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Newsletter of BirdLife Northern Queensland Volume 8 Number 3 August 2019

Rainbow Lorikeet. Image courtesy of Dominic Chaplin www.pinecreekpictures.com.au

BirdLife Northern Queensland

In this issue… From the Convenor…... page 3 Our BirdLife Northern Queensland branch convenor, Peter Valentine, provides an update on the range of branch activities currently being undertaken, discusses the importance of capturing survey information and sends out a call to action to address the Extinction Crisis and Climate Change.

Inaugural Graham Harrington Scholarship Awarded…... page 6 Congratulations to Patrick Webster, winner of the Graham Harrington Research Scholarship. Patrick is studying the elusive Buff-breasted Button- quail Turnix olivii.

Check out my tongue…...page 7 A simple observation can lead you on an amazing journey of discovery as Christina Suttner and Thomas Woltmann found out when they realised that they couldn’t see a tongue in the mouth of a young visiting cassowary.

Extending a helping hand to wildlife - Northern Queensland’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)…... Page 11 ‘Our branch may be small in membership numbers but it punches well above its weight when it comes to conservation and monitoring of its globally important wildlife habitat!’ In this article, Golo Mauer, BirdLife Australia’s Key

Biodiversity Area Program Leader explains where our KBA’s are, highlights our achievements and describes how you can become involved.

Recent literature about North Queensland ..…. page 15 Dr Don Franklin, ecologist and Adjunct Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University provides us with an update on recent publications about the birds in our region.

Birding in the Kingdom of Bhutan…... page 25 Helen Larson writes, ‘Bhutan has always been on my distant wish-list, distant as it is very expensive to travel there. But when David contacted me to ask if we’d like to go, I said Yes after about 30 seconds and asked questions later.’

Also Grey Goshawk takes Orange- Birdlife Torresian/Pied Imperial-pigeon News from Mount Isa…... page 24 footed Scrubfowl…....page 5 coast counts……. page 17 Bramston Beach and Eubenangee What’s in the box……. page 8 Western Queensland Swamp outing……. Page 29 Surveys - May 2019……. page 18 The 2019 BirdLife Network Warrina Lakes outing…… page 30 Forum……. page 9 The Diamantina Circuit……. page 20 Noticeboard……. Page 31

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From the Convenor

Winter/spring in the tropics is a great time for birding; the wet weather has more or less subsided and birds are out and about enjoying the cooler conditions and the sunshine. Many members have been venturing further afield to participate in surveys (the annual Grasswren survey led by Kath Shurcliff for instance) and preparing for the annual Crane Count (led by David Merrall) and ongoing social surveys across the region. The roads to remote areas are often cut off in image courtesy of Rex Whitehead the wet but by mid-year most are open once again and members can enjoy more substantial trips including Your own surveys are easily accessed and Iron Range, Lakefield NP and the Gulf country. summarised. For example, using the My Data facility on the Birdata App (available on both the website and Many of these activities involve keeping records and the phone app) I can see that of the 828 surveys I BirdLife increasingly relies on members and supporters have done that are now on Birdata, some 267 were in to share their records as a contribution to our ability to Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) involving 426 species. assess threats to species, changing geographic On the other hand, I still have many surveys entered distributions and declining populations. We are on eBird that do meet BirdLife Australia’s standardised fortunate in Australia to have excellent systems to use survey designs (e.g. 2 hectare, 20 minute search and for both recreational and scientific surveys. The 500m or 5km diameter area searches) but are not yet program developed and managed by BirdLife is simply incorporated in Birdata because I haven’t updated the called Birdata and a free app is available for smart observation field. All I have to do is use the website to phones (Android and Apple versions). The Cornell change the observation type to BirdLife Australia University system called eBird is also suitable for both survey designs, then my data can be transferred to recreational use and scientific surveys. Arrangements Birdata, which will make it much more useful for exist for appropriately labelled surveys using eBird to conservation. If members still continue to use eBird for be sent on to Birdata and thereby contribute to their survey records, then if you choose a survey type BirdLife projects such as State of Australia’s Birds and that matches BirdLife requirements, the data will be various conservation projects. transferred to Birdata. As the operation of Birdata is reviewed it is The Branch is attempting to arrange another training increasingly becoming more user-friendly and each session for interested members but looking at the update makes the system more valuable. There is recent changes (and others in the pipeline) it is very excellent access to your own Birdata lists and records easy to simply download the app on to your phone and (with summaries of various kinds) and recently the go to work! It is worth checking with the website for system has been enabled for users to keep specific further information. https://birdata.birdlife.org.au/ lists private (in case of sensitivity of site or bird species). One way to highlight our wildlife is the practice of each state adopting an official emblem. Nationally of course we have the Emu and in Queensland our official bird is the Brolga. All the official state birds are of least concern (in terms of conservation status) except for the Victorian emblem – the Helmeted . Perhaps we in northern Queensland should adopt an annual Bird Conservation Emblem as part of our advocacy for greater care and protection of our bird species. If the focus of our choice was to highlight a different endangered species each year we would have many to choose from. There are 16 species in our region that are either Endangered on the Queensland Government list or Critically Endangered on the EPBC (National) list. Five of these are international waders and two of them have on-going Branch project work (Carpentarian Grasswren and Gouldian Finch), looking for and monitoring their populations and investigating their habitat requirements to inform better management.

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At our present rate of progress in the extinction stakes, by the time we got to the last on this list we would undoubtedly have more to choose from. There are 36 species listed as vulnerable in Queensland and at least 14 of these occur in our region. Perhaps to add further emphasis we might also run up a black flag for the 22 species of birds known to have gone extinct in Australia. Most of these are island species (reflecting the general vulnerability of small island populations). To date there has not been a bird extinction recognized in our region (the Paradise Parrot probably did not occur in northern Queensland). We happen to have much better habitat protection in northern Queensland than in other parts of the State and that has served the birds well, but already there is recognition of inadequate habitat protection for some locations and species. And the effects of climate change are beginning to strike home. If any member It is wonderful to see so many of our own local young would be interested in working on an advocacy folk expressing their concerns and conducting a information project for our threatened northern species campaign to try and wake up our sleeping leaders please let me know. Threatened Species Day is the 7th about the gravity of the situation we face. Business as September across the nation. It’s also the day of our usual will not do. If you find you are able and willing Annual Crane Count organised by David Merrall and I please do fly the flag for a better outcome for our hope to see many of you there. wildlife, if not of course ourselves. There will be a big Congratulations to Patrick Webster who is the event in Cairns. Hope to see you there. inaugural winner of our Graham Harrington BirdLife Peter Valentine, Convenor. Northern Queensland Student Scholarship. See further details on page 6.

On September 20th, the world is holding a very large climate strike. Children, students, have led the way and focussed great attention on the issue, from the UN to the many countries, states and councils that have declared a climate emergency. Now our youthful leaders are calling on us, the adults, to join them.

We are asked to walk out of our work and join the students demanding emergency action by our Governments and wider community. We in Australia Contact us: BirdLife Northern are in the front-line for climate change to have a big Queensland committee impact on our already undermined environment and Email: [email protected] our many threatened species. If you want to find out more visit the website https://globalclimatestrike.net/ Internet: www.birdlifenq.org and/or the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pg/StrikeClimate/posts/ where you can find out about the climate strike and read about the commitment of these very responsible young people.

I applaud Greta Thunberg, the Swedish girl who started the movement originally, a single person protest. She has more integrity than our entire parliament; read her own story on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gretathunbergsweden/

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BirdLife Northern Queensland Committee

Convenor Peter Valentine Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 40966171

Deputy Convenor Martin Willis Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 40966581

Secretary and Communications Renee Cassels Email: [email protected] Coordinator

Treasurer Lindsay Fisher Email : [email protected]

Cairns Area Coordinator Tom Collis Email: [email protected] Phone: 0401783795

Conservation Coordinator and Cape Kath Shurcliff Email [email protected] Phone: 07 4069 6595 York Area Coordinator

Tablelands Area Coordinator Martin Willis Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 40966581

Stickybeak Coordinator Golo Maurer Email: [email protected]

Committee member Ray Pierce Email: [email protected]

Grasswren Survey Coordinator Graham Harrington Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 4069 6595 and Kath Shurcliff

Members Coordinator Sam Willis Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 40966581

Website Manager Mikey Kudo Email: [email protected] Phone: 0402343610

KBA Coordinator Mike Grigg Email: [email protected]

Committee member Wayne Young Email: [email protected]

Newsletter Editor and Cassowary Ceri Pearce Email: [email protected] Phone: 0488131581 Coast Area Coordinator

Grey Goshawk takes Orange-footed Scrubfowl Witnessing this was surreal. The Orange-footed Scrub-fowl would have outweighed the young Grey Goshawk multiple times to one! The hunter had already taken the head off in true 'Accipiter' style. It was grasping it's large floating prey at the base of a rocky bank, close to Daintree village, which made it difficult to understand how the victor could have managed the kill (we onlookers were first drawn to the situation when an adult Brahminy Kite landed in the tree above). The outcome may have been ominous. It was just a matter of time before a Saltwater Crocodile managed to locate the delicacy. Hopefully the young Goshawk is still around and not part of the meal. Del Richards and Murray Hunt Image courtesy of Willem Gheysen

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Inaugural Graham Harrington Scholarship Awarded

BirdLife Australia Northern Queensland Branch decided to make an annual award of a research scholarship to encourage the study of our northern Queensland birds. The Committee decided that we wished to honour long time member and CSIRO researcher Dr Graham Harrington by naming the award after him. This was announced at our Annual General Meeting in March 2019 and a call went out for applicants for the award in May.

