Not sure if this sighting is a ‘sought-after’ one, but it seems there is a resident population of Eurasian Tree Sparrow in and around the general store in Anakie on edge of Brisbane Ranges NP, VIC: sighted Sunday afternoon. Wendy McWilliams _______________________________________________ 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
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21 comments to Tree Sparrow |
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Tree Sparrow is still around the zoo and can be found near the Food Plaza behind the seals. There are usually good numbers behind the elephant house too, even though the more common House Sparrow dominates. Song Thrush can be found around the rainforesty areas along the primate (gibbons, capuchins…) enclosures. On a more native note – there are Red-rumped Parrots breeding in one of the dead trees in the male elephant’s enclosure. Nankeen Night Herons can be readily seen opposite the Orangutan exhibit. Cheers, Falk On Tue, Jan 21, 2014 at 9:42 PM, John Tongue < jspk@iprimus.com.au> wrote: — Falk Wicker 4 Hazel Crescent Healesville 3777 Victoria Australia private – falk.wicker@gmail.com work – fwicker@zoo.org.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
Also Ceres Enviro-Park in Brunswick is usually reliable. John Tongue Ulverstone, Tas. On 21/01/2014, at 6:53 PM, “Brian & Meg” < brianandmeg@bigpond.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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 Brian & Meg If you wander a bit further north, Roxburgh Park Shopping Centre is absolutely guaranteed for Tree Sparrows. The place is crawling with them & they vastly outnumber the House Sparrows there. They even fly in & out of the shopping centre. I’ve mostly seen them there in the evening, but they should be there all day.-Kevin Bartram _______________________________________________ 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 there, I have only seen one lone Tree Sparrow at Melbourne Zoo in around 20 visits – although not specifically ever looking for them. The centre of Kingsville (inner West) – Coronation St, Wales St and Kingsville St should produce a few easily if you walk up and down them – and also around the Little Saigon market at Footscray is reliable – although very busy with cars and people. Good luck, Ed Ed Williams _______________________________________________ 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 both of you, I found them along the back fence of the zoo on Dec 11 last year – along the tram lines, on a corner of the fence towards the south end next to a grove of she-oaks. Cheers, John _______________________________________________ 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
Greeting Paul & List I retain fond memories of a trip Fay and I did to the UK back in the late 1990s. Wei were out in Norfolk with a group of local birders who, after a brief consultation amongst themselves, approached us to say that they were going to take us to visit a rather rare British bird. Silence was paramount as the bird was nesting. We followed them until reaching an obvious man-made netting structure designed to serve as a “tunnel.,” a hide in effect. A viewing hole had been cut into the netting at the end and through this we had great views of what was then becoming one of the country’s rarest birds – the humble Tree Sparrow! In our younger days Passer montanus had been as common as fish ‘n’ chips on a Saturday night. Cheers Julian _______________________________________________ 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
—–Original Message—– Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2013 6:27 PM Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org ; wendy@wmcpr.com.au Greetings Russ You wrote: “I suppose we should celebrate when an introduced species disappears..” Does that include the European subspecies of Homo sapiens? They, after all have created more ecological damage in Australia than all the introduced avifauna put together.
Cheers Julian I suppose we should celebrate when an introduced species disappears (I’m not suggesting that Tree Sparrows are declining significantly), but it is important to try to gather as much information as possible about what may lead to this happening. If Tree Sparrow disappeared, what could be the underlying causes, and what does that tell us for native species? Song Thrush is one introduced species that seems to have dropped in numbers – as it has in Britain. Is this (in SE Australia) because of loss of suitable urban habitat – fewer large leafy gardens with dense cover? Or is it more to do with predators like foxes and cats? It used to be easy to find Song Thrush in places like Newtown hill in Geelong, where most of the houses had enormous, lush gardens. Many of these have now been replaced by townhouses with almost no gardens. Is this the sort of thing that contributes pressure on thrushes, and why does Song Thrush appear to have declined, while Blackbird thrives? What’s happened in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne? Russell Woodford Ocean Grove On 29 December 2013 18:50, David Richardson < albatrossvaldez@gmail.com >wrote: _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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 a small but healthy and visible population in Kingsville (inner-West Melbourne) that has remained steady over the three years I have lived there – in fact if anything they visit our backyard more frequently that ever – although whether that is due to more birds about or a messy toddler throwing his food around these days is unclear! Happy holidays! Ed _______________________________________________ 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
