The cicadas are still calling every day here near Bellingen on the NSW mid north coast – it’s really unusually late for them.
We had a big cicada summer in December and January (lots of types, but the ones I saw were Razor Grinders and Floury Bakers, and I heard a honking one that I think is the Double Drummer). Then in late January, and again in the middle of February, we had floods and heavy rains (731 mm for February) that put a very sudden stop to the loud cicada noise. When the cicadas started again in March, they were not nearly so loud (and the species mix was probably different too – the only cicada I have seen this autumn was the twilight-calling Small Bottle Cicada).
Perhaps the reason for the extended calling season this year is that the rains in January and February delayed the emergence of the cicada nymphs that were getting ready to come up at that time?
The extended cicada season certainly hasn’t prolonged the stays of migrant insectivorous birds, most of which seem to have left unusually early this summer.
Brian Hawkins
Message: 9 Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2013 21:02:20 +1000 From: “Paul Osborn”
I heard cicadas making a racket last weekend in Tahlee (mid north coast, NSW) and remarked to my bushwalking friends that I thought it a bit late in the year. It’s been a very quiet year for cicadas at my place this summer. Paul Osborn Bulahdelah, NSW ===============================
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G’day Everyone I also agree generally in the early departure of insectivorous migrants this season. White-throated Needletails (WTNT) & Fork-tailed Swifts (FTS) are insectivores and migratory, and the WTNT appear to have left early this year except for a few pre-breeders. At least the last WTNT I’ve seen were not involved in courtship or co-ordinated flying, and all swifts studied so far do not breed until they are several years old. This latter point means they do not need to rush off and compete for nesting hollows in Siberia. However, there are still some FTS around in Vic, NT & Qld. They appear to have taken over some of the WTNT territory above forests, and I am thinking this behaviour was because of the prolonged very hot spell, much of the SE experienced. And yes there are cicadas still calling in Melbourne. It is interesting that the 12 WTNT I caught in one hour in Qld were feeding on cicadas, – a small species emerging from a farmers “nature strip” near Gingin. Cheers
Mike Tarburton
I agree, I’ve not seen (or heard) an insectivorous, migratory bird since February. Paul Osborn Bulahdelah, NSW
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I agree, I’ve not seen (or heard) an insectivorous, migratory bird since February. Paul Osborn Bulahdelah, NSW
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 9:26 AM Cc: passerine@iinet.net.au ; albirdo@bigpond.net.au ; noisypitta@gmail.com
The extended cicada season certainly hasn’t prolonged the stays of migrant insectivorous birds, most of which seem to have left unusually early this summer.
Brian Hawkins
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