April 2010

In  April 79 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa Road,   A Scaly-breasted Lorikeet was photographed in the Hoskinstown Plain!!  In addition I have heard of a Spotted Harrier being seen near the intersection of Captains Flat Rd and Woolcara lane in January this year: one to keep an eye out for!!  Bad news was a flight of 5 Common Myna in Douglas Close.

Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which breeding has been observed this month (only Australian Wood Duck) is underlined.

1  Waterbirds:  Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Darter; Little Pied Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo; Scaly-breasted Cockatoo;Australian King-parrot; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; Barn Owl; Laughing Kookaburra;

 5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater;; Fuscous Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; White-naped Honeyeater.

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler; Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Welcome Swallow.

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Western Gerygone; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double-barred Finch; Red-browed Finch; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Spotted  Quail-thrush; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Olive-backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Common Myna; Common Starling; Mistletoebird;

9  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough

Night Birds

This term refers to Owls, Frogmouths and Nightjars which are primarily active at night.  In the Gazette area 8 species are known to occur although only 4 have been reported since we moved to the area.  They are generally recorded through being heard rather than seen and I’d welcome reports of any of the species.

Southern Boobook (17 records): A small and common species.  Small with a familiar call – ‘boo‑book’ or ‘more-pork’ commonly heard in Spring.

Barn Owl (2): Recently recorded at Hoskinstown and Carwoola.  Voice is a thin reedy screech ‘sk-air’ or ‘skee-air’.

Tawny Frogmouth(20):  Nests in our yard!  Camouflaged in daytime, but roosts in the open. Typical call is a repeated ‘oom oom oom’ faster and higher than a Bronzewing.

Australian Owlet-nightjar(7):  Small bird often seen sitting in/at entrance to roost hollow. A high pitched grating call ‘chirr-chirr-chirr’.

Barking Owl; Like a larger Boobook.  Has been heard in the area before recording started. Distinctive call is the ‘murdered-woman’s scream’ in breeding season.

Powerful Owl: Huge owl.  Lives in mountainous forests of Tallaganda – and perhaps Yanunbeenan?  Call is a slow and low ‘whoo-hoo’ with second note lower.  I have - on one occasion - heard one at our property.

The other two ‘possible’ species – Masked Owl and White throated Nightjar – are very uncommon in the Tablelands area.  The nightjar is a summer migrant.

March 2010

In  March we continued to get some welcome rain  79 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa Road,  The list includes 1 new species for the project: Fork-tailed Swift at Hoskinstown.  The other species of swift possible in the area (White-throated Needletail) was reported several times.  The migrations associated with cooler weather have started with some honeyeaters moving through; many insectivorous species not observed ; and Scarlet Robins and Golden Whistlers moving down from the mountains.

Migrants are shown in italics below and the species for which breeding has been observed this month (only White-browed Scrubwren) is underlined.

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Australian White Ibis; Purple Swamphen; Eurasian Coot;Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella;

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Rock Dove; Spotted Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; White-throated Needletail; Fork‑tailed Swift; Barn Owl; Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; White-naped Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler; Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Welcome Swallow;

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Western Gerygone; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double-barred Finch; Red-browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Dusky Woodswallow; Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Mistletoebird; Australasian Pipit;

9  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough

Birding Locations

This month’s location is Plains Road which runs from Briars-Sharrow Road to Hoskinstown.  It is about 7km long and more or less parallels the Molonglo River.

Much of the area is frosty and thus grassland rather than wooded country.  As a result it is not surprising to find grassland specialists are commonly seen and heard here.  This area is one of the best I know in the region to hear the song of the Eurasian Skylark as it it ascends well out of sight, especially in Spring.  The similar looking but more terrestrial Australasian Pipit is commonly seen in the paddocks and sitting on fences beside the road.  The Rufous and Brown Songlarks can also be seen in this area.  

When there is heavier rain, filling the dams and watercourses beside the road, this can be a good site to find many of the local waterbirds including Australian Shelduck grazing in the paddocks and Black-fronted Dotterel fossicking in the ditches and dams.

The hawthorns along the road are popular food, roost and nest resources for many species including Gang-gang Cockatoos, Common Starlings and Rosellas.

February 2010

In February 2010 we welcomed a really nice serve of precipitation, filling the dams and overfilling the River and creeks!  To some extent this has made it harder to spot some species of birds as they have spread out somewhat.   88 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa Road,  The list includes 2 new species for the project: Barn Owl and Satin Flycatcher. A Spotted Dove was heard (and possibly seen at dusk) at our place: what an insult!!

Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which breeding has been observed this month are underlined.

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Australian White Ibis;  Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey:  Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; 3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped parrot.

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Rock Dove; Spotted Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; White-throated Needletail; Pallid Cuckoo; Southern boobook; Barn Owl; Laughing Kookaburra;Sacred Kingfisher; Rainbow Bee-eater;

 5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Yellow-tufted Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Satin Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Welcome Swallow; Fairy Martin; Tree Martin

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double-barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Dusky Woodswallow; Australian Reed-warbler; Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Mistletoebird; Australasian Pipit;

9  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough

Other winged things

Although not strictly birds, readers may be interested to hear that a Little Red Flying Fox was found on Widgiewa Rd and a Little Long-eared Bat was captured in our house (and released outdoors).

Birding Locations

I will start this series close to (our) home – Whiskers Creek Road!  In the 3 years that I have been recording the birds in the area I have recorded 93 species on or over our property.   Most of these have been visible from time to time along/from the road itself.  

The area along the road seems to be used as a popular route for birds moving (in both directions) between the Molonglo Valley and the higher country.  Thus it is a good place to spot soaring raptors (especially Wedge-tailed and Little Eagles) and the road has been the main place for spotting Woodswallows (Dusky Woodswallow are common in migration times and the White-browed and Masked species turn up less frequently).  

The power lines along the road are a favoured perch for Nankeen Kestrels, Welcome Swallows and Tree Martins

January 2010

In January 2010 we welcomed a new decade, and 88 species of birds in the catchment area of the Gazette.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa Road, and Wanna Wanna Road.  The list includes 2 new species for the project: Little Black Cormorant and Stubble Quail. It is pleasing to say no Mynas  nor Spotted Doves were reported.

Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which breeding has been observed this month  are underlined.

1  Waterbirds: Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White-faced Heron; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian Coot; Black‑fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen  Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Australian Hobby; Peregrine Falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Stubble Quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo; Black-eared Cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Southern boobook; Laughing Kookaburra;Sacred Kingfisher;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Welcome Swallow; Fairy Martin; Tree Martin

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Red-browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; White-winged Triller; Dusky Woodswallow; Australian Reed-warbler; Common Starling; Mistletoebird; Australasian Pipit;

9  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough

3 Years in Review

This part of my Reports has usually contained a Bird of the Month based upon ‘bringing birds back’ from Greening Australia.  We have now worked through the list of birds common  in revegetation so I will be writing about other topics (where to go birding in the area; seasonal influences etc) in the future.

For this month I thought I would start with a review of what has happened since I started these columns 3 years ago.  It is a summary of my blog report at http://franmart.blogspot.com/2010/01/3-years-of-birding-in-carwoola.html, which also contains a few photos.

Over the 3 years we have recorded 145 species of birds.  Of these species 24 have been seen in every month.  14 of the 24 are listed as common in reveg ( a number of the ‘reveg birds’ are migrants so are unlikely to be seen for a number of months every year.  20 additional species were added in 2009.

Using a broad definition of breeding (from display to dependent young) 43 species have been recorded as breeding in the Gazette area.  32 of these species were recorded as breeding records in 2009.

Notable additions for 2009 are the Superb Parrots of Hoskinstown; the sighting of White‑browed Woodswallows at Whiskers Creek and Black-eared Cuckoo at Hoskinstown.

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.

December 2009

In December, 96 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa Road, Radcliffe Estate  and Wanna Wanna Road.  The list includes 2 new species for the project:Channel-billed Cuckoo and Black-eared Cuckoo – both are unusual species in the Monaro area. 

The breeding record for Yellow-rumped Thornbill was also remarkable as the chicks fledged after their nest (in a Pinus radiata) was taken in to Canberra as a Christmas tree and returned to this area when the nest was discovered! Another Common Myna has been seen  near Povey Place: I would really like to hear if anyone else spots these rats with wings!

Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which breeding has been observed (a very good list this month) are underlined.

