Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2019 17:44
To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org
Subject: Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 68, Issue 6
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit You can reach the person managing the list at When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific Today’s Topics: 1. eBird or Birdata (Jack Worcester) ———————————————————————- Message: 1 I’m interested in opinions regarding the scientific usefulness of Cheers, Jack —————————— Message: 2 Hi John, Not sure if the sole reason you are starting in Wellington is to catch the ferry for pelagic species? but if it is then there are better options. While you do see some species from the ferry they are often only distant views. If you want to do a pelagic in NZ check out Albatross Encounter out of Kaikoura (2.5 hours north of Christchurch) https://www.albatrossencounter.co.nz/ it is often touted as the best pelagic in the world and I would have to say even if it isn’t it would have to be one of the easiest. As the Kaikoura Canyon, which reaches a depth of over a thousand meters, is only 800m offshore it only takes about 15 minutes to get out in a small boat. King Shags are sometimes seen from the ferry as it enters the Queen Charlotte Sound (coming from Wellington) they are only seen in the outer sounds not once you get further in. Once again you will only get distant views but keep an eye out for the black head and white patch on the wing to distinguish from Pied Shags. For better viewings think about a trip with E-Ko tours https://www.e-ko.nz/ who do more specialist tours. I haven’t been on them but they go to Blumine Island and Motuara Island https://www.e-ko.nz/tours/blumine-and-motuara-in-one-day which should get you Orange-fronted parakeets (on Blumine) and Yellow-crowned on (Motuara) there are also some other good birds that you will only see in predator free sanctuaries like South island saddleback as well as high numbers of more common species like Bellbirds and robin. You wont easily see King Shags without a boat trip as they are only found in the outer sounds which means a very long windy drive for a slim chance of a sighting. I have done quite a few trips out there and I wouldn’t recommend it for that purpose. Weka are common on the west coast from around Westport to a bit south of Hokitika. If you are going to Pancake rocks have a look around the car park as the often check out the front of vehicles for insects. Otherwise any of the DOC campsites or roadside verges that have longer grass (particularly around Hokitika) should provide some sightings. Rock Wren can be difficult to locate but often very confiding allowing great views once found. The ones at Arthurs Pass are not to difficult if you don’t mind walking. They are normally found up the Otira Valley Walk (not actually in Otira but further up the road towards Arthurs Pass). Essentially you walk up the track to the creek cross the small bridge then continue upstream on the small track. It should take about 30-45 minutes to reach this point. I have normally found them another 20 minutes up this track but they could be anywhere upstream of the creek crossing. Make sure you are familiar with their call as it is the best way to locate them (unfortunately it is quite high pitched so some people cant hear them) once you hear them then just hang around until they pop out from where ever they are hiding. They will be nesting in October so it is worth spending a bit of time in suitable habitat as they swap incubation every 30 minutes and then do a circuit of their territory. The best habitat is generally a mix of large boulders and some tussock or shrub. I wouldn’t recommend going up the Temple Basin side looking for Rock Wren as the track is a lot steeper and suitable habitat is more spread out so you would really have to know what you are looking for. You can also see them around Mt Cook but i am not so familiar with this site. you could try asking at the DOC visitor centre there. Arthurs Pass is also a good place to see Kea. They often hang out at the Deaths Corner car park waiting for cars to pull bits off. If they are not there try the cafe in Arthurs Pass where they are often found waiting to steal lunch from unsuspecting tourists. When you are at Mt Cook make sure you check out the top of Lake Pukaki, there is a small track just up from the Glentanner Airport (i think it has a gate but it is public access), this is probably the most reliable place to see Black Stilt and is often used as a release site for captive reared birds. You should also see Wrybill, Black-fronted terns and other braided river species there too. Let me know if you want any more info or have other species you are chasing. Cheers, Kailash Message: 1 Wondering if someone can help me with these queries. I am thinking of going to NZ in October, flying in to Wellington, then Queries: Thanks — ?There is kinship between people and all animals. Such is the Law.? —————————— Message: 2 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" If you have an extra day in Wellington, try to organise a visit to Kapiti Island. Dept of Conservation run daily boats across, but you used to have to book a bit in advance (it is a decade since I lived in Wellington). The mainland island reserve in Wellington itself is also good for a fair range of species, especially if this is your first time in kiwiland kim Kim Sterelny, School of Philosophy, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, 0200, ACT, Australia 61-(0)2-6125-2886 ________________________________ Wondering if someone can help me with these queries. I am thinking of going to NZ in October, flying in to Wellington, then taking the ferry to the South Island, for the pelagic birds, then picking up a car and driving round down the west coast to the Mt Cook area to see the glaciers, then back to Christchurch via Arthur’s Pass. Queries: Thanks — ?There is kinship between people and all animals. Such is the Law.? Kimberley lawmen (from Yorro Yorro) ————– next part ————– —————————— Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________ —————————— End of Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 68, Issue 2 —————————— Message: 3 I shall be in Darwin next week for work, staying until the morning of Sunday Would any Darwin birder like to spend some of that Saturday with a visiting Regards Steve ****************************** Steve Read <mailto:steve.read123@gmail.com> steve.read123@gmail.com 0408 170915 ****************************** ————– next part ————– —————————— Message: 4 Jack I am not sure what you mean by " purely scientific point of view" but >From my own experience the data is available within minutes (perhaps The eBird data can also be obtained classified by protocol type and various Martin Butterfield On Thu, 6 Jun 2019 at 07:47, Jack Worcester <jackworcester@gmail.com> wrote: > I’m interested in opinions regarding the scientific usefulness of —————————— Message: 5 Help! This Saturday?s session will be open to the general public to You are of course welcome to join in ? but please help people to There will also ? see attached flier ? be short talks by me and Any of you is welcome to show people around ? maybe many will not Other things are helping with water and biscuits, ?and encouraging World Environment Day was yesterday.? The Day was founded 46 years Thank you all for supporting that, whether or not you can make it on * Michael Norris Convenor, Friends of the Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary 0409 01 00 74 ————– next part ————– —————————— Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________ —————————— End of Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 68, Issue 6
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than "Re: Contents of Birding-Aus digest…"
2. Re: Queries about NZ (Kailash Willis)
3. RFI Darwin, Saturday 15 June (Steve Read)
4. Re: eBird or Birdata (Martin Butterfield)
5. Help the Heathland this Saturday (8/6) (michael norris)
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2019 07:41:18 +1000
From: Jack Worcester <jackworcester@gmail.com>
To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org
Subject: [Birding-Aus] eBird or Birdata
Message-ID:
<CAC+kih1jmgRyS5SfLS731bxSh4c=O6HshnwzLoBcZEMxPeB9ig@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
standardised surveys (2ha/20min) submitted to either eBird or Birdata. I
understand data entered under a specific format into eBird will be
incorporated within Birdata at quarterly intervals, but I don’t believe
there is any data flow in the other direction. I use Birdata to conduct
monthly standardised surveys around our property on Fraser Island, however
the local QLD Parks and Wildlife Service have suggested eBird data is more
useful and easier to access compared with Birdata. From a purely scientific
point of view, where’s the best place to upload the data?
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Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2019 13:23:02 +0000
From: Kailash Willis <kailashw@hotmail.com>
To: "birding-aus@birding-aus.org" <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>,
"calyptorhynchus@gmail.com" <calyptorhynchus@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Queries about NZ
Message-ID:
<PSXP216MB05349DE505FC84DA58440CD9CD160@PSXP216MB0534.KORP216.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM>
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Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2019 19:33:57 +1000
From: calyptorhynchus <calyptorhynchus@gmail.com>
To: "<birding-aus@birding-aus.org>" <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] queries about NZ
Message-ID:
<CAO5cx3wN8kj0i-K9LLzAoQONrrKZohQ_hUqoNBs=6XDYtGAcgQ@mail.gmail.com>
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taking the ferry to the South Island, for the pelagic birds, then picking
up a car and driving round down the west coast to the Mt Cook area to see
the glaciers, then back to Christchurch via Arthur’s Pass.
1. Are King Shags ever seen from the ferry, is there a spot nr Picton you
can see them from without having to go on a boat trip or long walk?
2. I have heard that Wekas are common at Westport, where in particular
about the town? Are they common enough in the areas I am going to to see
them without going to Westport specifically?
3. Does anyone have a good spot for Yellow-crowned Parakeet in the areas I
am going to be driving through?
