AUSTRALIAN BIRD STUDY
ASSOCIATION Inc.
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NEWSLETTER No. 104
Edited by Stein Boddington. info AT absa DOT asn DOT
au
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This Newsletter was posted with Corella dated September 2011
Contents
Applications for Research Grants 2012
The Australian Bird Study Association
operates a fund to provide financial assistance to researchers.
The fund, known as the ABSA Fund for Avian Research, provides grants on
an annual basis. The total value of grants this year is in the
order of $2500 and is intended to provide researchers with assistance
in the acquisition of equipment and research material.
Expressions of interest for obtaining a grant are now being sought from
members of the Association. The Association would like to encourage
grant applications from both amateur and professional
researchers. Expressions of interest must be in writing, clearly
setting out the aims and objectives of the proposed study.
The successful recipients would be encouraged, at the completion of
their study, to provide a paper for publication in Corella outlining
the results of their research.
All applications should be forwarded by 31 Jan 2012 to:
The Secretary,
Australian Bird Study Association,
PO Box A313, Sydney South, NSW 1235.
or by email to <info@absa.asn.au>
A decision will be made at the February meeting of the Committee.
AGM 2012 - advance notice
At the recent meeting of the Committee,
it was decided that next year’s AGM and Scientific Day will be held in
Newcastle, NSW. The theme of the day will be “Sea and Shorebirds.
We are looking at a number of dates in March, and the final date will
be advised in the December Newsletter.
Mist Netting Evaluated
Scott Jennings, Thomas Gardali,
Nathaniel E. Seavy, and Geoffrey R. Geupel. (2009) Effects
of Mist Netting on Reproductive Performance of Wrentits and Song
Sparrows in Central Coastal California. The Condor
111(3):488-496. 2009
<http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1525/cond.2009.080107#aff2>
Abstract.
Mist netting is widely used to monitor
the reproductive success of passerines, yet little is known about its
effects on bird ecology. Using a 25-year data set from central
California, we evaluated the effects of constant-effort mist netting on
the reproductive performance of the Wrentit Chamaea fasciata and Song
Sparrow Melospiza melodia. We compared nest survival, number of young
fledged, and an index of nestling condition (mass corrected for body
size) at nests where at least one parent was captured while the nest
was active to these variables at nests where neither parent was
captured. We also compared these characteristics for nests at varying
distances from nets run at different frequencies. Wrentit nestlings
from nests closer to less frequently run nets were in poorer condition
than those from nests close to more frequently run nets and than those
far away from any nets. For the Song Sparrow, daily nest survival was
higher where at least one parent was captured while the nest was
active. For all other comparisons, there was no statistical evidence
that mist netting had an effect on reproductive performance of these
species. This information should ease concerns about the use of mist
nets in monitoring avian demographics.
Wonderful Pauline Reilly passed on in late April at the age of 92.
She was a - perhaps the - leading light
of the early days of the research on Little Penguins at Phillip Island,
a member of the RAOU from 1956, serving as its publicity officer and
President (1972-75). She was first woman Fellow of the RAOU,
and awarded the OAM for services to ornithology in 1994, the John
Hobbs Medal for her amateur contribution to ornithology, and the
Australian Natural History Medallion.
One of her most lasting contributions, I believe, will be her
initiation and leadership of the first Atlas of Australian Birds that
ran from 1977. This is just one memorial to her committment to getting
ordinary people to study, popularise, and conserve birds and other
animals.
Pauline wrote at least 40 books, amongst them a magnificent
'Penguins of the World' translated into many languages, several on the
penguins of Phillip Island, many children's books, and 'Cannabis and
Cancer: Arthur's Story', a brave and well-publicised account of her use
of cannabis to ease her husband's pain towards the end of his life.
Turning to Bayside, one her publications was 'Common Birds', No. 1 in
the remarkable Sandringham Environment Series published by Sandringham
Council from 1977 onwards. At that time, the Reillys lived
in Hampton with Arthur serving as a Councillor (1974-78) and Pauline
being a member of the Council's Flora, Fauna and Natural Environment
Panel that later became the Natural Environment Advisory Group.
Another local publication was 'A Thirteen-month Study of Birds in a
Suburban Coastal Environment' (Australian Bird Watcher, 1981) that
compares the foreshore areas around Picnic Point and Love Street. It
involved many local bird lovers and its recommendations are, to me, as
relevant today as they were then.
Pauline returned to Bayside from her new home at Fairhaven to launch
the study that eventually led to the publication of 'Local Birds of
Bayside' (1995) which I helped to write with contributions from around
100 residents. Her preface to the booklet summarises the changes in the
avifauna of Bayside with a concluding - and true - warning that "birds
are one of the first indicators of environmental problems".
Unfortunately she could not contribute her own local
records as most of her papers were lost in the Ash Wednesday fires of
16th February 1983.
I owe her a debt of gratitude for her help in editing 'Local Birds' and
for the pleasure of her company at her and Arthur's home, where she
showed me the yet unpublished Japanese edition of 'Penguins of the
World' and took me to see my first Rufous Bristlebirds in a friend's
garden and by the Airey's Inlet lighthouse.
