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Newsletter of BirdLife Northern Queensland Volume 5 Number 3 August–September 2016

NICE WEATHER FOR DUCKS

Read the story about the Innisfail outing on page 4

Crane Count, 3rd September 2016 Call for counters Please contact Virginia Simmonds on 40958302 to register or for further information. You do not have to be an expert birder to participate and enjoy this event. Crane Count Activities Day Count: Contents This activity is a great excuse to explore the back roads of the Tablelands. You may find yourself in  Convenor’s report places you have never been. You will be assigned  IBA Healthcheck of Michaelmas Cay an area to explore to count the cranes present.  An Aussie has broken North Americas ‘Big Year’ Keep your eyes open, there are platypus in the record creeks as well as lots of other birds during the day!  Digi-Volunteering – For the birds Afternoon Roost Count:  Nice weather for ducks Meet at Hastie’s Swamp bird hide at 3pm for the  A bird list for Mulgrave Landcare usual pre-count briefing and to meet your team. You will be assigned a roost area. Then it is off to  Owl Box project BY Barron Catchment Care the roost area to count incoming cranes until  Observations from a billabong nightfall. Take a hot drink and chair.  Recent literature about north Queensland birds Dinner:  Tablelands Crane Week Meet at the Malanda Hotel, 7pm for dinner (at own  The Far-west of Queensland, May 2016 cost) and be entertained, sharing your crane count experiences and count numbers with the crowd.  Crocodile Concerns After dinner, there will be a special guest speaker,  Cairns Meeting Report, Saturday 23 July Graham Harrington, who will present on Kasanga  Tyto Wetlands – White-browed Crake Conservation Park in Zambia. It will be interesting to hear how or if things have changed in the years  Counting PIPs in 2016 that Alan has been a tour operator in far north  Birding and botanising KK and Mount Kinabalu Queensland.  Noticeboard and activities

BirdLife Northern Queensland

From the Convenor

I have recently returned from this year's grasswren survey in western Queensland, designed to assess how well the two species of grasswren – Carpentarian and Kalkadoon – have fared after a few years of extensive wildfires and drought. The excellent news is that they seem to have done very well, as there was a record number of grasswren groups encountered, nearly 60 in all! There was also a record number of 24 participants, who together spent over 260 days doing systematic surveys, and donating thousands of dollars’ worth of fuel and vehicle expenses! We were also treated to a chopper lift to get us into some more inaccessible spots at Boodjamulla National Park. There are now renewed efforts to support a regional fire management plan, which will include the two important bird areas of Boodjamulla and Buckley River. We should all congratulate the efforts of the volunteers, property owners, Southern Gulf NRM, and of course our leader, Graham Harrington. From a personal perspective, it was a chance to see amazing country and to meet some of the local landholders Grasswren surveying in style! whose hospitality and generosity are truly legendary. We could never achieve these results without them!

This seems to be the year for records, because at our last presentation evening which featured Martin Willis Your BirdLife Northern Queensland Committee with some of his images of the local birds of Northern Convenor – Kath Shurcliff Queensland, we had the largest turn-out of over 100 people to an evening meeting – an outstanding Deputy Convenor – Martin Willis achievement! Many of those attending were non- Secretary – Renee Cassels members, so it was a great opportunity to spread the word about the importance of protecting our native Treasurer – Wendy Cooper birds. We received excellent advertising in local Cairns Area Coordinator – Tom Collis Tablelands newspapers, and the evening's success is due to the enthusiasm of Tablelands members and Tablelands Area Coordinator – Peter Valentine residents. Cooktown Area Coordinator – Kath Shurcliff Looking ahead, we are excited about the first BirdLife National Twitchathon which will be held the last Cassowary Coast Area Coordinator – Ceri Pearce weekend in October. This will be a fun and fund- raising event, to support important conservation Stickybeak Coordinator – Golo Maurer projects. The six Queensland branches will pull IBA Coordinator – Graham Harrington together to share raised funds among our priority Members Coordinator – Sam Willis species. We'll have more details on this event closer to the date. Conservation Coordinator – Peter Valentine Other important events coming up include the Crane Count Coordinator – Virginia Simmonds September annual Crane Count, Torresian Imperial Website Manager – Mikey Kudo Pigeon counts on our coastal beaches, “Welcome the Waders Back”, BirdLife Aussie Bird Week, and several Newsletter Editor – Ceri Pearce us: interesting outings to new locations, such as Tully Gorge and Palmer River just south of Cooktown. email: Hopefully, we will see you in the field soon! [email protected]

Kath Shurcliff, Convenor

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IBA Healthcheck of Digi-Volunteering – Michaelmas Cay For the birds

One of the ambitions of BirdLife Australia’s Indigenous Digital technology enables automated monitoring of Grant program is to build capacity among recipients for almost anything from birds to distant galaxies, plus the longer-term involvement in bird conservation. So it is scanning of valuable historic paper records. But, on the great to see the 2014 winners of the grant—the next step, technology does not do so well. To extract Yirrganydji rangers—taking on the IBA Easter Health- key details from digital images, human eyes (and check for Michaelmas Cay. Their ongoing involvement brains) are essential. with site monitoring (supported by the Queensland Several bird-related projects, and others, are seeking Parks and Wildlife Service) and their traditional ties to help from internet-connected volunteers to process the Cay and the sea country surrounding it makes digital images in their leisure time, from the comfort of them ideal guardians for this beautiful IBA. home.

Currently, volunteers are needed for transcribing Vermont bird surveys and historic ornithological journals, and for extracting details from nest camera images in far north Queensland. I’m involved with the latter, where the birds are Pied/Torresian Imperial Pigeons (as some members might have guessed). The DigiVol system covers a diverse range. As some of the virtual ‘expeditions’ get completed, and new ones get started, the selection of projects will change over time. If you’d like a change from birds, you could help with transcribing labels of museum specimens, historic field diaries or camera traps in the bush. There is no pre-commitment. You can process just one Yirrganydji rangers take on the IBA health check (from L to image, or as many as you like. But a warning, this can R, Rangers Gavin Singleton, Tarquin Singleton and Shane be somewhat addictive. You will be the first person to Singleton with Gemma Haley QPWS). study the image, and sometimes you will come across unexpected and intriguing things. Have a look here: http://volunteer.ala.org.au/ AND IN TWITCHING NEWS: Julia Hazel

An Aussie has broken North Americas ‘Big Year’ record

Australian Reptile Park’s John Weigel has set a new record for a “Big Year” in North America, spotting over 750 bird species. An it’s only July! Who knows how many he will see by 31 December. The previous ‘Big Year’ record holder, Neil Hayward from Massachusetts, sighted 749 different birds in 2013. To read about A NestCam example from the DigiVol online system. Johns exploits go to: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central- coast/aussie-swoops-in-and-pinches-coveted-big-year- prize/news- story/c3d7f8566ebd039a4612b616234cc952

