PDF version available here: Vol. 7 No. 4
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Vol. 7 No, 4 1 January 1973
SEA BIRDS FOUND DEAD IN NEN SOUTH WALES IN 1971.
I. Introduction.
During 1971 a total of 626 birds of 19 species was found in 55
patrols covering 152 Km travelled. An overall mean mortality of 4.1
birds per Km travelled was achieved which was virtually half the figure
for 1970. 24 members and friends of the N.S.W. Field Ornithologists
Club took part and despite the greater number of patrols, fewer birds
were recorded. Table I lists the number of species found each month
and the number of patrols each month undertaken. Table II lists the
species found in different zones together with the number of trips per
zone and the distance travelled. 99% of all birds collected were
Procellariformes, there being only 10 other birds of 5 species recorded.
The style of this report follows that of the 1970 Report (Morris 1972).
See Figure I in that paper for demarcation of the 10 coastal zones.
II. Discussion.
Fewer Albatrosses were collected in 1971 than in the previous year.
Albatrosses are generally absent from the central New South Wales coast
between December to March (inclusive) and the record of the Black-browed
Albatross (Diomedea melanophris) collected 23 January 1971 at Wanda
would be of interest if fresh, however, the specimen was very old and
dried and possibly had been cast up in December or earlier. The one at
Wanda on 11 December 1971 was a fresh specimen and of interest because
of the lateness of the season.
A Cape Petrel (Daption capensis) in fresh condition picked up on
Brush Island near Ulladulla on 30 November 1971 was a late date for this
species (Rogers, 1972). The Brawn -headed Petrel (Pterodroma melanopas)
picked up on 29 May 1971 at Port Kembla was a rare bird. There are 14
records and observations fo: New South Wales occurring in May, October54 1 January 1973
I
TABLE
LIST OF SPECIES FOUND EACH MONTH IN 1971
MONTHS BIRDS FOUND : J F M A M J J A S 0 N D TOTAL
SPECIES OF BIRDS
SPECIMENS
LITTLE PENGUIN
I I 2
WANDERING ALBATROSS
I I
BLACK- BROW E D ALB I I 2
CAPE PETREL
1 I
BROWN -HEADED PETREL
I
I
GREAT -WINGED PETREL
I 1 1 3
COOKS PETREL
I I
BROAD -BILLED PR ION
I
I
FAIRY PR ION
2 2
WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER I
2
1
GREY -BACKED SHEARWATER
1 I
SOOTY SHEARWATER
I 2 I 4
SHORT -TAILED SHEARWATER 43 4
1 10 35 47 453 S33
FLUTTERING
SHEARWATER 2
2
LITTLE SHEARWATER 2
2
AUSTRALIAN GANNET
I
1
ARCTIC SKUA
1 I 2
SILVER GULL
3 3
SOOTY TERN
I I a
TOTALS 47 5 2 3 14 NIL I NIL NIL 37 53 45$ SU
NUMBER OF TRIPS 7 2 3 5 3 2. 3 1 8 3 13 57BIRDS 55. 1 January 1972
November. All but one record is for the October -November period which
coincides with the dispersal of the young birds away from their natal
island. In 1971 three Great -winged Petrels (P. macroptera) were
collected during January to April in the Wollongong region which is an
unusually large number, however, it is consistent with the summary given
in the 1970 report (Morris 1972). The Blue -footed Petrel (P. cooki)
recovered on 18 December 1971 at Newcastle Bight was the third Australian
record (Holmes, 1972). This Petrel is a summer breeder from islands off
New Zealand and the two previous specimens were both collected in January
(1955 and 1967).
Prions were generally absent both in observations at sea (A.E.F.
Rogers, pers. comm.) and as beach washed specimens in 1971. Fairy
Prions (Pachyptila turtur) were in much lesser numbers than in 1970,
however, a Broad -billed Prior (P. vittata) was found on Wanda Beach on
23 January 1971. Broad -billed Prions are rare in New South Wales
although a few are occasionally cast up during winter (McGill, 1960).
