Eurasian Coot Fulica Atra Eating Waterbird Faeces

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

AUSTRALIAN 150 PHILLIPPS: Eumsian Coot Eating Waterbird Faeces BIRD WATCHER Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Eating Waterbird Faeces -W.M.R. Plate 20 I have regularly watched Dusky Moorhens Gallinula tenebrosa at Albert Park Lake in metropolitan Melbourne engaged in the behaviour described by Starks & Peter (1991). There.are several small jetties at the north end of the lake which are used as roosts by many birds, including Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa, Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, Little Pied Phalacrocorax melanoleucos and Little Black P. sulcirostris Cormorants, and Silver Gulls Larus novaehollandiae. Frequently each jetty also has one or two Dusky Moorhens which systematically work it for the droppings of any of the roosting birds. On 21 July 1991, at about 0800 h, I was watching the birds on one of these jetties. There were about 20 Coots, 20 Silver Gulls and 12 Black Ducks. As usual there was a couple of scavenging Moorhens as well. Most of the Coots were simply roosting, but three of them were behaving much as the Moorhens were, attempting to pick up droppings from the timber planking by laying their heads to one side in order to scoop up the semi-solid morsels with the sides of their bills. Though their techniques were similar, the efforts of the Coots seemed clumsier and less effective than those of the Moorhens. There was one apparent agonistic encounter between the two species when a Coot and a Moorhen approached the same dropping from opposite directions. The Moorhen stretched out its neck and lunged at the Coot, which backed away. The only food listed for Eurasian Coots in Australia by Barker & Vestjens (1989) is plant material. Cramp & Simmons (1980) do not mention faeces in a long list of plant and animal material taken by Coots in Europe. References Barker, R.D. & Vestjens, W.J.M. (1989), The Food ofAustralian Birds, 101. I, Non-Passerines, CSIRO, Melbourne. Cramp, S. & Simmons, K.E.L. (1980), Handbook of the Birds ofEurope, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the ~stern Palearctic, vol. 2, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Starks, J.R. & Peter, J.M. (1991) , 'Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa eating gull faeces', Aust. Bird Watcher 14, 69. By H.A.PHILLIPPS, 11 Marlton Crescent, St Kilda, Victoria 3182 Received 24 July 1991 • .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Lake Hamilton & Grange Wetlands
3. LakeHamilton Location: This impoundment on the Fauna: Breeding resident water birds Grange Burn in Hamilton is adjacent to the include Musk Duck (pictured below, DL), Hamilton-Dunkeld railway line just east of Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, the town. From the town centre, drive Eurasian Coot and Pacific Black Duck. northeast along Gray St to access the west Blue-billed Duck are occasional visitors. side, or along the Glenelg Highway Spotted, Spotless and Baillon’s Crakes, (Ballarat Rd) and turning left at Riley St (to Buff-banded and Lewin’s Rails may be park at the spillway), or Rippon Rd to seen in the summer months, especially access the south side swimming beach between the beach and the footbridge at and playground area. A walking/cycling the eastern end of the lake. path 4.2 km in length runs through the parkland surrounding the Lake. The lake An Australian Little Bittern was heard in the was created in the 1970s for recreational reeds near the island early in 2009. (swimming, fishing, rowing and speed Spoonbills, herons and egrets may occur boats) and scenic purposes. in the reed beds all around the lake along with Australian Reed-warblers and Little Landform and geology: The lake is Grassbirds. The common honeyeaters are shallow and formed on the Grange Burn White-plumed, New Holland and Red floodplain. The landscape is basaltic Wattlebirds. The lake has permanent plains. The eastern end with the large water and may serve as an important island is pictured below (DL). refuge for water birds during droughts when large numbers of birds may be Flora: Little original native vegetation can present.
