Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 71, Issue 21

We are currently on a Dendrology tour of California NSE and West, The general paucity of birds is remarkable. Apart from American Crows here and there one can drive hundreds of miles, freeways and otherwise, without seeing anything avian other than an overstuffed turkey sandwich. Seabirds an exception.

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> On 26 . . . → Read More: Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 71, Issue 21

Scientific American – Silent Birds

The following quote from Scientific American…

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/silent-skies-billions-of-north-american-birds-have-vanished/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly-review&utm_content=link&utm_term=2019-09-25_top-stories&spMailingID=60516237&spUserID=MjkzMjYyMzc4MjgS1&spJobID=1723346337&spReportId=MTcyMzM0NjMzNwS2 Is drawn from their report on the decline of bird numbers in the USA… 

. . . → Read More: Scientific American – Silent Birds

Wings on King Spring survey promotion

The ‘Wings on King’ bird survey project on King Island, Tasmania, will be undertaking the 2019 Spring surveys 7-10th November. Registrations are now open www.birdsofkingisland.com/register Associated events include dinner on Saturday evening. Speaker – Fred van Gessel who will be on the island recording the King Island bird calls including those of our two critically . . . → Read More: Wings on King Spring survey promotion

feet peregrine

Had a look at HANZAB and birds of palearctic but the results are confusing . Male Australia nominate weight 600g 670g tarsus 42.8mm 46.7mm toe 46mm 47.5mm

Female weight 825g 1100g tarsus 48mm 53mm toe 52mm 53mm

Do not know if this helps the argument . Australian does have relative longer toe, would that help . . . → Read More: feet peregrine

adaptation

Of the two Australian live Peregrine nestcams, Orange seems likely to have the widest possible variety of prey, including galahs & pigeons as largest I’ve so far seen. I agree that a galah would likely provide an Australian hunting challenge in adept flight & fiesty character (indeed, the tiercel there has brought in smaller prey). . . . → Read More: adaptation

Decline of American birds

https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/almost-one-third-fewer-birds-in-us-than-in-1970-study-shows-20190920-p52t5t.html

Birdpedia – Australia – Weekly Digest

The following is a digest of Sightings Reported on Birdpedia for the period Monday, September 23, 2019 to Sunday, September 29, 2019:

Area: SA

Location: 4th creek Campbelltown

Galah (Cacatua roseicapilla) (1) I spotted this bird several times in this area. Once foraging on the ground with another galah which highlighted it’s bright red colour . . . → Read More: Birdpedia – Australia – Weekly Digest

Needletails are heading our way

G’day

Two days ago two White-throated Needletails were reported from Timor Leste so this bird now listed as Vulnerable in Australia is heading back our way. If you want to help with the documentaion of its decline please count or estimate the size of any flocks you see. Send them directly to me, or to . . . → Read More: Needletails are heading our way

Thanks!

Wanted to thank you all for replying to my RFI on behalf of a friend planning o a few days in Sidney. He is putting together an itinerary and I’m sure will be in touch as things unfold.   Thanks again, Ross   Ross Silcock Tabor, IA  51653 USA 402-618-4933         . . . → Read More: Thanks!

Bill to ban duck shooting

https://www.facebook.com/AndyMeddickMP/videos/339087716815620/ Hopefully this video can be viewed. It’s Animal Justice Party MP, Andy Meddick, reading his Bill to ban duck hunting in the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament last week. History will be made if this Bill succeeds. For the first time since opposition to duck shooting began 33 years ago, there’s a . . . → Read More: Bill to ban duck shooting