This bird is unusual in that it was recovered in January, for the 7
previous records for New South Wales occurred during the months of July
and August. (Wings and other remains only collected),
Of the Shearwaters, one of the rarest collected was a Grey -backed
Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) at Wanda on 23 January 1972. This bird
was the 9th Australian record (Morris 1971). Grey -backed Shearwaters
are rare summer visitors to New South Wales, being recorded during October
to February, from Port Stephens in the North to Narooma (Montagu Island)
in the south. Of the two Fluttering Shearwaters collected, one was of
the race P. gavia huttoni (now generally accepted as a distinct species)
being collected 11 April 1971 at Bellambi in the Wollongong Zone.
Little Shearwaters (P. assimilis) are very rare in New South Wales
(McGill 1960) with only 10 recorded, yet two were collected in surveys
in 1971. One was taken at Bulli on 5 March 1971 whilst the other was
taken at nearby Fairy Meadow on 14 March 1971, both beaches are in the
Wollongong Zone. All 10 records for the State have occurred in March,
June, November and December and it is during winter from March to October
that this bird is at Lord Howe Island, the nearest breeding location to
the New South Wales coast.
95% of all birds collected were Short -tailed Shearwaters (P. tenui-
rostris), the majority of which were collected during December. The
major wreck being 224 counted in the Newcastle Bight north of Stockton
on 18 December 1971, which represented 22 per Km,, however, on
13 December 1971 at Cross Beach, Newcastle 53 were counted in theBLRDS 56. 1 January 1973
TABLE IC
LIST OF SPECIES FOUND IN DIFFERENT ZONES IN 1971
INDEX LETTERS OF ZONE. I TH MG CH HS NC. SY WG UA BG MC TOTAL
SPECIES OF BIRDS BIRDS
LITTLE PENGUIN I 2
1
WAN DERING ALBATROSS
1 I
BLACK- BROWED ALBATROSS 2 2
CAPE PETREL
I I
BROWN -HEADED PETREL
1 I
GREAT -WINGED PETREL 3 3
COOKS PETREL
I I
BROAD -BILLED PRION
I I
FAt RY PRION I I 2
WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER 1 I 2
GREY- BACKED SHEARWATER
I I
SOOTY SHEARWATER 4
1 I I I
SHORT -TAILED SHEARWATER 18 320 1 178 43 7 ZG 553
FLUTTERING SHEARWATER
I I 2
LITTLE. SHEARwATER 2 2
AUSTRALIAN GANNET
I I
ARCTIC SKUA 2 2
SILVER GULL 3 3
SOOTY TERN 2 2
TOTALS NIL 18 NIL NIL 324 2 200 45 10 27 62
NUMBER OF TRIPS 1 2 NIL 2 6 2 36 3 2 I 55 TRIPS
NUMBER OF KM.TRAVELLED .8 8.0 NIL 24 32 8 1.4 57.2 4.0 20 3.6 152-0 KM.BIRDS
- 1 January 1973
1.6 Km patrolled. However, in actual fact, 1971 was a year of relatively
calm weather and the number of Short- tailed Shearwaters cast up during
passage to their breeding grounds was much less than what is considered
normal, Of the 10 birds picked up during May, a very late date in New
South Wales, quite a number were fresh specimens, Three examined by
A. R. Sefton (pers. comm.) were young birds with traces of down remaining,
their wings ranged 235-245 non.
Sooty Terns (Sterna fascata) are summer breeders at Norfolk and Lord
Howe Islands and although a rare bird in New South Wales coastal waters,
there does appear to be an increase in the number of records in recent
years. Most of the 19 records are for the period November to March, so
that the bird collected 18 April 1971 at Port Kembla was later than usual
however, the remains were fairly dry, Fig. I indicates the monthly
occurrence Jof SFootyM TerAns Min NJew SJ outhA WalS
es.
