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Birds South East Number 78 December 2016
White-fronted Honeyeater – Dennis Kuhlmann
Another successful Bangham Bird Monitoring weekend The Bangham bird surveys have just been completed for the third year in a row and the weather was certainly a bit different this year. Last year we sweltered in 35 degree heat, whereas this year, we needed rubber boots to access some sites. I’m told that Bryan and Jeff even went barefoot and waded through one of their sites. We surveyed 30 transects using the 2ha 20 minute methodology, which were all repeated three times – so that’s a whopping 90 individual surveys. Once again, we saw a great mix of birds. Highlights of the weekend included: Hooded Robin, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper, White-fronted Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Sacred Kingfisher, Dusky Woodswallow and Restless Flycatcher.
A notable highlight for Bob was enjoying a peaceful cuppa after a long morning of surveying when a small flock of Red-tails flew directly overhead. We also enjoyed being entertained around the campsite by Purple-crowned lorikeets and Black-chinned Honeyeaters. A similar number of species were recorded as previous years (around 90 species), although this year there were some waterbirds around too. Preliminary results suggest that robin sightings were down a bit this year. This could be due to the drought of the last couple of years. White-browed and Masked Woodswallows were also noticeably absent - there must be better food elsewhere in Australia this year! Contents:
1. Another successful Bangham Bird Monitoring weekend
2. Bush canaries in the SE 3. Thankyou Maureen 4. Shorebird Notes 5. Contacts
Birds South East
2 Birds South East
We recorded all eight species of parrot likely to be found in the area (Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Ringneck Parrot, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet, Blue-winged Parrot and Red-rumped Parrot). The SA Blue Gums were still flowering and many of the lorikeets were feeding on the blossoms.
On the Saturday night everyone enjoyed a BBQ dinner as a thank you for their hard work. A big thank you to Bryan, Bob, Angela and Jeff Davies who volunteered their time and have been at all three surveys so far. Without the support of Birdlife SE SA these surveys wouldn’t happen. Cassie Hlava
Eaglehawklistforthe4–7November2016Wedge-tailedEagle WelcomeSwallowBlack-chinnedHoneyeater White-plumedHoneyeaterBrownTreecreeper New-HollandHoneyeaterRestlessFlycatcher Yellow-facedHoneyeaterWhite-browedBabbler White-earedHoneyeaterSouth-EasternRed-tailedBlackCockatoo GreyShrikeThrushRedWattlebird AustralianOwlet-nightjarRed-rumpedParrot SouthernBoobookWhite-throatedGerygone AustralianRavenWillieWagtail LittleRavenSulphur-crestedCockatoo JackyWinterPurple-crownedLorikeet AustralianMagpieMuskLorikeet GalahWoodDuck WhitewingedChoughCrimsonRosella LaughingKookaburraEasternRosella StriatedPardaloteRainbowLorikeet White-throatedTreecreeperBrownThornbill SacredKingfisherBuff-rumpedThornbill CrestedPigeonSuperbFairy-wren RufousWhistlerYellow-tailedBlack-Cockatoo GreyFantailDuskyWoodswallow White-facedHeron
White-throated Gerygone – Luke Leddy
Birds South East
Bush canaries in the South East Whilst I was wandering around Eaglehawk Waterhole in November I heard an incredibly beautiful musical call that sounded vaguely familiar. I wracked my brains trying to think of what it could be and suddenly thought; perhaps it might be a White-throated Gerygone (see photo above). I listened to the call on my phone and sure enough - it was a match! It took me over 30 minutes to get a look at the tiny yellow and white bird, which flitted from tree to tree and was an expert at hiding amongst the leaves high up in the canopy. My patience was eventually rewarded and the Gerygone landed out in the open on a dead branch. A few weeks later, Luke Leddy photographed a White-throated Gerygone at Padthaway CP– I wonder if it’s the same bird. White-throated Gerygones are known colloquially as ‘bush canary’ and if you’ve ever heard their call you’ll certainly know why. So if you hear a long descending musical call – make sure you investigate. Cassie Hlava
Thankyou Maureen Maureen Christie retired from the BirdLife South East committee in June this year, and also ended her Wader Notes for the BirdLife Newsletter. Maureen started a modest form of Wader Notes in the second edition of the local newsletter put out in February 2002. She reported on a catch of waders on February 2002 and a proposed Victorian Wader Study Group visit to the South East Coast later in the year. Since then Maureen has missed only one newsletter with the much expanded Wader Notes, nearly 15 years of field work and writing up. Her regular outings to catch and band waders on our local shores, and extended visits to work at the Broome Bird Observatory have equipped Maureen with an exhaustive knowledge of local waders and migratory species who visit each year. Many of us have enjoyed her enthusiasm, energy and knowledge. In recognition, Maureen was a 2007 Grant District Council Australia Day Award nominee. In 2014 she was awarded a Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for outstanding volunteer service.
In 2016 she was a finalist in the Conservation Council of South Australia Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection. Her role as Wader Notes contributor and BirdLife SE committee member has been taken over by Jeff Campbell. Thanks for your hard work Maureen your fellow committee members, and BirdLife members really appreciate your contribution.