[Show full text]
Hungary & Transylvania
Although we had many exciting birds, the ‘Bird of the trip’ was Wallcreeper in 2015. (János Oláh) HUNGARY & TRANSYLVANIA 14 – 23 MAY 2015 LEADER: JÁNOS OLÁH Central and Eastern Europe has a great variety of bird species including lots of special ones but at the same time also offers a fantastic variety of different habitats and scenery as well as the long and exciting history of the area. Birdquest has operated tours to Hungary since 1991, being one of the few pioneers to enter the eastern block. The tour itinerary has been changed a few times but nowadays the combination of Hungary and Transylvania seems to be a settled and well established one and offers an amazing list of European birds. This tour is a very good introduction to birders visiting Europe for the first time but also offers some difficult-to-see birds for those who birded the continent before. We had several tour highlights on this recent tour but certainly the displaying Great Bustards, a majestic pair of Eastern Imperial Eagle, the mighty Saker, the handsome Red-footed Falcon, a hunting Peregrine, the shy Capercaillie, the elusive Little Crake and Corncrake, the enigmatic Ural Owl, the declining White-backed Woodpecker, the skulking River and Barred Warblers, a rare Sombre Tit, which was a write-in, the fluty Red-breasted and Collared Flycatchers and the stunning Wallcreeper will be long remembered. We recorded a total of 214 species on this short tour, which is a respectable tally for Europe. Amongst these we had 18 species of raptors, 6 species of owls, 9 species of woodpeckers and 15 species of warblers seen! Our mammal highlight was undoubtedly the superb views of Carpathian Brown Bears of which we saw ten on a single afternoon! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Hungary & Transylvania 2015 www.birdquest-tours.com We also had a nice overview of the different habitats of a Carpathian transect from the Great Hungarian Plain through the deciduous woodlands of the Carpathian foothills to the higher conifer-covered mountains.
[Show full text]
Birding Oxley Creek Common Brisbane, Australia
Birding Oxley Creek Common Brisbane, Australia Hugh Possingham and Mat Gilfedder – January 2011 [email protected] www.ecology.uq.edu.au 3379 9388 (h) Other photos, records and comments contributed by: Cathy Gilfedder, Mike Bennett, David Niland, Mark Roberts, Pete Kyne, Conrad Hoskin, Chris Sanderson, Angela Wardell-Johnson, Denis Mollison. This guide provides information about the birds, and how to bird on, Oxley Creek Common. This is a public park (access restricted to the yellow parts of the map, page 6). Over 185 species have been recorded on Oxley Creek Common in the last 83 years, making it one of the best birding spots in Brisbane. This guide is complimented by a full annotated list of the species seen in, or from, the Common. How to get there Oxley Creek Common is in the suburb of Rocklea and is well signposted from Sherwood Road. If approaching from the east (Ipswich Road side), pass the Rocklea Markets and turn left before the bridge crossing Oxley Creek. If approaching from the west (Sherwood side) turn right about 100 m after the bridge over Oxley Creek. The gate is always open. Amenities The main development at Oxley Creek Common is the Red Shed, which is beside the car park (plenty of space). The Red Shed has toilets (composting), water, covered seating, and BBQ facilities. The toilets close about 8pm and open very early. The paths are flat, wide and easy to walk or cycle. When to arrive The diversity of waterbirds is a feature of the Common and these can be good at any time of the day.
[Show full text]
Nesting Habitat and Breeding Success of Fulica Atra in Tree Wetlands in Fez's Region, Central Morocco
J Anim Behav Biometeorol (2020) 8:282-287 ISSN 2318-1265 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Nesting habitat and breeding success of Fulica atra in tree wetlands in Fez’s region, central Morocco Wafae Squalli ▪ Ismail Mansouri ▪ Mohamed Dakki ▪ Fatima Fadil W Squalli (Corresponding author) ▪ I Mansouri ▪ F Fadil M Dakki Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Laboratory of Geo-biodiversity and Natural Heritage, Faculty of sciences and technology, USMBA, Fez, Morocco. Scientific Institute, Mohammed V University, Av. Ibn Battota, 10 BP 703, Rabat, Morocco. email: [email protected] Received: June 07, 2020 ▪ Accepted: July 15, 2020 ▪ Published Online: August 06, 2020 Abstract The current study was intended to investigate the in part, by interspecific (Fretwell and Lucas 1969; Jones 2001) breeding habitats and ecology of the Eurasian coot Fulica atra and intraspecific interactions (Morris 1989), climate contrast in Fez region Morocco. To achieve our goals, nests were (Martin 2001), and habitat degradation (Feary et al 2007). monitored in three wetlands Oued Al Jawahir river, Mahraz Understanding the dissimilarity between adaptive and and El Gaada dams. In addition, nesting vegetation and nest’s maladaptive animal use of habitat is needed for any dimensions were analysed to characterise the Eurasian coot conservation issue because animal use of inadequate habitat is nests. As results, 46 nests (74%) were found in Oued al counter to conservation drives (Case and Taper 2000). Jawahir, compared with 15 nests (24%) in Mahraz dam. In El Because species conservation worry often occurs in disturbed Gaada dam only 2 nests were built by the Eurasian coots. On habitats (Belaire et al 2014), patterns in habitat use in these the other hand, all nests were built on the riparian vegetation species may not always be revealing of the habitat conditions of the river and dams.