OND
1 4 2 1 1 – 1
- – 4 4
III. Conclusion.
The tables indicate that with the exception of the Wollongong zone
very poor coverage of the New South Wales coast was obtained in 1971.
Whilst this is to be expected since most regular walks are carried out by
Sydney – Wollongong ornithologists, there is a great need for people to
give details of beach surveys elsewhere. Similarly most surveys are
carried out during the period October to February and the winter months
are neglected because of the known liklihood of not finding any birds.
Nevertheless the organisers are grateful for all information provided.
IV. Acknowledgements.
The following members of the New South Wales Field Ornithologists
Club and their friends took part in beach patrols and credit is due to
them for collecting the information summarised above,
G. C. Clark, Mrs. N. E. Clark, A. Colemane, R. Draisma,
A. M. Fox, P. J. Fullagar, G. Holmes, E. S. Hoskin,
F. G. Johnston, T. Kenny, S. G. Lane, J. Lewis, R. McDonald,
A. R. Sefton, G. Sefton, L. Wood and R. Yuswak.
The author is grateful to Miss M. Fitzgibbon, National Parks and
Wildlife Service who prepared the tables.BLRDS 58. 1 January 1973
Special thanks are due to E. S. Hoskin who provided information
from the Keith Hindwood Bird Recording Service and to A. R, Sefton who
gave me access to records maintained by both him and D. Gibson for the
Iflawarra area.
V. References.
Holmes, G. 1972 A Third Australian Specimen of Cook’s Petrel.
Australian Bird Watcher 4: 166-167.
McGill, A.R. 1960 A Handlist of the Birds of New South Wales.
Fauna Protection Panel, Sydney.
Morris, A.K. 1971 Ornithological Beachcombing. Birds 5: 57.
Morris, A.K. 1972 Birds Found Dead in New South Wales in 1970.
Birds 7: 33-40.
Rogers, A.E.F. 1972 New South Wales Annual Bird Report.
Birds 6: 76-99.
Conservation Notes continued from Page 65.
Ben Boyd National Park – The Club had asked the Minister for Lands
whether the Kraft Fi4I-1 Cannery had government permission to dump fish
waste in the Park to the detriment of the environment and its fauna, and
what requirements the Department had made for the restoration of the eco-
logy. The Minister has replied that dumping will now cease and that
the cannery has been required to restore the area to the satisfaction of
the Ranger–in-Charge by the end of May 1973.
Lord Howe Island Wood -hen – In reply to a letter about the endangered
status of the Lord Howe Island Wood -hen, the Premier says that the Lord
Hawe Island Board is anxious to preserve the wood -hen and will act on the
information in Mr. John Disney’s survey. The Board has already been
very successful in its efforts to eradicate feral goats which damage the
habitat of the wood -hen though rats and pigs apparently still present a
problem,BLRDS 59. 1 January 1973
CUCKOO -SHRIKES AT KU-RING-GAI CHASE.
According to my field notes on 28 May 1972, approximately twenty one
Black- faced Cuckoo -Shrikes (Coracina novea-hollandiae) passed by travel-
ling north via the trees at Wahroonga, N.S.W. About this time last
year nineteen were seen feeding their way to the gully below towards the
west.
On 12 June 1972 aboat 1.6 km (1 mile) into Ku-ring-gai Chase National
Park from the Mt. Colah entrance, Merv. Lovell and I observed a large
flock of Cuckoo -Shrikes working the trees and shrubs in their usual manner
They seemed different, stockier or perhaps shorter, than the normal ones
we see. Closer examination showed many with only a black line through
the eye and a lighter grey, others with black over the eye, cheek and
Throat and their plumage generally duller, We counted forty as they
flew across the road to the north. It was agreed that they were all of
the one species and the one with the line through the eye was an adult.
