Author: owheelj

Marion Bay is probably your best bet for Brown Quail. Jeremy On 26 August 2014 11:57, Nikolas Haass <n.haass1@uq.edu.au> wrote: > Hi, > > Has anyone seen Swamp Quail (Tassie Brown Quail) recently in the > Hobart/Eaglehawk Neck/Port Arthur area? > Also any recent stakeouts for Tassie and Eastern Pygmy Possum and > Long-tailed Mouse in the Eaglehawk Neck/Port Arthur area? > > Cheers, > > Nikolas > > > A/Prof Nikolas Haass | Head, Experimental Melanoma Therapy Group > > The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute > Level 6 | Translational Research Institute | 37 Kent Street | > Woolloongabba QLD 4102 > > T: +61 (0)7 3443 7087 | M: +61 (0)424 603 579 > F: +61 (0)7 3443 6966 > E: n.haass1@uq.edu.au | W: www.di.uq.edu.au > > > …Turning scientific discoveries into better treatmentsŠ > > CRICOS Code 00025B > > This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private or > confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, you must > take no action based on it, nor show a copy to anyone. Kindly notify the > sender by reply email. Opinions and information in this email which do not > relate to the official business of The University of Queensland shall be > understood as neither given nor endorsed by the University > > >

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Hi all, I recently wrote an article for a local semi-uni crowd sourced writing emagazine. Target audience was non-birders, but I’m sure some people will appreciate it anyway. They didn’t use any of my photos and took a very small one from Duade Paton’s blog instead, I’m not entirely sure why (although his photo is excellent, especially when viewed correctly on his website, rather than as a blown up thumbnail turned header). Here’s the article 🙂 http://www.aphramag.com/pelagic-trip/ It would be great if people could comment on the article, as the website/magazine is just starting out, and the more activity the better :). There are lots of other good articles about things that teenagers are into too 😛 Cheers, Jeremy O’Wheel

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Hi John, 40 Spotted can be seen at PM, but best chance is Bruny Island. There’s a ferry that takes cars so you can have a day trip. Strong-billed HE is a hard one to find a regular place to look for. Around Snug Tiers is your most likely location. Otherwise it’s mainly just luck. I’ve seen them at most wooded sites around Hobart. Morepork is another tricky one. I’ve heard them calling on Maria Island and they’ve been reported a lot around Fern Tree and the base of the mountain, but we spent a night looking a few weeks ago and got nothing. Swift Parrots have been very recently at Peter Murrell reserve. Taroona had some sightings at the start of the season too, but I don’t know if they’re still there. Bruny Island is usually the best bet, especially around Adventure Bay. Musk Lorikeet – probably a sure thing at Sandown Park in Lower Sandy Bay. The big Blue Gum between the two sporting fields is usually full of them (Swift Parrots are occasionally seen here too). Also pretty reliable in the trees around the car park at Gould’s Lagoon. Blue-winged Parrot – Shag Bay Heritage Trail on the Eastern Shore is probably the most reliable site. Masked Owl – Have become a sure thing at Port Arthur, as there is an old Euc down near the shore and the Commondant’s Cottage that a pair nests in. They only come out an hour or so after sunset. Olive Whistler – Up Mount Wellington is probably best, but below the tree line. Satin Flycatcher – Waterworks Reserve has been my most successful site – At the top (southern) end where the creek runs into the top reservoir. I haven’t looked for them this year yet though. Around Mt Nelson is also pretty good. Flame Robin – Down South Arm past Lauderdale has been pretty good – especially around the lagoons there. Clear Lagoon might be easiest, which I don’t think is marked on Google Maps, but you can see it just off Forest Hill Rd. European Greenfinch – I see them most often at Gould’s Lagoon. I should add, I think you can see all these species at Bruny Island, although for most I’m not sure exactly where (but I imagine Eremaea may have better details), so having a day there might be the best bet, rather than driving all around Hobart. You could probably stop in a few of the other places too though. Jeremy On 14 December 2013 18:36, John Graff <jgraff2@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hi all, > > I’m in Tassie at present on a birding trip, thought I might ask the > collective minds of Birding-Aus for some gen on a few species we’re still > chasing – any location info for any of the species listed below would be > much appreciated :). We’re heading to Melaleuca tomorrow morning, staying > overnight, then back in Hobart (all going to plan!) for Monday arvo, > Tuesday, then heading home Wednesday. > > Key species we’re still chasing: > Forty-spotted Pardalote > Strong-billed Honeyeater – should bump this somewhere > Morepork > Swift Parrot > Also OBP but hopefully we’ll be ok for this at Melaleuca > > Other targets missing > Musk Lorikeet (?airport) > Blue-winged Parrot > Masked Owl > Olive Whistler > Satin Flycatcher > Flame Robin > European Greenfinch (shhhh) > > I may also have a few hours at the airport on Wednesday, so any handy > spots near the airport would also be useful > > Thanks in advance > John > > Sent from my iPhone

