Unusual Feeding behaviour of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters

The following is an article I have submitted to Canberra Bird Notes.

On 8 April 2015, at about 11am I observed from my car a flock of at least 20 Yellow-faced Honeyeaters (Lichenostomus chrysops) feeding on the ground.  The most obvious group were feeding on the surface of our clay/rock drive.  Others were foraging in fallen pine needles.  From time to time the birds flew up into the Pinus radiata fringing the drive. 

Approximately 12 Grey Fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa) were behaving in a broadly similar manner.

Looking through binoculars I could not identify what was being consumed.  I returned on foot approximately 30 minutes later and a similar scene was evident.  I searched the bare ground where they had been feeding but could not identify any obvious insects, other than a few small ants of unknown species.  A large number of Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) were calling from, and moving through the canopy but not coming to the ground

My wife drove through the area at approximately 12:30pm and observed the feeding still occurring.  I went by at approximately 3pm and there was no sign of the birds.

HANZAB (Higgins et al 2001) comments that it is unusual for the honeyeaters to feed from the ground.  In the description of foodstuffs one report mentions Formidicae as a minor element.

There have been two examples of unusual insects located in this area in the past 3 months.  Giant Willow Aphids (Tuberolachnus salignus) have infested some willow trees (Salix sp.) on Whiskers Creek about 70m from the feeding site.  However they have not been sighted in the pines.  Some of the pines have been the focus of swarms of small flies, but the swarms had not been evident in the recent wet conditions and the flies – neither living nor dead  - were not evident on the ground.  Thus I discount both of those as prey items.

The date of observation is in the period when Yellow-faced Honeyeaters migrate out of the mountains to the West of Canberra.  Our property is not on a major migration route but groups of up to 20 of the species had been seen nearby “moving with purpose” earlier on 8 April.  It is thus possible that a migrating flock had rested in the pines and noted a food source not visible to this observer.  They then seized the opportunity to feed before moving on.

Following my report of this observation to the COG Chatline other observers reported sighting Yellow-faced Honeyeaters feeding in/on Urn Heath Melicrus urceolatus.  While these shrubs are low, this does not, in my view constitute feeding on the ground.  However on 23 April I observed 3 Yellow-faced Honeyeaters foraging on our lawn in the company of a family of Superb Blue Wrens (Malurus cyaneus).

Reference

Higgins P J, J M Peter and W K Steele (eds)2001 Handbook of Australian New Zealand and Antractic Birds. Volume 5 Tyant Flycatchers to Chats.   Oxford University Press, Melbourne