Checking independently in Cayley (1968, What Bird is That?) we
decided that they were Little Cuckoo -Shrikes (C, robusta). Immature
C. novae-hollandiae have no black on the throat (having observed a pair
being fed by an adult last year) so I checked with the skins at the Aust-
ralian Museum by kind permission of the Curator. The adult C, novae-
hollandiae has black on the forehead and the immature C. robusta has not
except for a thin black line above the bill which would not be noticeable
in the field, My field notes do not mention black on the forehead.
The immature C. novae-hollandiae has the eye -stripe extending back behind
the eye to the ear coverts and this was not noted in my field notes.
No calls were heard so we could only conclude that they all were C, robusta
It would be interesting to know whetheranyone else observed this large
flock,
The illustration of C. robusta in Cayley (1968) appears to have more
black behind the eye than was apparent in the skins at the Museum. A
“Bird in the Hand” on Cuckoo -Shrikes please Mr. Disneyt
On 28 July 1972, eight C. novae-hollandiae were observed at Wahroonga
all in adult plumage, the black forehead was not hard to see through
field glasses.
A. Barclay Rose
Wahroonga, 2.8,72
(Keast 1958, Aust. Jnl, Zoology 6:248-267) gives good descriptions and
illustration of Cuckoo -Shrikes in his article “Variation & Speciation in
the Australian Campephagidae”.
Ed.BIRDS 60. 1 January, 1973
AN OBSERVATION OF A PINK ROBIN NEAR SYDNEY.
At 915 hrs. on 20 August 1972 six early arrivals for the Club’s
outing at Yeramba Lagoon observed a robin in the tall acacia growth beside
the creek leading to the Lagoon. We had an excellent view of the robin
for approximately five minutes. It had a black back and tail with no
sign of white shaft feathers. The breast was a pinkish colour which
continued well down to include the abdomen. The bird was approximately
130 mm (5 inches) long and had a chunky appearance. Within five minutes
in the sane area we were able to observe a pair of Rose Robins. We
commented on the lighter back and tail of the male with the white shaft
feathers and the rose colour extending over the breast only and smaller
size when compared with the first bird described, Both Marie and I,
having observed the Pink Robin in Tasmania were of the opinion that this
bird could have been a male Pink Robin (Petroica rodinogaster).
Subsequent visits to Yeramba failed to locate this bird.
In N.S.W. Pink Robins have only been recorded at Lake George where
an adult female was caught and banded on 27 April 1963. However, they
are rare but regular winter visitors to the nearby Brindabella Ranges in
the A.C.T. (Wilson, 1964 Emu 64:209-211). It is of interest to note
that no Pink Robins have been recorded between the Victorian border and
the A.C.T. and so, as with the A.C.T. birds, the origin of the robin we
saw remains a mystery.
George & Marie Dibley,
Oatley. 20.8,72
gARDHEADS IN COASTAL NEW SOUTH WALES.
Whilst looking through my old records I came across an item that
may be of interest to the readers for it is certainly an observation that
will never be recorded again.
Commencing at 05.55 hrs. and continuing through to 06.07 hrs. on
18 June 1933 with two other persons I observed 62 mobs of Hardheads
(Aythya australis) flying over my house at Port Macquarie heading south
towards Lake Innes. The biggest mob was estimated to consist of 200
ducks whilst the smallest contained only 30, We could only see to the
east (rising light) and what birds flew west of my home we could not see.
At 07.30 hrs. I went down to Lake Innes and counted approximately 4000BIRDS 61. 1 January 1973
Hardheads on the Lake. These ducks had been feeding in the Maria and
Belmore River swamps and had come to roost for the day in what was
then the freshwater of Lake Innes.
Since 1934 the lake has been a salt water estuary for in that year,
as part of a works programme during the Depression, a channel was cut
connecting it to Lake Cathie and the sea. Along with the disappearance
of the freshwater went the vast naMbers of waterfowl that haunted the lake
and nowdays the lake has only marginal waterfowl values.