A selection panel was established to make the decision for 2019 (Mike Grigg, Wayne Young and Peter

Valentine) following valuable input earlier from Renee Cassells. The Committee is impressed with the challenge being taken on by Patrick and recognizes only extremely The Committee is delighted to award Patrick Webster limited data about this species exists at present. the Graham Harrington Research Scholarship. Patrick is being supervised by Professor James Watson Patrick is enrolled as a PhD student at the University of of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Queensland after having graduated with a First Class the University of Queensland, with additional support Honours Degree in which he studied the Black- from Dr Steve Murphy. breasted Buttonquail on Fraser Island (K’Gari). I am sure all members would join with the Committee This experience should serve him well with his PhD in congratulating Patrick and wishing him well for his project in which he is seeking to establish ecological studies. We look forward to hearing more about his and conservation knowledge of the Buff-breasted project in the future. Buttonquail. Peter Valentine Patrick described his project as follows: Convenor

The Buff-breasted Button-quail Turnix olivii is arguably the most poorly known of all Australian birds. Currently listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act with a population estimate of as few as 500 birds, the species has never been the focus of ecological and conservation research, and its potential extreme rarity means almost nothing is known of its basic biology, such as habitat use, breeding, diet, population trends or threats. Despite its status, there are no formal conservation actions underway to secure the species, due largely to the fundamental gaps in our knowledge. Patrick will explore all past records and develop techniques that will help understand habitat use, seasonal movements, detection methods and breeding biology. Our Award to Patrick ($1,000) will assist his field work. Patrick lives in Cairns. Congratulations Patrick Webster, winner of the Graham Harrington Research Scholarship

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Thomas and I have seen many a cassowary gape (we Check out my tongue! lived in Kuranda for 9 years and 'Dad', 'Missy' and their offspring were frequent visitors to our property), but we could never see a tongue. When I took this recent image of a chick at our place in Wondecla, I couldn't see a tongue either, but was quite sure that all birds would have one. Searching on the internet, I found out that cassowaries do not have a tongue that we would recognise! Apparently, cassowaries pick up their food (mainly fruit) and toss it to the back of their throats to swallow. http://savethecassowary.org.au/the- cassowary/biology-physiology/ We saw Alan Gillanders at the markets and talked to him about it, then persisted with more internet searches which finally led to Nancy Johnston's paper on avian tongues, which is as detailed as you can hope.

Juvenile Cassowary. This view into chicko's throat (it was According to Johnston’s paper, bird tongues are rarely actually yawning, not giving its 'little lost cassowary' wail, mentioned but they are fascinating. They come in wide triggered Christina’s investigation into bird tongues. Photo by variety of shapes and sizes. Birds tongues can be very Christina Suttner long, very short, feathered at the tip, and can have barbs of various sizes. To find out more about bird tongues, go to the source https://goldengateaudubon.org/wp- content/uploads/Avian-Tongues_Johnston.pdf And as Nancy Johnston points out in the paper, while tongue morphology is important, understanding the structure and function of the rest of the oral cavity, including the beak, is also important. For example, the size, shape and structure of the beak works with the tongue to catch/collect, manipulate and swallow food.

Sometimes the internet can be quite useful! Rainbow Lorikeet image by Glenn Longbottom Christina Suttner and Thomas Woltmann Atherton Tablelands Birdwatchers' Cabin

Little Pied Cormorant image by John Clarke

Australian King Parrot image by Kris Bernard

Special thanks to Alan Gillanders for sharing his knowledge and Glenn Longbottom, John Clarke, Kris Bernard and Matt Wright for these wonderful images of bird tongues. Pacific Baza image by Matt Wright

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What’s in the box?

When a birding friend on the Atherton Tablelands told me an Australian Owlet Nightjar had taken up residence in his nesting box I was surprised. Although the field guides indicate a broad distribution range, I associated them with arid woodland with holes in broken limbs and hollow fence posts, not rainforest margins. Not to be outdone I decided I would try and entice one to our place. The Birdlife Australia “Birds in Backyards” web site (http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/Nest-Box-Plans) provides detailed plans of nest boxes for thirteen species of Australian birds, one of which is the Owlet Nightjar. I downloaded the plans, obtained some materials and produced two boxes. One I placed opposite the front veranda facing the east and the other I placed further away in a stand of trees more like open woodland. I then sat back and Why not take advantage of the next sunny winter's waited. day and submit a Birds in Backyards seasonal survey? Within two weeks the more remote box was taken over by a swarm of wasps. No luck there! Don't let the cold weather keep you from watching your amazing bird life. Make a cup of coffee, grab a The other box sat stubbornly empty for nine months warm blanket, find a nice sunny spot in your until one morning I realised that the usually black garden and do a Birds in Backyards Winter Survey. entrance hole had turned grey. Was it wasps? Was it a Once you have registered your free Birdata Sugar Glider? No. Binoculars revealed the head of an account, read the instructions or watch the video. Owlet Nightjar. Download the Birdata app and take your Now, every morning from 7am to 9am, we are treated smartphone or tablet outside with you and just to the sight of this beautiful creature dozing in the record all the birds you seen in your space in 20 warm sunlight. mins. Don't forget our major prize for the year - if you complete at least one survey per season (that’s Summer 2018/19, Autumn 2019, Winter 2019 & Spring 2019) you will go into the draw to win a fabulous custom flock by the talented crew at Eggpicnic (RRP AUD$275). Holly Parsons

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/content/article/Birds -Backyards-Winter-Survey-2019-rug-and-get- outdoors

Article and image by David Merrall

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3. Beach nesting birds. The 2019 BirdLife 4. Threatened Mallee birds with Gluepot to act as Network Forum a research hub. 5. Threatened migratory shore birds. Each year, BirdLife Australia sponsors a member from 6. Building a discovery centre at Broome. each of the Australian BirdLife branches, the 7. Birds in the emergency room (20 species). observatories, and the special interest groups to attend the National BirdLife Network Forum, which was 8. Extinction Alert System utilising Birdata. held this year on 23/24 May at BirdLife Australia’s 9. Tasmanian birds (e.g. Blue-winged Parrot). head office in Melbourne. This year it was my lucky turn to go and because these forums have been so 10. Broken nature laws (e.g. BirdLife submission to beneficial in the past, BirdLife Northern Queensland Australia’s faunal extinction enquiry). also sponsored Mike Grigg’s attendance, and between Andrew Hunter and Fiona Blandford then gave an us, we made the most of the opportunity to meet, update on how the campaign team has been learn, be inspired, and come back with new knowledge successfully engaging decision makers and mobilising and ideas we can share in our region. local branches and communities to act for birds. We We found the staff at BirdLife Australia to be a highly learnt about Campaigning for stronger Nature Laws, professional, talented, close knit, bird-focused group, which highlighted the collaboration with 50 other that went out of their way to listen to branch groups (1.5 M Aussies) under the Places you Love members, learn and take action whenever required to Alliance. And the Battle for Toondah Harbour, which ensure that everyone’s concerns were addressed. received excellent media coverage, where 500 people turned up to demonstrate against the proposal to turn BirdLife Australia has approximately 11,000 members the RAMSAR internationally significant wetlands in and the focus of the forum was networking, so southern Moreton Bay into a 400 berth marina and meeting and working with branch members from multi-level residential and commercial development. And across the country was a large part of that, and to get how, after Birdlife Australia called on RAMSAR the ball rolling the forum started with a game of bingo colleagues, Australia was put on notice at the designed to make everyone meet as many people as international RAMSAR conference. possible, and identify each other’s experiences and interests. While not for everyone, the game served its We also learnt that in 2019 –2020 Australia’s 20 year purpose and we very quickly learnt a lot about the old nature laws are due for review and that this people around us. presents us all with a real opportunity to ensure that these new laws are contemporary and reflect our Paul Sullivan, CEO of BirdLife Australia then opened urgent need to protect our environment for the future, the forum, and provided an overview of BirdLife which is a BirdLife Australia key focus area. Australia’s 10 key real action plans: Joris Driessen and Andrew Silcocks then presented 1. Landscape scale collaboration. information about Birdata – what our bird monitoring 2. Real action for threatened woodland birds, is telling us and how branches are using the data to habitat restoration, birds on farms, engaging inform local projects. Birdata supports a number of with landholders and bird surveys. disparate interests, conservation projects and

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Project and Birds In Backyards (who are turning 21 years old this year). There was also a session on learning from each other, and it was hard not to be impressed. For example, Shoalhaven are proactively growing their group membership and reach, and are hosting a major Birding Expo event this year as well as undertaking conservation action locally to preserve habitat for birds. We’ve come home with lots of ideas, which we have shared with the committee, so watch this space. You

might have noticed some changes to the newsletter organisations including the CSIRO, State and Federal too. Governments and IUCN assessments. It is also used by BirdLife Australia to compile the State of Australia’s In conclusion, Mike and I would sincerely like to thank Birds (SOAB) report series, which is currently under BirdLife Australia, and BirdLife Northern Queensland review, and Mike and I were able to influence James for sponsoring our attendance at the Network Forum; O'Connor, the head of research at Birdlife, to include a it was a very interesting and memorable experience. project to report on the State of the Birds in the Wet And if you would like a similar opportunity then don’t Tropics. The project is due to be completed in 2021 be shy, get involved, and you too may be selected to and its success will be heavily reliant on bird represent BNQ at the National Forum. monitoring data across the region. So, more than Ceri Pearce and Mike Grigg ever, it is most important for all of us to ensure our bird observations and surveys are recorded in Birdata or eBird so that they can be used in the analysis.

