Fan-tailed Cuckoo migration in southern Victoria
By Birding-Aus, on June 16th, 2014
I took a visiting German out yesterday and think we heard a Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling near Anglesea Heath. I had thought that they would have moved north by now, so wonder if some do stay here, or has the warm start winter delayed its departure? Any thoughts would be appreciated. _______________________________________________ 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
The species occurs in all months in the Central- west with most winter records being on lower western slopes, so there would appear to be a possible altitude movement west from the higher country around Orange. I’ve no doubt that winter temperatures have some effect on this movement. It will interesting to see if there is any change to this species dispersal pattern with raising temperatures. Good birding Neville —–Original Message—– Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 12:53 PM HANZAB states “Partly migratory. Variously considered migratory, resident, and nomadic, seasonally nomadic or partly nomadic. Migration considered incomplete and irregular. Patterns of movement throughout Aust. complex and not properly known: timing and extent of movements vary across range. For migratory birds, relations between breeding and non-breeding areas poorly known: generally considered to move N from se. states in non-breeding season – N and inland in winter, but studies at individual sites reveal no clear patterns.” On the NSW North Coast the species is more common (or more obvious) during the autumn and winter, especially in drier forests and residential areas, but appears to be present all year in wetter habitats. Regards Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/ —–Original Message—– Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 10:04 PM HI people! In my experience Fantailed Cuckoo are definitely migrants with most heading north for the winter. In spring & autumn many of them fly into house windows etc., as shown by upsurge of museum specimens & visitations to public gardens like Alma Park in St.Kilda. A number however also stay & sometimes they can be heard in the middle of winter. Much of this I think is due to conditions, I’ve seen them in places with caterpillar infestations & if it is a good year for caterpillars many of them stay behind. So partial migrant I suppose would be the closest term.-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 _______________________________________________ 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
HANZAB states “Partly migratory. Variously considered migratory, resident, and nomadic, seasonally nomadic or partly nomadic. Migration considered incomplete and irregular. Patterns of movement throughout Aust. complex and not properly known: timing and extent of movements vary across range. For migratory birds, relations between breeding and non-breeding areas poorly known: generally considered to move N from se. states in non-breeding season – N and inland in winter, but studies at individual sites reveal no clear patterns.” On the NSW North Coast the species is more common (or more obvious) during the autumn and winter, especially in drier forests and residential areas, but appears to be present all year in wetter habitats. Regards Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/ —–Original Message—– Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 10:04 PM HI people! In my experience Fantailed Cuckoo are definitely migrants with most heading north for the winter. In spring & autumn many of them fly into house windows etc., as shown by upsurge of museum specimens & visitations to public gardens like Alma Park in St.Kilda. A number however also stay & sometimes they can be heard in the middle of winter. Much of this I think is due to conditions, I’ve seen them in places with caterpillar infestations & if it is a good year for caterpillars many of them stay behind. So partial migrant I suppose would be the closest term.-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
Thanks, Kevin. It does seem from what people are saying that there are definitely some here in the winter. I wonder if the same applies to Olive-backed Orioles considering the one reported on BirdLine Vic. from WTP on Sunday? Thanks again everyone, Sonja On 17/06/2014, at 10:04 PM, Kev Lobotomi < kevlobotomi@hotmail.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 people! In my experience Fantailed Cuckoo are definitely migrants with most heading north for the winter. In spring & autumn many of them fly into house windows etc., as shown by upsurge of museum specimens & visitations to public gardens like Alma Park in St.Kilda. A number however also stay & sometimes they can be heard in the middle of winter. Much of this I think is due to conditions, I’ve seen them in places with caterpillar infestations & if it is a good year for caterpillars many of them stay behind. So partial migrant I suppose would be the closest term.-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
