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.
 

Recher, H.F. & M. Schulz.  1983.  Observations on the breeding of White-browed Woodswallows.  Corella 7: 1-6.

White-browed Woodswallows Artamus superciliosus invaded the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales during the summer of 1980.  The invasion was correlated with drought conditions further west and a nesting colony was established on one of our study plots near the Bondi State Forest.  The success of this colony was affected by predators, storms and possibly by the number of birds in the colony.

Gosper, D.G.  1983.  An avifaunal survey of littoral habitats near Ballina, New South Wales.  Corella 7: 7-13.

A systematic account is given of birds recorded during censuses of the coastline (littoral habitats) near Ballina, northern New South Wales, from 1977 to 1979.  Eighteen species occurred regularly and an additional 40 species intermittently.  Three habitat types were distinguished: beaches, rock platforms and nearshore waters.  These were used primarily for feeding and roosting.  Number of species and local abundance were influenced by the proximity of the Richmond River estuary.

Debus, S.J.S.  1983.  Birds in a Pine Plantation at Armidale, New South Wales.  Corella 7: 14-16.

Vestjens, W.J.M.  1983.  Bird in the Hand: Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus.  Corella 7: 17-18.

Lane, S.G..  1983.: Weights and measurements - Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis, In Data Exchange, Corella 7: 22-23.

Ford, H.A.  1983.  Relation between number of Honeyeaters and intensity of flowering near Armidale, New South Wales.  Corella 7: 25-31.

The relation between number of honeyeaters and intensity of flowering was studied in sixteen sites near Adelaide in South Australia.  Numbers of honeyeaters were highest in late autumn and winter for all species and lowest in summer.  Numbers of honeyeaters of all species or of each species were correlated with flowering index of major species of plants.

Tulloch, D.G. & J.L. McKean.  1983.  Magpie Goose populations on the coastal plains of the Northern Territory (1958-180).  Corella 7: 32-36.

Results of surveys of Magpie Geese on the coastal plains of the Northern Territory are reported for the period 1958 to 1980.  Numbers declined markedly from 1958 to 1971, but recovered during the following years.

Guesclin, P.B., W.B. Emerson & I.D. Temby.  1983.  Deliberate misuse of the organophosphorous pesticide, Fenthion-ethyl, to poison birds in Victoria.  Corella 7: 37-39.

Fifteen incidents of native birds being poisoned by deliberate misuse of the pesticide, fenthion-ethyl, were detected in Victoria between 1972 and 1982.  A total of 1374 birds, representing 15 different species, was found dead at the 15 poison sites.  Difficulties in assessing the number of birds being killed in Victoria by this pesticide are discussed.

Martin, W. & W. Sobey.  1983.  Improvement of Seabird nesting habitat on Bowen Island, New South Wales by eradication of rabbits. Corella 7: 40.

Hardy, J.W.  1983.  The use of falconry hoods in the handling of Australian Kestrels.  Corella 7: 41-43.

Smedley, D.I.  1983.  Mating of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo. Corella 7: 43.

Johnson, C.N.  1983.  Courtship feeding and mating in the Channel-billed Cuckoo.  Corella 7: 44.

Hardy, J.W..  1983.: Weights and measurements - Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus and Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti, In Data Exchange, Corella 7: 48.

Recher, H.F., D.R. Milledge, P. Smith & W.G. Rohan-Jones.  1983. A transect method to count birds in Eucalypt forest.  Corella 7: 49-54.

A transect method used to count forest birds in south-eastern Australia is described and its usefulness and limitations discussed.  The method combines mapping along a transect 420 m long and 120 m wide, with a point count of 60 m radius.  The transect requires two hours, one hour of which is spent on the point count.  Four counts were necessary at each site with six counts required in an area with a richer avifauna.  Steps were taken to reduce variation and bias due to weather conditions, time of day and differences between observers.  The point count was included to allow comparisons with similar counts from areas of habitat too small for a full transect.  The disadvantage was that the proportionally greater time spent on the point count biased the overall transect count towards birds recorded at the point.  In common with other methods, the effectiveness of the census method was limited by the sporadic occurrence of many of the bird species in the area, and by the problems of the numbers of birds recorded varying with density of vegetation, seasonal species of birds and duration of the census.  The procedure is time consuming but results in more information on bird disposition at each site and better species lists than do shorter counts of smaller areas.  It has proved useful in providing a broad data base in surveys of large areas containing a variety of forest habitats and where knowledge of the avifauna is poor.

Woinarski, J.C.Z. & A.R. McEvey.  1983.  Mortality in Pardalotes in Melbourne, 1960 to 1980.  Corella 7: 55-59.

