I am currently checking around my local area near Bribie Island (just north of Brisbane, Queensland) for Pied Butcherbirds singing pre-dawn. This involves being ‘in the field’ from around 3:30 am (or earlier) to catch the pre-dawn calls and especially those calls which may be their ‘breeding’ songs. Last year at this time ‘my’ birds were very vocal and obvious but this year there seems to be less volume and vigour in the songs that I have been hearing. Also there doesn’t seem to be as many pied Butcherbirds around my home and the very local area. A friend is doing long term recording and studies of the songs and has told me that the Pieds in SE and central Australia are being very quiet at the moment and it seems that my area may be one of the few with active Pieds singing pre-dawn. Another good reason for living where I do.
During the breeding period the singing can be particularly interesting. What I would like to know is “has anyone in the coastal SE Queensland area noticed Pied Butcherbirds nesting during the past month or two, especially right now?”. If people in other parts of Australia are hearing Pied Butcherbirds calling pre-dawn that would be interesting as well. Note: pre-dawn in my terms means before the sky starts to lighten – well before official sunrise time.
Please note I am not asking for detailed directions to nests but I would like to know the suburb/s where nesting is now happening or has recently happened. If anyone has that information and is willing to share with me they can contact me at inglisrc@tpg.com.au. I will be sharing this information with one other person who will possibly use the information to help in her studies of Pied Butcherbird song.
Bob Inglis Sandstone Point Queensland ===============================
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