Pizzey an Knight states that Fan-tailed Cuckoo is part-migratory with an inland autumn migration. I suppose you might describe it as a post-breeding dispersal, with some moving inland and others remaining. In the apps the distribution map colours indicate the movement between summer and winter quite well. Regards Guy Gibbon guy@gibbonmm.com —–Original Message—– Peter Ewin Sent: 17 June 2014 09:43 AM I never actually thought that Fan-tailed Cuckoos were migratory (they just went quiet over winter) but as it happened I heard one as I walked home in Albury this afternoon – the first one I have actually heard at my house since moving in December. Cheers, Peter Cuckoo calling near Anglesea Heath. I had thought that they would have moved north by now, so wonder if some do stay here, or has the warm start winter delayed its departure? Any thoughts would be appreciated. _______________________________________________ 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 — This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ 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 Peter, It says in Pizzey, 8th Ed., ‘In se. Aust. and sw. WA, inland autumn migration. Common; part-migratory.’ so it seems partly yes and partly no! thanks, Sonja On 17/06/2014, at 5:43 PM, Peter Ewin < sittella@hotmail.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 never actually thought that Fan-tailed Cuckoos were migratory (they just went quiet over winter) but as it happened I heard one as I walked home in Albury this afternoon – the first one I have actually heard at my house since moving in December. Cheers, Peter _______________________________________________ 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 is the relevant text from Canberra from my book: “Canberra Birds: A Report on the first 21 years of the Garden Bird Survey”. Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis This is a forest and woodland inhabitant. It is less migratory than other cuckoos, so its monthly pattern, although typical of cuckoos, is much less well-defined. This species is quite vocal, especially during spring. However the call is probably not as far-carrying as Pallid or Brush Cuckoo. From a mid winter low with very few observations, numbers increase sharply from August to a peak in October, then decline quickly till December, staying in even reduced numbers through summer and autumn before declining to the winter low. Numbers have declined significantly, at about half the abundance from Years 12 to 21 as for the first 11 years. —–Original Message—– martin cachard Sent: Monday, 16 June 2014 10:42 AM hi Sonja, I reckon that’s the case with most migratory species in Australia in that some small proportion of the populations don’t make their annual migrations & do stay to “over-winter”… I’ve been sceptical for many years as to whether Australian Black-winged Monarchs are migratory – even though I saw an adult near Cooktown at my study site in June 2012, i’m now convinced that the Auat population is indeed migratory, but that some number of individuals remain here to “over-winter”… i’m certain there are countless other examples of this in other species as well, no doubt… cheers martin cachard cairns have start _______________________________________________ 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
Dear Sonja, Over the years I have heard Fantail Cuckoos calling in May/June many times. Two possibilities: 1. They don’t all migrate and some are sticking round to take advantage of Blue Wrens and White-browed Scrub-wrens etc. which are winter as well as spring breeders. 2. They could be migrating birds from Tasmania. All the best. Are you coming to Beenak Saturday? Anthea On 16/06/2014 9:39 AM, Sonja Ross 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 Sonja, I reckon that’s the case with most migratory species in Australia in that some small proportion of the populations don’t make their annual migrations & do stay to “over-winter”… I’ve been sceptical for many years as to whether Australian Black-winged Monarchs are migratory – even though I saw an adult near Cooktown at my study site in June 2012, i’m now convinced that the Auat population is indeed migratory, but that some number of individuals remain here to “over-winter”… i’m certain there are countless other examples of this in other species as well, no doubt… cheers martin cachard cairns _______________________________________________ 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 again, Thank you all for responding. It’s interesting that some do overwinter, even in Tasmania, so I will let Ulf know. Sonja On 16/06/2014, at 9:53 AM, Nikolas Haass < n.haass1@uq.edu.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 all, A few over-winter here in Tassie. Cheers, John Tongue Devonport, Tas. On 16/06/2014, at 10:05 AM, “Stephen Ambrose” < stephen@ambecol.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 Sonja, I’ve occasionally seen Fan-tailed Cuckoos in woodland patches alongside the Hume Highway between Albury and Tarcutta during autumn and winter bird surveys. So I think some Fan-tailed Cuckoos do over-winter in southern Australia. A good spot in that region to see one in winter is Blue Metal Reserve near Woomargama. Kind regards, Stephen Dr Stephen Ambrose AMBROSE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PTY LTD m: 0402 225 481 t: 02 9808 1236 f: 02 9807 6865 PO Box 246, Ryde NSW 1680 web: http://www.ambecol.com.au LinkedIn: http://au.linkedin.com/in/drstephenambrose —–Original Message—– Sonja Ross Sent: Monday, 16 June 2014 9:40 AM I took a visiting German out yesterday and think we heard a Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling near Anglesea Heath. I had thought that they would have moved north by now, so wonder if some do stay here, or has the warm start winter delayed its departure? Any thoughts would be appreciated. _______________________________________________ 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