Forthcoming improvements to the functionality of Birdata include the ability to do local vetting of data, and the addition of a section on migration data i.e. Torresian Imperial Pigeon surveys. Members are encouraged to forward suggestions on improvements to the functionality of Birdata to the BNQ Committee. Golo Maurer then lead a session about Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), that had everyone examining the reasons why people become guardians, what a guardian does, and what can be achieved. Do you know where our regional KBAs are and what are their trigger species? There are over 14,000 KBAs globally with 330 in Australia and interestingly, our parliament in Canberra is the only government in the world to be in a KBA. The group dinner at the historic Lincoln Hotel in Carlton (which first opened in 1854) was a very rowdy affair and much fun was had by all. The next morning we practised action planning to learn how to be strategic and plan to achieve tangible change. My group worked on how to effect change in urban landscape design to create more bird friendly spaces, and Mike’s group worked on an action plan to assess the State of the Birds in the Wet Tropics, as part of the national SOAB review. This was followed by sessions on communicating with different audiences and how people can become involved. We practised story telling in to share messages. We heard from various BirdLife special projects including Birds on Farms, the Woodland Birds

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Extending a helping hand to wildlife - Northern Queensland’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) Our branch may be small in membership numbers but KBA-GUARDIANS AND KBA EASTER it punches well above its weight when it comes to conservation and monitoring of its globally important HEALTH-CHECKS wildlife habitat! The BirdLife Northern Queensland BirdLife Australia’s KBA program has two main aims: Branch covers an area larger than Victoria in size and has 27 of Australia’s 333 Key Biodiversity Areas 1. Work at the national and international level for (KBAs), or more than 8% of the total area designated identification and better protection and as KBAs. These areas have been identified according to management of Australian KBAs. the scientifically based and internationally accepted KBA standard which means they contribute 2. Engage local volunteers in KBA monitoring significantly to the persistence of biodiversity on the (especially KBA Health-checks and bird planet. By definition, KBAs are home to threatened or surveys) and conservation. endemic species (so-called Trigger species) or Volunteer engagement in the KBA program is mainly important congregations and bottlenecks. Put simply: via KBA-Guardians or Guardian groups for each KBA KBAs are nature’s hotspots. and the KBA Easter Health-checks done by these Guardians. For KBA-Guardians think of an eco version WHERE ARE OUR NQ KBAS? of Ghost busters: who is BirdLife gonna call if You can browse a map of KBAs including NQ KBAs on something spooky is happening in a KBA? Of course, www.birdlife.org.au/kba. In the volunteer section of the phone line works in both directions and BirdLife this webpage you can also find GIS or kmz (Google Australia often get calls from concerned KBA- Earth) files of Australia’s KBAs for download. Guardians seeking to find out what BirdLife can do for a KBA. Outside supernatural experiences, KBA- Most conveniently you can explore our KBAs on the Guardians are keeping tabs on their KBA by filling out birdata website https://birdata.birdlife.org.au/explore a globally standardized online report on the state of In the drop-down box for Regional Group choose ‘their’ KBA around Easter every year. We call it the Northern QLD KBA Easter Health-check. In the drop-down box for Area Layer choose Key BirdLife NQ is very strong on the volunteer Biodiversity Areas engagement side with recent Easter Health-checks for nine of the 27 KBAs, not a small achievement when You should get an image like the picture below. You the total KBA area in Northern Qld is so vast and the can zoom in for a closer look at individual KBAs and sites are far-flung! other locations.

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You can view these Easter Health-checks using your HOW YOU CAN HELP general birdata login on https://portal.birdlife.org.au/kba-health-check/ There are five main ways BirdLife NQ branch members can help KBAs: The KBA Easter Health-check is a small but significant task taking most KBA-Guardians no more than 2 hours 1) Having KBA-Guardians for nine out of 27 in NQ is per year to fill out. Many KBA-Guardians take their role fantastic and a big Thank You! to all the KBA a lot further and engage in structured monitoring, Guardians and Guardian groups. Ideally, we would advocacy, education or on-ground conservation. They like more KBA-Guardians looking after more KBAs. started these activities often before taking on the KBA- It is important to remember that you can take on Guardian role, but feedback is that the Health-check Guardianship for a KBA even if you don’t live in it helps with fine-tuning this work and seeing it in a or cannot visit it regularly (e.g.) some of the Great different light. Essentially it is a chance for volunteers Barrier Reef Islands. A full list of KBAs still looking to take a break from hectic fieldwork and reflect on the for their Guardian is available online monitoring, status, threats and conservation actions www.birdLife.org.au/kba and in table 1 below. for their KBA. The beauty of the Easter Health-check is They include iconic places like that it is captured in the same place every year so a) Gulf Plains allows comparisons within the KBA but also nationally and internationally. BirdLife Australia uses this b) Stapleton Island information to help set its conservation priorities and If you are would like to take on a KBA-Guardian declare KBAs in Danger. role contact the NQ KBA Guardian Coordinator Mike Grigg, e-mail [email protected] or National FANTASTIC BIRDLIFE NQ KBA Program leader (see contact details below). ACHIEVEMENTS 2) Some of the larger KBAs are also in need of additional volunteers supporting a KBA-Guardian or BirdLife NQ has a long list of achievements for its KBAs joining a KBA-Guardian Group to help undertake and it is important to state that many of these efforts surveys across the breadth of these special areas. have started well before the KBAs or even their predecessor, Important Bird Areas (IBAs) were 3) Support existing survey programs in BirdLife NQ declared. These efforts are massive contributions to KBAs, for example the crane count is coming up in bird conservation. As a birder I am just in awe of this September in the Atherton Tablelands KBA, please effort and with my BirdLife KBA Program Leader hat join us. on, I cannot thank the volunteers enough. They put in 4) Conduct (and report) repeated, standardised countless hours to help the birds in NQ KBAs. These surveys such as 500 m Area searches counting all volunteer efforts include: birds. These are incredibly useful in determining ✓ Grasswren monitoring in Boodjamulla and population trends, particularly if they are done at Buckley River KBAs which supported the listing, birdata ‘Shared sites’ in KBAs (these are visible on conservation actions and subsequent de-listing the birdata app and website). of Boodjamulla KBA as a KBA in Danger. 5) Some of our KBAs have so little recent survey data ✓ The Sarus and Brolga counts in the Atherton now that in the revision of all KBAs over the next Tablelands KBA 5-10 years they may be delisted as KBAs. These should be targeted specifically for bird surveys but ✓ Delineation of birdata ‘Shared Sites’ in the the presence of other IUCN red-listed species such Atherton Tablelands KBA for standardized as threatened mammals, amphibians or plants surveys should also be recorded e.g. in the Atlas of Living ✓ Bower searches for Golden Bowerbird and Australia. These data may justify the continued Tooth-billed Bowerbird in Wooroonooran KBA KBA status of an area if the bird species data do not support it anymore. KBAs that should receive a ✓ Bird surveys and Beach Stone-Curlew Surveys greater bird survey focus include: in the Coastal Wet Tropics KBA a) Lockerbie Scrub KBA listed as a migration ✓ Supporting QPEWS in Raine Island and Moulter stepping-stone for Bee-eaters, etc. Cay KBA bird counts b) Lilyvale KBA listed for IUCN Near Threatened Red Goshawk and the NQ endemics. KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS So, don’t be shy, give us a call if you would like to get NATURE’S HOTSPOTS more involved and help monitor and protect our North The most important places left for life on earth Queensland KBAs.

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Table 1 KBA’s in the BirdLife Northern Queensland region

# KBA Trigger species Guardian

1 Lockerbie Scrub Rainbow Bee-eater, , Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Please contact Spangled [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 2 Raine Island, Lesser Frigatebird, Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Brown Noddy, Black Ian Northcotte Moulter & Noddy Maclennan Cays 3 Cape York to Grey-tailed Tattler, Lesser Crested Tern, Roseate Tern, Bridled Tern, Please contact Cape Grenville Pied Imperial-pigeon [email protected] if you Islands want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 4 Piper Islands Black Noddy, Pied Imperial-pigeon Please contact [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 5 Iron & Southern Cassowary, Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Lovely Fairywren, Simon Kennedy McIlwraith Yellow Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Silver-crowned Ranges Friarbird, White-streaked Honeyeater, , White- browed Robin 6 Islands North of Brown Booby, Lesser Crested Tern, Pied Imperial-pigeon Please contact Port Stewart [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 7 Wilson Reef Brown Booby Please contact (Great Barrier [email protected] if you Reef) want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 8 Stapleton Island Brown Booby, Lesser Crested Tern, Bridled Tern Please contact [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 9 Lilyvale Red Goshawk, Yellow Honeyeater, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Silver- Please contact crowned Friarbird, Bar-breasted Honeyeater [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 10 Morehead River Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Bush Stone-curlew, Golden-shouldered Under consideration Parrot, Yellow Honeyeater, White-gaped Honeyeater, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Silver-crowned Friarbird, Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Banded Honeyeater, Masked Finch, Black-throated Finch

11 Daintree Southern Cassowary, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Golden Bowerbird, Lovely Please contact Fairywren, Macleay's Honeyeater, Bridled Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted [email protected] if you Honeyeater, White-streaked Honeyeater, Fernwren, Atherton want to be a KBA-Guardian Scrubwren, Mountain Thornbill, Chowchilla, Bower's Shrike-thrush, for this area Pied Monarch, Victoria's Riflebird, Pale-yellow Robin. Crayfish Euastacus robertsi, Elegant Nursery-frog and Mountain-top Nursery-frog 12 Manowar & Lesser Frigatebird, Brown Booby Please contact Rocky Islands [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 13 Michaelmas Cay Lesser Crested Tern, Crested Tern Yirrganydji Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers

14 Staaten River Australian Bustard, Bush Stone-curlew, Varied Lorikeet, Golden- Under consideration shouldered Parrot, Yellow Honeyeater, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Bar- breasted Honeyeater, Banded Honeyeater, Masked Finch, Black- throated Finch 15 Bountiful Crested Tern, Roseate Tern Please contact Islands [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 16 Sudbury Reef Lesser Crested Tern This KBA will likely be declassified

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Table 1 KBA’s in the BirdLife Northern Queensland region continued

# KBA Trigger species Guardian

17 Gulf Plains Australian Bustard, Sarus Crane, Brolga, Pied Oystercatcher, White- Please contact headed Stilt, Lesser Sand Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Curlew, [email protected] if you Eastern Curlew, Grey-tailed Tattler, Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, want to be a KBA-Guardian Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Varied Lorikeet, Yellow for this area Honeyeater, White-gaped Honeyeater, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Silver- crowned Friarbird, Yellow White-eye, Star Finch 18 Wollogorang Carpentarian Grasswren, Sandstone Shrike -thrush, White-browed Please contact Robin, Gouldian Finch, Carpentarian Rock-rat [email protected] if you want to be a KBA-Guardian for this area 19 Atherton Sarus Crane, Bush Stone-curlew Tim Nevard Tablelands 20 Coastal Wet Southern Cassowary, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Victoria’s Riflebird, Helen Larsen and KBA- Tropics Pale-yellow Robin, Lovely Fairywren, MacLeay's Honeyeater, Chowchilla, Guardian Group Pied Monarch

