In March 2008 I have recorded 72 species of birds in the
catchment area of the Gazette (again the list benefits from a large list of
species reported by an observer in Hoskintown).
A hash (#) in the list below indicates a species reported to me by
someone else. An * shows those species which have been noticed undertaking
breeding activities which usually means seeing an adult feeding a dependent
young bird.
Some of the summer migrants have gone and others (especially
the honeyeaters) appear to getting ready to head off: this may be a bit earlier
than usual.
Water
birds:
Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Darter#;
Australian White Ibis; Australian Wood duck; Pacific Black Duck; Grey Teal*
Birds
of prey: Collared sparrowhawk, Wedgetailed
Eagle, Australian Hobby; Brown falcon; Nankeen Kestrel
Parrots
and relatives: Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo:
Gang-gang Cockatoo; Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Galah; Crimson Rosella; Eastern
Rosella.
Kingfishers
and other non-songbirds: Common Bronzewing;
Crested Pigeon; Feral Pigeon#; Southern Boobook#, Australian
Owlet-nightjar; Laughing Kookaburra;.
Honeyeaters:,
Brown-headed honeyeater; Eastern spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater*;
White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red wattlebird*; Noisy friarbird*
Flycatchers
and similar species:
Welcome swallow; Tree Martin; Dusky Woodswallow*; Grey fantail*; Willie
Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher”; Scarlet Robin; Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike‑thrush;
Magpie-lark,
Other,
smaller, birds: Black-faced
Cuckoo-shrike; White-throated Gerygone; Western Gerygone; Weebill*; Striated
Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill*; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; White-browed
Scrubwren; Superb Fairy-wren; White-throated Treecreeper; Spotted Pardalote;
Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double-barred Finch; Red-browed Finch; Diamond
Firetail; Olive-backed Oriole#; Satin Bowerbird# ; House
Sparrow; European Goldfinch#; Common Starling
Other,
larger, birds: White-winged chough; Pied Currawong;
Grey Currawong, Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie*; Australian Raven; Little
Raven
Bird of the Month
This is based upon material in the
very good book “bringing birds back” published by Greening Australia. Comments in brackets are by this author.
Rufous Whistler: Pachycephala rufiventris.
(Some comments below about the distinction from the Golden
Whistler.
Appearance: Male
with white throat bordered by thick black line, rufous underparts, grey back.
(Male Golden is brilliant yellow on breast). Female and immature, grey-brown,
pale buff throat; chest with dark streaks.
Voice: Glorious spirited song, particularly in the
breeding season, including loud ringing “eee-chong” and repeated warbling
“joey–joey-joey”
Habits: Usually single (although pairs are common in
breeding season), in autumn may join feeding flocks of
small insect-eating birds.
Searches carefully for food on branches, trunks, under bark, amongst
leaves. Strong undulating flight.
Food: Insects,
other invertebrates, small reptiles, frogs; small mammals and birds.
Nest: Thin
fragile cup of few thin twigs in upright fork .amongst leaves; mostly 1 - 5
metres high
Occurrence in Revegetation: Spring-Summer migrant (Golden is more Winter
migrant from ranges). In warm months
found at 56% of sites. Most common in
sites from 5 years onwards in all types of sites except narrowest windrows.
(Garden Bird Survey: This Survey, run in the gardens
of members of COG, records this bird as fairly common, being observed in about
63% of sites each year and usually recorded in at least 1 site in about 40 weeks of the year.)
