PDF version available here: Vol. 16 No. 2
Journal of the
N.S.W. FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS CLUB
Vol. 16, No. 2 December, 1981
ISSN 0311-8150
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. NBH0790THE N.S.W. FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS CLUB
OFFICE BEARERS
PATRON A.R. McGill
PRESIDENT A.E.F. Rogers
SECRETARY C. MacDonald
TREASURER K. Lisser
RECORDS OFFICER T. Lindsey
FIELD DAY ORGANISER A. Lindsey
CONSERVATION OFFICER R. Manson
EDITOR OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS A.K. Morris
EDITOR OF NEWSLETTER A. McBride
COMMITTEE E. Hoskin
The object of the Club is to promote the study and conservation of Australian
birds and the habitats they occupy.
Annual subscription rates of the Club (due 1st July each year) are:
Single Member (within Co. of Cumberland) $8.00
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Manuscripts should be sent to the Editor at:
P.O. Box 39, Coonabarabran. 2857.NUM
Vol. 16, No. 2 December, 1981
SUPERB FRUIT -DOVE AT PENNANT HILLS, SYDNEY
M. CRAWFORD
On 28 April 1981 at about 1300 hours a Superb Fruit -Dove Ptilinopus superbus, flew
into the window of the Pennant Hills Infants School and fell to the concrete sun -deck. A
teacher was called and she reported that “the bird was gasping for breath”, then went limp and
motionless, apparently dead. Twenty minutes later when the teacher went to collect the body,
there were signs of life, so that the bird was placed in a shoe -box and taken to a warm class-
room.
When I collected the bird at about 1600 hours it was quite lively. The bird was placed in
a larger carton with a covered hot water bottle and various items of food, sprays of cotoneat-
er berries, pieces of banana and apple, and a glucose drink. Interest in the berries was registered,
but the bird was not seen eating.
At my house at Hornsby Heights, adjoining Galston Gorge, the bird was handled briefly
and encouraged to eat and drink, but with little success. When covered the carton for the
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night, a length of green cooked bean was hung by a string at a suitable height. In the morning
all the bean had gone, and the level of drinking water had fallen.
Four members of the New South Wales Field Ornthologists’ Club saw the bird, and
photographs were taken before it was relased at about 1000 hours on 29 April. Upon release
the bird flew strongly into a Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus haemostomus, where it rested for about
an hour, almost invisible among the leaves. Since then the bird has not been seen or heard.
The bird’s appearance accorded with the identification description for a male Superb
Fruit -Dove, given in G. Pizzey (1980 A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia), except that the
orange -chestnut on the hindneck was incomplete, and a few green feathers showed in the
purple crown.26 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
Two previous sightings of this species have been reported, in the bushland that runs from
Pennant Hills, through Galston Gorge to Berowra. Robert Salt of the Hornsby Wildlife Con-
servation Society recalls that on a walk with the Society in the Pennant Hills end of the valley
during 1965, when bird bander Ray Dickens was present, a small colourful fruit pigeon was
sighted, that he feels certain was a Superb Fruit -Dove and not a Rose -crowned Fruit -Dove P.
regina. A further sighting was made by Geoffrey Sharpe, a near neighbour, who reported in
July 1978 seeing a “beautiful little dove with green and purple feathers” in the Galston Gorge.
Standard reference texts were consulted and Geoffrey picked out the Superb Fruit -Dove. When
he saw this latest specimen he confirmed that it was the same species.
Prior to 1960 there were only three records of the Superb Fruit -Dove in the Sydney
district and these were summarised by Hindwood and McGill (1958 The Birds of Sydney pp
15). Since that time the following observations have been reported, viz: –
30.10.1969 An adult male flew into a window at Cowan. Birds 5, 71.
- 3.1973 Male found dead at Lane Cove (E.S. Hoskin in litt.).
- 3.1973 Female flew into a window at Bellevue Hill. Aust. Birds 13,11.
- 8.1977 One found dead beside a road at Wahroonga. Aust. Birds 13,11.
- 4.1980 Adult male flew into a window at Killarney Heights. Aust. Birds, 16, 11.
- 4.1981 Immature female flew into a window of home units at Cremorne.
(T. Lindsey pers comm.).
wish to acknowledge the help of the Keith Hindwood Bird Recording Service per favour
I
E.S. Hoskin, for information used in this article.
MRS. MOLLY CRAWFORD, 34 Ulolo Ave., Hornsby Heights, N.S.W. 2077.December, 1981 27
FOOD OF SOME RAPTORS AT ARMIDALE, NEW SOUTH WALES
S.J.S. DEBUS
During 1979 and 1980, casual observations were made on predation by several raptor
species at Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. These observations were
fortuitous, being made in conjunction with other work on the raptors there (in prep.). A
small sample of pellets and prey remains was also incidentally collected from beneath roosts
and nests in 1980. This small sample and the number of observations are of little quantitat-
ive value.