Frith (1967, Waterfowl in Australia p. 249) records that prior to
1900 the Hardheads outnumbered other ducks on the New South Wales coast
and on the inland rivers it was one of the less common species, Nowdays
as a result of the large scale drainage of deep -water swamps on the
coast, the Hardhead is very uncommon and only occurs in small flocks,
Frith (1967) states “It is a fair assumption that the numbers on the
Lachlan have declined since 1900, but even so they now outnumber the
coastal population many times. It suggests how great the decline on New
South Wales coastal rivers has been by comparison”.
A. Dick,
Port Macquarie. 8.8.72
(Mr. Albert Dick is a well known duck shooter and naturalist who hails
from Port Macquarie. He has kept a daily records of waterfowl observ-
ations throughout his 60+ years and has led the fight to have Lake Innes,
which is now a State Game Reserve under the control of the NPWS, restored
to freshwater. Ed.)
HONEYEATERS AND BEES.
The report by Michael Sharland in the September issue of “Birds”
about Little Wattle -birds catching bees and bashing them on a branch
raises the point that there is only one true bee -eater in Australia, the
Rainbow Bee -eater (Merops ornatus).
Nevertheless, some of the larger birds of the honey-eater family
Meliphagidae, to which the Little Wattle -bird belongs, apparently regul-
arly catch bees and were called “bee -eaters” by the early colonists and
recorders.BIRDS 62, 1 January 1973
(White’s “Journal of a Voyage to N.S.W. 1788” page 190: “We shot a Knob –
fronted Bee -eater”. An illustration which refers to this statement is
clearly that of the Noisy Friar -bird. White describes it minutely and
states “…what is most remarkable, on the forehead, just at the base of
the bill, is a short, blunt knob, about a quarter of an inch in length
and of a brownish colour…”
In Latham’s Supplement II to the General Synopsis of Birds v II, pp 150
et seq, there is a chapter headed “Bee Eater” in which reference is made
to “the Wattled Bee Eater” the “New Holland Bee Eater” and Merops carun-
culatus for which the reference given is Ind. Orn. i, p. 276. 20. Now –
days, of course, the only bird of the genus Merops is the Rainbow bee –
eater but the Red Wattle -bird is Anthochaera carunculata (CSIRO Index)
whicn seems to indicate that at some stage in the study of the honey –
eaters it was discovered that they were not Merops,
At any rate, Gould’s “Birds of Australia” vol. iv refers to the Noisy
Friar -bird as “Tropidorhynchus corniculatus” but in the RAOU’s checklist
this generic name becomes Philemon.)
Yet I have never known one to eat a bee, although I studied the Red
Wattle -bird and the Noisy Friar -bird (Anthochaera carunculata and
Philemon corniculatus) virtually every day at my bird “observatory” at
Garran in the A.C.T., between December 1970 and May 1972.
At no time, in fact, were the Red Wattle -birds seen to catch bees
although there were plenty in the vicinity of the trees where they fed.
But the Friars did so frequently, This usually happened either while
the birds were perched on a branch or were in flight. In the latter
case the Friars would divert or swerve a short distance, some 30 mm or
so, and catch the bees with a high-speed thrust of their long, curved
beaks. The bees were immediately dropped to the ground, dead. Exam-
ination showed that the birds had nipped them between the thorax and
abdomen, killing them instantly, Considering the irregular flight -path
of bees (the phrase “making a bee -line” as indicating a swift, direct
dash between two points, is incorrect) the accuracy of the Friars dem-
onstrated the supremacy of the correlation of their eyesight and action,
and recalled the aphorism that birds “are wings guided by eyes”.
Bees were killed in the same way by the only Little Friar -bird
(Philemon citreogularis) ever to come into the “observatory” and, in fact,
the only one to be officially reported in the A.C.T. since 1969.BIRDS 63. 1 January 1973
Fledgling Noisy Friar -birds snapped at bees which passed nearby yet
made no attempt to touch the beetles which also came close and which the
adults caught and fed to them.