August–September 2016 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

scanning the beach, parking area and Caravan Park for Nice weather for ducks signs of a Cassowary. A beautiful White-bellied Sea- Eagle flew overhead and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos could be heard but there was no sign of the big bird. INNISFAIL OUTING 14 MAY 2016 Thinking that we should head to the Fish Farm before people became disheartened we all piled back into the When I was woken by very heavy rain at five-thirty cars and set off in a convoy away from the beach and am, I thought, “Good, that’s the rain over with for the there they were! One adult Cassowary with FOUR day”. When dawn broke and all I could see were black chicks, standing in the middle of the road for everyone clouds I was a little concerned. Arriving at the Driver to see. Behind us, birders were hanging out of every Reviver meeting place I thought I was the first to window, cameras snapping, with big smiles on their arrive, but no, there they all were, the Early Birders, faces. It was a happy group who arrived at the Fish taking refuge from the rain under a picnic shelter. As Farm. more birders arrived from the Tablelands, Tully and Cairns, plus Bill from Sydney to join the Innisfail group We walked to a pond where we often see White- there was generous sharing of umbrellas, raincoats browed Crake but instead saw a flock of Wandering and ponchos. Thus decked out in inclement weather Whistling-ducks standing in front of a pile of grey mud. gear we set off in Indian file towards Shaw Road. This Everyone got a good look and then the “mud” opened road is part of the old Bruce Highway and goes down its mouth! It was a large crocodile. A Kodak moment to the old Johnstone River Bridge. There has been with more happy snapping. The presence of the now some recent, lawful clearing of vegetation but despite submerged crocodile was duly noted, but with Ceri the lack of cover and the rain, we saw most of the wearing the official BirdLife First Aid kit, we proceeded usual avian inhabitants including finches, fairy-wrens with confidence. This was short-lived when we saw the and kestrel. next crocodile, bigger than the first, sliding into the water. This prompted a U-turn and we decided to walk As the rain became heavier we trudged our way back on the much higher banks between the ponds in the to the vehicles and made our way to Warrina Lakes, at centre of the farm. A constant stream of bird species the end of Charles Street, in the centre of Innisfail. was seen by all. We have certainly seen more ducks Once assembled we set off for closer views of the and waders in the summer months, but I don’t think Double-eyed Fig-parrots which seem to frequent one of anybody was disappointed. A sudden splash of water the small Fig trees near the main picnic area. The feral alerted us to a small croc startled in the pond below, geese complained loudly at our presence but as the and that one obligingly floated in the water for a photo rain increased the birders took cover and crowded into shoot. We walked on and saw Glossy Ibis, Black- a nearby gazebo and the geese headed off in the necked Stork, Radjah Shelduck and Black-winged Stilt opposite direction under a tree. to name a few. There was even a lone Pied Heron. I The move to the gazebo was a lucky decision since think the birders were surprised by the variety of from there we all saw Plumed Whistling-duck on the species to be seen at a fish farm, and we are, as edge of the lake and had very good views of a always, very grateful to Linda and Marty Phillips for Nankeen Night-heron in a nearby tree. The rain eased allowing us to enter their property. We also thank the and we continued our perambulations only to turn fifteen birders who came to Innisfail for the day, and around to partake of a very early morning tea break as stayed until the end despite the rain. the heavens opened again. Sandra Christensen Fortified with food and drink we set off once again with a positive attitude and now nothing was going to stop us. We explored Warrina Lakes and the adjacent Botanical Garden, then the area alongside the drain and saw Mistletoebird, Varied Triller, Leaden Flycatcher and Little Bronze-cuckoo. The next stop was Etty Bay. At least two members of the group and Bill from Sydney were keen to see a Cassowary. Unfortunately, none of them were passengers in the vehicle which passed one on the approach road to the beach. So while people were busy with lunch others were

4 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

A bird list for Mulgrave Landcare

As the rain poured down John and Llordes Frois, Darren Phillips and I headed to Gordonvale to meet Lisa O Mara, the Mulgrave Landcare Coordinator on Sunday April 10th 2016. Lisa and Del Richards had hatched a plan for a Bird List a few months earlier. On arrival, we met Lisa, and other Landcare members, Linda and Mark, and Tom, a neighbourhood resident. The second planting, started in November 2015, are After the development of a new residential area on the already shooting up. This included more bush tucker western side of the Highway, drainage became a species as well as ceremonial species like the Slippery problem and the course of the drain was reformed. Blue Fig Tree, the Gimuy tree (Ficus albipila). The Landcare Group were aware that planting riparian Rain stopped for a while and we began our list. corridors is one way we can help wildlife adapt to the changing climate. There is a wonderful article in the Rain started again and we put the brollies up, after the January TREAT (Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton dry wet season, the rain stopped and started all Tablelands) Newsletter about this morning. http://www.treat.net.au/publications/WnsJan2016.htm The Bird List was done in two sections, the oldest and l See Amanda Freeman and Carla Cattrall’s article. then the newest tree planting. Twenty-nine different Mulgrave Landcare contacted the council and with their bird species were seen in the older planting and agreement and funding from the Australian eighteen in the newer one. Some overlap was Government and Terrain NRM, decided to plant a definitely possible due to the wing thing. corridor of trees and have done this in two stages. The I combined the two lists for Eremeae eBird under entire drain (to become a creek) will be planted out checklist S29788634 and sent Lisa two Excel within the next two years. spreadsheets for their Landcare purposes. Lisa sought extensive information from the Traditional The Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were going berserk as Owners, Malanbarra Yidinji. the sun came out to steam us. Great excitement as the Lisa sourced knowledge from the relevant scientists Brown Goshawk was spied diving into a nearby tree and worked with students from Gordonvale State and then excellent views following. School re this ecological niche. Frogs, mammals, birds, It was a great morning with progressive people and we worms, insects as well as the trees and shrubs. were fortunate to bring along two pairs of young, The Landcare Group had the foresight to include and efficient eyes in Llordes and Darren. encourage the local residents in their planning and Of particular interest to Del Richards and Kath Shurcliff where possible planting and intend to do some letter was the appearance of the five Double-barred Finches. drops about the Bird List to try to maintain interest It turns out they are not regulars up here and become from the local community. more common the further south you go, starting with Starting on the Eastern end of Upper Hemmings Creek the Townsville Common. We saw four different species under Del’s guidance, they decided to leave a large of Finch here so Del’s advice from the word go “to patch of tall finch habitat before beginning the tree preserve the finch habitat” was very sage. planting. It will be great to return in a few years’ time and check In the first tree planting undertaken in mid-June 2015, out the progress of the Upper Hemmings Creek the plants were a mix of tree and shrub species. These plantings as well as compiling new Bird Lists. were now all taller than me and doing very well. All Site details: Leonis Access Rd Drain, or Upper species planted are tried and tested and have to grow Hemmings Creek, Gordonvale. Latitude 17.05475, quickly to shade out the grass and hold creek banks. Longitude 145.773081 Examples include Syzygium tierneyanum, Ficus Pippy Cannon racemosa, Macaranga tanarius, Cordia dichotoma, Melaleuca viminalis and others.

