March 2008

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.)