BANQ are again asking anyone to let us know about any sightings of Fawn-breasted Bowerbirds this year.
In Australia it is found only on the Cape York Peninsula. It’s habitat is mainly eucalypt and paperbark woodlands and adjacent mangroves; occasionally in or at the edge of rainforest. It is often in dense thickets of shrubs within woodland and also dense coastal and riparian shrubland.
Last year BANQ started a study into recent sightings of this bird following anecdotal information that it was getting harder to find in traditional areas.
We are trying to determine if the population is decreasing, steady or even increasing. There are so few actual sightings of the bird that we have been unable to determine any clear trend other than to say it is certainly scarce.
In the draft revised Action Plan for Australian Birds there is consideration to change its status from Least Concern to Near Threatened (Population may be <10,000 individuals, in a single sub-population and may be declining based on recent anecdotal reports) A study of Atlas Reports, Eremea Reports and a request for details of any other sightings has indicated less than 30 records since the start of 2009 Iron Range National Park 6 Records Iron Range Ranger Station 5 Records Lockhardt River 4 Records Portland Roads 3 Records Heathlands 4 Records Bamaga 1 Record Weipa 1 Record Napranum 1 Record Birders have searched Seisa, Umagico, Jardine River, The Tip, New Mapoon and Somerset without success. Thanks to all those who sent in records last year. On the bright side we have received the first ever records on the Western side of the Cape at Weipa and Napranum. We have discovered a possible new stronghold for them at Heathlands. Also rangers at Iron Range have reported that some Bowerbirds have returned to previously disused Bowers. Hopefully a good wet season has helped them to bounce back. Please let us know his year if you find any Fawn-breasted Bowerbirds. Email: banq@birdsaustralia.com.au
Dominic Chaplin BANQ ===============================
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