Shorebird Notes After many years of producing Wader Notes for the Birds South East, Maureen Christie has decided to take and has passed the baton over to me. I hope that I may be able to keep up the excellent standard she has produced. The only alteration which I envisage making is to change the title to Shorebird Notes, a title more in keeping with our group’s name Friends of Shorebirds SE (FoSSE) and modern parlance. Much has been happening in the world of shorebirds since the last edition of Notes. The most important is the decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to largely upheld our appeal which was based on the fact that the original licence conditions did not protect migratory shorebirds until they depart on migration. The original seasonal closure to harvesting extended only until the end of March however we were able to show, through long term studies, that the majority of Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling did not depart until late April or early May. The long term studies also showed that the later period was critically important for pre-migration weight gain for these species. The decision by the Appeals Tribunal means a number of things including:
1. That harvesting is now to be by hand, assisted by mechanical winch if required. The use of a grapple is no longer permitted.
2. No harvest is permitted within 100 metres of either side of any area where Hooded Plover are currently nesting and/or caring for dependent young.
3. Areas closed in the original Assessment remain closed and to this is added the area from Beachport Conservation Park through to approximately 1 km north of Blowhole Road.
4. Rather than Seasonally Closed Zones there are now areas best described as Managed Zones.
Birds South East
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These zones are managed from 1 September to 15 May and harvesting is permitted in them on eight days per month. This means that in Managed Zones, harvest days have been reduced from 275 days to 176. Although FoSSE still has concerns about the expansion of this industry we believe that significant gains have been made. The original proposal allowed for harvest to be permitted in most of the licence area with a take rate of 75%. This was later reviewed and revised to allow for 100% take from 50% of the licence area with at least some protection given to Important Shorebird Areas. However, FoSSE considered the protection given to shorebirds was inadequate and resolved to challenge it through the AAT. The appeal was only successful because of the considerable efforts of a number of people including Maureen and our panel of voluntary experts. In other news the two Grey Plover caught and fitted with satellite transmitters by Maureen and crew have completed their northward journeys. One bird, flagged CYA, left Thompson Beach on 14 March and flew non-stop to Taiwan travelling 6,800 km in five days. The other bird, CYB, left on 24 March and flew non-stop to the Chinese coast travelling 7,200 km in five and a half days. Both birds then stopped at various locations over the next three months before arriving at their destination on Wrangel Island, off the Russian coast, on about 6 June.
Given the minimal movements of the birds for some time after arriving they were assumed to be breeding there. Contact was lost with bird CYA on 7 August when it had travelled to mainland Siberia. Bird CYB however flew to Bohai Bay, China, then left there on 13 September and flew to West Arnhem in the Northern Territory and settled on a beach near Maningrida. It had then flown 11,592 km from the Wrangel Island breeding grounds. Since leaving Thompson Beach it has flown 25,187 km. On the local scene, the Hooded Plover fledged young survey carried out in May produced a fantastic result our highest ever numbers of both adult and fledged young birds. The total of 92 birds is exciting in itself, but the total of 18 fledged young is even more so. It is believed that at least 21 young reached fledgling age but some were not seen during the survey. Interestingly an article in The Advertiser (June 24) reports a similar increase in fledged young on the Fleurieu Peninsula. One of the adults which produced young this season was a bird with an orange leg flag engraved AH. This bird was caught and banded as a juvenile, at the Abalone farm near Port Fairy in Victoria. Weekly Outings: we try to go out every Wednesday. So you can be advised of when and where, please phone Maureen on Tuesday evening – 8738 0014. Jeff Campbell [email protected]
HoodedPlover–JeffCampbell
Birds South East
Contacts Convenor, Sightings Coordinator, Conservation
Contact Bob Green
(08) 8725 0549
Secretary
Sue Black
PO Box 7, Glencoe, SA, 5291
Deputy Convenor/OH&S
Wayne Bigg
Treasurer/ IBA Liaison
Bryan Haywood
(08) 8726 8112
Newsletter Editor
Abigail Goodman
0422 326 901
Monitoring Officer Cassie Hlava
0422402703
Committee Members
Jeff Campbell, Wendy Trudgen, Abigail Goodman, Cassie Hlava and Angela Jones
DEADLINES FOR SIGHTINGS/ARTICLES IN OUR March 2017 NEWSLETTER March 17th
2017 Program Program to come shortly, keep an eye on email and our Facebook Page.
Dates for Port MacDonnell pelagic trip Cost is $130 a head and includes a BBQ lunch with coffee/tea etc.
To book spot contact Colin Rogers and/or Stuart Hull at:
The dates are as follows:
February 12 March 19 April 30 May 14 May 28 June 18 .
