DOCSLIB.ORG

AOC 2011 Abstracts

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
AOC 2011 Abstracts $" Australasian Ornithological Conference )0"" &(!"" )'(( !# !"% with Down Under Tours DIGGER ST SMITH ST McKENZIE ST McLEOD ST COOK HIGHWAY 3 CAIRNS ST CHARLES ST CAIRNS BASE HOSPITAL MUDDY'S PLAYGROUND GROVE ST KERWIN 2ST GATTON ST CAIRNS TO AIRPORT PRIVATE HOSPITAL TRINITY MARTYN ST PIONEER LAKE ST BAY CEMETERY , BOTANIC GARDENS, NORTHERN BEACHES UPWARD ST ABBOTT ST MINNIE ST 24HR MEDICAL ESPLANADE CENTRE & ESPLANADE PHARMACY LAGOON PIER POINT RD FLORENCE ST CAIRNS THE CITY PIER CAIRNS LIBRARY CAIRNS REEF CIVIC REGIONAL THEATRE GALLERY THE TERMINAL CAIRNS APLIN ST CITY CINEMA CITY POST MARTYN ST McLEOD ST PLACE ORCHID PLAZA REEF CASINO 1 SHERIDAN SHIELDSST ST BUS GRAFTON ST TERMINAL CAIRNS CENTRAL SHOPPING CENTRE SEVERIN ST MULGRAVE RD RRAILWAYAILWAY SSTATIONTATION SPENCE ST POST POLICE OFFICE TRINITY STATION WHARF ST DRAPER ST INLET CONVENTION CAIRNS CENTRE SHOW AUMULLER ST GROUNDS BRUCE HIGHWAY BARLOW CAIRNS KENNY ST SCOTT ST PARK SPORTS CITY COMPLEX COUNCIL with Down Under Tours Mararna St Connemara St Moore St Katandra St Corinda St Cyprea Cl Moore St BBluelue LLagoonagoon Mahab St 1 Kewarra St Shell Cl Vasey Espanade Ibis Cl Strombus Ave Limpet Cl Jameson St Moore St Keem St Maurice St Whelk Cl Trinity BeachPetersen Rd St Nova St Periwinkle Ave Kirra Cl Anderson St Trinity Beach Rd Boroko Cl Oyster Cl Redman St Trinidad Cl Peacock St 2 Lae St Pecten Cl Oyster Cl Trinity Beach Rd Rabaul St Buka St Moresby St Lae St !" #""$%! & " ' (& %! ! & " ' (& %)"*" & " ' (+ ,' !"" - " $ . " (% $"$ */ " ,$ " , "$ . $ % (" / "" " $ 0 " $ " 29(52)29(67 " $ 29(67)32(22 ! $ 32(22)32(37 & 32(37)32(52 32(52)32(67 " ! #! 0! $1 32(67)33(37 ,12324* ,12324* ,12324* - " % " ( . */ " ! "$. 5" !" "/ /"" " / "( " / " !" / " " " 33(37)33(52 % # ! # # ! # 33(52)33(67 # 33(67)34(22 # ) ! ! % # / 34(22)34(37 ! # #01 3 34(37)34(52 $ # 34(52)34(67 $ $ 34(67)3(67 672!89- 672!89- 672!89- - " % " " 6"$ " "$" "$#!" " " " + . / "$ $ " 23(67)24(22 " # # ! 24(22)24(37 $ % ! ! * $ ./" 24(37)24(52 24(52)24(67 ! "$ # % ! 24(67)25(22 " ! $ !2*1*2!*!6*&1**232 25(22)25(52 *122* *122*9- %%1 - & & " " (! $'!$'' ' ' ' %' ' !''# 25(52)25(67 "% #$%&% 25(67)26(22 $ ' ( 26(22)26(37 "- " % " / :;+*&1 26(37)26(52 ! 26(52)26(67 ::;+ 28(22)32(22 +"" < ' =:;+ 32(37 ;+ James Cook University Australasian Ornithological Birds Australia Conference 2011 Cairns Ornithological Society of New Zealand %(& CEDR @ E C D @ EEH@F E@H@ P@FE@ C@CE FD D@@ GCD EPX CDR @CE rE FDECD C E @@ @ CT DPCH G PED C@ H%R@FE C DH C E H@C D@H@FACE FCP E@IEHC H@ E@E @D@ P@FH @ GECGDF @ HPE@ACE AET D DE CDEE E D@ E@E FDEC EC@A DFD@ E DH G E@AC@ @CP@FFDED@ @ E @FEDE D ECDC FCE E C@F @FE E CPRHER C @DEEC@A C @DT GH@C CE@AFEE@E CH EH GH I E RECE @C E GDC D@ ACDEE @DD@ GEDT @AE EP@F@PE IEE CPDCE@ E @DE@ E @AA@CEF E DE E @E E @ C C@CE FD GE@@ CT C@@ CX C D @ EE (% 0!'#1#'!(&&#22&&01 C@@ C CT@@cFTFTF E@ CECP TD E@cFTFTF HCDH THCDcFTFTF C @CE CEFCc A@T@ TF CD cDH E@FCDT@ TF P @@ P T@@cC TBT@GTF C CC E@C TCC E@cD C@TF @CE @EE T@CE @EEcCFEDTFTFTF GDE@EE G TDE@EEcD C@TF @ D@C@PTH D@cFTFTF James Cook University Australasian Ornithological Birds Australia Conference 2011 Cairns Ornithological Society of New Zealand B@AA)) 5 James Cook University Australasian Ornithological Birds Australia Conference 2011 Cairns Ornithological Society of New Zealand (' 0'00'!