Strangely, bees which clustered around the nectar -feeders and cont-
ainers of honey -bread which were supplied to the Friars, were not touched
so long as they did not come close to the birds’ heads. On one occasion
though a Friar which found a bee drowning in the semi -liquid honey -bread
lifted the insect out with the tips of its beak and dropped it to the
ground. The bird did this before it began to feed yet the Friars did
not reject small pieces of bark, leaves and twigs which fell amonst the
food.
From this activity it was assumed that Noisy and Little Friar -birds
have an innate dislike of bees and in their evolution have learned how
to kill them speedily without the danger of being stung on their prot-
rusible tongues,
Hugh Elliot,
Griffith, A.C.T. 22.9.72
XVI INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS, CANBERRA 1974.
Any person interested in attending the above Congress, to be held at
Canberra from 12 to 17 August 1974 should write for a copy of the prel-
iminary brochure obtainable from the Secretary -General, XVI International
Ornithological Congress, P.O. Box 84, Lyneham, ACT 2602.
The brochure gives some details of the scientific programme, travel
and accommodation arrangements and the ornithological excursions which
have been planned, It is accompanied by a form which individuals are
asked to fill in and return to the Secretary -General (Dr. H. J, Frith)
indicating whether they expect to be able to attend the Congress, whether
they wish to offer a paper, what excursions they expect to enrol for and
what accommodation they need. Those who complete the form will receive
a second circular in 1973 giving further details.
“SAVE LAKE PEDDEW’
A new book has been published by the Lake Pedder Action Committee
called “Lake Pedder – Why a National Park Must Be Saved”. The book is
an authoritative statement of all aspects of the Lake Pedder issue and
includes chapters on the history of the history of the issue, geology ofBIRDS
- 1 January 1973
the area, the endemic species and other flora and fauna, engineering
aspects of the scheme and an analysis of the National importance of Lake
Pedder to the conservation movement. The book includes 60 photographs,
plus maps and diagrams. Price $1,80 per copy, post free. Please make
cheques available to the Lake Pedder Action Committee, 28 Kintore Street,
Camberwell, Vic. 3124.
COrISERVATION NOTES.
The Club has been making representations to the State and Common-
wealth governments on various matters. Members are welcome to suggest
matters on which Club action seems desirable and are also urged to write
letters themselves when this is appropriate,
Perhaps the most important, and least successful, was our letter to
the Premier about the use of DDT in New South Wales and its effects on
wildlife. We expressed concern at the conclusion of the report of the
Australian Academy of Science that there appears to be no basis for alarm
about the current levels of DDT in the Namoi cotton growing regions and
similar areas, pointing out that what little research had been done in
NSW appeared to support overseas evidence that DDT had had a serious
effect on birds, particularly Peregring Falcons and ducks, and we asked
whether research was continuing into pesticide residues in the Namoi area,
and urged that the State Pollution Control Commission should investigate
the effect of pesticide residues in the river systems affected by the
Namoi and Macquarie cotton areas. The Premier’s reply reports the view
of the Minister for Agriculture that “there is an overwhelming weight of
evidence indicating the outstanding effectiveness and safety of DDT where
used in accordance with official recommendations”. Although the’Premier
has specially noted” our comments on the need for research and is “bring-
ing our representations to the notice of the relevant Ministers”, his
letter is not very encouraging. Almost no research has been done into
pesticide residues in wild birds in Australia and the enormous use of
persistent pesticides makes such research a matter of urgency.
Quibray Bay – The Club wrote to the Minister for Lands expressing alarm
about the waders which are harried and dispersed on their feeding grounds
on the intertidal zone at Quibray Bay, especially at weekends by people
on motor cycles and horses. In the short term some restrictions on these
activities may provide some relief but far more important is the preserv-
ation of adequate areas of suitable habitat. The Minister replied that
the NFWS had made a number of proposals to conserve mangrove, salt marsh
and tidal mud flat areas, and that these proposals have been referred outBIRDS 65. 1 January 1973
to the other Government departments involved. Some action may also be
taken about the “activities to bird life”.