[Show full text]
Modern Birds Classification System Tinamiformes
6.1.2011 Classification system • Subclass: Neornites (modern birds) – Superorder: Paleognathae, Neognathae Modern Birds • Paleognathae – two orders, 49 species • Struthioniformes—ostriches, emus, kiwis, and allies • Tinamiformes—tinamous Ing. Jakub Hlava Department of Zoology and Fisheries CULS Tinamiformes • flightless • Dwarf Tinamou • consists of about 47 species in 9 genera • Dwarf Tinamou ‐ 43 g (1.5 oz) and 20 cm (7.9 in) • Gray Tinamou ‐ 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) 53 cm (21 in) • small fruits and seeds, leaves, larvae, worms, and mollusks • Gray Tinamou 1 6.1.2011 Struthioniformes Struthioniformes • large, flightless birds • Ostrich • most of them now extinct • Cassowary • chicks • Emu • adults more omnivorous or insectivorous • • adults are primarily vegetarian (digestive tracts) Kiwi • Emus have a more omnivorous diet, including insects and other small animals • kiwis eat earthworms, insects, and other similar creatures Neognathae Galloanserae • comprises 27 orders • Anseriformes ‐ waterfowl (150) • 10,000 species • Galliformes ‐ wildfowl/landfowl (250+) • Superorder Galloanserae (fowl) • Superorder Neoaves (higher neognaths) 2 6.1.2011 Anseriformes (screamers) Anatidae (dablling ducks) • includes ducks, geese and swans • South America • cosmopolitan distribution • Small group • domestication • Large, bulky • hunted animals‐ food and recreation • Small head, large feet • biggest genus (40‐50sp.) ‐ Anas Anas shoveler • mallards (wild ducks) • pintails • shlhovelers • wigeons • teals northern pintail wigeon male (Eurasian) 3 6.1.2011 Tadorninae‐
[Show full text]
Wildlife Enhancement Plan 2014–2019 Aims to Support Increased Biodiversity and the Conservation of Native Fauna and Fauna Habitat Within the Local Environment
Wildlife Enhancement Plan 2014 – 2019 www.subiaco.wa.gov.au Goal statement The Wildlife Enhancement Plan 2014–2019 aims to support increased biodiversity and the conservation of native fauna and fauna habitat within the local environment. Acknowledgements The city would like to thank Danielle Bowler from the City of Joondalup, Tamara Kabat from Bird Life Australia, Mathew Swan from the Department of Parks and Wildlife and Jake Tanner from the City of Fremantle for assisting with the development of this plan. The City of Subiaco is committed to protecting the global environment through local action. By printing this publication on Australian made 100 per cent recycled paper, the city aims to conserve the resources of the city. The document is available via the Internet at www.subiaco.wa.gov.au TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents Executive summary 4 Key definitions 5 Introduction 6 Wildlife conservation and enhancement 7 Parks, reserves and street trees 7 Wetlands 7 Greenways and remnant bushland areas 8 Aboriginal cultural significance 8 Community education 8 Management of identified risks 10 Climate change 10 Feral animals 10 Domestic animals 10 Plant pathogens 10 Resources and useful links 11 References 12 Appendix A: Fauna list 13 Photo courtesy of Margaret Owen CITY OF SUBIACO 2014 –2019 WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT PLAN | 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive summary The Wildlife Enhancement Plan 2014–2019 aims to support increased biodiversity and the conservation of native fauna and fauna habitat within the city’s local environment. The plan includes actions to enhance wildlife conservation, as well as provide education and participation opportunities for the community.