It was a brief meeting with a marvellous woman and I treasure the memory.
Michael Norris
Curlew Sandpiper set for Endangered listing.
The NSW Scientific Committee,
established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a
Preliminary Determination to support a proposal to list the Curlew
Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (Pontoppidan, 1763) as an ENDANGERED
SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of Endangered
species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
The full document is at
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/curlewsandpiperPD.htm>
White-fronted Chats
I am conducting my Honours thesis on
the population of White-fronted Chats at Towra Point Wetlands, Kurnell,
NSW. I am interested in any records (within past 11 years) anyone may
have of White-fronted Chats seen in this area, or anywhere else in
Sydney.
If you have any recent records, I would greatly appreciate if you could please forward them to me at:
<kurtis DOT lindsay AT students DOT mq DOT edu DOT au>
I am also interested in any Sydney records (past 11 years) of Jacky Winter and Turquoise Parrot.
Kurtis Lindsay
Bell Miner
I am Honours student at UNE and I am
currently researching the habitat requirements and movements of Bell
Miner Manorina melanophrys colonies.
To achieve the largest sample size, I am looking to collate historical
records from across the species distribution. I am seeking any
information on the location of colonies, timeframe of occupancy and, if
known, new locations colonies occupied after relocation (for example
colony moved 1km downstream/south etc). Further, any information
relating to the region occupied, such as the approximated area occupied
by the colony, floristic composition or habitat structure of occupied
areas would be greatly appreciated. However, records that are not able
to provide all information are still valuable and would be appreciated.
I have a data sheet if required.
Natasha Marshall
nmarsh10 AT une DOT edu DOT au
Pigeon and Two Juveniles
Want to see a clucky photo?
<http://andjoh.posterous.com/how-precious-is-this-nice-photo
SOSSA NewWebsite
SOSSA is pleased to announce that it has updated its website, so please have a look. The address is
<
http://www.sossa-international.org>
We have updated many of the links and content on the site and have plans to introduce further features.
One of the main changes is the addition of a forum for discussions and
photos of sea birds. The forum can be accessed via the home page.
We hope the site will become a useful resource for people interested in seabirds and that you enjoy it.
The SOSSA Team
Eastern Yellow Robins
Coping in the big city: Investigating the effects of urbanization on Eastern Yellow Robin populations in Melbourne, Victoria
I recently began a project at Deakin University looking at the effects
of urbanization on Eastern Yellow Robin populations. Various
researchers have explored how the expansion of urban areas is affecting
bird communities, but there is a need for studies that focus on
individual species. EYR are an ideal model species because they are
commonly found in the parks and reserves of Melbourne’s outskirts, but
have been shown to disappear as the degree of surrounding urban
development increases. Other researchers have studied EYR in
fragmented agricultural systems, but not much is known about their
responses to urban development; for example, why they are absent from
the smaller reserves closer to the city and just how well yellow robins
living in more isolated reserves are faring.
I aim to examine four aspects of urbanization that may be affecting
EYR: (1) the area and quality of habitat patches and degree of
surrounding urbanization, (2) availability of resources, especially
food (insects), (3) reduced dispersal capacity due to isolation, and
(4) higher levels of predation. I will be conducting this study in
parks and reserves across the suburban-forest gradient of greater
eastern Melbourne. I wish to compare morphological traits and breeding
success of birds across this gradient, as well as other possible
effects, such as differences in the frequency and tempo of songs and
calls. I plan to be capturing and banding EYR over the coming months,
and making observations about breeding success. If anyone wishes to
discuss this project further, please contact me. I would also be very
grateful to receive reports of any active EYR nests around eastern
greater Melbourne.
This project is being conducted under the supervision of Dr John White, Dr Mike Weston and Dr Raylene Cooke.
Christine Connelly, PhD student
Email: <caconnel AT deakin DOT edu DOT au> Phone: 0403 195 663
Plea for More Sound Recordings
I am writing to you on this subject as
I believe you are one person who could have a major influence on
birders that sound recording calls of our rarer species is equally, if
not more important to science, than getting a nice photograph for
personal collections.
I am constantly seeing reports on birding-aus in recent times about the
wonderful experiences birders are having since the rains made
conditions around Australia so much better for wildlife to breed. I
also note that quite a few are using play back to call in birds so they
can get a good photograph.
What frustrates me greatly is sound recordings of the wide repertoire
of bird calls is severely lacking. The only two people in Australia (as
far as I am aware) who are making an effort to record calls of birds
all around Australia are Fred van Gessel and myself. Birders spend a
lot of money on photographic equipment and by comparison good sound
recording equipment is relatively cheap.
I am only one sound recordist and I have barely touched the tip of the
iceberg when it comes to having a comprehensive collection of
Australian bird calls. With the army of bird watchers running around
out there nowadays this could change dramatically if people were to
record calls they hear rather than just put a few words on birding-aus
about their observations.
David Stewart
I reproduce this plea from David because the study of bird sounds is an
integral part of bird study. Birding-aus is an email
network for birders, and generates much that is of interest beyond the
twitching focus of the network. Ed.
