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.
 

Robertson, J.S. & P.F. Woodall.  1982.  Measurements, weight and seasonal variation of the Mangrove Honeyeater in south-east Queensland.  Corella 6: 1-5.

Analysis of the measurements of museum specimens of Mangrove Honeyeaters Lichenostomus fasciogularis indicated that there were significant differences between the sexes.  Males had larger wing, tail and culmen lengths and weights than females.  Most of these parameters were not normally distributed but Critical Values were calculated to allow sexing of individuals with approximate levels of probability (generally 70-80%).  Specimens collected from Mount Dryander (BM(NH)) were larger than specimens from other areas of Queensland.  Frequency histograms of measurements from Mangrove Honeyeaters banded at Wellington Point near Brisbane showed a clear bimodal distribution only in the case of weights.  There was a marked influx of birds in May-June followed by a sharp decline from July-December.  The mean weights of males and females were remarkably constant throughout the year.

Ford, H.A., N. Forde & S. Harrington.  1982.  Non-destructive methods to determine the diet of birds.  Corella 6: 6-10.

We discuss a variety of methods of collecting information on the diets of birds, including observation, examination of faeces, emetics and stomach-flushing.  Stomach-flushing is described in detail.  We believe it has certain advantages over other methods; it samples food from the upper parts of the gut before most digestion has occurred and incurs very low mortality.  Advantages over collection of birds are that the same individuals can be resampled and birds that are being studied ecologically and behaviourally can also be sampled.  It also overcomes the ethical objections to killing large numbers of birds.  Identification and analysis of samples are briefly discussed.

Liddy, J.  1982.  Food of the Mistletoebird near Pumicestone Passage, south-eastern Queensland.  Corella 6: 11-15.

The diet of the Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum was studied near Beerburrum, south-eastern Queensland. by examination of material voided by 92 birds over a three-year period.  Between late December and June, the basic food of the few birds present in the area is fruit of the Viscaceous mistletoe Notothixos subaureus.  Mistletoebirds congregate in the area between July and November to feed on the fruits of the Loranthaceous mistletoe Amyema cambagei.  Epicarps of neither fruit are eaten.  Material voided did not contain the chitinous remains of arthropods.

Boehm, E.F.  1982.  Results from banding Brown Treecreepers. Corella 6: 16-17.

Brown Treecreepers have been banded and retrapped over a period of fifteen years as part of the Mount Mary Plains Survey in South Australia.  Data were obtained on longevity, weight differences between the sexes, and fluctuations in local populations.

Baker-Gabb, D.J. & J.D. Pettigrew.  1982.  Non-breeding diet of the Letter-winged Kite in north-eastern South Australia. Corella 6: 19-20.

Letter-winged Kites Elanus scriptus were found to be feeding predominantly on House Mice Mus musculus in north-eastern South Australia.  In its normal central Australian range, the Letter-winged Kite‚s diet has previously been recorded as consisting of native mammals, particularly the Long-haired Rat Rattus villosissimus.  Potential ramifications of a major shift in dietary emphasis are discussed.

Close, D.H., J.M. Bonnin, M.H. Waterman & D.J. Connell.  1982.  Breeding Waterbirds on the Salt Lagoon islands, South Australia. Corella 6: 25-36.

Breeding activity on the Salt Lagoon Islands was surveyed in c. 50 visits between October 1962 and November 1979.  Observations are presented on the timing, abundance and (in most cases) habitat of the breeding of 26 species of birds, with special attention to nine species of ardeiformes and four of Phalacrocorax.  Results are given of a three-year survey of the breeding cycle of the Phalacrocorax species, and fish samples are described.  Comments are made on the decline in breeding numbers of larger waterbirds.

Lane, S.G.  1982.  Avifauna of islands off Esperance, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 37-39.

The islands off Esperance, Western Australia. form part of the Archipelago of the Recherche.  This archipelago extends from about 120º36'E. Long., some 23 km west of Esperance to the western end of the Great Australian Bight, about 124º08'E. Long., some 240 km to the east.  Termination Island. about 65 km roughly south of Esperance, is the southern-most island of the archipelago.  There are about 100 named islands in the group, many un-named ones. while reefs and rocks are too numerous to count.

Milledge, D.R. & G.P. Clancy  1982.  Chestnut and brown phases of the Tawny Frogmouth on the north coast of New South Wales. Corella 6: 40-42

Attention is drawn to two colour phases of the Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides  from forests on the New South Wales north coast.  The possibility of these phases being confused in the field with the marbled (Plumed) Frogmouth P. ocellatus plumiferus is discussed·

Klapste, J. & P. Klapste.  1982.  Successful rearing of young of the Spotted Harrier in an artificial nest.  Corella 6: 42-43.

There are nine or ten species of harrier Circus in the world. depending on the taxonomic opinion.  Except for the Spotted Harrier C. assimilis of Australia, Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands, all are ground-nesting hawks.  The Spotted Harrier is the only one to nest regularly in a tree.  This note describes how the nest of a Spotted Harrier was destroyed accidentally by man and how the two young birds were reared successfully by their parents in an artificial nest.

Henderson, D.G. & R.H. Green.  1982.  Bird in the Hand: Ageing and sexing endemic Tasmanian Honeyeaters.  Corella 6: 44-45.

Tingay, A. & S.R. Tingay.  Seabird Islands No. 113: Middle Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 49-50.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 114: Nares Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 51-52.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 115: Lorraine Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 53-54.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 116: Ram Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 55-56.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 117: MacKenzie Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 57-58.