MJSEUM MEETINGS JAY:UARY APR1L 1973.
l8 January Ellis McNamara “Birds in Colour’
15 February Murray Bruce “Birds of Timor”
15 March Kerry Mueller Taronga Bird Collection
19 April Members Night
REPORTS OF MUSEUM MEETINGS.
19 October 1972 Mr. B. Bela Sen!or Conservation Officer, New Zealand
,
Wildlife Service, gave an illustrated talk in lieu of the scheduled
“Members Night”. His subject was “The Chatham Islands”. This island
group lies on the same latitude as Christchurch, but is about 500 miles
further east, The main island is about 30 miles long and 1L. miles -wide,
A large lagoon of some 47,000 acres is situated on the east of the
is:and which is inhabited by about 500 people, mainly sheepfermErs.
Access, is from Christchurch by a Bristol Freighter Aircraft cr by very
irregular boat service.
Not many of the endemic birds are left on the main island although
there is a fair population of introduced species. However some of the
smaller off -shore islands still support a number of rare and interesting
species and races, Two colonies of the Royal Albatross nest on these
islands whilst the rare Chatham Island race of the White -capped Albatross
breeds on Pyramid Rock. Mr. Bell showed many slides of birds very
rarely photographed including the Chatham Island Snipe, C. I. Oyster-
catcher, the Shore Plover (which breeds only on South-east Islet),
Chatham Island and Pitt Island Shags, Fulmar Prion, Chatham Island
Petrel, the Black Robin (which only occurs on Mangare Island where there
are twenty pairs) and the Chatham Island sub -species of the Red -crowned
and Yellow- crowned Parr:’t- (still found in small numbers). Mr. Bell
has lcndsd on most of these rugged off -shore islands during the course of
his surveys of the birdlife. Els slides showed the rugged nature of
the islands and the flora present. The N.Z. Wildlife Service has pur-
chased some of the more valuable off -shore islands and have eliminated
the feral animals in an attempt to build up the numbers of the threatened
endemic birds.
16 November 1972 Members Night. The following members showed slides: –
F, Johnston (Australian Dotterel), Murray Bruce (RAOU Outing in 1971 to
New Zealand), John Robertson (trip to Africa), Mrs, Robin Bigg (trip to
Northern Territory 1972) and Mr, R. Cook.BIRDS - 1 January 19’73
NOTICE OF FIELD EXCURSIONS.
Pennant Hills Park, Saturday, 20 January.
Leader: L. Smith 42-2418
Meet 9.00 hrs. at end of Day Road, Cheltenham. Carry lunch, outing
will probably conclude by mid afternoon.
TouTa Point, Botany Bay. Saturday, 17 February.
Leader: E. Hoskin 88-2900
Meet 9.00 hrs, junction of Captain Cook Drive and Elouera Road then pro-
ceed along Drive to first dirt track on left, carry lunch.
Stockton and Kooragang Island, Newcastle, Saturday, 17 March.
Leader: G. Holmes (Sydney contact M. Dibley 5701298)
Object of the trip is to see the famous wader areas of Stockton and the
wader and waterbirds of Kooragang Island, A coach has been arranged,
must be in hands of Mrs. Dibley by Sat. 3 March. Cheques
payable to NSW Field Ornithologists Club.
REPORTS OF FTFLD EXCURSIONS.
Seven Mile Beach State Park, 28 October 1972 – 42 members attended this,
the third and probably the most successful bus field excursion. Heavy
rain fell most of the day but we were very fortunate to have fine but
overcast weather at most of the bird areas. At Lake Illawarra plenty of
Black Swans were observed on the Lake, whilst at the lake entrance there
were numerous waders and terns including 52 Common Terns.