Geoffrey Lodge awarded OAM
Geoffrey Lodge, of Cheynes beach, WA,
was awarded an OAM in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list. For
over 40 years, Geoff has served as a volunteer, contributing to work
done by the Ornithology Dept. of WA Museum, eventually becoming an
Honorary Associate of the Museum. He made a major contribution to the
Handbook of Western Australian Birds, Volume 2, and is a Life Member of
BA.
His interests are wide, and his work has included expeditions along the
Ord River in his boat the Sea Eagle, which he also used for trips
around Wyndham and Broome. He assisted with seabird surveys in the
Houtman Abrolhos, with a cockatoo project, and with preparing specimens
for the Museum collection.
Without formal qualifications, Geoff epitomises the amateur
ornithologist, showing that hard work, determination and continuity can
result in significant contributions to ornithological knowledge.
Congratulations Geoffrey.
Recent ecological responses to climate change support predictions of high extinction risk
Maclean, I.M.D. & Wilson, R.J. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA.
Abstract Predicted effects of climate change
include high extinction risk for many species, but confidence in these
predictions is undermined by a perceived lack of empirical support.
Many studies have now documented ecological responses to recent climate
change, providing the opportunity to test whether the magnitude and
nature of recent responses match predictions. Here, we perform a global
and multi-taxon meta-analysis to show that empirical evidence for the
realized effects of climate change supports predictions of future
extinction risk. We use IUCN Red List criteria as a common scale to
estimate extinction risks from a wide range of climate impacts,
ecological responses, and methods of analysis, and we compare
predictions with observations. Mean extinction probability across
studies making predictions of the future effects of climate change was
7% by 2100 compared with 15% based on observed responses. After taking
account of possible bias in the type of climate change impact analyzed
and the parts of the world and taxa studied, there was less discrepancy
between the two approaches: predictions suggested a mean extinction
probability of 10% across taxa and regions, whereas empirical evidence
gave a mean probability of 14%. As well as mean overall extinction
probability, observations also supported predictions in terms of
variability in extinction risk and the relative risk associated with
broad taxonomic groups and geographic regions. These results suggest
that predictions are robust to methodological assumptions and provide
strong empirical support for the assertion that anthropogenic climate
change is now a major threat to global biodiversity.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1017352108
”Priority! The Dating of Scientific Names in Ornithology”
Compiled by Edward C. Dickinson, Leslie
K. Overstreet, Robert J. Dowsett and Murray D. Bruce is a new book to
be published soon by Aves Press. “This is the first book to
explain the importance of priority in relation to names in ornithology
and in the context of the International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature. Backgrounds are first provided on the Code and on
printing and publishing over the last 250 years. The compilers then
bring together reports on 148 books and 121 periodicals in zoology
which, between them, present almost all the challenges that can make
date determination problematic. The reports provide links to the
published authorities and are supported by tables containing extensive
detail about the subsidiary parts or issues with their pagination and
dates. This book and the included CD Rom are a searchable treasure
trove.”
Pre-publication orders can be placed with Aves Press <
http://www.avespress.com>.
Why Penguins are Afraid of the Dark.
Ainley, D.G. & Ballard, G.
Non-consumptive factors affecting foraging patterns in Antarctic
penguins: a review and synthesis.
Polar Biology.
Abstract
Recent research has clearly shown that
the fear of predation, i.e. aversion to taking risks, among
mesopredators or grazers, and not merely flight from an apex predator
to avoid predation, is an important aspect of ecosystem structuring. In
only a few, though well-documented cases, however, has this been
considered in the marine environment. Herein, we review studies that
have quantified behavioral responses of Adélie penguins
Pygoscelis adeliae and emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri to the
direct presence of predators, and question why the penguins avoid
entering or exiting the water at night. We also show, through
literature review and new analyses of Adélie penguin diving
data, that Antarctic penguins are capable of successful prey capture in
the dark (defined here as <3.4 lux). Finally, we summarize
extensive data on seasonal migration relative to darkness and prey
availability. On the basis of our findings, we propose that penguins’
avoidance of foraging at night is due to fear of predation, and not to
an inability to operate effectively in darkness. We further propose
that, at polar latitudes where darkness is more a seasonal than a
year-round, daily feature, this “risk aversion” affects migratory
movements in both species, consistent with the “trade-off” hypothesis
seen in other marine vertebrates weighing foraging success against
predation risk in their choice of foraging habitat. Such
non-consumptive, behavioral aspects of species interactions have yet to
be considered as important in Southern Ocean food webs, but may help to
explain enigmatic movement patterns and choice of foraging grounds in
these penguin species.
DOI: 10.1007/s00300-011-1042-x
Audubon's Birds of America
Returning by popular demand is a close
up view of Audubon’s Birds of America. In 2010, the book became the
most expensive in the world, selling for $11.5 million. Ben
Clark and Daniel Parsa lead you on an informative journey on the
book’s creation and why it is so important.
6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, Thursday 6 October 2011 at Friends Room, Mitchell Building, State Library of NSW
Cost: $50 Adult, $40 Friends & Concessions
Bookings:
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/bookings/index.html
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