August–September 2016 5 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Owl Box project

Barron Catchment Care (BCC) has over the last ten years worked with landholders on an innovative approach to address rat damage in crops. Part of this project involved installing owl boxes on farms on the Atherton Tablelands, with the intention to increase the number of owls, and consequently the number of rats taken by owls. Barron Catchment Care is seeking information from members of Birdlife North Queensland who have an owl box on their property; specifically, the level of use A breast stroking Little Button-quail sighted swimming on a of the box; by what species, the location of the billabong in Lakefield National Park. Image courtesy of David property and what condition the box is in. Mead. There are also some owl boxes left and a home is needed for them. Contact Ian Sinclair on 4095 7109 or 0437 635 043 or Observations from a email him at [email protected] if you have information on your owl box, or would like billabong an owl box for your property. Ian Sinclair Coordinator Whilst traveling through the Lakefield National Park Barron Catchment Care about two weeks ago with a group of birders, we came PO Box 922, Atherton QLD 4883 across a strange occurrence. At a rather large billabong, a small creature came into view, as it seemed to bob up and down on the surface of the

water, quite a long way out. At first we all offered our ideas of what we thought it was; lizard?, baby injured fish?, frog?, etc. As it came closer, we began to increasingly believe it was a small bird trying to make its way to the edge. We all hoped it was going to keep bobbing towards us, but alas as soon as it laid eyes on the group of strange beings gathered on the bank, it stopped dead and didn’t move again. With this halting of its progress, the bevy of bino bearing birders behind me, began offering suggestions, like, “go on Dave, wade out and rescue the bird, so we can tick it off the list”. I started to scan the water surface, for any other movements, including the other resident of Lakefield waterways, 'Crocs' and crocs big enough to take your big toe off at the neck. Getting wet feet was not going to happen! What seemed like hours (three or four minutes) later, we decided to take a couple of photos and move on, and hopefully give the bird a chance to find the shoreline without us distracting it. Owl boxes available from Barron Catchment Care. Image On checking later with fellow birders, it looks like our courtesy of Ian Sinclair. breaststroking friend was a Little Button-quail (not noted that far north very often). David Mead Great Northern Tours. Cooktown

6 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Male Red-backed Fairy-wrens may breed in red/black Recent literature about colour, breed in brown plumage, or be brown non- breeding helpers in the territory of their birth. north Queensland birds Testosterone levels differ between these groups in the order red/black breeder more than brown breeder more than non-breeding helper (Barron et al. 2015), Compiled by Don Franklin but differences between groups in singing rates were not in this order (Schwabl et al. 2015). Evidence presented by Barron et al. (2015) strongly suggests that hormone levels are a consequence rather than a BUFF-BREASTED BUTTON-QUAIL cause of breeding status, and that age is a major John Young is reported as finding 17 Buff-breasted factor influencing breeding status. Button-quail and six of their nests at Brooklyn Wildlife Female Red-backed Fairy-wrens sing to their eggs, and Sanctuary west of Mt Molloy. His observations indicate it seems that the developing embryos can sense that the species is polyandrous, with males alone (hear?) the calls (Colombelli-Negrel et al. 2016)! attending nests. Embryos that were sung to more often were better at Anon. 2016. Brooklyn: A stronghold for the Buff- mimicking their mother’s calls when they hatched, and breasted Button-quail, one of Australia’s rarest birds. better mimics were fed more often. Females tended to Wildlife Matters, Winter 2016: 11. call more in years when cuckoo parasitism was higher, but the full significance of the behaviour remains to be CARPENTARIAN GRASSWREN determined. Breeding pairs of Red-backed Fairy-wrens sing duets “ ... Here, we present the results of over 3000 surveys that overlap rather than following one another. Field conducted between 2008 and 2013. We show that observations suggesting that duets serve to enhance Carpentarian grasswrens are divided into four defense of territories was corroborated with playback populations, although the northernmost one experiments by Dowling & Webster (2016). (Borroloola) now appears to be extinct. The Area of Occupancy for the southernmost population appears to Perhaps surprisingly, the benefits of cooperative have declined by 28%, while only small numbers of breeding don’t necessarily extend to the breeding isolated birds now occur at the two intervening male; for example, it doesn’t necessarily improve his populations. Our data suggest that the four breeding success. However, Potticary et al. (2016) populations appear to be at different stages on an found that breeding males with helpers didn’t have to extinction pathway, from population decline, to work as hard (guarding, feeding young), and there was fragmentation and isolation, to extinction, and this some evidence suggesting that this improved their seems to be related to worsening fire patterns as one subsequent survival. moves northwards. We suggest that the Carpentarian Barron DG, Webster MS, Schwabl H. 2015. Do grasswren be listed as Vulnerable at the State and androgens link morphology and behaviour to produce Federal level, and that urgent investment in long-term phenotype-specific behavioural strategies? Animal regional fire management using prescribed burning is Behaviour 100: 116–124. required to reverse the declines in the extant populations.” (Excerpt from the Abstract). Harrington GN, Murphy SA. 2015. The distribution and conservation status of Carpentarian grasswrens (Amytornis dorotheae), with reference to prevailing fire patterns. Pacific Conservation Biology 21: 291– 297.

RED-BACKED FAIRY-WREN A team from the Cornell Lab for Ornithology in New York and various universities in the USA and Australia have been and are conducting behavioural studies of the Red-backed Fairy-wren at various locations including two sites near Herberton at the back of the Atherton Tablelands. I believe they may have concluded work at the Herberton sites, but papers Photo of pair of Red-backed Fairywrens with male just continue to flow from it including the five papers coming into breeding plumage. Image courtesy of Ian summarised and listed below. Montgomery www.birdway.com

August–September 2016 7 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Colombelli-Negrel D, Webster MS, Dowling JL, Hauber RAINFOREST BIRDS ME, Kleindorfer S. 2016. Vocal imitation of mother's calls by begging Red-backed Fairywren nestlings In the latest of a series of contributions assessing the increases parental provisioning. Auk 133: 273-285. value of restored or recovering rainforest to birds by Amanda Freeman from the School for Field Studies Dowling J, Webster MS. 2016. An experimental test of near Yungaburra, Amanda and others (2015) assessed duet function in a fairy-wren (Malurus) with moderate the contribution of 10–24 year-old restoration cuckoldry rates. Behavioral Ecology 27: 228-236. plantings. Their use by rainforest birds didn’t change Potticary AL, Dowling JL, Barron DG, Baldassarre DT, markedly during that age period, and use was “least Webster MS. 2016. Subtle benefits of cooperation to among rainforest-dependent species that were also breeding males of the Red-backed Fairywren. Auk 133: either endemic or sedentary edge-avoiders”. These 286-297. dependant species were more likely to use the restoration planting if there was more mature Schwabl H, Dowling J, Baldassarre DT, Gahr M, rainforest nearby. “Species predicted to be climate- Lindsay WR, Webster MS. 2015. Variation in song sensitive occupied restored habitat at similar rates to system anatomy and androgen levels does not other species.” correspond to song characteristics in a tropical songbird. Animal Behaviour 104: 39-50. Amanda, along with a collaborator, have also recently provided an accessible overview of their program PIED IMPERIAL-PIGEONS findings including results from previous papers (Freeman & Catterall 2016). “To obtain evidence of any population changes, 1–10 Freeman A, Catterall C. 2016. How useful is counts were made each breeding season of the revegetation for Wet Tropics rainforest birds? TREAT evening flight from the mainland to a nesting colony News Wet Season 2016: 4-7. on North Brook Island. The counts began in 1965 and have continued for 50 years. The count represents one Freeman and, Catterall CP, Freebody K. 2015. Use of individual of a pair that visits the mainland to feed and restored habitat by rainforest birds is limited by spatial returns in the evening. In the 1965–66 breeding context and species’ functional traits but not by their season, the December count (the count used to predicted climate sensitivity. Biological Conservation compare years) was 4,692 birds. Over the following 186: 107-114. three seasons, numbers declined to a low of 1,451 birds in 1968–69; this decline was attributed to ISLAND AVIFAUNAS shooting of up to 1,100 birds at a time. Large-scale shooting stopped in 1,968 and was followed by a “Warul Kawa (Deliverance Island), a small, densely steady exponential increase in numbers over 23 years forested sand cay, is the most north-westerly island in to 29,818 birds in the 1992–93 season. Numbers have Torres Strait, far north Queensland. Awaiyal Kawa fluctuated between ~25,000 and 35,000 individuals (Kerr Islet), a smaller cay, is located 9.5 km to the over the following 18 years. A tropical cyclone of south of Warul Kawa and supports low dune extreme intensity affected the pigeons’ breeding site wood/shrub land and patchy grassland. Two bird on North Brook Island and their mainland feeding surveys in December 2011 and November 2012 areas in February 2011. In the following breeding recorded 55 and 49 species, respectively. To date, a season of 2011–12, numbers fell to 5,311, but total of 70 species are collectively known from these recovered to 21,088 in the 2012–13 season. The islands. All 34 species recorded on Awaiyal Kawa are dramatic drop in numbers was attributed to the also reported for Warul Kawa. This paper presents a pigeons moving elsewhere for the 2011–12 season. It comprehensive species list and discusses unusual bird is predicted that the post-cyclonic number of 21,088 records. Potential threats to island fauna and will take 4 years to recover to 30,000.” (Excerpts from management issues are identified.” (Excerpts from Abstract). Abstract). NB: North Brook Island is offshore from Cardwell. Watson JJ, Hitchcock G. 2015. Avifauna of Deliverance Island (Warul Kawa) and Kerr Islet (Awaiyal Kawa), Winter J, Green D, Thorsborne M, Parsons M. 2016. North-Western Torres Strait. Sunbird 45: 65-77. Population trends over 50 years of a Pied Imperial- Pigeon breeding colony on North Brook Island, a tropical Great Barrier Reef island, Australia. Emu 116: 14-21.

