Text of Bulletin Article 2011

This is the (slightly edited) text of the second article I composed for the local Newspaper now known as the District Bulletin (since it is distributed beyond its original ambit of Palerang Shire).

Following the wonderful rains of the past 12 months there have been many reports of bird diversity decreasing as those forced East by the drought return home.  In contrast, the Carwoola area is still full of birds, with 146 species recorded in 2010.  Over the last 4 years, I and several other observers, have recorded a total of 161 species in the Carwoola area.  

In 2010 we recorded 42 species every month of the year.  It is convenient to group these common birds according to categories: waterbirds (4 species); birds of prey (2 species); parrots and cockatoos (6 species); Kingfishers and other non-songbirds (3 species); Honeyeaters (6 species); Flycatchers and similar species (5 species); Thornbills, Finches and similar species (7 species); Other smaller birds (2 species); and Other larger birds (7 species).

Over the 4 years of recording we have also recorded 64 species as breeding - defined rather broadly - in the area (40 breeding species in 2009).   Although some nests are found, such as the Grey Fantail chicks shown in the image, many of the breeding observations in the area are of dependent young (for most species, this is when the adults are seen feeding the young birds).    

Again a pair of Tawny Frogmouths raised 2 chicks in a nest visible from the author’s study .  When the chicks leave the nest they travel around with their parents for a few months “learning to be Frogmouths”.  Sometimes this provides great photo opportunities!. A Grey Shrike‑thrush again raised 2 chicks in an opportunistic site in a garage in Radcliffe Estate and White-browed Scrub-wren utilised a coil of rope hung in a shed on Hoskinstown Plain.  

The deluge of 2010 caused many species of waterbirds  to head for the (no-longer-dry)  inland swamps and lakes.  Pacific Black Ducks and Australian Wood Ducks continued to be common, and many small dams are still occupied by Australasian Grebes (often breeding).   As the floods retreat the waterbirds will come back to the dams, emphasizing their importance as refuges of last resort for some birds as well as the stock they were installed to serve.

Parrots and Cockatoos are common (and colourful) in the area.  The two Rosella species and 4 species of Cockatoos were recorded every month in 2010.  Two species of naturally occurring pigeons are frequently seen in the area, including the very colourful Common Bronzewing. 

Possibly reflecting the relatively warm winter and good rainfall (foreshadowing an early start to a promising breeding season for their host species) the Fan-tailed Cuckoo and Pallid Cuckoo began to be seen and heard from July onwards.

 One of the obvious outcomes of the good season has been a huge amount of flowering grass.  As this goes to seed it is likely that the finches which feed on grass seeds, such as the Red-browed Finch will have a bumper season in 2011.

 

The Canberra Ornithologists Group website includes a very comprehensive range of photographs and recordings of the calls of many of the species found in the area.  A website launched last year by the Atlas of Living Australia  provides very useful features including an ability to obtain a list of species recorded within 5 km of your address.

Text of Bulletin Article 2010

This is the text of the first article I composed for the local Newspaper now known as the District Bulletin (since it is distributed beyond its original ambit of Palerang Shire).

The Carwoola area is full of birds.   Over the last 3 years I and several other observers have recorded a total of 145 species in the  Carwoola area .  In 2009 138 species were seen -  a pretty good result for such a dry year.

Approximately one sixth of the 145 species are recorded every month.  Many of these regulars (recorded in all months) will be familiar to most folk in the area.  They are: Australian Wood Duck; Galah; Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Laughing Kookaburra; Noisy Miner; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Willie Wagtail; Australian Raven; Little Raven; Magpie-lark; Welcome Swallow;  Common Starling;  House sparrow; (the species in this parenthesis are seen every month but  are mainly “small brown(ish) birds” and may not be so familiar to some people- White-throated Treecreeper; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; White-eared Honeyeater).

We have also recorded 44 species as breeding - defined rather broadly - in the area (33 breeding species in 2009).  Whether birds are breeding in the area or not is particularly important since if they cannot find a place to build their nests the species will not survive.  Many of the breeding observations in the area are of dependent young (for most species, this is when the adults are seen feeding the young birds but in the case of ducks and species like coots it is recorded when the young cannot fly).  The incessant calls of begging juvenile Australian Magpies and Pied Currawongs will again be familiar to most people in the area (as will the swooping of the parents when one approaches too close to the nest site). 

Not all birds are quite so secretive about their nest sites.  The author has greatly enjoyed watching Tawny Frogmouths raise 2 chicks per year in a nest visible from his study and a Grey Shrike thrush raised 2 chicks in an opportunistic site in a garage in Radcliffe Estate after nesting in a pot on the verandah the previous year
Waterbirds in this area have been hard hit by the very dry conditions of the past 12 months, with many dams and lagoons at very low levels.  Pacific Black Ducks and Australian Wood Ducks are still common, and many small dams are still occupied by Australasian Grebes (often breeding).   This emphasises the importance of these dams as refuges of last resort for some birds as well as the stock they were installed to serve.

Birds of prey are well represented in the area with 11 species recorded in the three years.  The Nankeen Kestrel is a common site hovering beside the roads (recorded in 90% of months) and the majestic Wedge-tailed Eagles have been recorded in over 80 of months, often in family groups
Parrots and Cockatoos are amongst the most common (and colourful) species resident in the area.  As well as those seen every month, the area has been recently graced with the presence of Superb Parrots which appear to be extending their range from a stronghold in the Boorowa area to the North-west of Canberra. 
Carwoola is well supplied with cuckoos and  6 species were recorded in 2007 and 2008.  In 2009 an additional 2 species have been recorded, appearing to reflect an increase observed across the Monaro region.

In addition to the species of honeyeaters referred to above the area also records some larger birds in this family, particularly where rich food resources are available.  The Red Wattlebird may migrate or may remain all year while the Noisy Friarbird (or ‘leatherhead) departs with the cooler weather.

There are many good birding spots in Carwoola (and more in the rest of the distribution area of the Bulletin. If you wish to learn more about the birds of the area most good bookshops will sell a range of field guides and the Canberra Ornithologists Group website (http://canberrabirds.org.au/index.htm) includes a very comprehensive range of photographs and recordings of the calls of many of the species found in the area.