21 South Barnard Lesser Crested Tern, Bridled Tern Julia Hazel Islands 22 Wooroonooran Southern Cassowary, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Golden Bowerbird, Lovely Golo Maurer Fairywren, Macleay's Honeyeater, Bridled Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Fernwren, Atherton Scrubwren, Mountain Thornbill, Chowchilla, Bower's Shrike-thrush, Pied Monarch, Victoria's Riflebird, Pale-yellow Robin, Crayfish Euastacus yigara and Neglected Frog

23 Barron River Myola Tree Frog Under consideration Tributaries

24 Brook Islands Lesser Crested Tern, Pied Imperial-Pigeon Julia Hazel

25 Boodjamulla Grey Falcon, Australian Bustard, Varied Lorikeet, Northern Rosella, Graham Harrington Purple-crowned Fairywren, Carpentarian Grasswren, White-gaped Honeyeater, Grey-headed Honeyeater, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Silver- crowned Friarbird, Painted Honeyeater, Banded Honeyeater, Sandstone Shrike-thrush, White-browed Robin, Spinifexbird, Painted Firetail, Masked Finch, Long-tailed Finch

26 Buckley River Australian Bustard, Varied Lorikeet, Carpentarian Grasswren, Dusky Under consideration Grasswren, White-gaped Honeyeater, Grey-headed Honeyeater, Yellow- tinted Honeyeater, Silver-crowned Friarbird, Banded Honeyeater, Spinifexbird, Painted Firetail, Long-tailed Finch

27 Simpson Desert Grey Falcon, Australian Bustard, Inland Dotterel, Rufous-crowned Please contact Emuwren, , Grey-headed Honeyeater, Black [email protected] if you Honeyeater, , Gibberbird, Banded Whiteface, Chiming want to be a KBA-Guardian Wedgebill, Chirruping Wedgebill, Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Painted Firetail for this area

IMPORTANT CONTACTS AND LINKS ➢ http://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/KBA/volunteer BirdLife NQ KBA Coordinator: Mike Grigg, e-mail s-kba [email protected] ➢ http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/search BirdLife Australia KBA Program Leader: Dr Golo Maurer, [email protected], 0467 444 114 Acknowledgements ➢ www.KeyBiodiversityAreas.org Thanks to Ray Pierce and Ceri Pearce for assistance in ➢ www.KeyBiodiversityAreas.org.au preparing this article. ➢ https://birdata.birdlife.org.au Golo Mauer ➢ https://portal.birdlife.org.au/kba-health-check/ Key Biodiversity Area Program Leader Secretary, Key Biodiversity Area National Coordination Group ➢ http://www.birdlife.org.au/KBA BirdLife Australia

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Recent literature about North Queensland birds COMPILED BY DON FRANKLIN

Breeding biology of the Lovely Fairy- Males retain their bright , and groups breed, throughout the year. Breeding can be communal but groups are small, often only a pair or three birds; birds additional to the pair are previous male offspring. A clutch comprises two or three eggs. Only 29% of monitored groups succeeded in fledging one or more Brolga with chick © Paul Thorogood 2017 young per year. Young were dependant for two birdlifephotography.org.au months. Adult survival was high – 86% per year. potential for damage and conflict with farmers in the “Males provided high levels of parental care and this, field crops that remain.” (Nevard et al. 2019) together with low extra-pair courtship and petal displays, suggests that this species may not be as Gulf Plains: “... survey during April-May 2017 ... Both promiscuous as other fairy-.” crane species synchronised nest initiation with rainfall (November to March). Breeding success was higher Leitão AV, Hall ML, Venables B, Mulder RA. 2019. than past estimates anywhere, with 60% of Sarus Ecology and breeding biology of a tropical bird, the Crane pairs and 50% of Brolga pairs fledging chicks.” Lovely Fairy-Wren ( amabilis). Emu 119: 1-13. For both species, about two-thirds of successful breeding attempts resulted in one chick and one-third produced two chicks. Sarus Cranes preferred riverine woodland and Brolgas preferred grassland, but there was considerable overlap in habitat usage. By inference from stable isotope analyses, Sarus Cranes consumed mainly grasses whereas Brolgas preferred sedges including tubers and consumed more invertebrates. (Sundar et al. 2019; summary also in Australian Birdlife 7(4): 21) Nevard TD, Leiper I, Archibald G, Garnett ST. 2019. Farming and cranes on the Atherton Tablelands, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 25: 184-192. Sundar KSG, Grant JDA, Veltheim I, Kittur S, Brandis K, McCarthy MA, Scambler EC. 2019. Sympatric cranes in northern Australia: abundance, breeding success, Lovely Fairy-wrens © Brian O'Leary 2014 birdlifephotography.org.au Male left, female right. habitat preference and diet. Emu 119: 79-89. [Summary in Australian BirdLife 7(4): 21] Cranes On the Tablelands: “We interviewed farmers to explore Possible booming calls of the Buff-breasted their current attitudes to cranes and their intentions Button-quail for land use that might affect the birds. We found that most farmers tolerated the cranes, particularly when “No alleged recorded calls of Buff-breasted Button- they feed among stubble. Most, however, are quail Turnix olivii have been directly linked to increasing the efficiency of their agronomic practices, observations of an individual vocalising. Recorded calls harvesting combinable crops such as maize and have proven as elusive as a photograph of a live bird. peanuts in ways that are beginning to reduce post- The best descriptions of calls date back to the 1920s. harvest crop residues. There is also a rapid trend away Using spectrograms, we analysed the call structure of from field crops to perennial and tree crops that have a ‘booming’ calls recorded on automated recording units higher return per unit area. Both trends may reduce from the vicinity of Buff-breasted Button-quail foraging opportunities for the cranes and, unless sightings at Mt Mulligan, north-Queensland. These managed effectively, are likely to increase the ‘mystery calls’ differed from spectrograms of other

August 2019 15 BirdLife Northern Queensland booming advertisement calls recorded elsewhere of other button-quail species with which the Buff- breasted Button-quail shares its habitat. The ‘mystery calls’ also differed from those of the Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides, Papuan Frogmouth P. papuensis, and Common Bronze-wing Pigeon Phaps chalcoptera. The structure of the booming, advertisement calls recorded at Mt Mulligan was consistent with earlier descriptions by McLennan (1923) and White (1922) of booming calls of Buff-breasted Button-quail near Coen, north-Queensland. McLennan could imitate the call and successfully attract individuals of the species. We used playback of the ‘mystery call’ recorded on the automated recorders at Mt Mulligan to similarly entice a Buff-breasted Button-quail female, accompanied by a male, toward our playback location in February 2016, Southern Cassowary, image by Lance Pearce further suggesting that the ‘mystery call’ could be a recording of the focal species.” Cassowary casques Smith GC, Mathieson MT. 2019. Unravelling the Being large and dark-coloured, Cassowaries may be mysteries of the Buff-breasted Button-quail Turnix under pressure to shed heat during hot weather. Using olivii: a possible booming call revealed. Corella 43: 26- thermal images obtained from captive birds across a 30. wide range of temperature conditions, it was determined that the casque is used to shed heat in hot Riflebird feeding on nectar weather and retain heat in cold weather. “Victoria’s Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) is known to feed Eastick DL, Tattersall GJ, Watson SJ, Lesku JA, Robert on fruits and invertebrates. On rare occasions, it has KA. 2019. Cassowary casques act as thermal windows. been reported feeding at flowers, but it was not clear Scientific Reports 9: Article number: 1966. Open what food was obtained from them. Here, I report access: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019- observations ... of one adult male Victoria’s Riflebird 38780-8. clearly feeding on nectar from Blue Quandong (Elaeocarpus grandis) flowers.” See the article at the link below for a still photograph and link to video of the Other recent literature event. Anthony MS, Franklin DC, members of the North De Geest P. 2019. Victoria’s Riflebird feeding on floral Queensland Natural History Group. 2019. A flora and nectar. North Queensland Naturalist 49: 14-16. Open fauna survey of the Wyndham Sandy Creek Nature access: https://www.nqnat.org/de-geest-2019. Refuge near Mt Garnet in north Queensland. North Queensland Naturalist 49: 1-13. Open access: https://www.nqnat.org/anthonyetal2019. Buelow CA, Reside AE, Baker R, Sheaves M. 2018. Stable isotopes reveal opportunistic foraging in a spatiotemporally heterogeneous environment: Bird assemblages in mangrove forests. PLoS ONE 13: Art. No. e0206145. Keighley MV, Heinsohn R, Langmore NE, Murphy SA, Peñalba JV. 2019. Genomic population structure aligns with vocal dialects in Palm Cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus); evidence for refugial late-Quaternary distribution? Emu 119: 24-37. Neilly H, Schwarzkopf L. 2019. The impact of cattle grazing regimes on tropical savanna bird assemblages. Austral Ecology 44: 187-198. [near Charters Towers] Nielsen L. 2018. Are there two species of Graceful Honeyeater in Australia? Australian Field Ornithology 35: 149-157. [summarised in Contact Call 8(2): 5]

Male Victorian Riflebird © Ian Montgomery, Birdway.com

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Birdlife Torresian/Pied Imperial-pigeon coast counts

The coast count project is gathering long-term data about Torresian/Pied Imperial-pigeon flocks that “commute” daily between mainland foraging grounds and scattered offshore islands where these birds roost and nest. Urban nesting in Cairns, recorded in detail by Brian Thanks to wonderful help from many people, our Venables, also had an unusually early end to the 2018- coverage has expanded from the original four sites in 2019 season, and informal observations at several the Mission Beach area in 2007. We now have records other places told a similar story. However, nesting for sites spread out over more than 800 km of the appeared to continue considerably later at the Queensland coast, although wide gaps remain, in need southern extremity of TIP/PIP breeding range. of additional counters in future seasons. At Victor Island, near Hay Point, newly hatched egg During the 2018-19 breeding season 21 coastal sites shells were noticed as late as mid-February, and PIPs were counted, with repeated counts at a few of these were still numerous in early March. places. The highest tallies were 3,948 at Cowley Beach (well above any previous counts at Cowley), 3,929 at Figure 1 shows the complete records for sites with five Weary Bay (notably below the highest previous count or more counts. I have also created an interactive map there) and 2,620 south of Hay Point opposite Victor where you can see totals for all sites from 2013 to Island (within the range of counts in recent seasons). 2018. Find it at https://www.pipwatch.net/reports/cc_report.html Another five counts exceeded 1000, while at the other end of the scale, 9 totals were below 100. Of the Several previously counted sites were unfortunately latter, the most surprising was a zero count at Cooya missed recently, because we had insufficient Beach in the second week of February. It was a volunteers. We really need everyone’s help to find dramatic change from Cooya’s substantial counts in additional counters for the 2019-2020 season. If you November and January, and probably indicated an know people who might be interested, please exceptionally early end to nesting at Low Isles, the encourage them to participate and contact me by breeding island of pigeons flying to and from Cooya. email [email protected] or mobile 0407 431 382.