Birds South East
6 Birds South East
CommonName Abundance Location Observer/s
ArcticTern 1 Kingstonboatramp AllanLanceAustralasianBittern 4 PickSwamp BGreenAustralasianBittern 5 BoolLagoonGR AbigailGoodmanAustralasianBittern 5 PickSwamp,PiccaninniePondsarea BirdLifeSouthEastSAoutingAustralasianBittern 18 BoolLagoon BirdLifeSouthEastSAoutingAustralasianBittern 6 PickSwamp&PiccaninniePonds BirdLifeSouthEastSAoutingAustralianLittleBittern 1 EofWildDogBend,GlenelgRiver B&HHaywoodAustralianPiedOystercatcher 100 GlenelgRiverEstuary JCampbellAustralianPiedOystercatcher 72 GlenelgRiverEstuary JCampbellBar-tailedGodwit 2 GlenelgRiverEstuary JCampbellBlack-ChinnedHoneyeater 2 Boston'sReserve-Naracoorte BenKesterBlack-ChinnedHoneyeater 2 Boston'sReserve-Naracoorte BenKesterBlue-billedDuck 19 RobeSewagePonds RosemaryMiller
Blue-billedDuck 3 LakeMcIntyre,MillicentPeter&LindaJohns,AngelaJones,SheilaBoyle
Brolga 3 PickSwamp BGreenBrolga 2 PiccaninniePondsRoad JCampbellBrolga 2 Paddockopp.PtMacCaravanPark JCampbellCattleEgret 1 31MileLake,CoorongNP BGreen&MArneyChestnutTeal 2 PickSwamp JCampbellCommonGreenshank 9 SaltCreekestuary BGreen&MArneyCommonGreenshank 1 GlenelgRiverEstuary JCampbell
CrestedShriketit 2CornerRepeaterStationRd&MahoneyRd BenKester
CrestedShriketit 2 Boston'sReserve-Naracoorte BenKesterCrestedShriketit 2 Boston'sReserve-Naracoorte BenKester
CrestedShrike-tit 2ValleyLakeConservationArea,MtGambier BGreen
CrestedTern 400 GlenelgRiverEstuary JCampbellCurlewSandpiper 13 StonyPoint JCampbellCurlewSandpiper 30+ StonyPoint JCampbellFairyTern 5 StonyPoint JCampbellGang-gangCockatoo 1 PMRCaves BGreenGoldenPlover 5 FrenchPoint BGreenGoldenPlover 25 StonyPoint BGreen
GreatCrestedGrebe 4(b) LakeMcIntyre,MillicentPeter&LindaJohns,AngelaJones,SheilaBoyle
GreyPlover 1 FrenchPoint BGreenGrey-tailedTattler 3 FrenchPoint BGreenGrey-tailedTattler 2 FrenchPoint JCampbellGrey-tailedTattler 3 FrenchPoint BGreenHoodedPlover 2 PickSwamp BGreenHoodedPlover 2 EightMileCreek JCampbellHoodedPlover 2 WoolwashBeachPtMacDonnell JCampbellHoodedRobin 1 MountMonsterCPcarpark PTuckerIntermediateEgret 1 30MileLake,CoorongNP BGreen&MArneyLewin'sRail 1 BoolLagoon BGreenLittleEgret 3 SaltCreekestuary BGreen&MArneyMuskduck 1 MullingerSwamp BenKester
Birds South East
CommonName Abundance Location Observer/sMuskDuck 4 PickSwamp JCampbellOliveWhistler 1 PickSwamp BGreenOliveWhistler 1 PMRCaves BGreenPallidCuckoo 1 PickSwamp,PiccaninniePondsarea BGreenPiedCurrawong 4 GowerCP BobGreen
RainbowBee-eater 2‘NedrieDowns’PrivatepropertywestofGeegeelaCP CHlava
RedKnot 1 FrenchPoint BGreenRed-neckedStint 120 EightMileCreek JCampbellRed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo 2 MessamurrayRd,Naracoorte RosemaryMillerRuddyTurnstone 60 EightMileCreek JCampbellShiningBronze-cuckoo 1 Ellerslie,Glencoe SueBlackSilverGull c.200(b) 29MileLake,CoorongNP BGreen&MArneySouthernBoobook 1 Ellerslie,Glencoe SueBlackSouthernBoobook 1 Grundie'sLane WayneBiggSpotlessCrake 1 BoolLagoon BGreenTawnyFrogmouth 3 Grundie'sLane WayneBiggTawnyFrogmouth 1 DismalSwampRd WayneBiggTawnyFrogmouth 1 FairviewCP JCampbellVariedSitella Around6 TallageiraNatureReserve BenKesterWhite-browedWoodswallow 3 HenderScrub,Keith DavidSandoWhite-Frontedhoneyeater 1 AmberRidgecafe-ApsleyVIC BenKester
White-frontedTern 40+PortMacDonnell,westernsidebreakwater JCampbell
White-frontedTern 25 StonyPoint BGreenWhite-frontedTern 40+ PortMacDonnellbreakwater BGreenWhite-throatedGerygone 1 EaglehawkWaterhole,Frances CHlavaWhite-wingedChough 3 TallageiraNatureReserve BenKesterWhite-wingedTriller 1 BoolLagoon BirdLifeSouthEastSAouting
Abundance Code: A = 1-3, B = 4-10, C = 11-30, (h) = heard only, (b) = breeding, b/w = beach-washed
Common Name code: ** = subject to SARDS review