In the days just preceding the highly successful pelagic we had 3 days of significantly below average temperatures in Hobart, including snow allegedly falling (but not settling) in the city centre, and certainly settling on Mount Wellington. The monthly lowest low and lowest high were both set that week and from Wednesday until Friday temperatures were 3.5 to 5 degrees below average, this is despite this winter being the warmest on record, and September being above average overall. In contrast, the last week has mainly be well above average, including 5 degrees above average on Saturday and 7 degrees above average yesterday. I don’t recall seeing any weather maps around the dates, so I don’t know whether these were local conditions or more widespread, but I would guess that it’s possible that the abnormally cold weather just before that amazing pelagic played a part. Jeremy On 25 September 2013 11:03, Daniel Mantle <danmantle@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hi All, > > As Paul Dodd has already mentioned a group of us decided to try our luck > off Eaglehawk Neck on the weekend just gone. This was in response to the > very successful trips organised by Rohan Clarke the previous weekend. > However our trips were very quiet by Tasmanian standards (indeed also a lot > quieter than the trips that quite a few us had been on three weeks earlier > – also off Eaglehawk Neck). > > It will be interesting to see if anything can be worked out from the > weather and sea conditions leading up to the successful earlier trips. The > water temperatures were nearly identical between both weekends and a quick > look at the preceding weeks weather for Rohan’s trips does not seen to > immediately suggest such a remarkable number and diversity of cold water > specialists. But clearly I am missing something. The only thing the skipper > had to add was that there were very strong current lines that weekend. > > Although our weekend was a lot quieter at sea, it was as always great to > be offshore from Tas with a fun bunch of seabirders. > > I have posted the full reports to the SOSSA website. I think the following > link should work (Nikolas Haass’s trip report for the start of the month is > also to be found there). > > > http://www.sossa-international.org/forum/showthread.php?192-Eaglehawk-Neck-Pelagics-Saturday-21-9-13-amp-Sunday-22-9-13&p=363#post363 > > A quick summary of the highlights for the weekend were: 4 Southern Royal > Albatross, four Wandering Albatross (2 exulans, 1 gibsoni, 1 antipodensis), > one Salvin’s Albatross, one White-headed Petrel, one White-chinned Petrel, > 80+ Common Diving-Petrel, 9 Northern Giant-Petrel, 1 Southern Giant-Petrel, > and singles of both Grey-backed and White-faced Storm-Petrel. > > Cheers Dan > > =============================== > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > =============================== > =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au http://birding-aus.org ===============================

The most recent estimate I’ve seen is 20,000, but I understand that numbers could be much higher at the moment (some just turned up in Hobart a few days ago!). I’m not sure that statistical significant be applied here though – if you just mean is it a change of more than 5%. Statistical significance is usually a less than 5% probability that a change occurred by random chance, rather than the amount of actual change. I’m a little rusty on these kinds of statistics though.

Of course these people should be criminally prosecuted, and it’s good that it sounds like that’s what’s happening.

Jeremy

On 27 March 2013 14:02, Ed Williams wrote:

> Does anyone know what the current Freckled Duck population is estimated at? > > It has obviously increased recently going by the number of sightings but > surely the 243 dead that are already known of (and with plenty of hunting > time still to go plus all the others shot) I would have thought this to be > a statistically significant number killed. > > Even a lot of shooters would surely hang their heads at this kind of > mindless killing. > > Such a waste… > > Ed > > > Ed Williams > > On 27/03/2013, at 1:16 PM, “Debbie Lustig” > wrote: > > > I hate writing this stuff but somebody’s got to… > > > > > > > > On opening weekend of the duck season (16/17 March), a private wetland in > > western Victoria was the scene of what’s been described as a ‘massacre’. > The > > Coalition Against Duck Shooting learned around 2000 birds were shot and > > left, including 200 Freckled Ducks, and swans, coots, grebes and game > > species. The full extent of the carnage will never be known although the > > Department of Primary Industries and the police are investigating. This > > appears to be highly embarrassing for the Minister for Agriculture, Peter > > Walsh, as he’s not only in charge of this ‘highly regulated activity’ > but it > > happened in his electorate. So far, one person has been charged. > > > > > > > > The ABC’s news coverage: > > > > > > > > > http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-25/police-investigate-mass-slaughter-of-p > > rotected-birds/4592690?section=vic > > > > > > > > …and from ‘The World Today’: > > > > > > > > > http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-26/mass-shooting-of-protected-birds-raise > > s-new/4595290?section=vic > > > > > > > > Last weekend, about 150 dead birds were collected from Box Flat and > brought > > to Melbourne to display. They included 43 Freckled Duck, a Hoary-headed > > Grebe, 5 Eurasian Coot, a Black Swan and a Blue-billed Duck (and 85 game > > birds of five different species). > > > > > > > > Here are some photos: > > > > > > > > > https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151596509838125.1073741830.63812 > > 3124 > > < > https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151596509838125.1073741830.6381 > > 23124&type=1> &type=1 > > > > > > > > Total = 156: 71 non-game comprising 43 endangered, 28 protected. Plus 85 > > game species. > > > > > > > > There’s no hope that the Coalition will change its policy about duck > > shooting. If you want it to end, along with outrages like this, please > > consider emailing Daniel Andrews, leader of the state Labor Party – > asking > > him to call a halt to duck shooting if elected next year: > > daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au > > > > > > > > =============================== > > > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > > send the message: > > unsubscribe > > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au > > > > http://birding-aus.org > > =============================== > =============================== > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > =============================== > ===============================