8 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

OTHER RECENT LITERATURE Tablelands Crane Week Anon. 2016. Meet the researcher: Ana Leitão. Australian Birdlife 5(1): 75. [Lovely Fairy-wrens] September 19 to 25 2016 Harrington G. 2015. Mimicry is the best form of flattery. Australian Birdlife 4(4): 59. [Bowers Shrike- Everyone in the region are warmly invited to join us thrush mimicking female Eastern Whipbird in response for this celebration of cranes. Daily activities at the to male whipbird call] Malanda Falls Visitor Centre from 10:00am daily: Keir AF, Pearson RG, Congdon RA. 2015. Determinants  Children's art and craft including crane puppets of bird assemblage composition in riparian vegetation and other activities on sugarcane farms in the Queensland Wet Tropics.  Learn the art of origami crane making Pacific Conservation Biology 21: 60-73.  Children's crane colouring competition all week Nguyen JMT. 2016. Australo-Papuan treecreepers (Passeriformes: Climacteridae) and a new species of  Information displays sittella (Neosittidae: Daphoenositta) from the Miocene If you would like to help or support Crane Week in of Australia. Palaeontologia Electronica 19: Art. No. 1A. 2016, please contact us on [email protected] Nielsen L. 2015. Birds of the Wet Tropics of Queensland and Great Barrier Reef and Where to Find Them. Lloyd Nielsen, Mt Molloy. [reviewed in Contact Friday, 23 September 2016 Call 5(1): 5 (2016)] Sunset and Sarus! Crane watching with wine and Peter J. 2016. Anything but wary. Australian Birdlife cheese at Bromfield Swamp. Drinks from 5:30pm, 5(20): 14. [Cassowary roadkills] cranes when they arrive! This is a free event, Reside AE, Vanderwal J, Garnett ST, Kutt AS. 2016. sponsored by local businesses, but donations from the Vulnerability of Australian tropical savanna birds to event will be made to the International Crane climate change. Austral Ecology 41: 106-116. Foundation to support their valuable work. Due to restricted car parking, prior confirmation of attendance Roberts E. 2016. Grey-headed Robin. Australian is essential and numbers are limited. To reserve a spot Birdlife 5(1): 10. phone 07 4096 6957 or email [email protected] Sumpton J. 2016. Far North Queensland November For more information or to register contact Gwyneth 2015. Birds of FNQ. Jennifer Sumpton Photography. Nevard on (07) 4089 2307 or email [40 pages, apparently mostly photographs; [email protected] or Caroline O'Reilly on (07) 4096 http://au.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/6224346/6ca11 6957 or email [email protected] bd4fbbf7c0bd0268f3f120c3d3d5b1932d1]

Vanderduys EP, Reside AE, Grice A, Rechetelo J. 2016.

Addressing potential cumulative impacts of development on threatened species: the case of the endangered black-throated finch. PLoS ONE 11: e0148485.

Watson C. 2015. Please allow me to introduce myself. Australian Birdlife 4(4): 42-45. [Spotted Whistling- Duck]

Contact us: BirdLife Northern Queensland Committee Email: [email protected] www.birdlifenq.org

August–September 2016 9 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Eyrean Grasswren west of Birdsville Red-capped Robin at Opalton Inland Dotterel west of Diamantina

We went to the Park HQ and met with the ranger in The Far West of charge (Chris Mitchell) and friend and colleague Fiona Leverington – a very pleasant encounter. We camped Queensland, May 2016 at Gumhole where there was lots of water in the channels. On the circuit we drove the next day we had good views of Inland Dotterel – a lifer for me. These In late April and early May, Val and I set out with are wonderful birds, so well camouflaged in their short fellow Birdlife NQ members Martin and Sam Willis to grass habitat and we saw many more over the next explore the far western Queensland habitats for two weeks. There were also many Australian interesting birds. We planned to begin on the SW with Pratincoles, Banded Lapwing, Zebra Finches, Spinifex a focus on the Diamantina and then work our way Pigeons and Budgerigars amongst others. north having heard that good rains had fallen. Martin From Diamantina we headed west with many birds all and I had some photographic targets (especially the way including an interesting encounter with a pair grasswrens) and I had at least a couple of lifers of White-winged Fairywren feeding a juvenile Black- available. We set off from Malanda very early on the eared Cuckoo. Our sympathy was with the overworked first day and went south via the Lynd and Hughenden wrens! to camp at Bladensberg National Park that night. There had been rain recently and that had produced a zillion Our camps were isolated and allowed us to enjoy the flies making life a little less comfortable than hoped – brilliant night skies of this semi-arid environment. We fly nets were de rigeur. We were disappointed not to went in to Bedourie to refuel before camping on Eyre find Painted Finches at the usually reliable Scammy Creek north of the Cuttaburra Crossing. This was an Gorge but did have some great encounters with many astonishing place with the channels filled with other species including a White-fronted Honeyeater. hundreds of waterbirds including huge flocks of feeding Budgerigars were abundant and the next day on the pelicans, cormorants and dozens of ducks with road to Opalton we saw many exploring nesting holes. hundreds of recently hatched chicks as well as herons, egrets and spoonbills. One day we drove the circuit of Our primary target at Opalton was the Rusty Lake Machattie – disappointed that this feature is on Grasswren as this remains a very reliable site. At our private land with no public access to the lake. usual campsite, it was distressing to see the effects of However, the drive was fantastic with many birds seen a fire on the billabong trees including the destruction from the road including Gibberbirds, Inland Dotterel of the resident Spotted Bowerbird's bower. A male was and White-rumped Swallows along one sand dune. seen exploring the old bower site so perhaps he will build again nearby. In the next couple of days, we We had searched unsuccessfully for the Grey found several grasswren parties as well as Hall's Grasswren in the lignam near Glengyle Station (on Babblers and some excellent views of a pair of Red- Eyre Creek) but decided to try for Eyrean Grasswrens capped Robins. Conditions were hot and the flies near Birdsville. We camped on the Diamantina River persistent! near Birdsville and after a successful reconnaissance of the dunes west of Birdsville went very early in the From Opalton we drove to Lark's Quarry before morning to try and get some photos. With considerable heading southwest to Diamantina National Park. The patience and persistence, we eventually had great scenery was spectacular with spinifex and mesas views of a pair of Eyrean Grasswrens not only hiding in creating a colourful landscape that kept our cameras the canegrass, but hopping in the open and feeding. clicking. We realised we were very close to the habitat of the Night Parrot discovered by John Young. Not long after entering the National Park we had a good view of a Grey Falcon – near a microwave tower next to the road. That was a very exciting start! 10 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