[Show full text]
Breeding Biology of the Dusky Moorhen in a Suburban Park
Corella, 2003, 27(1 ): 24-30 BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE DUSKY MOORHEN IN A SUBURBAN PARK 1 2 3 SEAN PYWELL' and ALAN LILL • • 'Wildlife Ecology Group, School of Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 18, Monash University, Victoria 3800 'School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, P.O. Box 17, Monash University, Victoria 3800 ·'Corresponding author Rereived: 23 May 2002 The breeding biology of a Dusky Moorhen Gal/inula tenebrosa population in Jells Park, Melbourne was studied from 1991 to 1996. Data were supplemented by records from the Birds Australia Nest Record Scheme for the period 1963-1995. The breeding season at Jells Park lasted from August to March. Mean individual clutch size was 6 eggs at Jells Park and 7 eggs in Nest Record Scheme. For breeding groups at Jells Park with only one laying female, clutch size was negatively correlated with laying date. The eggs comprising a clutch were usually laid daily, egg mass was about 7 per cent of adult mass and the mean incubation period was 23 days. Egg mass and incubation period conformed to allometric predictions based on adult mass, but clutch mass exceeded prediction simply because of the significant incidence of communal clutches. Clutch success was 61 per cent at Jells Park and 72 per cent in the Nest Record Scheme. Predation was the main nesting mortality agent. Survival of chicks from fledging to independence was 40-50 per cent at Jells Park. Females in the park contributed eggs to a similar ex1ent to single-female or communal clutches, but Nest Record Scheme females contributed about one more egg to communal than single-female clutches.
[Show full text]
England Birds and Gardens 2013 Trip
Eagle-Eye England Birds and Gardens 2013 Trip May 7th – 18th 2013 Bird List Graylag Goose (Anser anser) Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Branta bernicla bernicla)] Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) Gadwall (Anas strepera) Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) (Anas crecca crecca/nimia) Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) Common/Northern Eider (Somateria mollissima mollissima) Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) Common Crane (Grus grus) Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) Grey/Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
[Show full text]
Rlch Swamp Contains Very Little Water. the Melaleuca Quinquenervia at Carr's Creek, Although Occupying Approximately the Same Ar
28 RlCH [ Bird Wat cher swamp contains very little water. The Melaleuca quinquenervia at Carr's Creek, although occupying approximately the same area as at Gillett's Ridge. is growing much more densely and is in several feet of water. At Gillett's Ridge, the Cattle Egrets are accompanied by White, Plumed and Little Egrets, but no other species have been noted at Carr's Creek. U nfortunatel y, the Carr's Creek swamp is close to human habi tation. although the owners of the property are very sympathetic and interested . Eric Wheeler, Grafton, New South Wales, 15 / 4/ 1972. Black-tailed Native Hen in Desert Country. During periods of norma l rainfall the Black-tailed Native Hen, T ribonvx ventralis, frequents " swamps. grasslands near water" (Condon. f968. see also Cooper. 1955. McGill, 1960, Slater. 1971 , Storr, 1967, etc.). However. due to the exceptionally dry conditions that have pre va iled in so uthern South Australia and New South Wales, and the whole state of Victoria during the spring and early summer months of 1972. a southward irruption of this species has occurred. There are numerous reports in South Australian Ornithological A ssoci ation's "Newsletter" (December, 1972). where an effort is being made to collate the various record s for South A ustrali a, and also in other journals. Most of the observations are of birds near dams. la kes or swamps. At the time of writing. December 1972, the drought had inten sified and we a re able to appreciate the circumstances th at have ca used th e Native Hens to move so uthwa rd .
[Show full text]
2015-Birds-Of-ML1.Pdf
FREE presents Birds of Mawson Lakes Linda Vining & MikeBIRDS Flynn of Mawson Lakes An online book available at www.mawsonlakesliving.info Republished as an ebook in 2015 First Published in 2013 Published by Mawson Lakes Living Magazine 43 Parkview Drive Mawson Lakes 5095 SOUTH AUSTRALIA Ph: +61 8 8260 7077 [email protected] www.mawsonlakesliving.info Photography and words by Mike Flynn Cover: New Holland Honeyeater. See page 22 for description © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without credit to the publisher. BIRDS inof MawsonMawson LakesLakes 3 Introduction What bird is that? Birdlife in Mawson Lakes is abundant and adds a wonderful dimension to our natural environment. Next time you go outside just listen to the sounds around you. The air is always filled with bird song. Birds bring great pleasure to the people of Mawson Lakes. There is nothing more arresting than a mother bird and her chicks swimming on the lakes in the spring. What a show stopper. The huge variety of birds provides magnificent opportunities for photographers. One of these is amateur photographer Mike Flynn who lives at Shearwater. Since coming to live at Mawson Lakes he has become an avid bird watcher and photographer. I often hear people ask: “What bird is that?” This book, brought to you by Mawson Lakes Living, is designed to answer this question by identifying birds commonly seen in Mawson Lakes and providing basic information on where to find them, what they eat and their distinctive features.