Black -shouldered Kite Elanus notatus
Virtually all of perhaps 15 observed prey items in both years were mice, probably House
Mouse Mus muscu/us. Exceptions were two small skinks. The few pellets and prey remains
consisted of House Mice and a rat, probably Black Rat Rattus rattus. The literature has given
the impression that this species is a generalist, but I believe it is better treated as a rodent
specialists like other forms in the genus. Slater (1979) stated its favourite prey to be the House
Mouse.
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax
The few prey remains collected from under three nests represented a dozen or so individ-
uals, and consisted of mainly rabbits Orycto/agus cuniculus and hares Lepus capensis, with
some lamb Ovis aries at one nest. About six pellets from under this nest contained lagomorph
fur, sheep wool and feathers. This suggests a similar diet to that on the Southern Tablelands:
mostly rabbit and hare, with some lamb and bird, and other items (Leopold and Wolfe 1970).
Australian Kestrel Falco cenchroides
Of two samples each of about ten pellets, all contained mostly insect remains. Many also
contained scales of a small skink, and a few contained feathers. Mammal remains may have gone
undetected as examination was cursory, but none were obvious. Kestrels were observed to prey
on insects (beetles, Coleoptera and locusts, Orthoptera), skinks and the occasional House
Mouse, and made occasional attempts (not successful) on House Sparrows Passer domesticus.
These observations suggest a similar diet to that elsewhere (Olsen et al. 1979).
Brown Falcon Fa/co berigora
The only observed prey items were a Black Rat and flying insects, probably winged ants.
There appear to be few published accounts of this species catching flying insects. On a warm
spring afternoon a pair of falcons was soaring in spirals and repeatedly taking such prey and
eating it on the wing. The birds would approach an insect on a level or slightly rising course
with deliberate wing beats, and then swing the pelvis forward so that the body axis was vertical
as the legs were thrust forward to take the prey. The process was essentially the same as the
aerial strike of the Prairie Falcon F. mexicanus as detailed by Goslow (1971), but at a slower
speed. Incidentally, film footage from Vincent Serventy’s “Nature Walkabout” television series
shows this action in the Black Falcon F. subniger. Slow-motion film shows a falcon repeatedly
trying to snatch a Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus from a milling flock, and the mechanics
of its strike are virtually the same as that described for the Prairie Falcon.
REFERENCES
Goslow, G.E. 1971. The attack and strike of some North American raptors. Auk 88, 215-227.
Leopold, A.S. and T.O. Wolfe, 1970. Food habits of nesting Wedge-tailed Eagles, Aquila audax, in south-
eastern Australia. CSIRO Wildl. Res. 15, 1-17.
Olsen, P., W.J.M. Vestjens and J. Olsen, 1979. Observations on the diet of the Australian Kestrel. Emu 79,
133-138.
Slater, P. 1979. The Observer’s Book of Birds of Australia. Sydney: Methuen.
STEPHEN J.S. DEBUS, 42 Kenneth St., Longueville, N.S.W. 2066.28 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
NESTING OF THE LOGRUNNER AT DORRIGO
N. VAUGHAN AND J. HAYNES
The Logrunner, formerly known as the Spine -tailed Chowchilla Orthonyx temminckii,
is a medium-sized ground bird that inhabits the subtropical rainforests of southern Queens-
land and nothern and central New South Wales.
On 2 September 1978 a family of Logrunners was found in Dorrigo National Park, in an
area of subtropical rainforest. The locality where the observation was made contained a thick
covering of vegetation with an unbroken canopy at about 20 metres. Walking stick palms
Linospadix monostachyus formed the bulk of the scrubbery. The ground had a four centimetre
cover of leaves; predominantly from the Small -leafed Fig Ficus ob/iqua. The leaf litter contain-
ed a very rich fauna of amphipods.
The Logrunner family consisted of two partially feathered chicks still occupying the nest,
and an adult male and female.
DESCRIPTION OF NEST
The nest was located on the ground. It was backed by a root from the Small -leafed Fig.
Its top and southern sides were hidden by several Walking -stick Palms. Ferns obscured the
vision of it in all other directions. It was dome -shaped and had an oval entrance that faced
east. This orientation of the entrance was observed in two other nests that were being con-
structed by other Logrunners. In part of the entrance to the nest there was a platform of
sticks. The nest was made of fine sticks, spiders’ web and moss.December, 1981 29
Even though throughout the period of observation the day remained cloudless, no direct
sunlight penetrated the canopy and shone onto the nest. The area of scratching was also free of
direct sunlight.
NEST BEHAVIOUR
The female was seen to visit the nest quite frequently, on average ten times per hour. The
male never went any closer than 1.5 metres from the nest. The time spent at the nest by the
female ranged from three to 30 seconds. The longest visits usually involved the collection of the
faecal pellet. On the female’s approach to the nest she uttered a soft clucking sound. She always
stepped onto the nest platform from a bare patch of ground that was to one side of the front
of the platform. The chicks were then fed from the platform, the female never entering the
nest itself.