Tingay, A. & S.R. Tingay  Seabird Islands No. 118: Hood Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 59-60.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 119: Frederick Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 61-62.

Tingay, A. & S.R. Tingay  Seabird Islands No. 120: Sandy Hook Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 63-64.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 121: Remark Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 65-66.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 122: Long Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 67-68.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 123: Cull Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 69-70.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 124: Observatory Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 71-72.

Daw, A.K..  Seabird Islands No. 125: Canning Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 73-74.

Lane, S.G..  Seabird Islands No. 126: Figure of Eight Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia.  Corella 6: 75-76.

Bell, H.L.  1982.  Survival of birds of the understorey in lowland rainforest in Papua New Guinea.  Corella 6: 77-82.

Recapture rates of birds netted at Brown River, Papua New Guinea, are analysed.  Newly-banded birds have a much lower recapture rate than birds banded one year or more.  Recapture rate of newly-banded birds is lowest in those with high breeding success and large clutches (mostly hole-nesters)and highest in those with low breeding success and small clutches (mostly open-nesters).  Nectarivores appear to be as sedentary and long lived as insectivores.  Survival rate increases in the second year from banding and drops after the fifth or sixth year.  Rate of recruitment is estimated at 10-20% annually.  The results are similar to that for other tropical forest areas.

Baker-Gabb, D.J.  1982.  Asynchronous hatching, fratricide and double clutches in the Marsh Harrier.  Corella 6: 83-86.

A brood of four nestling Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus hatched over approximately seven days.  When the three older nestlings were banded, the fourth and youngest was one quarter of the weight of the next older nestling  The youngest nestling was killed and eaten by its siblings during a period of food shortage.  One female and one male nestling fledged when 46 and 43 days old respectively.  Evidence for double clutching in Swamp Harriers is critically reviewed.

Marchant, S.  1982.  The sedentary nature of passerine birds in woodland at Moruya, New South Wales.  Corella 6: 87-88.

Results of nest site fidelity from colour-banded passerines at Moruya, New South Wales, between 1975 and 1981 are presented.  Data are given for eight species and size of territory is discussed.

Wyndham, E. & J. le Gay Brereton.  1982.  Ageing and sexing Eastern Rosellas.  Corella 6: 89-91.

In field studies of birds it is often necessary to age and sex individuals.  Both sexes of Eastern Rosellas Platycercus eximius have similar plumage but that of adult males, particularly the red feathers of head and breast, are brighter than those of females and young birds.  Another difference is the two rows of spots on the underwing coverts and remiges; these are present in young birds, retained to a varying degree in adult females and lost in adult males (Lendon 1941, Smith and Brereton 1976).

Stokes, T.  1982.  An analysis of Raptor injuries treated in the Australian Capital Territory district 1976-80.  Corella 6: 97-104.

Records over five years of raptors treated in captivity are analysed.  Ailments, seasonality of injury and rehabilitation success are examined.  The paper highlights the benefits of detailed record keeping.

Menkhorst, P.W.  1982.  A bibliography of research by the Victorian Ornithological Research Group, 1962-1981.  Corella 6: 105-113.

Two hundred and twenty references relating to research conducted by the Victorian Ornithological Research Group are listed.  The period covered is the twenty years between the Group's formation in 1962 and December 1981.  Part 1 lists the references alphabetically with annotations; part 2 lists the 36 projects undertaken by VORG and cross-references these with the entries in Part 1.

Black, A. & J. Ford.  1982.  Magpies similar to the White-backed Magpie in inland Western Australia.  Corella 6: 114-118.

Three females and one male of Gymnorhina recently collected near Wiluna, Western Australia, are described.  Two females are exactly like the White-backed Magpie G. hypoleuca leuconota.  The other specimens are possibly hybrids between the Black-backed Magpie G. tibicen longirostris and the Western Magpie G. dorsalis, hybrids between longirostris and leuconota or hybrids between all three forms.  The presence of leuconota or partly leuconota phenotypes may be caused by escaped pets introduced by pastoralists in mid-Western Australia or by leuconota having a range that extends westwards from Eyre Peninsula through the Nullarbor Plain and Great Victoria Desert.  Alternatively, some hybrids between longirostris and dorsalis resemble leuconota.

Abbott, I.  1982.  Birds recorded on 22 tropical islands of Western Australia.  Corella 6: 119-122.

An annotated list of 63 species of birds (excluding seabirds) is provided for islands adjacent to the north-western coast of Australia.

Smedley, D.I.  1982.  Eye colour of the Brown Thornbill. Corella 6: 122.

Liddy, J.  1982.  Predation of the Lantana Leafmining Beetle by the Silvereye in south-eastern Queensland.  Corella 6: 123-124.

Material defecated by Silvereyes Zosterops lateralis handled during banding operations at Cowiebank, south-eastern Queensland, for the four years to July 1982 was collected, dissected, and obvious arthropod remains were identified.  The faeces of 534 Silvereyes handled between 24 January and 7 July contained the remains of 37 adults of the Lantana Leafmining Beetle Uroplata giraldi which was introduced into Queensland in 1966 to help control the weed Lantana Lantana camara.  Remains of adult Uroplata were not defecated by 357 Silvereyes handled between 8 July and 23 January although they were always present at these times and were sometimes abundant.  The remains of three Uroplata larvae and one example of eight other arthropods were found in the faeces during the four-year period.