery-powered transmitter and with patagial tags. After release, the birds were tracked by Argos system satellite on an eight hours on and 40 hours off duty cycle and ground searches were carried out to locate them by their tags. Weather maps from the Bureau of Meteorology associated with each satellite interrogation were evaluated. After remaining in the vicinity of the capture site for several weeks, the birds were further tracked until signals were lost, one on a migration route in the Lower Hunter floodplain and the other on a southerly migration to Bega in south-eastern New South Wales, following patterns described in Maddock and Geering (1994). The movements occurred in light winds under the influence of a high pressure system. The results of this pilot study suggest the potential for using small satellite transmitters for migration studies of egrets, to assist in validation of other field techniques and to provide data not obtainable by other techniques.

DUNLOP, J.N. (1997). Foraging range, marine habitat and diet of Bridled Terns breeding in Western Australia.Corella21: 77--82. (Dept. Biol., Murdoch Univ., South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia).

Bridled Terns breeding in Western Australia foraged over mid and outer continental Shelf waters within about 70 km of their colonies. The diet of birds breeding on Penguin Island in south-western Australia consisted of a variety of small marine organisms including fishes, crustacea and cephalopods and also winged terrestrial insects. The most important marine prey were mullid (goatfish) larvae, shoaling clupeids and Columbus Crab megalopae.

The dietary information collected from this and other studies indicate that Bridled Terns forage over rafts of Sargassum and other flotsam particularly in the latter stages of the breeding season. This habit may distinguish the foraging ecology of Bridled Terns from that of other sympatric species. The availability of Sargassum rafts and flotsam in the marine environment may be a key factor influencing the Bridled Terns' breeding and wintering distribution.

EGAN, K.H. (1997). Seasonal changes in the pollen sampled from nectarivorous birds visiting an open forest at Menai, New South Wales. Corella 21: 83--87. (1 Bowman St., Mortdale, NSW 2223, Australia).

Pollen was sampled from the foreheads of 1 046 individuals of seven honeyeater species which were captured in mist nets in an open woodland near Sydney. Four species of honeyeaters were winter visitors and were present in the site during the period of peak flowering. Pollen of Banksia spp. dominated the sample reflecting the relative abundance of Banksia spp. in the study site. The contribution of different flowering plants to the diet of some species of honeyeater varied throughout the year as expected. This variation resulted from both the seasonal pattern of flowering and the presence or absence of the honeyeater species when different plants were in flower. There is some evidence that both interspecific competition between honeyeater species and the degree of morphological compatibility between flower and bird head shape contributes to the variation in diet.

TODD, M.A. (1997). Radio telemetry of Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis at Newcastle, New South Wales. Corella21: 88--89. (Dept. Biol. Sci., Univ. Newcastle, Univ. Dr., Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia).

Tracking successful mainly because birds were sedentary.

O‚NEILL, P. & CHANNELS, R.. (1997). Seabird Islands No. 233: Creek Rock, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Corella21: 90--91. (Qld. Dept. Environ., PO Box 3130, Rockhampton Shopping Fair, Rockhampton, Qld. 4701, Australia).
 
 

BROTHERS, N.P., D. PEMBERTON & I.J. SKIRA. (1997). Seabird Islands No. 234: Rum Island, Furneaux Group, Tasmania.Corella21: 92--93. (Pks. Wildl. Serv., PO Box 44A, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia).
 
 

BROTHERS, N.P., D. PEMBERTON & I.J. SKIRA. (1997). Seabird Islands No. 235: Beagle Island, Furneaux Group, Tasmania. Corella21: 94--96. (Pks. Wildl. Serv., PO Box 44A, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia).
 
 

LANE, S.G. (1997). Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris on Muttonbird Island, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.Corella21: 98. (66 Fairview Rd., Moonee via Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.

Unsuccessful breeding attempts on most northerly island on which this species recorded nesting.

ER, K.B.H. (1997). Effects of eucalypt dieback on bird species diversity in remnants of native woodland. Corella21: 101--111. (Natl. Parks Board, 7 Maxwell Rd., 5 Story Annexe B, MND Complex, Singapore 069111).

Data on bird species diversity, bird density, species diversity of various foraging groups and of honeyeaters were analysed in relation to mean dieback scores of woodland remnants in the Australian Capital Territory. Bird species diversity and bird density were found to be significantly reduced as dieback increased. The reduction in bird species diversity can be accounted for by the declines in subcanopy bird species diversity and insectivorous bird species diversity, the latter being restricted most to the foliage insectivores, ground insectivores and bark insectivores. Honeyeaters were also shown to decline significantly with an increase in dieback. Reasons for the decline in bird species diversity with increased dieback, the dieback-insects-birds cycle and the implications of dieback for the conservation of bird species are discussed in relation to these observations.

TODD, M.K. (1997). Population demographics of the Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis, at Newcastle, New South Wales. Corella 21: 112--118. (Dept. Biol. Sci., Univ., Univ. Dr., Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia).

At Blackbutt Reserve within the city of Newcastle, the size and structure of two Red-browed Finch populations were examined. There were between 100 and 300 birds in the two populations. Little movement between the two sites was observed despite the continuous nature of the bushland between them. Survival rates at both sites were high probably because of advantageous environmental conditions.

LEY, A.J., D.L. OLIVER & M.B. WILLIAMS. (1997). Theft of nesting material involving Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae).Corella21: 119--123. (19 Lynches Rd., Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.

Thieving of nesting material in 10 honeyeater species and six other passerines is described, in the Bundarra-Barraba region west of Armidale, New South Wales during a study of Regent Honeyeater's biology in 1995-96. Theft of nesting material was from both active and inactive nests. The contribution of theft to nest parasite transfer (e.g. lice) and to nest failure in Meliphagidae is discussed.

COATE, K. (1997). Seabird Islands No. 236: Adele Island, Western Australia. Corella21: 124--128. (21 Acanthus Rd., Willeton, WA 6155, Australia).
 
 

Back to Top