The chicks were very still and quiet for most of the time. For short periods after feeding
they did become restless, moving themselves around or calling quietly. Loud quarks were heard
if the platform was scratched. The chicks never ventured outside the nest.
FEEDING BEHAVIOUR
After the female fed the young she always returned to the immediate vicinity of the male
bird where she would then gather food. If she took a faecal pellet from the nest, she would
drop it on commencing her search for food. There was no deliberate act of placing the pellet
in any particular area. The male and female were close together when scratching for food, and
rarely ventured more than one metre from each other.
The search for food was very active. The Logrunner uses a sideway kick to lift, overturn,
or push aside stricks, stones and leaves. Often they lift the litter with an outstretched leg and
peck under this material. After several kicks to both sides they would move less than half a
metre away and start again, leaving a tell -tale clear space 15 cm in diameter.
The male usually took food to the female for her to feed the young. This occurred as often
as 11 times between the female’s visits to the nest. She held all the food from the male in her
beak. While the female was feeding the young the male kept up his search for food. When the
female returned the male’s search became more vigorous. With this new vigour he would shift
sticks and leaves some 20 cm in any direction.
Several faecal pellets were collected and later examined. These revealed evidence that the
chicks had eaten spiders, amphipods and insects, mainly Carabid Beetles (Carabidae, Coleop-
tera) and ants (Hymenoptera).
Even though the male always went to the female with the food he usually initiated move-
ment to a different area of scratching. This movement took two forms; a gradual change and
also jumps. The jumps ranged from two metres to twenty metres. The male left an area of 1.5
metres radius around the nest, untouched. Most of the feeding was done in a clockwork direct-
ion around the fig tree, where the nest was located.
BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION
The Logrunners became motionless on two occasions. On the first occasion, both birds
stopped for three minutes. At the conclusion of this period the flap of wings was heard in the
canopy. On the second occasion, the birds acted similarly when an Australian Brush -turkey
Alectura lathami moved around in the canopy.30 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
A Yellow -throated Scrub -wren Sericornis citreogularis, accompained the Logrunners for
the duration of the morning. The wren did not have any noticable affect on the Logrunners
even when the wren was feeding at the same scratch. The Logrunners were also very tolerant of
Thornbills, Eastern Yellow Robins Eopsaltria australis and other scrub -wrens.
During the day the birds were under observation they never came into contact with any
other Logrunners. However, some interaction was observed next morning. On this occasion the
males were involved, each displaying his white throat, the females followed the males along the
invisible line. All the time the male was calling out loudly.
The effect that the presence of humans had on the birds was watched carefully. The nest
was three metres away from a main walking path. When the Logrunners were feeding they
could be approached to within two metres. One person could sit quietly one metre away from
the nest with minimal changes in the female’s feeding behaviour. If someone came nearer she
would stop at the nest and look around before feeding the chicks. Her normal procedure was to
fly straight to the nest and feed without hesitation. When a group of people came to look at
the nest the female’s visits became less frequent. Also, she would stop one metre short, look
around, then proceed. The feeding pattern of the pair of logrunners then became very erratic.
It was on this occasion that the male ruffled up his feathers and preened himself. This was not
observed on any other occasion so it could have been a displacement activity.
The Logrunners accepted the intrusion into their daily routine with little fuss.
I wish to acknowledge the assistance of Hugh Ford, staff and students of the 1978 Uni-
versity of New England’s Ecofest Spring School on Bird Study.
N. VAUGHAN, c/- Central School, Wee Waa. N.S.W. 2388.
J. HA YNES, 19 Palmer Cres., Gunnedah, N.S.W 2830.December, 1981
31
GREY BUTCHERBIRD TAKING A PAINTED BUTTON -QUAIL
J.N. HOBBS
On 27 May 1981 I sat down to observe birds feeding in a small grove of wattles at the foot
of the Bogolong Hills, Narrandera. I had been picking mushrooms and the birds had become
accustomed to my presence moving very close to me. The grove was literally swarming with
birds, well over 200 individuals being concentrated in the small area. They included, amongst
others, Peaceful Doves Geopelia placida, two species of Cuckoos, three Whistlers, two Robins,
three Thornbills, four Honeyeaters, Variegated Wrens Ma/urus lamberti, Speckled Warblers
Chthonico/a sagittatus and Double -barred Finches Poephila bichenovii.
Feeding at the edge of the wattles was a pair of Painted Button -quail Turnix varia and sit-
ting on the fence that had once enclosed the grove was a Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus.
I had been enjoying this open aviary for over ten minutes when, suddenly, the Butcherbird flew
the 20 metres separating it from the Quails, approaching them in a low dive from their rear. It
landed on the back of the larger Quail, presumably the female, and before that bird had time to
raise its head from feeding, the Butcherbird struck it two blows to the head with its bill. The
first was to the side of the head near the ear, the second in the centre of the crown just behind
the forehead. The Quail immediately collapsed and the Butcherbird jumped from it and with
its bill pulled the Quail onto its back. The Quail was inert apart from some twitching of the
wings and the Butcherbird began to peck viciously at the stomach causing blood to stain the
feathers. Some White -plumed Honeyeaters Lichenostomus penicillatus hovered over the Butch-
erbird, diving at it and uttering their scolding alarms. Two Shrike -tits Falcunculus frontatus
perched on a twig above it expressing their alarm in a peculiar whining manner.