August 2019 17 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Western Queensland Grasswren Surveys in May 2019

Come the 12th of May and a stellar group of 16 The next morning saw some of our experienced teams volunteers from as far away as Bryon Bay, Cairns and head off to Boodjamulla National Park, to assist Darwin mustered together at our camp spot just national park rangers with surveys. The rest of us northwest of Mount Isa. We were all volunteers for sorted out our plans for dividing up and covering our this year’s BirdLife NQ surveys for Carpentarian and primary locations at Calton Hills. Kalkadoon . We would spend the next two We then had “induction” time for our new surveyors, weeks walking the hills of both Calton Hills and training them in the secrets of grasswren surveys and Thorntonia stations, all the time listening out for both learning how to master walking in circles - well actually the loud advertising songs and barely audible contact squares! We also had the opportunity to come to calls of these spinifex dwellers. terms with the nemises of these surveys - We were encouraged by the earlier rains which had Spinifexbirds and fairy-wrens, learning their contact fallen back in March. These rainfall events meant that calls and cryptic moves, similar yet distinctive from Southern Gulf NRM could undertake some controlled grasswrens. burns across Calton Hills, to initiate a mosaic of burns The grasswrens did not disappoint this year! Our as a means of preventing widespread wild fires, like Thorntonia teams found grasswrens at 7 of their 11 those which had occurred nearby back in 2011. And sites, and then added another 5 successful sites just our job now, along with our previous years’ surveys, by driving past and hearing the birds!! And our Calton was to provide a baseline to determine if these Hills teams added another 10 sites - overall, very good controlled fires can help maintain healthy populations returns for a two-week period! And we had several of grasswrens. groups with more than two birds, and confirmed We started off with a welcome dinner, prepared by our immature birds in three of these groups (see photo grasswren chef extraordinaire - Paul Thompson. Paul below). So a successful breeding year by the is capable of conjuring up a gourmet chef’s kitchen in Carpentarians. Interestingly, we did not find any the middle of the Mount Isa bush, and then cooking up evidence of breeding among the Kalkadoon absolute delights! grasswrens.

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Adult male on left, immature with yellowish gape on right. Photo by Anthony “Woodie” Woodbine These results now form the basis of a long-term monitoring program covering the Buckley River Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), with the endangered Carpentarian Grasswren as its iconic species. And it is also a key area for the Queensland endemic . Thorntonia station just to the northwest of Calton Hills lies between that KBA and the Boodjamulla KBA further northwest. The objective of Southern Gulf’s fire management plan is to ensure there is a corridor of sufficient unburnt habitat between the populations. We will be out there again next year, so please consider joining us for great birding in spectacular Kalkadoon Grasswren. Image courtesy of Dominic Chaplin country, with exceptional companions. Kath Shurcliff JOIN US IN 2019 FOR THE Grasswren survey coordinator Conservation Coordinator and Cape York Area Coordinator ANNUAL CRANE COUNT

When: Saturday September 7th PALM When: 12.00-2.00pm for the day count of birds COCKATOO in the field and/or 3pm until dark for the roost BAGS count. Meet at Hasties Swamp bird hide at 3pm for the afternoon roost count briefing

and to be assigned your team and site. Buy one of our Palm

Cockatoo calico bags You must register if you are going to take part. and support BirdLife Beginners are most welcome. Northern Queensland

as well as wage war Following the count join us for dinner and a on plastic. $10. Only discussion of the results at the Malanda Hotel available at BirdLife

Northern Queensland at 7pm (at own cost).

Meetings. Contact DAVID MERRALL at [email protected], 0740952784 or 0458952784 for more information, to be assigned sites and to register for one or all the events, including dinner

August 2019 19 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Harriers and a few woodswallows. Boulia was a The Diamantina Circuit necessary stop for fuel before setting off on the gravel road to the west of Diamantina National Park. This Inspired by wildlife photographer and BirdLife NQ time we did not go through the park as we wanted to Committee members, Martin and Sam Willis, my wife focus on the search for Letter-winged Kites. Once we Val and I decided to take a brief opportunity and set off down Coorabulka Road we knew we would see return to some of our favourite western Queensland few if any travellers over the next couple of days. We birding sites. While an important target species was stopped to enjoy an excellent stand of waddi trees the Letter-winged Kite we also wanted to enjoy several (Acacia peuce) a few km down the road (more Brolgas, other desert sites so we planned the trip to Masked Woodswallows, Bustards, Wedge-tailed Eagles circumnavigate the Diamantina area. That would allow and a close flyby of a hunting Grey Falcon). Jon Luly, us to enjoy a variety of sites within the short period my long-time colleague and friend from James Cook available. We enjoy being by ourselves in the bush and University has been working on Waddi Trees for many that was a factor in our planning but we were prepared years. Val and I discussed some of his well-known to be flexible depending on what we uncovered. adventures as we drove along and then we noted a vehicle that seemed abandoned on the road, doors Leaving Malanda in the dark we spent the first day open and nobody around. It had to be and of course it driving through Mt Garnet, the Lynd, Hughenden and was Jon, flying his drone to capture details on the Winton. We continued on across the black soil plains to extent of waddi trees! A splendid reunion. This was the Poddy Creek in the Cawnpore Ranges on the road to last car we were to see for the next two days although Boulia. There is a roadside camp that we had to we did have a brief encounter with three huge stock ourselves and were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset trains carrying cattle from one of the stations. This surrounded by excellent views and healthy looking section of road had some bulldust and the approaching spinifex. We knew we were out west when the Crested stock trucks were enveloped in huge clouds of red Bellbird welcomed us with its distinctive “pan pan dust. I drove the caravan 100 metres off the road to panella” call. A late moonrise gave us exquisite star watch as they went by and to avoid the dust. views. We were now ready for the circuit, our loop around the Diamantina. This environment is largely grassy plains with patches of gibber and creek lines that had sparse trees and A brief stop near Middleton produced a few typical shrubs along them. In places, just a dead shrub or western birds including Val’s favourite the Spinifex two, sometimes a few coolibah gums and always Pigeon, and plenty of Cockatiels, Budgerigars, wattles of various species. There were also a few Diamond Doves and small flocks of Crimson Chats. We Senna and Eremophila shrubs, occasional beefwood noted many raptors: an occasional Black Falcon along trees ( striata) and a few whitewoods (Atalaya with the many Brown Falcons and Whistling and Black hemiglauca). Kites. It was delightful to see Brolgas and also Spotted

Campsite west of Winton Campsite on Coorabulka Road The Waddi trees on Coorabulka Road

Sunrise at Coorabulka Road Two Letter-winged Kite Dusty Diamantina Roadtrains

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Ten roosting Letter-winged Kites Letter winged Kite

We camped that night on a creek that had a few It soon became apparent that the group seemed to be waterholes and scattered shrubs surrounded by mainly interested in roosting and they liked being grasslands. It was nice to sit in our chairs and enjoy together. But in the course of the day they used Brolgas near the camp at sunset as well as the usual several different roosts. One roost, probably the one desert species. In the very early morning light next we disturbed them from, was a low pile of sticks just day I thought I spotted a Letter-winged Kite come in 20 metres from the road. At any one time, there were to land on a distant dead tree. I admit to becoming usually 10 birds roosting together. They would sit with quite excited but the light was poor and my scope bodies facing the cold breeze and soaking up the sun. could not reveal enough detail at the distance. The overnight temperatures were around 2 degrees. At Unfortunately, the bird flew off, further along the times, they all had their eyes shut, presumably creek, and I decided it could not be recorded as a sleeping. definite. But it was a promising start. Over the course of several hours we noted that We continued birding as the sun rose and enjoyed a occasionally the whole group would take off and fly couple of hours of excellent birds along the creek and above in a circle before returning to the roost (usually adjacent plains. Crimson Chats were plentiful but the within a minute or two). We could not discern any males were not in breeding plumage. Zebra Finches reason for this disturbance, but perhaps one bird was were everywhere and many Crested and Spinifex startled by something and triggered a general exodus. Pigeons mixed with Diamond Doves fed on the ground. The flock had two other regular roosts – a pair of dead I was surprised at the lack of – not one shrubs with multiple branches, quite low also (< 2 seen so far. But there were plenty of trillers and many metres) and the leafy whitewood tree along the creek. woodswallows, both Masked and Black-faced but no These were about 100-150 metres or so apart from White-browed. each other and well away from where the road crossed We did not drive far that day as after an hour or so we the creek. But there were also a few trees that had came across a creek that seemed likely to be suitable raptor nests in them (and also a crow’s nest with two and long before we reached the crossing Val called out chicks in it) and in at least two of these we noted a Letterwings – and there they were. Our vehicle had single roosting Letter-winged Kite, presumably obviously disturbed them and they were aloft. What a indicating an active nest. We did not wish to go too sight. I had stopped, of course, and so we watched as near the trees and run the risk of disturbing the birds they landed individually in a green leafy tree about so most observations were with our telescope. 200 metres away. We thought maybe 7 or 8 birds but That evening, just as the sun set, the group took off it was hard to tell in the thickly foliaged tree despite from the sunny roost site and flew a circuit above us the white plumage being very visible. This was before dispersing, we presumed this was to head off obviously where we wanted to be and so we pulled off on the hunt. We hoped they would have success – the onto some roadside gibber and settled in for a day of end of a few long-haired rats perhaps? I had come observations. across an occasional long-haired rat burrow but not many so there was no hint of a plague at this stage.