35 species were recorded at Seven Mile Beach State Park including
Leaden Flycatchers and a white phase of the Grey Goshawk. Alan Morris
and Mr. Gadsden collected 8 Short -tailed Shearwaters, a Barn Owl and a
Cape Petrel on the beach. A detour via Commaderry Swamp enabled us to
view this fine waterbird habitat which it is hoped to be added to the
Park by the N.P.W.S. in the near future. At Shoalhaven Heads the ext-
ensive water and beach areas were examined for waders and those observed
included 4 Caspian Tern, Little Tern, Sanderling, Turnstone, 4 Pied Oyst-
ercatcher and numerous Knots and Bar -tailed Godwits. The trip was an
excellent introduction to the birds of the near South Coast and 57 species
were recorded.
A. LeishmanBIRDS 67. 1 January 1973
Upper Colo. 19 November 1972 – 26 members attended led by Ernie Hoskin
in ideal weather. At Colo River Bridge; Cicada Bird, Rock Warbler,
Satin Bower -bird and Shrike –tit were observed whilst further along the
river road Rainbow Bee -eaters, Willie Wagtail and Oriole were nesting.
Goods views were obtained of the Rose Robin, Brown Goshawk, Wedge-tailed
Eagle, Brush Cuckoo, Scarlet Honeyeater and the occupied nest of the
Leaden Flycatcher. After lunch a visit to the property of Mr. Stanley
Coffey was well rewarded with observations of Greenshank, Japanese Snipe,
Cisticola and Night Heron. A White-faced Heron’s nest was found with
two young, about 120 ft. up in a Eucalypt, whilst Rainbow Bee -eaters were
nesting in a sandbank. 63 species were seen.
A. Colemane.
COLOUR -BANDED CRESTED TERNS.
During December 1972, 300 breeding adult Crested Terns were colour –
banded on Stoneywell Island, Coorong near Meningie, S.A. Juvenile
Crested Terns banded on this island have been recovered on shores from
Spencers Gulf, S.A. to south Queensland with a number of recoveries from
the Wollongong – Newcastle region. The aim of this colour -banding pro-
ject is to determine whether breeding adults disperse similarly after the
breeding season.
As the success of the project depends on reports of observations of
these colour -banded birds would you please report all such observations.
A numbered CS1H0 metal band will be on one leg and the colour band on the
other leg and it is important to record the colour of the band and the
leg on which it is placed. Details of observations should be forwarded
to: Dr. D. H. Close, 30 Diosma Drive, Coromandel Valley, S.A. 5051.
1972 ANWAL RECORDS REPORT.
Members are reminded to send all records in for the 1972 report as
soon as possible and certainly not later than 1 Feb. 1973. There is
already an impressive number of records under consideration for inclusion
in this years report, however, as the success of the report is largely
governed by the number of contributions, get to it’
Records should be sent C/- 84 Arabella Street, Longueville 2066.
Alan Rogers,
Records Officer.BIRDS - 1 January 1973
CONTENTS.
Page
Sea -birds Found Dead in New South Wales in 1971
53
- A. K. Morris
Little Cuckoo -Shrikes at Ku-ring-gai 59 - A. Barclay -Rose
An Observation of a Pink Robin near Sydney 60 - M. & G. Dibley
Hardheads in Coastal New South Wales 60 - A. Dick
Honeyeaters and Bees
61 - H. Elliott
XVI International Ornithological Congress, Canberra 1974 63
Notices
66
OFFICE BEARERS.
Patron: A. H. Chisholm, M.B.E.
Hon. Sec. – Treasurer: Mrs. L. Smith
84 Arabella St., Longueville 42-2418
Field Day Organiser: Mrs. M. Dibley
18 Russell St., Oatley 570-1298
Hon, Filitor A. K. Morris
20 Harrison St., Old Toongabbie 631-7892
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION – Due 1 July each year
Single member – $2.00; Junior member – $1.50; Family – $2,50
Scientific and Vernacular names used in this journal are in accordance
with “An Index of Australian Bird Names” C.S.I.R.O. Tech. Mem. No.5 1969
(Registered for posting as a periodical – Category B)