I disagree, Russ. Introduced or not, they are now a part of the ecological and ornithological landscape of this country, as are Common Starlings, European Goldfinches, European Goldfinch, and everyone’s favourite, Common Myna. Changes to populations of these species may be indicators of change that will affect broader groups of species, so are worthy of note and, sometimes, of further research. Further, House and Tree Sparrows are in significant decline in the UK and Europe – I’ve heard estimates of up to 90% reduction in population. Indeed, I usually struggle to see House Sparrows in the south-east of England when I’m there for business (in my last trip, I saw just one bird in Sandwich). Strange that it may seem, it is possible that in the future Australia may be a stronghold for both these species. Paul Sent from my iPad _______________________________________________ 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
There has been a single Song Thrush visiting the birdbath in my sisters garden,in Hoppers Crossing,each evening all summer. I have seen Song Thrush in her garden,and along the court in which she lives,each summer period for past six years. I never see more than an individual bird. David Richardson On Sun, Dec 29, 2013 at 8:44 PM, Judy Leitch < leitchbj@gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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
Plenty of Song Thrush here in NZ. From Auckland to KatiKati to Central Plateau and back! Add Common Mynas, Starlings and House Sparrows to that list too. A Tui singing in the garden is such a treat after so many of the above. 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
Yes – were common for me in the early stages of the drought but then dropped off and now a very rare bird (Werribee) On 29 December 2013 19:38, Sonja Ross < sonja.ross7@gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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
I suppose we should celebrate when an introduced species disappears (I’m not suggesting that Tree Sparrows are declining significantly), but it is important to try to gather as much information as possible about what may lead to this happening. If Tree Sparrow disappeared, what could be the underlying causes, and what does that tell us for native species? Song Thrush is one introduced species that seems to have dropped in numbers – as it has in Britain. Is this (in SE Australia) because of loss of suitable urban habitat – fewer large leafy gardens with dense cover? Or is it more to do with predators like foxes and cats? It used to be easy to find Song Thrush in places like Newtown hill in Geelong, where most of the houses had enormous, lush gardens. Many of these have now been replaced by townhouses with almost no gardens. Is this the sort of thing that contributes pressure on thrushes, and why does Song Thrush appear to have declined, while Blackbird thrives? What’s happened in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne? Russell Woodford Ocean Grove On 29 December 2013 18:50, David Richardson < albatrossvaldez@gmail.com >wrote: _______________________________________________ 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
There are healthy populations of Tree Sparrows in Kensington,Hoppers Crossing (where I regularly see them at the bus stop near the train station, and also around my sisters garden in Hop.Cross.) and in Altona where I live,close to Truganina Swamp.I have Tree Sparrows visiting the birdbath on my balcony here,and had them this sfternoon.So there are pockets of them about. David Richardson. On Sun, Dec 29, 2013 at 6:16 PM, John Tongue < jspk@iprimus.com.au> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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
Thanks Paul, but we’re not arriving till Jan 24. Doing my Nephew’s wedding on Jan 26, and a few days birding either side. Hoping for Sooty Owl, with Tim Bawden, and now, maybe, Long-toed Stint at Werribee?? John T. On 29/12/2013, at 6:12 PM, John Tongue < jspk@iprimus.com.au> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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
Just realised, it WAS over twelve months ago we had them there! John Tongue Ulverstone, Tas. On 29/12/2013, at 6:08 PM, Paul Dodd < paul@angrybluecat.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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
Ah! We might have to head there asap in Jan to get them for my Big Year!
John Tongue Ulverstone, Tas. On 29/12/2013, at 6:08 PM, Paul Dodd < paul@angrybluecat.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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
They’re getting much harder to find there, John. Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ 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
To be honest, I am worried about the Serendip population. I found one bird on Dec 1st, during the Challenge Bird Count, but have seen none since, despite two full weekends spent there. This could just be a regular fluctuation, but it may also signal the decline and possible disappearance of this population. I will check thoroughly on my next visit on Jan 11th & 12th. Paul Dodd Docklands, Victoria Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ 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
And at the ‘Enviro-park’ in Brunswick. Cheers, John Tongue Ulverstone, Tas. On 29/12/2013, at 5:36 PM, wendy@wmcpr.com.au wrote: _______________________________________________ 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 Wendy This sort of information is very useful for those of us planning for Bird A Day 2014! I occasionally see Tree Sparrow around the outer northern suburbs of Geelong, and Rosewall used to be a good place to find them on a Twitchathon. There is also a small population at Serendip in Lara. Regards Russell Woodford Ocean Grove On 29 December 2013 17:36, < wendy@wmcpr.com.au> wrote: _______________________________________________ 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