August 2019 21 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Early next morning, before sunrise, I checked the roosts and could only see one bird in the whitewood roost. But they began to turn up and by 8.00 am the full complement of 10 birds was roosting on the sunny sticks. Later, following one of their flights above the stick roost, I noted a single Magpie attacking a Letter- winged Kite. It flew fiercely after the kite and attacked with beak and claws. Both were diving downwards. Suddenly another Letter-winged Kite swooped down on the two and the Magpie broke off. The two kites then returned to the roost, seemingly none the worse for the encounter. I also saw an altercation between a Black Kite and a Letter-winged Kite but it did not involve physical contact, just close flying and repeated manoeuvres.

As we packed up and left later that day the flock flew Red-capped Robin, Windorah in for a closer look, flying in a circle around us and inland form of the – the males deliberately looking down at us. It is clear they do not have beautiful eggshell blue colours rather than the see many intruders in this remote place and were darker more vibrant blues of the Western Australian perhaps curious. What a wonderful experience. form. We had a family come right into camp and hop We headed off and eventually into Bedouri to refuel around on the ground a few metres from us. The enjoying a few Flock Bronzewings, another Grey White-winged Fairywren males were in brilliant Falcon, lots of Australian Pratincoles, a pair of plumage and again seemed quite confiding, flying in to Gibberbirds and many Kestrels. Our plan now involved the camp also. The male Red-capped Robin seemed to heading east across the plains to Windorah with a suddenly appear whenever we went walking into the camp on the way. shrubby woodland. It really felt like he was curious about us and flew around us and near us to give In Windorah, the best birding of the trip was excellent views. The red colours were brilliant. We experienced. We had camped on the Cooper Creek wished we had more time to spend along the Cooper’s previously and were happy to enjoy the Nature Drive Creek. (12 km between the town and Cooper’s Creek). Here, a combination of Town Common and Reserve provides The Windorah community is to be commended for the excellent shrub habitat with a variety of eucalypts development of this nature drive and the placement of (ghost gums, bloodwoods), wattle species; eremophila many signs identifying specific plant species and other and other shrubs and various grasses. This attracts a environmental information. There is an excellent leaflet host of bird species including Halls Babblers, three available from the visitor centre in Windorah. species of fairywrens, finches, Budgerigars, Pallid and Next day we travelled the road to Jundah and turned Black-eared , Diamond Doves, Crested off to take the gravel track up to Opalton, our favourite Pigeons, sitellas and Crested Bellbirds. It even had a camp site. It’s a long drive and the first two hundred family of Banded Lapwing and some unidentified quail. km is through wide open grassy plains – and Wedge- Amongst the more colourful was a stunning male Red- tailed Eagles, Emus and Bustards. After that more capped Robin. Of particular interest was the brilliant mulga appears with creeks with waterholes and gives

Inland form of the Splendid Fairywren, Purple-backed Fairywren, Opalton White-winged Fairywren, Windorah Windorah

22 Contact Call Contact Call different species including Budgerigars and other parrots. Gradually there is more spinifex and rocky ridges mixed with the mulga as we come closer to ’n’Friends Opalton. Our much-loved campsite is unoccupied and we enjoyed two nights all to ourselves, camped on a billabong. Great place for a campfire and the stars. We Birdwatchers & nature lovers’ did see Rusty Grasswrens and other species but not great opportunities for photographs and we missed out accommodation on the Rufous-crowned Emuwren. But lots of Spotted Bowerbirds including an active bower and more Feathers’n’Friends Cottage is fully self-contained honeyeaters than seen elsewhere. And a family of with extensive facilities to ensure up to 7 guests can Purple-backed Fairywrens who were very confiding in enjoy short or extended stays. our camp! The secluded lodging is surrounded by tropical We headed up the track to Winton and normally would rainforest and beautiful gardens with varying have enjoyed a couple more days at Bladensburg; but habitat and a large variety of birds and wildlife. we needed to head to Malanda and we made a good trip home from Winton up the Lynd and home in a day. Activities in the area include birdwatching at nearby We very much enjoyed this trip and plan to do another Mt Lewis and other birdwatching locations, as well circuit again soon. Everything about the trip was as Daintree River nature tours and other terrific, especially the birds and the big sky attractions. landscapes. Discounts available for Birdlife Australia members. Peter Valentine Convenor Check our website for comprehensive details, rates and bookings: www.feathersnfriends.com.au Hosts: Carol and Les Borrett 244 Clacherty Road Julatten QLD 4871 Tel: 07 4094 1665; Mob: 0412991175 Email: [email protected] Come and join us at the BirdLife Northern Queensland

booth at the

Cassowary Festival Ulysses Park, Porter Promenade,

Mission Beach st September 21 9am – 4pm Situated 1½ hrs north of Cairns in Tropical North Queensland we offer accommodation in self-contained At the festival there will be units and bunkhouse rooms. We also have a small camping area. The property is a rainforest wildlife Guest speakers Music all day sanctuary catering for birdwatchers and naturalists. Visiting the 'Gunduy Midja' We are central to a variety of habitats and provide bird species lists, area maps and Wi-Fi internet access. The spectacular 'Drumming of Guiding is available by arrangement. Cassowaries' parade We offer packages for individuals and small groups. Competitions Sand sculpturing Carol and Andrew Iles RN6, Mt. Kooyong Road Lots of Art & Craft activities including Julatten QLD 4871 the 'Stripey's Tent, and lots more FUN Ph: (07) 4094 1263 Wear Cassowary colours, black, red Email: [email protected] www.birdwatchers.com.au and blue

August 2019 23 BirdLife Northern Queensland

News from Mount Isa.

Following the recent rains in north Queensland water birds are starting to return to Lake Moondarra as other waters in the area start to dry up. There are many Green Pygmy-geese here at the moment and some Australasian Grebes may have bred twice, as I have seen grebe chicks several times, some months apart. I have also noticed plenty of Pictorella Mannikins with Long-tailed Finch with juveniles among them so they must have also bred here. The desert bloodwood blossoms have started to open up attracting the nectar eaters. Strangely, I have Little Eagle observed both juvenile Banded and Yellow-tinted Honeyeaters in the blossoms, but no adult birds. We are still hoping that some of the more exotic honeyeaters may arrive (fingers are crossed). I haven't seen the Yellow Chats here of late but on a recent trip to Birdsville I saw some near the Vaughn Johnson Lookout which is halfway between Boulia and Bedourie. Karen Walsh and I, have been looking at other sites for the Carpentarian Grasswren without any success as yet, however I believe there have been some keen birders walking from the Barkly Highway along beside McNamara's Road away from the haul road, and have been lucky enough to see some Carpies. The Kalkadoon Grasswren has been seen on a fairly regular basis near the water tanks at the eastern end of Ground -shrike Pamela Street. We were fortunate to observe and photograph some infrequent visitors to our region in May, being the Little Eagle, Ground Cuckoo-shrike and Peregrine Falcon. There is a cliff face in the area which I have been watching on and off for years in the hope of seeing a Peregrine Falcon there. So imagine my joy one Saturday, when at the end of our birding day I mentioned to Karen let's look at the cliff face again, and low and behold there was the Peregrine Falcon. Unfortunately, we haven't seen it since. There is a new birding brochure being printed which has been sponsored and designed by Outback at Isa. It will feature 176 images of birds from the Mount Isa area which is about 75% of the species recorded here. Peregrine Falcon I expect the migratory waders to start arriving in about a month. It is always an exciting time as one never knows what may turn up. Anyhow, cheers, to all you fellow birders. And may the ones on your wish list show up. Rex Whitehead. Mount Isa.

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Birding in the Kingdom of Bhutan

Mid-March this year we took off for a three-week birding trip to Bhutan with David Bishop (see http://davidbishopbirdtours.com/about/ in case you don’t know who he is). The tour group was to be six people, which ended up as three: Jeff and I and photographer Terry from Florida. Bhutan has always been on my distant wish-list, distant as it is very expensive to travel there. But when David contacted The Paro River flows right through town – here are me to ask if we’d like to go, I said Yes after about 30 White Wagtails, Brown Dippers, River Lapwings, seconds and asked questions later. redstarts and the Ibisbill, which looks just like one of There is one advantage to being retired – all that those grey boulders when sitting with bill tucked back superannuation and saving is there to be spent, in its feathers. without having to ask anyone’s permission to do so.

We arrived in Paro just in time for the Tschechu spring festival, which runs for five days.

Everyone wears their very best clothes, watches the dancing and families have picnics. Ignoring the Spring festival (and us), Black-tailed Crake in small swamp beside the Paro River.

The womens’ skirts (kira) are hand-woven of cotton and silk and the cloth over their shoulders is part of Blue-fronted Redstart male in breeding dress; these the formal dress. The woman on the right so liked this were commonly encountered. It was early spring, with photo that she asked Jeff to send it to them – and he migrations still going on. did.

August 2019 25 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Green-tailed Sunbirds were common, so we got used to their amazing colours; rather like us being used to the Rainbow lorikeet’s colours. Our planned route out through Cheli La pass was blocked by heavy snow at 3457 m so a long detour was needed. Forest is , larch and hemlock.

White-browed Fulvettas may not be brightly coloured, but they were very cute and fearless when they thought there was a Collared Owlet about (David could whistle its call perfectly).

Dark-rumped Rosefinches (here is a male) got David excited as they were “too early”.

Bhutan is filled with laughing-thrushes and babblers – this is a Spotted Laughing-thrush early on a rainy Bar-headed Geese and Ruddy Shelduck on gravel bars morning. These are very lovely birds but they don’t in the Puna Tsang Chu river. These geese take very hang around to be admired for long. high-altitude migrations, flying OVER the Himalayas.