With big rains forecast (and road closures certain), we packed up and headed north enjoying some great birds including a flock of about 1000 Australian Pratincoles occupying the road over a stretch of a kilometre or so. There were more Lapwings and several Inland Dotterels including a pair with chicks. We were delighted to see a pair of Flock Bronzewings feeding along the side of the road that allowed close approach in the vehicular hide. Just ahead of the rain we camped north of Boulia but the next day we were stopped at Djarra by the flooded Carbine Creek – a day of rest while the water rose and then gradually retreated. As we went north we enjoyed several encounters with Kalkadoon Grasswrens in spinifex covered rocky ridges between Djarra and Mt Isa. We also saw many Painted Finches (including young) and near Djarra itself saw Pictorella finches. Rusty Grasswren at Opalton After re-supply at Mt Isa we headed further north to McNamara Road in search of Carpentarian Grasswrens. From our camp we spent three days in the area enjoying many birds but did struggle to find the grasswrens. We did have a great day at a creek crossing along Gunpowder Rd where birds were coming in to a small waterhole. These included Long- tailed Finch, Painted Finch, Spinifex Pigeon, Silver- crowned Friarbird, Grey-headed and Grey-fronted Honeyeaters, Budgerigars, Cockatiels and many others. Eventually, near our camp at McNamara Rd, we saw one pair of Carpentarian Grasswren in a patch of suitable spinifex but were unable to photograph them. But we did enjoy good views of the Black-tailed Treecreepers (many), Varied Lorikeets, Cloncurry Flock Bronzewing north of Birdsville Parrots and Grey-headed Honeyeaters amongst others. We were pleased that BNQ member Dominic Chaplin had rebuilt the rock cairn on McNamara Road and provided a notebook to allow birders to record sightings of the grasswrens and we duly filled in our record. The bitumen road certainly makes this site much safer now but there has been a lot of clearing around the roadside. The effects of the fire were very evident with most of the spinifex too young to support grasswrens. However, it was good to know the birds persist. We finished our trip with a little time at Riversleigh and Boodjamulla National Park where we enjoyed some fantastic birds including Buff-sided Robins, Purple- Gibberbird east of Bedourie crowned Fairywren and several honeyeaters. The road past Riversleigh was diabolical and caused a broken axle on our caravan (well it is 18 years old) so the trip was slightly truncated as we arranged for transport to Camooweal and eventual repair. It was a terrific birding trip and the good news is that since then there have been many storms and rain events throughout the western Queensland areas and all are now likely to be abundant with birdlife. It's not too late to enjoy this remarkable season in the inland. White-backed Swallow near Bedourie Images and story by Peter Valentine

August–September 2016 11 BirdLife Northern Queensland

More images from Western Queensland:

Painted Finch near Djarra

Pictorella Finch near Djarra

Kalkadoon Grasswren south of Mt Isa

Purple-crowned Fairywren at Boodjamulla NP

12 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Crocodile Concerns

What can be done about a crocodile turning up in your favourite fishing hole? Not much really. He’s bigger, tougher and meaner than you are. Recently we were living in Peppimenarti Aboriginal Community where my wife Llane was working as a Remote Area Nurse and I was photographing the local birds. A small pond near an extensive floodplain was full of fish and a favourite of various herons, egrets, cormorants, darters and nankeen night herons. That is until a crocodile appeared. Suddenly, wading in the water was a risk. I noticed those species capable of doing so changed their feeding procedures. Pied Herons, Intermediate and Little Egrets, took to watching from the bank and on spotting a fish, flying out ‘hovering’ briefly (if a heron can be said to hover) and stabbing at the fish and flying back to the shore. They were quite successful using this method but also stood on the bank and caught what they could from around the edges. However, the Great Egret didn’t appear able to fly out over the water and stab at fish it saw, so simply waded in as usual. It did, however, seem to be aware of where the crocodile was situated and searched for fish at the other end. The Little Black Cormorants had no choice but to swim and dive. For a long time, they would watch from the shore, until one would make a move followed by the rest of the flock. There would be some frantic fishing and then all would fly back to shore. Then when hunger overtook their fear back in they would go again. Once or twice a heron was very close to the crocodile and I wondered if it would meet its end but they all survived during the hours I watched. Don Hadden

The pool with the crocodile at Peppimenarti Aboriginal Community.

August–September 2016 13 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Cairns Meeting Report

SATURDAY, 23 JULY

Nineteen people attended the Cairns meeting to hear Hidetoshi (Mickey) Kudo talk about his recent mangrove discoveries in the Cairns area, as well as participate in Toms bird quiz. Mangrove Puzzling is how Mickey described his latest passion for identifying the mangroves present in the Cairns area. Mickey said, “it’s akin to Pokémon Go only more rewarding. All you need to do is to identify as many species of mangrove in your neighbourhood as you can, without trespassing”. Mickey has discovered two new mangrove species in the area, Bruguiera cyclindrica and B. hainesii. Bruguiera cylindrical was previously only known to occur in Australia from the Jardine River (Cape York) to Cooktown, so this is a 170km range extension. “The trees, in the Trinity Inlet area, would have to be over 100 years old” Mickey said. The discovery of Bruguiera hainesii nearby was even more surprising. This species has previously not been recorded in Australia, and is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation and Nature. Mickey has discovered 49 mature individuals in the Trinity Inlet area. Go Mickey! Plants are afoot to have the plants in the Cairns area protected under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. A proposal has also been made to propagate the species and include them in a ‘Cairns mangrove exhibit’ at the botanical gardens. Mickey finished his presentation by talking about the overall diversity of Cairns’ mangrove species and the importance of the extraordinary mangrove system that links the wet tropic rainforests with the reef. Join us on Facebook The talk was inspiring. Little is known about these plants in our own backyard, their ecology, pollinators, and distribution. Let’s hope Mangrove Puzzling takes off as there may still be many other species, waiting to be found in this undervalued ecosystem. Following a cuppa and catching up with friends, the next item of entertainment soon had everyone laughing. Tom Collis, our Cairns area co-ordinator, excelled in putting together the quiz, which delivered a humorous variety of questions from birds calls and visual challenges (and they were mostly local birds too) to identify bird species, to more general birding trivia. The winning team were Dominic, Brian, Darren, Graeme and Andrew with a total of 30 points out of 30. Close behind with 29 points was Andy Anderson's group, the Back Seat Boys.