Forty-six museum specimens of pardalotes were found dead in the Melbourne area between 1960 and 1980.  An additional 47 birds were reported dead in that period, but left uncollected.  An analysis of the dates of these mortality records indicated that deaths occurred non-randomly over months and years, with two years (1974 and 1977) and four months (May-August) accounting for the bulk of deaths.  The three taxa of pardalotes represented (Pardalotus punctatus and Pardalotus striatus morphs 'striatus' and 'ornatus') had correlated mortality dates, although punctatus deaths tended to be more evenly spaced.  There was no significant correlation of deaths with three weather variables examined.  There was little evidence that starvation or epidemic were the cause of the deaths.  It is suggested that the pattern of deaths reflects a major variation in actual density and aggregation of pardalotes in this area during this period.

Cowan, A.N.  1983.  A modified Penguin stomach tube. Corella 7: 59-61.

Debus, S.J.S.  1983.  Food of the Whistling Kite at Armidale, N.S.W.  Corella 7: 62-63.

Lane, S.G.  1983.  Bird in the Hand: Fuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscus.  Corella 7: 64-65.

King, B.R., C.J. Limpus, D.H.C. Seton & G.R. Tomes.  1983. Seabird Islands No. 127: MacLennan Cay, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Corella 7: 69-70.

King, B.R., C.J. Limpus, D.H.C. Seton & G.R. Tomes.  1983. Seabird Islands No. 128: Pandora Cay, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Corella 7: 71-73.

King, B.R., & C.J. Limpus.  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 129: Ashmore Banks, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.  Corella 7: 74-75.

King, B.R., C.J. Limpus & D.H.C. Seton.  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 130: Sandbank No. 8, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Corella 7: 76-77.

King, B.R., & C.J. Limpus.  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 131: Sandbank No. 7, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.  Corella 7: 78-79.

Brothers, N.P. & I.J Skira.  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 132: Hippolyte Rocks, Tasmania.  Corella 7: 80-82.

Brothers, N.P..  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 133: The Thumbs, Tasmania.  Corella 7: 83-84.

Brothers, N.P..  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 134: Southport Island, Tasmania.  Corella 7: 85-86.

Brothers, N.P..  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 135: Blanche Rock, Tasmania.  Corella 7: 87-88.

Brothers, N.P..  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 136: Actaeon Island, Tasmania.  Corella 7: 89-90.

Brothers, N.P..  1983.  Seabird Islands No. 137: Sterile Island, Tasmania.  Corella 7: 91-92.

Kavanagh, R. & H.F. Recher.  1983.  Effects of observer variability on the census of birds.  Corella 7: 93-100.

During surveys of the avifauna of south-eastern New South Wales, five persons were involved in the counting of birds using a strip transect method.  Although efforts were made to standardize procedures and to ensure that each person had about the same ability to identify birds, there were differences between observers which affected results.  In this paper, the differences between observers are described and discussed with respect to their effects on census results  These data indicate that differences between observer search patterns and their individual behavioural traits may considerably affect census results.  Observer variability is an important source of error in bird census work and survey teams in particular need to be aware of the problem.  Procedures for reducing observer error are presented.

Lowe, K.W.  1983.  Feeding behaviour and diet of the White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae in Westernport Bay, Victoria. Corella 7: 101-108.

White-faced Herons Ardea novaehollandiae were studied in Westernport Bay between 1977 and 1982. Herons were present throughout the year but most moved away from the coast during the breeding season.  Some herons returned to the same areas of mudflat from year to year.  Herons fed in a wide variety of habitats: intertidal mudflats, saltmarsh, freshwater marsh, cultivated pastures and drainage depressions, residential lawns and intertidal rocky shores on the ocean coastline.  Herons fed in both intertidal and terrestrial habitats throughout the year but took most of their food from the intertidal habitat in summer and autumn and from the terrestrial habitat in winter and spring.  On mudflats, herons usually foraged alone and occasionally defended feeding territories.  They consumed a large range of prey species and prey sizes on the mudflats.  Two species of caridean prawn and one species of crab dominated the stomach contents of eight herons that had fed on mudflats.  The stomach contents of six herons that had fed in terrestrial habitats also contained a large range of prey species. The White-faced Heron used feeding methods that were energetically inexpensive and appeared to have low capture rates.  The feeding strategy of the White-faced Heron may be described as a "habitat generalist".

Baker-Gabb, D.J.  1983.  Observations on the mating system and breeding success of Marsh Harriers in coastal south-east Australia. Corella 7: 109-113.

Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus bred at a density of one pair per 67 ha and all pairs were monogynous.  Clutch sizes averaged 3.6 eggs and 2.0 young were fledged per successful nest, or 1.3 young per nest site.  The mean fledging date was 6 January.