Probably with the intention of taking refuge from these attackers the Butcherbird tried to
pull the Quail into the cover of the wattle trees. It gripped it on the belly with both feet and
fluttered towards the trees. The Quail, however, was too heavy for it to lift, the dragging wings
caught on the grass stems tumbling the Butcherbird onto the ground. It made repeated efforts
to drag the Quail away without success, all the time under attack by the Honeyeaters and a
gathering crowd of other birds churring alarm from the wattles.
I should have stayed but involuntarily arose and approached the scene. The Butcherbird
picked itself up from yet another fall and perched on its prey facing me defiantly for a moment
and then flew off into cover, examined the Quail. It was dead. The marks of the two blows
I
to the head were quite distinct but bloodless. They must have killed the Quail instantly. The
skin of the stomach was torn open slightly.
The Butcherbird had been offered a veritable smorgasbord of birds yet had chosen this
prey almost as large as itself, a cause for wonder. On consideration though it became apparent
the Quail was a good strategic choice. Most of the birds were feeding amid the tangled branches
of the wattles. They would have been difficult to approach and immune from surprise attack.
The ground feeders, such as the Peaceful Dove, the Speckled Warbler and the Double -barred
Finches are always alert and quick to fly whereas the Quail prefers to squat or just quietly
walk away from trouble. Whilst watching this particular pair I noticed they seldom raised their
head from feeding and apparently never surveyed for threat above the ground level. Coming
from behind with an unobstructed flight approach the Butcherbird could strike with complete
surprise. The relatively wide, flat back of the Quail even provides a platform from which to
strike the death blows. I suspect Quails may be a frequent choice of prey by the Butcherbird.
J.N. HOBBS, Police Station, Narrandera, 2700.32 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
GREAT -BILLED HERON AT YAMBA
A. GIBSON
While birdwatching with Mrs. Marjorie lnnes of Angourie, on 23 April 1980 in th vicinity
of Romiaka Channel, 5 km south of Yamba, we observed and identified a Great -billed Heron
Ardea sumatrana. Yamba is on the New South Wales north coast and Romiaka Channel is on
the south side of the Clarence River estuary.
The day was clear and sunny, with the bird resting on a mud band approximately 110 m
distant from our observation point; the binoculars that was using at the time were Leitz
I
Trinovid 10 x 40B. Field notes complied at the time of the observation, record the following:-
Bill: length between 200 mm – 225 mm (8-81/2 inches), straight on top and bottom and
pointed to the tip. The colour was grey although this may have been because the bird had
been probing in the mud, and the gape colour was yellow. Body Colour: generally dark
grey, back feathers anthacite grey, with rufous -brown lights shining in the sunlight, flank
feathers light grey. Neck long with a few long feathers pale in colour similar to that of a
Straw -necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis. Legs: greenish -grey. Iris: yellow, with the naked
skin around the eye, also yellow. Length: approx. 100 cms. There was a pronounced lump
at the occipital base of the cranium which could be as a result of bone structure or
feathers.
During the period of observation, the bird was immobile and not feeding: it was supposed
that it could either be sick or exhausted as it occupied the one position for some twenty
minutes.
On the same mud bank with the bird were for comparison purposes Bar -tailed Godwits
Limosa lapponica, Silver Gulls Larus novaehollandiae, and Black -fronted Plovers Charadrius
me/anops, while on the opposite side of the Channel from the observation point were Pacific
Herons Ardea pacifica and White-faced Herons A. novaehollandiae.
The bird subsequently flew to a mud bank further up the channel and then disappeared
into the mangroves. No white patches were noticeable in the wing, a feature of both adult and
juvenile Black -necked Storks Xenorhynchusasiaticus.
In view of the limited distribution of the Great -billed Heron in eastern Australia as given
by P. Slater (1970 A Field Guide to Aust. Birds Vol. 1) and N. Cayley (1968 What Bird is
That? 5th Ed.), discussed the identification with the staff of the ornithology section of the
I
Australian Museum. It had been put to me that the bird observed could have been a juvenile
Black -necked Stork (or Jabiru).