14 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Tyto Wetlands – White-browed Crake

I was successful to a point, I did get closer without alarming the bird, but it remained just across the channel of water between the hide and the closest island. I managed to take a lot of photos that morning, but as the sun still hadn’t crept above the clouds on the horizon, so the light wasn’t the best, and because I’m not the photographer that I would like to be, I was not happy with my many attempts. I had an appointment in Townsville at 8am the next morning so I’ve just gotten back from a couple of days in I had to move on that afternoon, but I knew that I’d Townsville, so I decided to take the opportunity to get another chance on the return trip, so I was spend a little bit of time at Tyto Wetlands in Ingham. determined to have another go on the way home. I’ve stopped there about a dozen times before and was lucky one day to see the White-browed and Spotless I got back to Tyto a few days later, leaving Townsville Crakes at the same time. But alas that was the only a couple of days early as BOM had predicted rain and time I ever saw either species. That was until last bad weather was on its way. Once again, I went out to Sunday. the hide at an early hour, not quite as early as my last foray, and waited patiently for some activity. The After creeping out there before the sun came up and weather was kinder to me this time, there were no positioning myself in the bird hide, I waited patiently clouds on the horizon and some beautiful golden light for an hour or so. Thankfully, the temperature that shone down on the wetlands. To my delight, the crake morning was a few degrees warmer than the 12 appeared on the vegetation mat again, and then flew degrees that I experienced in Innisfail the morning across the channel to the reeds directly in front of the before, and I was dressed for the occasion, so waiting hide. Once again I crept down under the hide and was no real hardship. using the cover of the tree trunk, I managed to get The patience paid off because to my great pleasure, a just a few metres from him. I even managed to get White-browed Crake appeared on the mat of dead some half-decent shots. vegetation in front of me. I always get such a rush of Although I didn’t hear or see a Spotless Crake, over adrenalin when I get the chance to see a new species those couple of mornings I had a truly delightful time in detail for the first time and needless to say, I took with the White-browed Crake and I hope you all get to dozens of photos from the hide, hoping to get THE experience a similar experience for yourselves. In the SHOT. Each time the bird appeared, I willed it to come meantime, I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I closer, but after a while the photographer in me took do. By the way, if you look carefully you’ll see he has over so I decided to try to get closer. something in his beak. Using a great deal of stealth, I crept under the hide as Lynette Ensor I carefully as I could as I kept behind a large paperbark and other ground vegetation in an attempt to get as close as I could.

August–September 2016 15 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Counting PIPs in 2016

Pied Imperial Pigeon (PIP, aka Torresian Imperial Pigeon) are special birds for BirdLife Northern Queensland. They are even on our logo! This year we are trialling a new initiative. Instead of the annual Mission Beach PIP count event in November, Birdlife Northern Queensland is seeking volunteers to undertake synchronised PIP counts anywhere along the coast, on Saturday November 19th 2016 starting at 4pm. The intention is to capture PIP count data from multiple sites on the same day and provide this valuable information to Julia Hazel and PIPwatch.

WHEN: Saturday, 19 November 2016 starting at 4pm WHERE: Choose your own site anywhere on the coast from Gladstone to Cape York, keeping safety and comfort in mind. You can take a picnic or to make it even more fun, you can also organise your friends to count at nearby sites, then get together afterwards to compare results. Counts are needed everywhere along the coast. Zero counts also provide important information. For the best sites, ensure you have a clear view of the shoreline, so you can see any PIPs that fly out to sea from the land, or heading towards islands where they roost and nest. Counting starts at 4pm and concludes around 6pm. If you have enough light to continue for another 15–30 mins or so, then please do. If you can’t participate on 19 November, don’t despair, you can do a PIP count on any afternoon November to January, and the more you can do, the better. Counts repeated at the same place each year are also valuable. WHAT TO DO:  Print the data sheets in advance, and fill in location details for your site. If possible, get a GPS position too and bring a compass (some mobile phone apps can help you do this). Record wind strength, wind direction, sun, cloud, rain. etc. Identify your compass points (we usually mark them on the sand) north, south, east and west and points in between.  From 4:00pm keep a continuous watch for PIPs until you have insufficient daylight.  Count PIP numbers as they leave the coast and note the approximate direction they are heading.  For each 15-minute time period, use a new column on the count sheet.  If no PIPs are seen in any time period, write zero (don’t leave it blank).  If your watch gets interrupted, mark X in the time period you were unable to watch.  Record any extra details and comments on the last page.  Submit your results to Julia Hazel: [email protected]  Please write your email address clearly on the count sheet so Julia can send you a report after the count data has been collated. You can also read PIP reports on pipwatch.net You can download your PIP count sheet and the instructions at http://www.pipwatch.net or you can request them by email.

For further information, please contact Julia: [email protected] or text/phone: 0407 431 382.

16 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Birding and botanising KK and Mount Kinabalu

Sabah in eastern Malaysia has a lot of attractions and demands repeated visits. In April, I spent 10 days in Kota Kinabalu (KK), the capital, and at Mount Kinabalu NP and World Heritage Area, botanizing and birding.

Common Iora Kota Kinabalu is a city of some 450,000 and remarkably similar to Cairns, both in aspect and climate. It is the second busiest international airport in Malaysia and entréport for a large nature-based tourism industry. I always plan to be in town on Sundays to attend the street markets in Gaya Street that runs parallel to the main drag. This is followed by a visit to Borneo Books across the road in Wisma Merdeka to catch up on the latest offerings by Natural History Publications (Borneo), who are located upstairs, and to purchase field guides. Then it is off to The Likas Wetlands just east of town for a stroll around the boardwalks and marvel at the amount of rubbish in the waterways and the Chestnut-hooded Laughing-thrush birds wandering amongst it. Then it is back to town for the obligatory beer on the boardwalk while checking the herons returning to their roost as the sun sinks into the South China Sea – all demanding stuff. For those intending to visit, CK Leong’s http://borneobirds.com/around-kota-kinabalu/ is a useful starting point. Mount Kinabalu looms large above KK. At 4,095m it is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea and, despite losing some height in a recent earthquake, is

Chestnut-crested Yuhina still rising. It is a centre of biodiversity and has high rates of endemism. Eighteen of the 62 endemic Bornean birds are found around Mt Kinabalu. As a botanist, a particular feature of interest is the ultramafic capping, which results in a distinct, high-percentage endemic flora, particularly in orchids and Nepenthes pitcher plants. The compilation of a large geo-located collection and database of plants from the mountain has enabled exploration of the Mid-Domain Theory of Distribution. NHP and Kew (2011) co-published a 5.5 kg two volume boxed set of the Orchids of Mount Kinabalu that supports this exploration – it is an impressive piece of work and the ecology notes are worth reading by those intending to visit the mountain. I stayed at Ayana resort, a kilometre short of the park entrance, and sallied forth each day to explore further; climbing the mountain was not on the schedule this visit. The resort faces a patch of rain forest and the birding there was outstanding. I first saw the endemic Chestnut-crested Yuhina everetti and recently split Chestnut-Hooded Laughing Thrush Rhinocichla treacheri from my second storey room. Kinabalu Park HQ is at 1,560 m is in Montane Forest and I walked from it as high as the Timpohon Gate at 1866 m and along the Kiau Trail, which parallels the access road.

Rafflesia

August–September 2016 17 BirdLife Northern Queensland

I frequently encountered University of Montana students there for a semester studying birds. They are banding birds and tracking the dispersal of fledglings using small transmitters – advances in technology have made possible things that were not a few years ago.

