Hi there birders,
Last Saturday I was visiting my brother who was holidaying in a caravan park on the southern edge of Murray Bridge in South Australia (80km SE of Adelaide). The park is part of a marina only a few metres from the River Murray.
As we talked I observed a Pied Butcherbird being harassed by Noisy Miners and Australian Magpies. This is the first time I’ve observed this species so far south along the Murray. The Grey Butcherbird is common in this area, but Pied Butcherbirds are usually seen much further upstream eg Morgan, Waikerie.
Any comments from people familiar with the area, and this species in SA?
Trevor.
Interesting you should say that. My Dad observed recently that he rarely sees grey butcher-birds any more in NW Victoria near Swan Hill – they’re all pied BBs. Whereas more and more I see and hear GBBs in Melbourne…
Hi Trevor, Pied Butcherbirds are certainly known as far south as Murray Bridge although they are far from common there. This probably marks the southern most boundary of their regular distribution along the lower reaches of the Murray. Beyond Murray Bridge riverside vegetation becomes more sparse and less suitable. Most people think Morgan is the limit of this species distribution along the Murray as they are frequently seen around there but this coincides more with the frequency of visitation by birders than any real geographical boundary. There are several records in the past of birds turning up around the lower lakes but none have stayed to breed. Hope that answers your question?