After discussion of the diagnostic features of both birds, it was evident to me that compar-
ed to my observation of the supposed Great -billed Heron, the juvenile Black -necked Stork is
of larger dimensions; has a much heavier bone structure; the bill is black, and the lower mand-
ible of the bill is arched and is much more heavier; the legs are longer and red in colour.December, 1981 33
Local people claim that the Great -billed Heron has been seen in the Clarence River estuary
on previous occasions, even as late as last year. While the species has not been listed for New
South Wales by Morris et al (1981 Handlist of Birds in New South Wales) my attention has been
drawn to an early reference by E.P. Ramsay (1877 Proc. Zool. Soc. London p.341). In the
article, in which Ramsay converses about the birds of the Rockingham Bay area in Queensland,
he mentions in passing “I have observed them as far south as the Clarence River, where the late
Mr. John Macgillivray obtained a specimen from New South Wales. As the condition of the
bird observed on 23 April 1980, indicated, it could well be that an earlier weather pattern
forced it south from its known habitat.
I wish to record my thanks to Walter Boles and the staff of the Australian Museum, for
their assistance in compling this note.
ALMA GIBSON, 17 Hilma Avenue, Collaroy Plateau, N.S.W. 2098.
Western Warbler by L.C. Haines34 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
CORRIGENDUM
The following corrections should be made in the article “Little and Forest Ravens in
New South Wales” by S.J.S. Debus (1980 Aust. Birds 15, 7-12).
P. 7, para. 2 line 2 “Tasmankus”should read “tasmankus”.
:
P. 10, para. 3 lines 5-6 : “inland coastal” should read “inland and coastal”.
P. 10, para. 3 line 8 “scrap” should read “scarp”.
:
The following corrections should be made to the article “The Inland occurrence of Tropic
birds in New South Wales, March 1978″ by A. K. Morris (1979, Aust. Birds 13, 51-54),
P. 51, para. 4 line 6 the line should read “Immature male found alive at “Girraween”,
:
Coonabarabran, now AM 0.46743″, not Warrum-
bungle National Park as stated in text.
The Editor.December, 1981 35
SHADING AND SUNNING IN EAGLES
S.J.S. DEBUS
Further to Larkins (1979, 1980) and Baldwin (1980), offer the following on shading and
I
sunning behaviour in eagles. Ellis (1979) described the sun -spread posture of Golden Eagles
Aquila chrysaetos, in which the birds spread their wings and tail when exposed to direct solar
radiation. This posture was considered to be an attempt to absorb radiant energy. The cooling
wing -droop posture (seen in many birds) was adopted when the eagles became overheated.
Occasionally eaglets were seen to pant as well as sun -spread, and were thought to be either
still irradiating their plumage although midly overheated, or were attempting to dissipate heat
as in the wing -droop posture. Shading was thought by Ellis to be derived from sun -spreading.
When shading, and adult “offered” shelter to its young, but the young had to move into the
female’s shadow. The adult normally raised the body feathers slightly when shading, perhaps
making additional skin surface available for heat loss. As in wing -drooping, adults oriented
back -to -sun. When adults became overheated they adopted the wing -droop posture and ultim-
ately left the eyrie. Shading was therefore thought to be influenced by environmental stimuli
and the internal state of the adult.
I have observed shading and sunning behaviour in the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides
at Armidale, New South Wales in spring and summer 1980. In mid -November at one nest con-
taining a small downy chick, the female stood back -to -sun so that her shadow fell on the nest.
She did this for at least 3.5 hours from 09:50 on a warm sunny morning, but did not adopt
any special posture. This nest was partly shaded in the top of a living Pinus radiata. At another
nest in mid -December, the female was already standing back -to -sun on the nest at 08:10 on a
hot sunny morning. The large feathered young, which she had already fed, moved and sat in
her shadow. At about 08:40, apparently after a certain level of stimulus was reached, the adult
sun -spread for 2-3 minutes, thus casting a larger shadow on the nest. She did not appear to be
reacting to the young in any way, but rather to the sun. She then head -scratched, preened and
gaped, and at 08:45 left for a shaded perch nearby.
The eaglet at this second nest was seen to sun -spread briefly on two occasions: once at
about 09:40 during a bout of preening, when it was large and downy with wing, tail and mantle
feathers sprouting; once at 08:30 when it was almost fledged.
Ellis’s data and my observations support the view that shading is involuntary, performed in
response to the adult’s genetic programming and environmental releasers, rather than to any
distress or other signals from the eaglet(s).
REFERENCES
Baldwin, M. 1980 Some thoughts on shading. Aust Birds 14,53.
Ellis, D.H. 1979 Development of behaviour in the Golden Eagle. Wildlife Monographs No. 70.
Larkins, D. 1979 Shading and sunning in the Grey Butcherbird. Aust. Birds 13, 43-46.
Larkins, D. 1980 Shading and evidence for other involuntary behaviour in Grey Butcherbirds. Aust. Birds
14, 72-75.
STEPHEN J.S. DEBUS, 42 Kenneth Street, Longueville, N.S.W. 2066.36 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
PIRACY OF NEST MATERIAL AMONG TREE MARTINS
TONY STOKES
As very little seems to have been written on the behaviour of Tree Martins Cecropis nigrig-
ans, the following observation may be of interest.
