Month: December 2013

Unrelated subject – although flying, a line of bats – in places 40-50 bat-wide, heading nor/nor-east over the water at Runaway Bay (Qld), for at least 10 minutes. I’ve not seen this before on the Gold Coast. Perhaps the fireworks are going off early in Surfers Paradise! A New Year of Birding to all, Judy _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

Interesting concern. In my head Tree Sparrows are nicer than House Sparrows (and most other introduced fauna). I studied both for my honours thesis year 1978, so long ago. The aim was to look at the significant differences in their social behaviour and social cohesion. This on the basis of the differences in their sexual dimorphism and the very strange aspect for a sexually monomorphic species, that female Tree Sparrows resemble typical males of their genus, rather than the usual pattern in other bird groups for a sexually monomorphic species, of males resembling typical females of their genus. Both species were common at La Trobe University where I was. I still look for them on my visits to Melbourne. Although the ideas of the study were mine, my supervisor Dr Richard Zann (who died in the Kinglake fire) wisely advised me to study a common species, not something rare. Philip _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

In April 2013 my son purchased the large house ‘Avalon’ in Rowe St, Alphington. The huge neglected garden ran down to Darebin Creek and the cycle path. The former owners originally kept a mini-zoo there (I recall an Emu sometimes seen in the front garden), with Peafowl, and many aviaries of parrots and other birds. I do not know if they ever kept Satin Bowerbirds, but my son’s family report that in early 2013 there was a bower full of blue plastic on the creek-flat under a tamarisk bush. Work on the neglected garden included much grass-cutting and weed removal, and the bower did not survive goats, a flood, and lawn-mowing, though there are still several productive plum, peach, apple and pear trees nearby, and much blackberry. SBBs are notorious fruit-stealers and I am told they also rely on cicadas, particularly as food for nestlings. This has been an excellent year for cicadas. It seems quite possible that escaped or liberated SBBs could maintain themselves as a free breeding population, and be the source of birds recently seen in the area. There may well be more observations made if observers look out for them along the Yarra and the Creek. The bird I saw seemed to have a normal bill and no rings or bands on the legs. Anthea Fleming _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

Wishing all on Birding-Aus a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and may 2014 bring the birds of your desires. Carl Clifford _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

For Mike Tarbuton. Allan Benson and I saw 50 to 100 at Woodberry Park near Wyong NSW 28 December. Weather – easterly breeze with some cumulus cloud. Also saw some at Beecroft (Sydney) yesterday from the front yard. There were 10 to 20, north-easterly breeze with some cumulus. Happy New Year Birding. — John Reidy Sydney Phone 02 9871 4836 Fax 02 9871 2616 _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

here’s comment from John Young – i’m in full agreement with him, having heard it myself most days… cheers Martin Cachard, Cairns > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 07:31:04 +1000 > Subject: Hello Martin if you wish to pass it on Phils bird is the early morning start of a Helmeted Friarbird, look forward to catching up again cheers John Young > From: john@johnyoungwildlife.com > To: mcachard@hotmail.com > > > > Sent from my Xperia™ smartphone _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

Hi all I am about to head up to the NT for a few weeks of birding. Does anyone know if the red goshawk is currently in Mataranka and if so, where is the best place to locate it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as always. Kind regards Bernie OKeefe Sent from my iPhone ————————————————————– This Email and any attachments may be confidential and, if you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or use the information in this mail. If received in error, please notify us immediately and delete the Email and all copies. Caroline Chisholm Catholic College does not guarantee that this Email is virus or error free. The attached files are provided and may only be used on the basis that the user assumes all responsibility for any loss, damage or consequence resulting directly or indirectly from the use of the attached files, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not. The content and opinions in this Email are not necessarily those of Caroline Chisholm Catholic College. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

a comment from Steve Debus _____ Hi Shirley, Thanks. I think Lawrie’s Peregrines were either an adut male dropping prey to his dependent juvenile female (as happens), or the food transfer went via the female parent to the juvenile(s), which would still be dependent on parental feeding. Cheers, Steve (REPORT FROM BIRDLINE VICTORIA) Peregrine Falcon Tylden Township, Macedon Ranges >>Our local pair (I assume breeders from the neighbouring Tylden >>Quarry) have been very noisy the last week or so. Today my daughter >>and I looked on, impressed and smiling, as the noise drew our >>attention to a pair overhead. The mail dropped the wattlebird-sized >>prey it was carrying and the female rolled over to receive it >>upside down. This looked like courtship behaviour, but it’s a >>little late in the year. Attempting a second clutch, or celebrating >>an empty nest?? >>Lawrie Conole _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

My guess is one of the friarbirds, pre-dawn call Regards Doug Holly _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

We have had a mystery caller at 0500 each day, heard from our veranda at Cassowary House; I am not sure what it is, it sounds like it ought to be a nightjar perhaps, but it does not sound like Large-tailed; I don’t have any calls of White-throated available to be as i’m in transit to Socotra, so if someone would be kind enough to have a listen- the call is on xenocanto in the mysteries section as xc 158515 and I’d love to know what it is! Thanks and best wishes for 2014 Phil Gregory Email: info@sicklebillsafaris.com Website 1: Http://www.sicklebillsafaris.com Website 2: Http://www.cassowary-house.com.au _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org