As I was not working across a range of altitudes and habitats I missed a number of species but found plenty Situated 1½ hrs north of Cairns in Tropical North to concentrate on. I did, however, miss the third-ever Queensland we offer accommodation in self- Siberian Rubythroat Lascinia calliope for Sabah, which contained units – – single or two bedroom – and was showing well near the Power Station. The arrival bunkhouse rooms. The property is a rainforest of a ‘mega-tick’ species like this results in an wildlife sanctuary catering for birdwatchers and extraordinary response amongst photographers, with naturalists. more long barrels on display than in the adjacent US We are central to a variety of habitats and provide Fleet. bird species lists, area maps and Wi-Fi internet I spent quite some time in the Botanical Garden in the access. Park – it is not quite what it used to be – the signage Guiding is available by arrangement. could be improved – but the range of plants on show, We offer packages for individuals and small groups. including the Critically Endangered ultramafic-obligate Carol and Andrew Iles orchid Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, is terrific. RN6, Mt. Kooyong Road Rafflesia (Bunga Pakma) is the State Flower of Sabah but not found on the mountain. However, blooms were Julatten QLD 4871 showing at nearby lower-altitude Kundasan and are a Ph: (07) 4094 1263 major tourist draw card, and at Poring in lowland Email: [email protected] rainforest at 570 m in the southeast margin of the Park. Sabah Park Service has a web-based reporting www.birdwatchers.com.au service on where Rafflesia is blooming but it was not operating on the several occasions I checked it. On the way back down to KK the effect of the current El Niño was everywhere apparent; I have never seen it so dry and fires so frequent. This is a recurring theme in much of Malaysia at the moment; \coupled with unprecedented high temperatures, lack of rain, and smoke and smog, conditions are quite uncomfortable. Back in KK I visited Tanjung Aru Beach and the adjacent Taman Prince Phillip near the airport, a reliable site for the Near Threatened Blue-naped Parrot Tanygnathus lucionensis, now nearly extirpated from its former Philippines stronghold. I managed an acceptable image of the Common Iora Aegithina tiphia and views of the established exotic Chinese Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus before the politics of wandering along a beach covered with bikinis girls while carrying a 500 mm lens got the better of me and I retreated to a coffee shop to cool off. Was a 10-day visit enough? No. Will I be going back? Probably… Article and images courtesy of Gary Wilson

18 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Inaugural National Twitchathon for Fun and Conservation Funds

Birdlife Australia will conduct an annual Twitchathon as a National Event for the first time on October 29 and 30 this year. There will be three events:  a 24 hour race  an 8 hour race  and a new event called the Birdathon – in this participants can use three separate hours over a 24 hour period

Each state/region will run local events, however there will be:  National results  Dedicated Birdlife Australia national webpage  National promotion campaign It's time for North Queensland Branch members to get their teams together and start planning their strategies to see the greatest number of birds and to raise the greatest amount of money for the birds. With our outstanding habitat and great diversity of birds our teams should go very well in the races. If you have never tried before this could be a great chance. Last year NSW members raised $25,000. In Victoria their funds were targeting mallee bird conservation, especially the Mallee Emu-wren. In Queensland last year funds raised went to assist the Carpentarian Grasswren.

WHAT ARE THE RULES? 1. Teams competing in the 24hr race must start between 2pm and 6pm on Saturday and finish their race 24hrs after start time. Minimum of three members and majority of members must see/hear each bird. 2. Teams competing in the 12hr race must start between 6am Saturday and 6am on Sunday and finish their race 12hrs after start time. Minimum of two members with majority recording each species. 3. Team start times must be pre-determined and included on the registration form, but can be changed by contacting the race coordinator up until 6pm on Sunday, 23 October 2016. 4. The Birdathon involves each participant selecting three separate hours (within a 24-hour period) in which to identify the maximum number of species. 5. Results must be completed by 6 pm on the Sunday at the latest.

FUN FINISH The Branch Committee will be arranging a social event on the Cairns Esplanade to mark the end of the Twitchathon – most likely at about 4pm on the Sunday with a chance for teams to finish their race with a BBQ social. Final scores will be tallied and sent to the National Coordinator so provisional winners can be identified. Complete lists will need to be emailed to the State/National Coordinators as soon as possible after the event. Members should form their teams and let the local Coordinator know as soon as possible to be kept informed about final rules, prizes and activities. There will be a website established soon. Volunteers to assist organise and coordinate the NQ Branch event are being sought. Please contact Peter Valentine if you can help ([email protected]). Updates will come out through BLNQ eNews courtesy of Doug Herrington (will there be a team called Doug's Drongos?). Peter Valentine

August–September 2016 19 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Byerstown (Palmer River) 1 – 3 OCTOBER 2016 I would like to invite you to my place at Byerstown (Palmer River), just 16kms off the Mulligan Hwy, for the October long Weekend. I am fortunate enough to live at Byerstown on a very large dam that was left by a gold-mining company 30 odd years ago. The dam is about 6 kms in circumference and we have very few full-time Double-barred Finch neighbours, three adults and a dog, so the bird life can be amazing. Over the last 13 years I have personally seen 131 bird species, either in my yard, around the dam or between my place and the highway. We have the usual permanent residents like Jacanas, Australasian Grebes, Bustards, Lapwings, Great Bowerbirds, Squatter Pigeons, Common Bronzewings, Double-barred Finches, Pale-headed Rosellas, Red- winged Parrots, Grey-crowned Babblers, Laughing & Blue-winged Kookaburras, Azure, Forest and Sacred

Kingfishers, Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants, My dam and Darters. We also have annual visitors such as Red- tailed Black-Cockatoos, Banded and Scarlet Honeyeaters, Black-throated Finches, with White- bellied Sea-Eagles and Wedge-tailed Eagles also visiting from time to time. In recent years a Red- backed Kingfisher has visited, as have Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels, Horsfield’s Busklarks, Black- faced, Masked and White-browed Woodswallows and Budgies. October is the time of year when other water sources are starting to dry up, so birds move to our place and our permanent water supply. There is a lot of country to explore around my dam and its surrounds. We can also check out the Palmer Palmer River Crossing River crossing that’s just over the dam from my place, the Little Palmer River crossing, and other locations on Old Maitland Station. The Palmer River Roadhouse has a great BBQ on Saturday nights for just $10 per head. I thought this would be a great chance to catch up with friends and to have a few quiet drinks. They also have a range of accommodation options, including cabins, donger accommodation and powered or unpowered sites. Everyone’s welcome to join me for what I hope will be an enjoyable weekend. If you have any questions, please ask.

By the way, the Palmer River crossing in the photos is near my place. The river is still flowing at the moment, Striated Pardalote nesting but it may not be in October, I’ll keep you posted.

Cheers Lynette Ensor Accommodation Bookings: Contact Details: [email protected] Palmer River Roadhouse or phone (07) 4060 2020

20 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Cairns Birding Festival Birding Festival, daily bird walks, competitions, big-day bird race, bird watching, bird-fun – Cairns, Australia. 27 August to 4 September, 2016

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME Saturday, 27 August 0730–1700 Michaelmas Cay on Ocean Spirit. Enquiries to Andy, [email protected] / 04 7616 7713; 1600–1800 Esplanade bird-watching with the 4 o'clock club; 1800–2000 A bird quiz and talk with Tom Collis, at Cominos House; for all ages. Sunday, 28 August 0730–1030 Black Mountain Road bird walk, with Birding Cairns & Birdlife North Queensland; 1400–1800 Welcome the Waders return, with Birdlife North Queensland & Paul Fiske; 1600–1800 Esplanade bird watching with the 4 o'clock club.

Monday, 29 August 0630–0730 Esplanade bird walk with Andy or Doug, meet opposite the RSL; 0800–1030 Yorkey's Knob bird walk; 1200–1600 Meet Colin on the Esplanade, sitting opposite the RSL; 1600–1800 Esplanade bird watching with the 4 o'clock club. Tuesday, 30 August 0630–0730 Esplanade bird walk with Andy or Doug, meet opposite the RSL; 0830–1030 Botanic Gardens-Lakes bird walk with John & Brian; 1200–1600 Meet Colin on the Esplanade, sitting opposite the RSL; 1600–1800 Esplanade bird watching with the 4 o'clock club.

