July 12, 2019
Remember to get your entries for the Annual Photocompetition in by 25th September 2019
June 25, 2019
REPORT OF 15TH BIRD SURVEY AROUND GRENFELL
Report of 15th BIRD SURVEY around GRENFELL in the SOUTH WEST SLOPES KEY Biodiversity Area
Elisabeth Karplus
On Saturday March 23rd, 32 surveyors took part in the 15th survey around Grenfell in the South West Slopes Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). The survey group included four surveyors from Grenfell. One surveyor came from Forbes, six from Canberra while the rest came from Sydney and surrounds. Eight people were new to the survey. We were able to have seven survey groups with most groups surveying on four sites. Other survey leaders apart from myself were Allan Richards, Jill Molan, Ron Broomham, Graham Fry, David Winterbottom and Russell Beardmore. I thank all the survey leaders.
During the survey 11 Superb Parrots were seen on five sites including on “Rosemont”, which is owned by Mikla Lewis, one of the Grenfell surveyors. However 70 additional Superb Parrots were seen during the weekend with a maximum flock size of 29 birds. A single Diamond Firetail was seen on one site in Warraderry State Forest. Of other threatened species, one Brown Treecreeper, six Hooded Robins (three sites) and four Speckled Warbler (three sites) were seen on survey sites. Several interesting species were seen in Warraderry State Forest including two Southern Whitefaces, Varied Sittellas, a Striped Honeyeater and Double-barred Finches. Another unexpected sighting was of a Peregrine Falcon. Seven species of honeyeaters were seen including a single White-fronted Honeyeater, which is more common further inland.
Red-capped Robin Photographer: Colette Livermore
Overall 25 Red-capped Robins were seen on eight different sites. The maximum number of species seen on any site was 14 species (two sites). The maximum number of birds in any site was 84 (49 of these were Apostlebirds or White-winged Choughs) though most sites had many fewer birds.
Grey-crowned Babbler with nest material. Photographer: Dianne Deans
During this survey weekend we recorded 64 species on survey sites. With the continuing severe drought we only recorded 814 total birds compared with 1,234 birds in the September 2018 survey.
The bird list is shown in the accompanying table.
| Grenfell-2019Q1 | Grenfell-2019Q1 | ||||
| Species | NrBirds | NrSites | Species | NrBirds | NrSites |
| Apostlebird | 105 | 10 | Pacific Black Duck | 2 | 1 |
| Australian Magpie | 28 | 15 | Peaceful Dove | 10 | 3 |
| Australian Raven | 13 | 6 | Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 |
| Australian Wood Duck | 1 | 1 | Pied Butcherbird | 8 | 7 |
| Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike | 2 | 2 | Pied Currawong | 10 | 5 |
| Blue Bonnet | 4 | 2 | Rainbow Lorikeet | 2 | 1 |
| Blue-faced Honeyeater | 4 | 3 | Red Wattlebird | 1 | 1 |
| Brown Quail | 2 | 1 | Red-capped Robin | 25 | 8 |
| Brown Treecreeper | 1 | 1 | Red-rumped Parrot | 28 | 7 |
| Buff-rumped Thornbill | 2 | 1 | Rufous Whistler | 1 | 1 |
| Common Bronzewing | 5 | 5 | Southern Whiteface | 2 | 1 |
| Common Starling | 2 | 1 | Speckled Warbler | 4 | 3 |
| Crested Pigeon | 31 | 15 | Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater | 6 | 5 |
| Diamond Firetail | 1 | 1 | Spotted Pardalote | 5 | 1 |
| Double-barred Finch | 8 | 3 | Striated Pardalote | 5 | 3 |
| Eastern Rosella | 57 | 18 | Striped Honeyeater | 3 | 3 |
| Eastern Yellow Robin | 1 | 1 | Superb Fairy-wren | 4 | 2 |
| Galah | 41 | 13 | Superb Parrot | 11 | 5 |
| Golden Whistler | 1 | 1 | Tree Martin | 3 | 2 |
| Grey Butcherbird | 10 | 9 | Varied Sittella | 10 | 2 |
| Grey Fantail | 11 | 7 | Weebill | 1 | 1 |
| Grey Shrike-thrush | 10 | 8 | Welcome Swallow | 2 | 1 |
| Grey-crowned Babbler | 27 | 6 | White-browed Babbler | 11 | 2 |
| Hooded Robin | 6 | 3 | White-eared Honeyeater | 7 | 5 |
| Inland Thornbill | 5 | 2 | White-fronted Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| Jacky Winter | 7 | 2 | White-plumed Honeyeater | 48 | 9 |
| Laughing Kookaburra | 1 | 1 | White-throated Treecreeper | 6 | 6 |
| Little Pied Cormorant | 1 | 1 | White-winged Chough | 43 | 5 |
| Little Raven | 1 | 1 | Willie Wagtail | 18 | 12 |
| Magpie-lark | 15 | 6 | Yellow Thornbill | 26 | 6 |
| Mistletoebird | 2 | 1 | Yellow-faced Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| Noisy Miner | 78 | 15 | Yellow-rumped Thornbill | 26 | 5 |
| Total Nr Birds seen | 814 | Total Nr Species | 64 | ||
Mikla and Wayne entertained us at “Rosemont” again for our barbecue. Several groups of Superb Parrots flew over the property. Six people had birthdays in March so we celebrated with a large chocolate cake. On Sunday morning we met at Company Dam for a walk in cool weather and I recorded 28 species including a Speckled Warbler, several Peaceful Doves and a Striped Honeyeater.