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English and I wanted to talk to her (had a great conversation too).

Breakfasts and lunches were taken in the field, as well as dinners if we were camping. We were looked after by an amazing and very kind support team, most of whom had university degrees (economics, environment, etc) but would rather be out in the field. Another reason for going to Bhutan – to see Tree Our driver Wangde (standing just behind the truck, rhododendrons in bloom, having read about them in wearing cap) became very anxious when we found a explorers’ and plant-hunters’ accounts. dead snake in the road as he thought he’d killed it - he only relaxed when we showed him the dents on its side where a serpent-eagle (which we had just been watching) had grabbed it.

Weaving is part of life in Bhutan. Here is a backstrap When you come from Haa, high in the mountains, loom in action, the woman is working in front of her sandals are all you need on your feet. Chimi was one house opposite our lodge, Trogon Villa outside of our support crew and acted as interpreter for me at Yongkola. I bought a kira length from her, with the a guesthouse where the lady of the house spoke no help of her daughter who spoke a little English.

August 2019 27 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Token fish photo (by me). Dinner at Kuku Hotel, Gelephu, of steamed Grass carp with salad. The Himalayas in full glory – something I never ever thought I would see. This was the 32nd trip to Bhutan for David and he had never seen them in full sun before! Everest is way behind Jeff (we saw it from the plane while landing).

The fabulous White-hooded Babblers gossiping in a stand of giant bamboo. Many of the flocks of babblers and laughing-thrushes were travelling too fast for photos.

Long-tailed Broadbill in the lowland forest. So was it worth it all? My trip list was 288 birds (David heard and saw even more) and I saw 93 life birds. But the country was like nowhere else on earth – mind- blastingly beautiful filled with kind and generous people, who cared greatly for living things. Save your dollars and go to Bhutan! Text by Helen Larson, Coastal Wet Tropics KBA Guardian, Photos by Jeff Larson

The bird of the trip, Himalayan Monal at 3267 m. An uncooperative male who made sure there were plenty of twigs between him and Jeff. But he let us admire him quietly for a while.

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Bramston Beach and Eubenangee Swamp outing 23 June 2019 On the plus side, it was a beautiful clear morning and a gorgeous day to be out birding. On the minus side, apparently, we forgot to invite the birds!

Eubenangee Swamp National Park A large flock of White-breasted Woodswallows entertained us as they visibly huddled on Casuarina branches and flew over the adjacent lagoon hawking for insects. We also caught glimpses of Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Mistletoebird, Rainbow Bee-eaters and Spangled Drongo, amongst a few other birds. Some participants were lucky enough to see Brown Booby and Crested Terns following a passing prawn trawler, and dolphins just off-shore. After a communal Russell River National Park (Graham range section) early morning tea we headed back towards Bramston The day started near Bramston Beach, Graham Range Beach township, stopping a few times along the way to section of the Russell River National Park. We were find more birds, but they remained difficult! We ticked joined by the Cairns Birders and the Johnstone off Dusky Honeyeater, Little Shrike-thrush, Fairy Ecological Society, which bolstered our numbers to a Gerygone, Helmeted Friarbird, Black , robust seventeen. With that many people and a wealth Graceful and Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters, Spectacled of experience, we spent an hour or so birding and Monarch and a Forest Kingfisher, before heading to undertaking a survey using the BirdLife Australia 500m Eubenangee Swamp, and at least here, there were a area search strategy. After all, this first site was in our few more birds out and about braving the cool beloved Coastal Wet Tropics Key Biodiversity Area conditions. Rufous and Spectacled Monarch put (KBA). Whether it was the low temperature that on a show for us. There were also Orange-footed morning, or the cold south-easterly breeze that was Scrubfowl, Pacific Baza, Large-billed Scrubwren, blowing, or high tide, we will never know, but the birds Graceful and Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters, Yellow were few and far between and in fact, we relied Oriole and Wompoo Fruit-dove. Some sighted a strongly on the few bird calls we could hear to identify Nankeen Night Heron before it flew off. From the hill any birds present. Of course, this is never much fun looking down on the swamp, there were few for new birders who desperately need to see the birds waterbirds other than Great and Intermediate Egrets, to learn and recognise them but that was the best we Darter and Comb-crested Jacana. Fairy Martins flew could do. above us. The sighting of the day was of a crocodile. As with all good crocodile stories the size of the crocodile sighted basking in the sun and then swimming below us in the swamp seemed to grow with discussion but best guess was 4m. Despite the lack of birds, it was a good day to be outside in the fresh air with friends and in such beautiful surroundings. Thank you to the Cairns Birds and Johnstone Ecological Society group for joining us. Ceri Pearce Cassowary Coast Area Coordinator

White-breasted Woodswallows

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Intermediate Egret Warrina Lakes Outing They were all tilapia which are common in the lake. When we reached the position where we first saw the 14 July 2019, Innisfail Great-billed Heron stab the fish, there were two dead It was one of those perfect, cool mornings. Not a cloud tilapia on the bank, each with the same stab wound. In in the sky. There were only three of us, but the birding all we found ten fresh dead fish. The only other bird was spectacular – and full of surprises. we saw fishing in the lake that morning was a White- bellied Sea-eagle, which flew in and left with a fish. We Our usual path to the lakes revealed a Great-billed did not see any people with spears and it was very Heron, in the open, fishing. We had breath-taking early on a cold Sunday morning. Now of course we can views as the bird stabbed a fish, instantly killing it. The never be certain how the fish died, but the heron was heron seemed to drop the fish, turn it over and pick it our chief suspect. up again. It stepped behind a tree for a few moments, and when we saw it again, the fish was gone. We As if that wasn’t exciting enough, we saw a male assumed the heron ate the fish. The heron resumed its Lovely Fairy-wren with two females, amongst a flurry interest in fishing, while also keeping an eye on us. of activity that included Rufous Fantail, Spectacled After allowing us to watch it in the open for some time, Monarchs and two Leaden Flycatcher. We also had the heron flew up into a high tree to safely observe our great views of two Crimson Finch in the long grass. movements. We continued around the lake, admiring Also for the first time at Warrina Lakes we encountered the Comb-crested Jacana parents with two juveniles in Pale-vented Bush-hen with two birds heard in a very tow, Wandering Whistling-ducks, Australasian Grebe, rowdy territorial dispute. To top it off, we also found Little Black Cormorant, the usual Pacific Black Ducks two Large-billed Gerygone carrying food to a well- and an Intermediate Egret basking in the sun. All the constructed nest (though we could not see into the time we were also watching the Great-billed Heron, nest nor hear any young, we assume that they were watching us. The only time the heron became spooked feeding young). was when a Black-necked Stork flew over it. That seemed to shake our heron up for a minute or two. In all, we saw 45 species in just under three hours, and celebrated by sharing smoko and reliving the Intriguingly, as we wandered around the lake birding morning’s highlights. we found a sparse trail of fresh dead fish, each about 20-25 cm long and each with a stab wound. Ceri Pearce, Cassowary Coast Area Coordinator

Postscript: Typically, I didn’t have my camera with me at Warrina Lakes that morning. All I have is an unsatisfactory iPhone image of the Great billed Heron in a tree. After the event I raced home for the camera and returned for several hours. The heron was nowhere to be seen. The next morning, I went back before work, still no heron! If you find the bird before we do, please let us know. Cheers Ceri.

Comb-crested Jacana

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FREE JOURNALS - PICK UP OR Noticeboard PAY POSTAGE From the Editor

The Stilt – The Bulletin of the East Asia A big thank you to all of our contributors. It is your Australasian Flyway valuable input that keeps the newsletter going. Issue Spring 1981 No 1- 62, plus Nos. Send your articles and images to 65,66,67 (2015) [email protected] Sunbird – Journal of the Queensland Ornithological Society Newsletter deadlines for 2019 1975- 2013 99 issues (not complete run) ➢ October 10th for the December Edition Corella – Journal of Bird Study Association

1986-2013 88 issues (not complete run) BirdLife Northern Queensland Newsletter Emu – Journal of Birds Australia ‘Contact Call’ March 1997 – 2014 88 issues (not complete [email protected] run) www.birdlifenq.org The Australian Birdwatcher – Journal of The

Bird Observers Club of Australia March 1981-1998 67 Issues (not complete run). Australian Field Ornithology- Journal of Bird Observation & Conservation Australia and Birdlife Australia March 2006 – Dec. 2015 37 Issues Join us on Facebook Canberra Bird Notes – Journal of Canberra Ornithologists Group 2014 - 4 issues Activities

FOR SALE Check out the BirdLife Northern Queensland activities for 2019 in the event calendar. The updated list of Leica Ultravid HD 10 x 42 Binoculars, events is also available on our website http://birdlifenq.org/. Just serviced, some wear marks, optically 100%. Harness + Case in original box. See Do come and join us. twice as many birds! $1900.00 (new $3200) You do not have to be a BirdLife member or an expert birder. Most of us are still learning and keen to share the fun. Contact:- Keith Fisher MOB 0447 816 865 email [email protected] Everybody is welcome. For more information about an event, contact the leader listed, or check the website for details:

http://birdlifenq.org/, or join us on Facebook

In the event of a severe weather warning or other unforeseen circumstances, events may be cancelled at short notice. Contact the event organiser to confirm

events or monitor our Facebook page or emails for updates. We look forward to seeing you there!