[Show full text]
Wings Over Alaska Checklist
Blue-winged Teal GREBES a Chinese Pond-Heron Semipalmated Plover c Temminck's Stint c Western Gull c Cinnamon Teal r Pied-billed Grebe c Cattle Egret c Little Ringed Plover r Long-toed Stint Glacuous-winged Gull Northern Shoveler Horned Grebe a Green Heron Killdeer Least Sandpiper Glaucous Gull Northern Pintail Red-necked Grebe Black-crowned r White-rumped Sandpiper a Great Black-backed Gull a r Eurasian Dotterel c Garganey a Eared Grebe Night-Heron OYSTERCATCHER Baird's Sandpiper Sabine's Gull c Baikal Teal Western Grebe VULTURES, HAWKS, Black Oystercatcher Pectoral Sandpiper Black-legged Kittiwake FALCONS Green-winged Teal [Clark's Grebe] STILTS, AVOCETS Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Red-legged Kittiwake c Turkey Vulture Canvasback a Black-winged Stilt a Purple Sandpiper Ross' Gull Wings Over Alaska ALBATROSSES Osprey Redhead a Shy Albatross a American Avocet Rock Sandpiper Ivory Gull Bald Eagle c Common Pochard Laysan Albatross SANDPIPERS Dunlin r Caspian Tern c White-tailed Eagle Ring-necked Duck Black-footed Albatross r Common Greenshank c Curlew Sandpiper r Common Tern Alaska Bird Checklist c Steller's Sea-Eagle r Tufted Duck Short-tailed Albatross Greater Yellowlegs Stilt Sandpiper Arctic Tern for (your name) Northern Harrier Greater Scaup Lesser Yellowlegs c Spoonbill Sandpiper Aleutian Tern PETRELS, SHEARWATERS [Gray Frog-Hawk] Lesser Scaup a Marsh Sandpiper c Broad-billed Sandpiper a Sooty Tern Northern Fulmar Sharp-shinned Hawk Steller's Eider c Spotted Redshank Buff-breasted Sandpiper c White-winged Tern Mottled Petrel [Cooper's
[Show full text]
Alpha Codes for 2168 Bird Species (And 113 Non-Species Taxa) in Accordance with the 62Nd AOU Supplement (2021), Sorted Taxonomically
Four-letter (English Name) and Six-letter (Scientific Name) Alpha Codes for 2168 Bird Species (and 113 Non-Species Taxa) in accordance with the 62nd AOU Supplement (2021), sorted taxonomically Prepared by Peter Pyle and David F. DeSante The Institute for Bird Populations www.birdpop.org ENGLISH NAME 4-LETTER CODE SCIENTIFIC NAME 6-LETTER CODE Highland Tinamou HITI Nothocercus bonapartei NOTBON Great Tinamou GRTI Tinamus major TINMAJ Little Tinamou LITI Crypturellus soui CRYSOU Thicket Tinamou THTI Crypturellus cinnamomeus CRYCIN Slaty-breasted Tinamou SBTI Crypturellus boucardi CRYBOU Choco Tinamou CHTI Crypturellus kerriae CRYKER White-faced Whistling-Duck WFWD Dendrocygna viduata DENVID Black-bellied Whistling-Duck BBWD Dendrocygna autumnalis DENAUT West Indian Whistling-Duck WIWD Dendrocygna arborea DENARB Fulvous Whistling-Duck FUWD Dendrocygna bicolor DENBIC Emperor Goose EMGO Anser canagicus ANSCAN Snow Goose SNGO Anser caerulescens ANSCAE + Lesser Snow Goose White-morph LSGW Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Lesser Snow Goose Intermediate-morph LSGI Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Lesser Snow Goose Blue-morph LSGB Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Greater Snow Goose White-morph GSGW Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Greater Snow Goose Intermediate-morph GSGI Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Greater Snow Goose Blue-morph GSGB Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Snow X Ross's Goose Hybrid SRGH Anser caerulescens x rossii ANSCAR + Snow/Ross's Goose SRGO Anser caerulescens/rossii ANSCRO Ross's Goose
[Show full text]