4. The Rock Wrens at Arthur’s Pass sound difficult to find, are there any
sites in the Mt Cook NP area for this sp?
5. Anywhere I’d be silly to miss birdwise on this route?
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net<http://www.jleonard.net>
Kimberley lawmen (from Yorro Yorro)
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Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2019 09:40:46 +0000
From: Kim Sterelny <kim.sterelny@anu.edu.au>
To: calyptorhynchus <calyptorhynchus@gmail.com>,
"<birding-aus@birding-aus.org>" <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] queries about NZ
Message-ID:
<SYCPR01MB339051353EE508FB5EAF4541AF140@SYCPR01MB3390.ausprd01.prod.outlook.com>
Kim.Sterelny@anu.edu.au or Kim.Sterelny@vuw.ac.nz
From: Birding-Aus <birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org> on behalf of calyptorhynchus <calyptorhynchus@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, 3 June 2019 7:33 PM
To: <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] queries about NZ
1. Are King Shags ever seen from the ferry, is there a spot nr Picton you can see them from without having to go on a boat trip or long walk?
2. I have heard that Wekas are common at Westport, where in particular about the town? Are they common enough in the areas I am going to to see them without going to Westport specifically?
3. Does anyone have a good spot for Yellow-crowned Parakeet in the areas I am going to be driving through?
4. The Rock Wrens at Arthur’s Pass sound difficult to find, are there any sites in the Mt Cook NP area for this sp?
5. Anywhere I’d be silly to miss birdwise on this route?
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net<http://www.jleonard.net>
Main Page<http://www.jleonard.net/>
www.jleonard.net<http://www.jleonard.net>
The main page
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Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2019 05:33:46 +1000
From: "Steve Read" <steve.read123@gmail.com>
To: <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] RFI Darwin, Saturday 15 June
Message-ID: <000d01d51bd5$9a183780$ce48a680$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
16 June, but it turns out that the friend and colleague who could have shown
me around the local area on Saturday 15 June will now be in Queensland then.
Canberra birder on his first visit to that part of the country? Fogg Dam is
one place I’d like to see. I’ll have a vehicle, and am happy to offer
whatever compensation is appropriate (lunch? stories about the Canberra
weather?) – email me if interested.
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Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2019 10:57:06 +1000
From: Martin Butterfield <martinflab@gmail.com>
To: Jack Worcester <jackworcester@gmail.com>
Cc: birding-aus NEW <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] eBird or Birdata
Message-ID:
<CANX9cvgW1iWCnPw3+AwCMF_Lqw1Yi9jaVoBkX1TFDSFWh0=Gtg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
putting the data into eBird means it is readily available to scientists all
round the world. It also means that you can get easy access to data
entered by scientists (Serious and citizen) for nearby areas.
seconds) of the observer submitting the record
effort parameters to sort out which records match your own eligibility
requirements.
http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
> standardised surveys (2ha/20min) submitted to either eBird or Birdata. I
> understand data entered under a specific format into eBird will be
> incorporated within Birdata at quarterly intervals, but I don’t believe
> there is any data flow in the other direction. I use Birdata to conduct
> monthly standardised surveys around our property on Fraser Island, however
> the local QLD Parks and Wildlife Service have suggested eBird data is more
> useful and easier to access compared with Birdata. From a purely scientific
> point of view, where’s the best place to upload the data?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jack
> <HR>
> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> <BR> Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org
> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> </HR>
>
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Date: Thu, 06 Jun 2019 16:39:08 +1000
From: "michael norris" <menorris@ozemail.com.au>
To: "Jo Hurse" <Jo.Hurse@citywide.com.au>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Help the Heathland this Saturday (8/6)
Message-ID:
<622728736d3a926bfce7aeb77aea3f44eb9d2e45@webmail.iinet.net.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
plant, weed, and clear bracken along the through route.? There have
been posters and, I hope, an email to residents of the neighbouring
apartment blocks.
plant correctly (e.g to the right depth) in particular.
??? about the Sanctuary and how to help it? Plus walks.
have been inside the fence before.?
interested people to give their details on an attendance sheet.
ago to show concern for ?the preservation and enhancement of the
environment, with a view to deepening environmental awareness?.
Saturday.
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