August 2019 31 BirdLife Northern Queensland

BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Activities

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader

SOCIAL BIRD WALK ON THE TABLELANDS 0700 -0800 Birding in the gardens and national park 0800 – 0900 Lake Barrine birding specific cruise Martin Willis where we aim to track down roosting Papuan Tablelands Area Coordinator Frogmouths and observe frugivores at a Ficus For more information, please Saturday 7:00– virens contact me on 4096 6581 or 10 August 10:00a Lake Barrine 0900 Brunch email [email protected], or 2019 m Please note that the boat trip is numbers Alan Gillanders on 4095 3784. dependant, will be bird focused and the cost will We look forward to seeing you be $20 cash per person, paid to Alan on board. there! Please email [email protected] by the 8th August to confirm your attendance on the boat ride. Warrina Lakes, SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA Innisfail LAKES Meet in the You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Sunday For more information, please 7:00– carpark in Park social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet 11 August contact Sandra Christensen on 9:30am St, off the in the Warrina Lakes carpark. After birding we'll 2019 0448 845 842, corner of Emily have morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning and Charles St, tea). Bring binoculars / scope, sunscreen, hat, Innisfail and insect repellent and smoko to share. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Bring the kids! Golo Maurer You're invited to join us for an afternoon of 2:00– Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday Ellis Beach “Shells at Ellis Beach” and a 500 m area search 4:00pm For more information, please 31 August Meet at Parking for Birdata. We'll meet at the parking lot at Ellis contact me on 0467 444 114 or 2019 Lot Beach. Please bring your sun smart gear, water email and snacks, mozzie repellent, and [email protected]. binoculars/scope. There will be scones and tea afterwards. HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Peter Valentine the bird hide, members will survey the birds Hastie’s Swamp, Convenor Friday present at the wetlands and count the numbers Atherton For more information, please 6 7:00– of each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds Meet at Hasties contact me on 4096 6171, or September 9:00am in the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. Swamp Hide car Martin Willis 4096 6581, or 2019 We hope to follow the seasonal changes park email through the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp [email protected]. Hide car park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. 2019 ANNUAL CRANE COUNT Atherton David Merrall Saturday 12:00–2:00pm – Volunteers needed Tablelands Crane Count Coordinator 7 3:00pm – Meet at Hastie’s Swamp bird hide for Various Meet at Hastie’s For more information, please September briefing Swamp Hide car contact me on 0458 952 784 or 2019 4:00–6:30pm – Counting at crane roosts park email [email protected]. 7:00pm – Dinner at Malanda Pub SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA Warrina Lakes, LAKES Ceri Pearce Innisfail You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Cassowary Coast Area Sunday Meet in the social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet Coordinator 8 7:00– carpark in Park in the Warrina Lakes carpark. After birding we'll For more information, please September 9:30am St, off the have morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning contact me on 0488 131 581, or 2019 corner of Emily tea). It’s the very wet tropics so bring an Sandra Christensen on 0448 and Charles St, umbrella and waterproof shoes, just in case. 845 842, or email Innisfail Also binoculars / scope, sunscreen, hat, and [email protected] insect repellent and smoko to share. Martin Willis TABLELANDS TALK Thursday Tablelands Area Coordinator Science is not a dirty word: Recent discoveries 12 7:30– For more information, please Malanda Hotel from invasive bird research that helps September 9:30pm contact me on 4096 6581 or conservation 2019 email [email protected], or Dr Steve Murphy Peter Valentine on 4096 6171.

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BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Activities

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader

Ceri Pearce Ulysses Cassowary Coast Area Saturday Park, 9.00 MISSION BEACH CASSOWARY FESTIVAL Coordinator 21 Porter am – Come and join us and bring the kids. We’re going For more information, please September Promenade 4:00pm to have a booth at the Cassowary Festival contact me on 0488 131 581, or 2019 Mission Mike Grigg email Beach [email protected] STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Centenary Bring the kids! Golo Maurer Saturday Lakes, You're invited to join us for an evening of Stickybeak Coordinator 28 5:00– Cairns “Spotlighting at Centenary Lakes” and a 500 m For more information, please September 7:00pm Meet at area search for Birdata. We'll meet at the Chinese contact me on 0467 444 114 or 2019 Chinese Pagoda in Centenary Lakes. Please bring your email Pagoda torch, water and snacks, mozzie repellent, and [email protected] binoculars/scope. Tom Collis SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND EAST TRINITY Cairns Area Coordinator September Dennis Walls / Cairns Birders / BLNQ. For more information, please 2019 Details to be confirmed (8 or 15 September)? contact me on 0401 783 795 or email [email protected] HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Hastie’s the bird hide, members will survey the birds Peter Valentine Swamp, present at the wetlands and count the numbers Convenor Friday Atherton 7:00– of each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds For more information, please 4 October Meet at 9:00am in the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. contact me on 4096 6171, or 2019 Hasties We hope to follow the seasonal changes through Martin Willis 4096 6581, or email Swamp Hide the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car [email protected] car park park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Stratford Tom Collis Library Cairns Area Coordinator Saturday 11 Tea and coffee will be provided. CAIRNS TALK 5 October 7:30pm Kamerunga For more information, please Details to be confirmed. 2019 Road contact me Stratford, on 0401 783 795 or email Cairns [email protected] Tom Collis Sunday Cairns Area Coordinator SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND CAIRNS 6 October For more information, please Details to be confirmed. 2019 contact me on 0401 783 795 or email [email protected] Martin Willis Malanda TABLELANDS TALK Tablelands Area Coordinator Thursday Hotel 7:30– Leo Joseph will present a thought provoking talk For more information, please 10 October 2 English 9:30pm on “Australia’s bird names are all sorted out. Yes? contact me on 4096 6581 or 2019 Street, No? Maybe?” email [email protected] or Malanda Alan Gillanders on 4095 3784. SOCIAL BIRD WALK ON THE TABLELANDS 0630 – 0700 Birding the lookout area above the Martin Willis dam wall. Meet at the car park at the top of the Tablelands Area Coordinator Saturday hill and the interpretive rotunda. For more information, please 12 October 6.30am Tinaroo 0700 - Move off in car pool convoy to other contact me on 4096 6581 or 2019 locations nearby. email [email protected] or Bring your own morning tea. Please email Alan Gillanders on 4095 3784. We [email protected] if you have any look forward to seeing you there! questions.

August 2019 33 BirdLife Northern Queensland

BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Activities

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader

Warrina Ceri Pearce Lakes, Cassowary Coast Area SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Innisfail Coordinator You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Meet in the For more information, Sunday social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in 7:00– carpark in please contact me on 0488 13 October the Warrina Lakes carpark. After birding we'll have 9:30am Park St, off 131 581, or Sandra 2019 morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). Bring the corner of Christensen on 0448 845 binoculars / scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect Emily and 842, or email repellent and smoko to share. Charles St, [email protected] Innisfail om STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Bring the kids! Golo Maurer You're invited to join us for a “Bird week Count at Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday 10:00– the Esplanade” and a 500 m area search for For more information, 26 October 12:00 am Birdata. We'll meet at the southern observation please contact me on 0467 2019 deck on the Esplanade. Please bring your sun 444 114 or email smart gear, water and snacks, mozzie repellent, [email protected] and binoculars/scope. Monday – Sunday https://birdlife.org.au/get- 21–27 National 2019 NATIONAL BIRD WEEK involved/whats-on/bird- October week 2019 Monday – Sunday https://aussiebirdcount.org. 21–27 National 2019 AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT au/ October 2019 Saturday / Sunday 2019 NATIONAL TWITCHATHON Date to be www.birdlifetwitchathon.org. 26–27 National Have you registered? Be part of the fun that is the confirmed au October National Twitch! Date to be confirmed 2019 HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Hastie’s Peter Valentine the bird hide, members will survey the birds Swamp, Convenor Friday present at the wetlands and count the numbers of Atherton For more information, 1 7:00– each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds in the Meet at please contact me on 4096 November 9:00am adjacent fringing vegetation are included. We hope Hasties 6171, or Martin Willis 4096 2019 to follow the seasonal changes through the year. Swamp Hide 6581, or email We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car park on Koci car park [email protected] Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Martin Willis Tablelands Area Coordinator For more information, Thursday TABLELANDS TALK 7:30– Malanda please contact me on 4096 7 Birds of Finland 9:30pm Hotel 6581 or email November Harry Nyström [email protected] or Peter Valentine on 4096 6171. Warrina Lakes, SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Ceri Pearce Innisfail You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Cassowary Coast Area Sunday Meet in the social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in Coordinator 10 7:00– carpark in the Warrina Lakes carpark. After birding we'll have For more information, November 9.30am Park St, off morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). It’s please contact me on 0488 2019 the corner of the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and 131 581, or Sandra Emily and waterproof shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / Christensen on 0448 845 Charles St, scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellant. 842 Innisfail

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BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Activities

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader

Julia Hazel Synchronised PIP Count 16 4:00– Any coastal 2019 SYNCHRONISED REGIONAL PIP Coordinator November 6:30pm area COUNT For more information, please 2019 contact me on 0407 431 382 or email [email protected] Saturday GOLDEN BOWERBIRD GROUP SURVEY, and MT LEWIS Dominic Chaplin Sunday Mt Lewis, Please contact Dominic Chaplin for more [email protected] 23-24 Julatten area. details at [email protected] u November if you are interested to come along. 2019 Saturday and Sunday www.birdlife.org.au/get- 30 National 2019 CHALLENGE COUNT involved/whats-on/challenge- November count/ to 1 December 2019 Ceri Pearce Cassowary Coast Area SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA Coordinator Warrina LAKES For more information, please Lakes, You're invited to join us for our Cassowary contact me on 0488 131 581, or Innisfail Coast Christmas breakup and a couple of Sandra Christensen on 0448 845 Meet in the hours of social birding around Warrina Lakes. 842. Sunday 1 7:00– carpark in We'll meet in the Warrina Lakes carpark at December 9:30am Park St, off 7am. After birding we'll have morning tea at 2019 the corner of the lakes (BYO morning tea). It’s the very wet Emily and tropics so bring an umbrella and waterproof Charles St, shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / scope, Innisfail sunscreen, hat, insect repellent, and holiday cheer and smoko to share.

HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and Hastie’s Peter Valentine around the bird hide, members will survey the Swamp, Convenor Friday birds present at the wetlands and count the Atherton For more information, please 6 7:00– numbers of each species. Both waterbirds and Meet at contact me on 4096 6171, or December 9:00am bush birds in the adjacent fringing vegetation Hasties Martin Willis 4096 6581, or email 2019 are included. We hope to follow the seasonal Swamp Hide [email protected] We changes through the year. We'll meet at car park look forward to seeing you there! Hasties Swamp Hide car park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’.

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