Birthday people at the Grenfell survey weekend – (L-R) Viv Schell, Jill Molan, Vincent Mourik, Elisabeth Karplus, Michael McKenzie, Mikla Lewis. Photographer: Wayne Lavers
The next survey will be held on the weekend of September 27-29, 2019. We hope that our existing volunteers and new volunteers will take part in the next survey. Everyone is encouraged to book accommodation as soon as possible as there are always events in Grenfell. If you are not already on our contact list and would like details of the next survey, please contact Allan Richards (activities@birdingnsw.org.au) or me (emhodson@exemail.com.au).
May 15, 2019
Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot surveys 2019
The first of the biannual survey periods for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot commences this coming weekend. We are seeking your assistance to search for both species across their range in Victoria, NSW, ACT and southern Queensland.
As has been the approach for many years, the targeted survey periods occur on the third weekend in May and first weekend in August, and up to a week either side. Thus for 2019 the two survey periods are:
– 13th to 26th May*
– 27th July to 11th August
If you are interested and available to help do searches at our suggested locations this May, we encourage you to get in touch with your regional coordinator. Or, if you are uncertain of who your relevant regional coordinator is and/or where you would like to search, send us an email (woodlandbirds@birdlife.org.au) and we’ll forward your message through to the right person. Some areas may have coordinated surveys already planned, but for the most part we are simply asking people to conduct searches for these critically endangered and rare species.
The May and August survey periods are now embedded in many peoples’ calendars and it is a great way of maximising participation in seeking out these elusive birds. But it is important to remind everyone that BirdLife Australia maintains the sightings database for both species, so we are also very interested in any opportunistic sightings of both species at any time of year. We have pieced together the update from the August 2018 surveys, which you will find here noting that it includes a detailed account of sightings of both species throughout the remainder of 2018.
If you find either species, you can complete and submit the survey form (word and PDF versions) which can be found on our website. It can be returned either to us directly or to your regional coordinator. Alternatively you can simply email or call us. If you undertake a search but are unsuccessful in detecting either species, please let us or your regional coordinator know but it is no longer necessary to fill out these sheets for unsuccessful searches. During the surveys, we encourage you to submit records of other bird species from the locations you have visited to the BirdLife Australia ‘Birdata’ Atlas, either through the website portal or the app.
Sightings of Regent Honeyeaters are of particular interest at any time. Please let one of the team know as soon as possible if you see one or more, including – where possible – a precise location and any colour leg band details. A photo for confirmation is also helpful if possible. You can also contact us with Regent Honeyeater sightings using a Freecall number (1800 621 056).
Dean Ingwersen, Chris Timewell, Caroline Wilson & Emily Mowat
Mick Roderick M 0421 761 237 mick.roderick@birdlife.org.au
(*Apologies from the editor. Computer downtime and some emails not arriving have caused this notice to be late. IB.)
January 19, 2019
Brush-turkeys in Suburbia. A project report by Matthew Hall at the February Club meeting
“The Australian Brush-turkey (Alectura lathami) has become an increasingly common sight in the parks and backyards of suburban Australia. Their success in exploiting the big city has led to conflict with homeowners, who blame the birds for tearing up garden beds and lawns indiscriminately as they forage and build their nests. Added to this is a growing list of complaints including stealing pet food, chasing pets and small children, making a racket walking on tin roofs, and fouling swimming pools. . . . . . . . . . .”
Read more here
and learn more at the Feb 5 2019 meeting in the Mitchell Theatre, 19:30.
November 29, 2018
Birding NSW Office of Conservation writes against the raising of the wall of Warragamba dam
Full details here or on the Conservation letters page.