Wednesday, 31 August 0630–0730 Esplanade bird walk with Andy, meet opposite the RSL; 0800–1000 Redden Is. bird walk; 1200–1600 Meet Colin on the Esplanade, sitting opposite the RSL;

1600–1800 Esplanade bird watching with the 4 o'clock club. Thursday, 1st Sept – Torresian Pigeon Day 0630–0730 Esplanade bird walk with Doug, meet opposite the RSL; 0830–1230 Birds from the Bus – for the old and infirm – get picked up to watch and photograph birds around the town from the vehicle. Ring Andy on 04 7616 7713, or email [email protected], for a seat; 1600–1800 Esplanade bird watching with the 4 o'clock club. 1600–1800 Cattanna Wetlands bird and nature walk with David Anderson.

August–September 2016 21 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Cairns Birding Festival continued

Friday, 2 September 0630–0730 Esplanade bird walk with Andy, meet opposite the RSL; 0800–1030 Crystal Cascades bird walk; 1200–1600 Meet Colin on the Esplanade, sitting opposite the RSL; 1600–1800 Esplanade bird watching with the 4 o'clock club. Saturday, 3 September Big Day bird race, midnight to midnight or less if you prefer; see below for rules. Sunday, 4 September 0630–0930 The monthly Cairns Birds Centenary Lakes Walk. Meet on Greenslopes St, opposite the phone box. 1600–1800 Esplanade bird-watching with prizes to:  the first to have seen a Beach Thicknee during the festival;  the first to have seen a newly arrived Torresian Pigeon this season;  Bird Photo Competition;  Junior Bird Photo Competition; and  Big Day winners.

BIG DAY BIRD RACE RULES

 Teams of two or more must be registered with Birding Cairns (txt to 04 7616 7713 or email [email protected]) before the competition starts at 2400 hrs on 2 September = 0000hrs on 3 September  All species identified by sight or sound by a majority of team members and found on Cairns Area List  Bird Race teams may start and finish at any time during the calendar day  All teams must keep in normal voice contact at all times  Driving teams may have a non-participating driver  There shall be no advice whatsoever ON THE DAY to team members from the public, including a non- participating driver, by sign, voice, mobile phone, etc.  No artificial objects may be used to attract birds  Teams must use surface travel only (walking, biking, driving) during the 24 hrs and count only the species within a day's surface travel of Cairns (e.g. Georgetown with a mostly new suite of species is less than 5 hrs drive to the west of Cairns and the Golden-shouldered Parrot at Artemis Station is about the same distance to the north)  The competition is on the calendar day of 6 September, i.e. it finishes at midnight 6 September  Final numbers could be sent by text to 04 7616 7713 or emailed to [email protected] or completed entries to be presented to the judges before 1600 hrs at the Esplanade on 4 September  Any violation of these conditions will result in disqualification  The judge’s decision will be final  Results will be announced at the Esplanade 4 September, at 1600 Please note, the program may change due to unforeseen circumstances. For more information about any of the above events and to register: contact Andy, [email protected] / 0476 167 713.

22 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Do you want more?

Noticeboard The Cairns Birding Group holds regular birdwatching walks on the first Sunday of each month at Centenary Lakes and a field trip to various locations on the third From the Editor Sunday of each month. Contact John Seale on 4052 1195 or check their website at Once again a big thank you to all our contributors to www.cairnsbirding.blogspot.com. Please note this this issue of Contact Call. group is not BirdLife Australia affiliated but many Please keep the images, articles, observations, activity members of the group are BirdLife members too. and trip reports and reviews coming in. Please email them to [email protected]

FINAL Newsletter deadline for 2016  Monday, October 10 for the December edition

Please note, if you have requested to receive printed newsletters from BirdLife Australia, these are usually posted out with the Australian BirdLife Magazine. The electronic version of Contact Call is available earlier, via email or on our web site, usually in February, May, August and November/December each year. Want to advertise in Contact Call? National Bird Week Advertisements and sponsorship help support BirdLife Northern Queensland. Any profit is used for education and conservation projects. The advertisements must National Bird Week 2016 will take place be relevant to BirdLife Northern Queensland members and compatible with BirdLife Australia objectives and between Monday, 17 October and Sunday, fund raising guidelines. 23 October Quarter page advertisements for four issues can be You can celebrate National Bird Week by taking part in purchased for $80 plus GST, or $25 plus GST for the biggest citizen science project to hit Aussie shores! single-issue advertisements. Contact the Editor of From 17-23 October 2016, thousands of people from Contact Call for further information. across the country are heading out into their backyards, local parks or favourite open spaces to take part in the third annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count! The Nation counted 1,009,894 birds (563 species) in 2015. That is the record to smash in 2016. Go to: www.aussiebirdcount.org.au for more information

Activities

Check out the BirdLife Northern Queensland activities lined up for the rest of 2016 in the event calendar. Please do come and join us. 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. Everybody is welcome. For more information about an event, contact the leader listed or check the website.

August–September 2016 23 BirdLife Northern Queensland

What’s on in FNQ 2016?

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader

Malanda Guest speaker Dr Clifford Frith Thursday Peter Valentine 7:30pm Hotel Dining will talk on – Darwin's contributions to 18 Aug [email protected] Room ornithology Queensland Twitchathon http://www.birdsqueensland.or 26–29 Aug All areas (please note this is not a BirdLife event) g.au/twitches.php 27 Aug – Andy, [email protected] Cairns Cairns Birding Festival (see pages 21-22) 4 Sept 04 7616 7713 Crane Counts Saturday Malanda Virginia Simmonds Day, late afternoon roost count and/or dinner 3 Sept area 07 4095 8302 (See front page of this newsletter) Cominos Graham Harrington Saturday House, 27 Talk on Tooth-billed Bowerbirds by Graham 7:30pm 0448 055 077 or 10 Sept Greenslopes Harrington and Amanda Freeman [email protected] St, Edge Hill Gwyneth Nevard: 4089 2307 or Tableland Crane Week email [email protected] or 19–25 Sept (please note this is not a BirdLife event) Caroline O'Reilly, 4096 6957 or email [email protected] Byerstown (Palmer River) long weekend Lynette Ensor 1–3 Oct Palmer River (see details page 20) [email protected] Graham Harrington 14–17 Oct Yourka Bush Heritage Bird Survey of Yourka Station 0448 055 077 or [email protected] Aussie Bird Count and National Bird Week http://BirdLife.org.au/get- 17–23 Oct (See page 23). Additional local events may also involved/whats-on/bird-week/ be arranged in each area Malanda Peter Valentine Thursday Talk – on “Night Birds” and spotlighting 7:30pm Hotel Dining [email protected] or 20 Oct session room Martin Willis 0412 642 141 INAUGURAL NATIONAL TWITCHATHON Peter Valentine 29–30 Oct All areas (See page 19 for details) [email protected] 2016 PIP Count Julia Hazel Any coastal 19 Nov 4–6pm (see page 16 for details) [email protected] or 0407 area 431 382 November or early 4pm Ayton Weary Bay PIP Count Kath Shurcliff 07 4096 5051 December Brian Venables and Return of the White Tom Collis 0401 783 795 or Nov Cairns Birds (to be confirmed) [email protected] http://BirdLife.org.au/get- 3–4 Dec All areas Challenge Count involved/whats-on/challenge- count/ Sam and Martin Willis Thursday Malanda Christmas Party 0412 642 141 15 Dec [email protected] Thursday New Year’s Party – Endeavour River boat Cooktown Kath Shurcliff 07 4096 5051 29 Dec cruise

24 Contact Call. Volume 5 Number 3