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Hi Birding Aus, Last July Steve Clark and I visited the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and noticed what I thought were bird misidentification. It was particularly noticeable because the birds because all the species named and actually present were also there correctly identified. I emailed them at the time and was told they took the issue very seriously and would immediately look into it. 9 months later, I returned and found that the labels hadn’t changed. I provide a link (it’s public so you don’t need Facebook to view it!), to images of the labels and birds. There are no other birds nearby, so it’s impossible that the sign refers to any other birds (also their positions match the sign perfectly). I just wanted to check to see if people agree that these are misidentified or if I’ve somehow lost my mind. I believe the correct species are a Shy Albatross by itself (labelled as Wandering) and a Shy above a Black-browed Albatross (labelled as 2 Shy).

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152079663946515.1073741825.596561514&type=1&l=d08ec0d16d

Cheers,

Jeremy O’Wheel ===============================

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I thought people might enjoy this video that seems to be going viral at the moment, of a heron using bread to fish (I think it’s a Green Heron).

Jeremy ===============================

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Hi Peter,

A good resource for pelagic birds is the Helm Field Guide – Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the World by Onley and Scofield. A website worth checking out is Ocean Wanders ( http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Seabird.Home.html), which also has a lot of information. Congrats on seeing Barau’s Petrel, and hope these help!

Cheers,

Jeremy

On 13 February 2013 11:02, Peter Diegutis wrote:

> Good Morning > > > Pelagic birding is a humbling experience but I am grateful for it. I was > present on Saturday when the Barau’s Petrel was seen off Sydney. And, based > on the experts around me I am happy to tick it off! However, there’s a > problem – it’s not in my Australian guidebook (Pizzey 2003). I did add it > to my IOC-based spread-list but that doesn’t solve my problem. I’d > appreciate any advice on resources, either online or old fashioned > hardcopy, that could help with pelagic birding. Further, I’d appreciate it > if someone could point me to the definitive list of Australian sightings. I > have links to Tony Palliser’s page – is that what I’m looking for? > > I apologise if this has been done to death in previous posts. I am happy > to receive responses offline. > > Thanks. > > Have a nice day. > Cheers > Peter > =============================== > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > =============================== > ===============================

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I was speculating a little, but based on the fact that the white underparts of seabirds has been shown to be for camouflage in the sky (although for aquatic prey). White is an unusual colour in nature, and my general impression is that it’s much more common in birds than other animals, and more common in birds that are more exposed – as generalisations of course, there are obviously exceptions.

On 13 January 2013 09:27, Greg and Val Clancy wrote:

> Whether there is any scientific basis for the ‘cockatoo theory’ or not > I am sure that the white underparts would assist in camouflage in the sky. > > Greg > Dr Greg. P. Clancy > Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide > PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 > 0266493153 0429601960 > > *From:* Jeremy O’Wheel > *Sent:* Sunday, January 13, 2013 12:09 AM > *To:* Rosemary Royle > *Cc:* COG line ; dpadams@gmail.com ; > Greg ; Denise Goodfellow ; Birding > Aus > *Subject:* Re: [Birding-Aus] [canberrabirds] Why are the C. Sparrowhawk & > B.Goshawk so similar? > > > The problem with the cockatoo theory is that in Tasmania there is good > reason to think Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are recently introductions, but > all the Grey Goshawks are white morph. Also Grey Goshawks have a white > underside regardless of morph, and that’s the side prey would normally see. > I suspect the underside is white for sky camouflage (like the > White-breasted Sea-eagle and a number of other diurnal birds of prey), > while the upper surface possibly represents genetic drift, or sexual > selection. > > Jeremy > On 12/01/2013 11:56 PM, “Rosemary Royle” wrote: > >> During our latest trip to Australia, up above Gunlom Falls in the NT we >> spotted a dead branch laden with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos plus what >> appeared to be a smaller white cockatoo. It wasn’t, it was a white-morph >> Grey Goshawk, and it had obviously chosen to perch with the cockatoos. . >> >> Only on reading this thread does that sighting make sense. >> >> Rosemary >> >> Rosemary Royle, Wales, UK >> >> >> ===============================