At 12:35 hours on 2 Septemner 1981 watched many Tree Martins at the Mootwingie
I
Historic Site, 85 km north-east of Broken Hill, New South Wales, pick up small broken pieces
of leaves in their bills near water on the gravel road and fly with them to River Red Gums
Eucalyptus camaldulensis lining a waterway where, presumably, they were nesting.
On one occasion a bird flew from the road with a piece of leaf and was chased by three
others who flew from nearby. Two pursuers ceased after about 30m but the third persisted and
at about 50m the leading bird dropped the leaf particle. The remaining pursuer dived to pick it
up in its bill before it reached the ground and then flew with it to the gum trees. interpreted
I
this as piracy of nest material.
A smiliar report was given by Mollison and Green (1962 Emu 61, 227 -280) of an instance
of Tree Martins mandibulating small particles, possibly pebbles or charcoal, while on the
ground. Some carried short straws aloft ” only to be dropped from about 20 ft up.”
In that case however the activity does not seem to have been related to nesting.
The species is well known to deposit its eggs on mattress of dried leaves or other vegetation
T. Kloot & E.M. McCulloch (1980 Birds of Australian Gardens) and G. Beruldsen (1980 A Field
guide to nests and eggs of Australian birds). Almost certainly they were beginning to breed in
the area as were many other species after the recent heavy winter rains e.g. nests and eggs were
found of the Galah Cacatua rosiecapilla, Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena, Grey Shrike –
thrush Colluricincla harmonica, Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea, Red -capped Robin Petroica
goodenovii, Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus and the White-browed Babbler Pomatostom-
us superciliosus.
TONY STOKES, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 636, Canberra City,
A.C.T. 2601.December, 1981
37
PLUMED WHISTLING DUCK BREEDING IN COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
A. COLEMANE
During December 1971 a flock of over 200+ Plumed Whistling Ducks Dendrocygna eytoni
appeared on Pitt Town Common, near Windsor. This was a rare visitation, as only isolated
records of this species were previously known in the County of Cumberland. This flock gradual-
ly increased during 1971 and 1972, until over 300 were observed at Rickaby’s Creek on part of
Windsor golf links, in July 1973. Since that irruption, varying numbers have been recorded on
the many swamps in the Hawkesbury area. At present, a large flock seems to be congregating at
the ponds near Killarney Stud and feed among horses in the field. This site is near North
Richmond, a little to the north-east lies Bushes’ or Fearnley’s Lagoon, a long stretch of water
surrounded by cultivated land, the only trees are a few Weeping Willows, at the western end.
For most of the year, various crops are planted on the alluvial soil and when the harvesting has
been completed, weed growth takes over for a few months.
It was one of these periods in April 1981 when I visited Bushes’ Lagoon, and searched the
area to note species present. I caught a glimpse of a Whistling Duck gliding through some water –
weeds close to an earth bank 15 m out. A slight movement to the right of me aroused my
curiosity, so with a quick focus on the spot with the binoculars, I was amazed and delighted at
what I saw, it was four young ducklings huddled together in the sedges. Quietly sitting down on
the bank, I awaited results. It wasn’t long before the female Whistling Duck came gliding back
through the reeds with head held low and giving a couple of chip, chip, calls which altered the
ducklings, who immediately swam out to meet the mother.
Then off they all went, very quietly swimming along the blind side of the sedges, and
finally into open water where excellent views were obtained. This was a terrific moment for
me, as I had been hoping to find them breeding long before this.
The following week they were still there, and another pair with well grown young, so at
least two pairs bred there while long grass was ideal cover for breeding. This was an excellent
record for the County, however, I had to settle for second observations. This was because
Albert Cartwright of Riverstone had recorded two young, just feathered at the McGarth’s Hill
Treatment Ponds on 12 February 1979, that being the first breeding record for the County of
Cumberland. Numbers of over 100 are still recorded in the vicinity of Bushes’ Lagoon, and
Killarney Stud. It would appear that the Plumed Whistling Duck will become part of the
Hawkesbury birdlife in the future, if the present habitat survives destruction.
ATHOL COLEMANE, 7 Redbank Place, Northmead, N.S.W. 2152.38 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
OBITUARY GEORGE DIBLEY
The Club lost a stalwart when George Dibley died on 28th March last.
George was a Design Draughtsman by profession and had spent a number of years in the
employ of Bernard Smith Ltd.
George came to bird watching rather late in life but had always been a lover of outdoors
and the bush and had been a member of Sydney Bush Walkers for 52 years. Although he had
had the casual interest in birds most outdoor people have he did not take up organised bird
watching and ornithology until 1961 when he joined the R.Z.S. He was subsequently Secretary
of this Section and its Chairman for several years. He joined the R.A.O.U. at the same time and
attended many R.A.O.U. congresses in Victoria, Northern Territory, New Guinea and New
Zealand as well as in New South Wales.
George was a foundation member of the Gould League of Bird Watchers later to be known
as The N.S.W. Field Ornithologists Club and from its inception in 1968 was assistant field day
organiser and later field day organiser. When a foundation President was appointed in August
1970 George was its first and remained in the chair until August 1974 when he retired as
chairman but took over the position of Treasurer which he held until his retirement from
committee work in December 1979.