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White-faced Heron; Australian White Ibis; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Australian Hobby; Peregrine falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Superb Parrot; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Common Koel; Channel-billed Cuckoo; Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo; Black-eared Cuckoo;Shining Bronze-cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Brush Cuckoo; Southern boobook; Laughing Kookaburra;Sacred Kingfisher; Dollarbird;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater;  Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Welcome Swallow; Fairy Martin; Tree Martin

7 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Western Gerygone; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; White-winged Triller; Olive-backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Australian Reed-warbler; Silvereye; Common Blackbird; Common Myna; Common Starling; Mistletoebird; Double-barred Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; Australasian Pipit; European Goldfinch

8  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough

Bird of the Month

From the Greening Australia book “Bringing Birds Back”.   Comments in brackets are by this author.  

Weebill: Smicornis brevirostris

Appearance:.Stubby little bird (Australia’s smallest bird) with very short (ie ‘wee’) bill.  Grey-brown above, cream-buff below.

Voice: Loud clear ‘dip-dip weebill’or ‘willy-weet willy weetee’.

Habits:Pairs or small groups, often with other small birds such as thornbills, pardalotes.  Active in and around foliage, sometimes hovers around outer leaves plucking off  lerps (known as ‘helicopter flight).   .

Food: Insects other small invertebrates.

Nest: Like a hanging sock with side entrance; of leaves, grass and spider web hung amongst smaller brances or outer foliage.

Occurrence in revegetation:  Found in 21% of sites from 5 years of age onwards.  Showed a preference for tubestock sites which have a higher ratio of eucalypts  to wattles than direct seeded sites and are therefore more likely to have lerps..

(Garden Bird Survey: Undertaken by COG in the gardens of members of that Group records this species as fairly common, recorded in 68% of sites..  It is recorded in all weeks of the year.)

November 2009

In November 2009 an astonishing 106 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, the highest monthly total since I started recording.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa Road and Wanna Wanna Road.  This includes 5 new species for the project: Great Cormorant; Australian Reed-Warbler; Brown Songlark; Grey Goshawk and most excitingly Superb Parrot (this represents a extension to the known range of this species).   More Common Mynas and a Spotted Dove have been seen  in Hoskinstown: I would really like to hear if anyone else spots either of these rats with wings!

Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which breeding has been observed (a very good list this month) are underlined.

1  Waterbirds:  Black Swan;  Australian Wood Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Darter; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White-faced Heron; Nankeen Night Heron; Australian White Ibis; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian Coot; Black-winged Stilt; Black-fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Grey Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Australian Hobby; Peregrine falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang  Cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur^‑crested Cockatoo; Australian King-parrot; Superb Parrot; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red‑rumped parrot

4  Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Rock Dove; Spotted Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo; Shining Bronze-cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Brush Cuckoo; Southern boobook; Laughing Kookaburra;Sacred Kingfisher; Rainbow Bee-eater;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Flame Robin; Welcome Swallow; Fairy Martin; Tree Martin

7 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Western Gerygone; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Spotted  Quail-thrush; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; White-winged Triller; Olive-backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Australian Reed-Warbler; Rufous Songlark; Brown Songlark; Silvereye; Common Blackbird; Common Myna; Common Starling; Mistletoebird; Double-barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; Richards Pipit; European Goldfinch

8  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough

Bird of the Month

From the Greening Australia book “Bringing Birds Back”.   Comments in brackets are by this author.  

Pied Currawong: Strepera graculina

(In the Gazette area there is also Grey Currawong: much greyer in colour, no white on the tail and a more ‘chiming’ call.)

Appearance:.Large mostly black bird with robust black bill and yellow eyes.  White base to the tail and white square on wings, most prominent in flight.

Voice: Loud ‘curra-cura-curra’.  Various whistles and other notes.

Habits: Singles and pairs or flocks (up to hundreds if food is abundant)  in autumn –winter.  Noisy bold, tame around settlements (except when young are present when they can be very aggressive).  Feeds on ground on tree trunks, branches and amongst the leaves.

Food: Small mammals, birds, eggs and young, reptiles insects fruits, berries.  (The species coughs up pellets which show what they are eating.  If you wish to keep them away from your area a good tip is to make sure there is no old dog food around.).

Nest: Flattish bowl of sticks in fork of tree, 5 – 15 metres high.

Occurrence in revegetation:  Found in 22% of sites, small and large, but mostly older sites from 8 years of age onwards.  Mostly one-off sightings, regular at only a few sites.

(Garden Bird Survey: Undertaken by COG in the gardens of members of that Group records this species as very common, recorded in all sites..  It is recorded in nearly all weeks of the year.  It has become much more common in the City in recent years.)