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The problem with the cockatoo theory is that in Tasmania there is good reason to think Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are recently introductions, but all the Grey Goshawks are white morph. Also Grey Goshawks have a white underside regardless of morph, and that’s the side prey would normally see. I suspect the underside is white for sky camouflage (like the White-breasted Sea-eagle and a number of other diurnal birds of prey), while the upper surface possibly represents genetic drift, or sexual selection.

Jeremy On 12/01/2013 11:56 PM, “Rosemary Royle” wrote:

> During our latest trip to Australia, up above Gunlom Falls in the NT we > spotted a dead branch laden with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos plus what > appeared to be a smaller white cockatoo. It wasn’t, it was a white-morph > Grey Goshawk, and it had obviously chosen to perch with the cockatoos. . > > Only on reading this thread does that sighting make sense. > > Rosemary > > Rosemary Royle, Wales, UK > > > —– Original Message —– From: “Denise Goodfellow” < > goodfellow@bigpond.com.au> > To: “Greg” ; “David Adams” > Cc: “COG line” >; > “Birding Aus” > Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 2:00 AM > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] [canberrabirds] Why are the C. Sparrowhawk & > B.Goshawk so similar? > > > I have often seen the white morph of Grey Goshawk accompanying flocks of > Little Corellas and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. I wondered why until some > years ago I saw a bird drop out of such a flock and snatch a pigeon from > the > powerlines. > > > Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow > 1/7 Songlark Street, > Bakewell, NT 0832 > 043 8650 835 > > PhD candidate, SCU > Vice-chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia > Nominated for the Condé Nast international ecotourism award, 2004 by the > renowned American website, Earthfoot. > Wildlife Adviser, BBC¹s ODeadly 60¹ > > Birds of Australia’s Top End and Quiet Snake Dreaming available on > amazon.com > A second edition of Fauna of Australia¹s Top End used by the University of > NSW as a text for 12 years is now under preparation. > > ‘It gave me huge insight into the lives’ of Aboriginal Australians¹, > Jonathon Franzen, American author, birder, conservationist (August, 2011) > on Quiet Snake Dreaming. > > The best guide in Darwin is Denise Goodfellow. Bo Beolens, the Fat Birder. > > www.denisegoodfellow.com.au > > > > > On 12/1/13 8:31 AM, “Greg and Val Clancy” wrote: > > My understanding is that the white morph of the Grey Goshawk was able to >> survive in a forest situation where it stands out like the proverbial >> because it resembles white coloured cockatoos. I don’t know if there is >> any >> science behind that claim though. >> >> >> Greg >> Dr Greg. P. Clancy >> Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide >> PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 >> 0266493153 0429601960 >> >> —–Original Message—– >> From: David Adams >> Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 9:26 AM >> To: David Adams >> Cc: COG line ; Birding-Aus >> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] [canberrabirds] Why are the C. Sparrowhawk & >> B.Goshawk so similar? >> >> An all white raptor in the forest? >>> >> >> John Leonard wrote to mention the White Hawk, an unusual New World forest >> raptor: >> >> http://neotropical.birds.**cornell.edu/portal/species/** >> overview?p_p_spp=124796 >> >> Despite often being nearly all white, these birds seem to be doing pretty >> well for themselves over a huge area. The behavior section at the Cornell >> site is interesting. it sounds like these birds follow around parties >> of monkeys (arboreal foragers) and coati (ground foragers – relatives >> of Raccoons) pouncing on whatever prey is flushed. Perhaps their >> coloration >> is not selected for/against as they’re opportunistic feeders? No >> idea…it’s always easy to make up an evolutionary/ecological story…but >> that doesn’t make it true. >> ==============================**= >> >> ==============================**= >> >> To unsubscribe from this mailing list, >> send the message: >> unsubscribe >> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) >> to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.**net.au >> >> http://birding-aus.org >> ==============================**= >> > > > ==============================**= > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.**net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > ==============================**= > ==============================**= > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.**net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > ==============================**= > ===============================

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