During his involvement with the Club he represented it on the Australian Museum Keith
Hindwood Memorial Fund in 1971 and was instrumental in the presentation of a special series
of talks in 1977. He took part in John Disney’s Survey of Birds of the Pine Forest in 1973 and
was a participator in the Botany Bay Wader Survey. Apart from these functions George and
Marie did many other things for the Club of which members would not generally be aware.
When overseas visitors were here George and Marie either took them out or put them in
touch with other people who could do so. For years they also prepared the journal for posting
and delivered them to Mortdale Post Office and Members will note that their return address is
still on our envelopes.
Although George was a distinguished black and white photographer in his early days he
never took up bird photography but contented himself with becoming expert in identification
of birds and their calls in which vocation his acute well trained ears were an invaluable help to
other people.
Apart from having been to many field outings and camp outs with the Dibleys had the
I
privilege of serving on committee with George for some ten years. As have said before if there
I
was anything to be done it seemed to be the norm to have the Dibleys do it and the amount of
time and energy expended by both George and Marie in these endeavours is beyond calculation.
When they both stepped down from office in 1979 they left the Club in a very sound position
both financially and as to membership. George was always a very thorough and conscientious
Treasurer and well aware of the financial commitments of the Club, particularly having in mind
its comparatively small membership.
When George and Marie retired from committee they were presented by the Club with a
volume on Water Fowl of the World which could only be described as a small token of the
esteem in which they were held and in acknowledgement of their services.
To Marie we extend our heartfelt sympathy.
JIM FRANCIS.December, 1981 39
BOOK REVIEWS
BIRDS OF AUSTRALIAN GARDENS Paintings by Peter Trusler with text by Tess Kloot and
Ellen McCulloch, 1980. Rigby Publishers Ltd., Adelaide. Pp 192. Col p11 80. 355 x 265 mm
$29.95.
Concurrently with the increasing interest among Australian gardeners over the last twenty years in
growing native plants, there has been increasing interest in attracting and maintaining populations of native
birds in the garden. Two excellent books are now available which detail many ways in which this can be
done: Barbara Salter’s ‘Australian Native Gardens and Birds’ (Ure Smith, Sydney, 1977) and George Adams’
‘Birdscaping Your Garden’ (Rigby, Adelaide, 1980). That the interest in garden birds is such as to prompt the
publication of these books and of ‘Birds of Australian Gardens’ is a very pleasing sign for the future of birds
in suburbia.
‘Birds of Australian Gardens’ is a portfolio of 80 full page paintings by Peter Trusler of 99 common
garden birds from ten Australian citiies: Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart,
Adelaide, Alice Springs and Perth. Each painting is accompanied by a page of text on the birds portrayed
complied by Tess Kloot and Ellen McCulloch. This consists of general information on habits, plumage,
distribution and habitat, followed by brief notes under a series of headings: distribution (in relation to the
ten cities mentioned above), length, alternative names, food, nest, voice and notes. Under the last heading
suggestions are made on aspects of the bird’s life -history which are little-known and hence worth following
up.
There is also an eight page introduction before the paintings. This covers ways in which birds can be
attracted to the garden, including details of how to make self -filling nectar feeders, ‘bird puddings’ (which are
puddings made for birds, not of them) and nest boxes. Methods for reducing the problems of cats, pesticides
and birds flying into windows are mentioned, and there is a general section on bird -watching. The introduct-
ion is illustrated throughout with black -and -white drawings. At the back of the book are lists of
bird -attracting garden plants, bird books and clubs, and suggested areas to visit within an hour’s dive of the
city centres.
In tackling a series of paintings all of well-known birds, Peter Trusler has shown great courage. It is
generally paintings of less familiar birds which have most appeal. With very familiar birds find any slight
I
failure of the artists to quite catch the look and character of the bird detracts greatly from my appreciation
of the painting. In this case, however, almost without exception the artist has exactly captured the bird. He
has also had great success in portraying the strength and colour of Australian sunlight. Even such paintings
as the one of sparrows on a roof have a surprisingly Australian feel.
To focus attention on the subject of each painting while still representing an entrie scene, Peter Trusler
has generally painted his birds against a background of sky or has blurred the background to give a some -what
photographic impression. For the birds themselves, however, and their immediate surroundings, his accuracy
and attention to detail are delightful. He states at the beginning of the book that all the backgrounds and
plants were painted from actual specimens and that a number of the paintings are in fact portraits of
individual birds. Particular favourites of mine are the Red-rumped Parrots, the Crested Shrike -tit and the
Grey Butcherbird, but there are many arresting and beautiful paintings in the collection.
The book’s main shortcoming is a tendency to use techniques more suited to field guides. The least
successful paintings by far are those which portray groups of similar species, such as pardalotes or small
lorikeets. These unnatural groupings of birds take away much of the realism which is so much of the appeal
in the other paintings. The book by no means covers all the birds likely to be encountered in Australian
gardens. Pointing out plumage differences between for instance the Swift Parrot and the four small lorikeet
species should be left to the field guides.
The notes on each species are also written as if the book were a field guide and the object was to
summarise as much information as possible in a limited space. I cannot help feeling that a more anecdotal,
more personal approach, expanding on points of particular interest, would have been more suitable and
made the text more readable. Certainly lack of space was not a consideration as in many cases the notes only
take up about half the page available to them.40 AUSTRALIAN BIRDS (16) 2
The list of suggested garden plants at the back of the book is not a particularly good one, judging by
the section devoted to Sydney. In terms of number of flowers produced, length of flowering period and range
of bird species attracted, there are a number of other plants which would be far preferable to most of those
mentioned. Species such as Grevillea banksii, Melaleuca hypericifolia and Erythrina indica would certainly
be better than for example Grevillea buxifolia, an insect -pollinated species which I have never seen visited
by a honeyeater.
Nevertheless, the exceptional quality of the paintings more than makes up for the few shortcomings in
the text. would strongly recommend the book to all those with an interest in birds and bird painting.
I
PETER SMITH.
LEARNING ABOUT AUSTRALIAN BIRDS by Rosemary Balmford. Published by Collins
March 1981. Price $16.95. Review copy supplied by William Collins Pty. Limited, Sydney.
The foreword suggests that the book is intended to help beginners in ornithology in Australia. In fact it
will do much more than that. The simplest way to show the breadth of coverage is by listing the names of the
chapters.
- Where and when to look at birds
- What bird is that?
- Attracting birds
- Expeditions and holidays
- What to watch for
- What to record
- Studying birds in the field
- The bird in the hand
- Institutions and organisations
- Research
- Classification and naming
- Evolution
- Birds past and present
The book is very clearly written and contains a wealth of information useful for all bird watchers.
The only statement in the book I do not agree with relates to bird photography where it is stated
that “the longer lens had a very much reduced depth of field”. In my opinion the only factors affect-
ing depth of field (for reduction ratios useful in bird photography) are aperture and reduction ratio.
The book is illustrated with drawings by Phyllis Plant and eight pages of colour photogrpahs. An ex-
tensive and useful list of books and papers for “further reading” is included. My conclusion is that this
book would be useful addition to the library of any bird watcher and almost essential for a beginner.
I would suggest that any aspiring bird watcher buys this book before any other book or equip-
ment.
KIK LISSER.NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS
Contributors are requested to observe the following points when submitting articles and notes
for publication. - Species, names, and the order in which they occur are to be in accordance with “Handlist
of Birds in New South Wales”. A.K.Morris, A.R.McGill and G. Holmes 1981 Dubbo:
NSWFOC. - Articles or notes should be typewritten if possible and submitted in duplicate. Double
spacing is required. - Margins of not less than 25mm width at the left hand side and top, with similar of slightly
smaller at the right hand side of pages. - No underlinings and no abbreviations except as shown in the examples.
- Photographs should be glossy finish and not too small.
- The Style Manual, Commonwealth Government Printing Office, Canberra (1966) and
subsequent editions will be the guide for this Journal. - Diagrams should be on plain white paper drawn with india ink. Any lettering is to be
‘professional style’ or lightly pencilled. - Dates must be written “1 January 1975” except in tables and figures where they may be
abbreviated. - The 24-hour clock will be used, times being written 06:30, 18:30 for 6.30 a.m. and
6.30 p.m. respectively. - Mr, Mrs, Dr are not followed by a full stop.
- In text, numbers one to ten are spelt; numbers of five figures or more should be grouped
in threes and spaced by a thin gap. Commas should not be used as thousands markers. - References to other articles should be shown in the text-‘…B.W. Finch and M.D. Bruce
(1974) stated…’ and under heading
REFERENCES
Finch, B.W. and M.D. Bruce 1974 The Status of the Blue Petrel in Australian Waters
Aust. Birds 9, 32-35 - Acknowledgements to other individuals should include Christian names or initials.Vol. 16, No. 2 December, 1981
AUSTRALIAN BIRDS
CONTENTS
Crawford, M. Superb Fruit -Dove at Pennant Hills, Sydney 25
Debus, S.J.S. Food of some raptors at Armidale, New South Wales 27
Vaughan, N. & Nesting of the Logrunner at Dorrigo 28
J. Haynes
Hobbs, J.N. Grey Butcherbird taking a Painted Button -quail 31
Gibson, A. Great -billed Heron at Yamba 32
Coorigendum 34
Debus, S.J.S. Shading and Sunning in Eagles 35
Stokes, Tony Piracy of nest material among Tree Martins 36
Colemane, A. Plumed Whistling Duck breeding in County of Cumberland 37
Obituary George Dibley 38
Book Reviews – Birds of Australian Gardens 39
Learning about Australian Birds
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. NBH0790
Printed by KEENPRINT, 3/92 Seville Street, Fairfield. 2165