&'21 '3 C@HE C EFCE ECD Y i` C @E E CP F R @E C C@ E ECE@E CD AFDRC@C@R E YD A D C@E@GC`T !#1202#('82'7!02 C DECE @D H @EEE @E @FDY hh`H @AEqTffA DPhtE AE ChfggT ECEH EP @@HC DECE @E C@F E@sTifA TFD ECD CDH ACEEsTpqA T DECE @H D@G @CE CDEDDD @@ FCDPhuE C@ tTff E @PC@ C@HE CEFC ECY i`T (' 0'1"3% E DE@ DDD @D DAC@G E DDECEG@F T @ CH @C P@AE tTif FCDPhuE AE ChfggTDD @D@ DFDBFEPDH @ EuTff E C@HE CEFC ECDY iTg iTh`T (' 0' (0&2 DAC@G P@FCACDEE @@ D C G @C E@ E EEE E P @C P@FC ACDEE @ DD FT @CE @DACDE @E CDEPRE D E DH G E C DECE @ AC @C E@ @ E @ E E CET EEED H G if FED @CE CDED FDDD @ @C T@E EFCE ECDH AC@G H E EAC@E@C DC H E DE C DD E@ DD DE H E E CF @ E DDD @DT CPACDEE @DH @FCEE @ PTA CDH G hfWhq FED @CE CACDEE @R @@HPq FEDCDCG @CBFDE @DT CH gq FED@EE@DA@ AACDRgh FED I F @C E ACDEE @H E i FED @CBFDE @D @GCT EDH DEC EP @C PDDD @ CDE@@HEDE@ @GD PEHC@@ DFC DDD @DT H @E EC@@@ C P ifE AE C @ E iTifA T@DECFE @CDD @FACDEE@ DFDDE CH@C FC E DDDD @T@DECDD @F I F D Q@ fYtpTgIggtTu `H E fD QA@DECD A@CEC E @C ED @F E@E EEE@E @C @ E A@DECDDD @D @CE CDED FDDD @T %1' 01"&'21 @C EC@@EDH AC@G DCG E @PC@ i PEgfTpq iTffA @CFCE @@ if FEDTY EC@@E@ C PifE H DCGEE @E @FD AC @CE@E @DECDD @` F H DCGEE @E @FDY hh`EghTpqXgTpq PT James Cook University Australasian Ornithological Birds Australia Conference 2011 Cairns Ornithological Society of New Zealand 2"02#4#2#1 FC DA@D@CD G C@FDP @E C@ AC QD @C E DE DEFE ACDEE @DT CD@ E AC QDH ACDEFC E @DC@ E @ CT @E E @E @FDT @ C CH @ EsTffA @ FCDPhuE AE C hfggEAF @C FEFCC TAF D@E@E CDDEC CEC @ CG@ YAAC@Iq D@FE D @ @ E AE @@ HP`TFDECD CDE@ C@ E CH G T CDDH EDFT ! CDEE @DCE E F @ E E @ @C FDEC CDhfgfEC@F C FDEC H @@HE A@DECACDEE @D@ C PifE AE CREH E E C H @AC D DH AC@G TFDECD CDH ACEErTpqA T ACA@DE@ CE@FCDC@E FDACE@ E Whfgg@ CAC@C @CC DECE @RE CCC@ @ C E@FCD WC G@AE @DG T FE CWP A@DEW@ C E@FC D G H E UD E@FCD @C E IFD G @P E @ @ C EDT D WAC@ E@FCH @ECEAC C P @E CD@ @CE FDRFEH D@IA@DEDE@E DDAEFC DCP @ E E C@A D @CC E CT @CEC @WP ACW@ C E@FCD C D@ G T@C @C E @ @FEHHHTDH E@FCDT@ TFVE@FCDT E E @R E C C C@ @E C @ C E@FCDR @ C F D D WC G @AE @D G @C E CD @DE YHHHT C EC@A FDEC T@ TFV@DEV FETDAI` E EC YHHHT C EC@A FDEC T@ TFV ECV FETDAI` D YHHHT C EC@A FDEC T@ TFV DV FETDAI`C @DFD C CC C P @ @E @@ACEPDA@D@CD@ E Whfgg@ CR F E @FD D C C CHE CDa@YHHHT CHE CDT@ TF`EFEET E @C E @ DE@ E D @AE @D @F E E C C@A FDEC HD E YHHHT C EC@A FDEC T@ TF`T Scientific Program Thursday Crowther theatre Crowther theatre 29/09/2011 A3.1 A3.2 8:30-9:00 Welcome & conference opening Plenary address 9:00-9:30 Catterall The importance of birds in Australian ecosystems Birds in agricultural Seabirds at sea - foraging Chair Jones & urban landscapes Carlile ecology An oily end? Can What you see is not what you 9:30-9:45 Davis lowland forest birds Priddel get: a comparison of the first persist in the palm oil tracking data for both plantations of New subspecies of Gould’s petrel Britain, Papua New with historical observations at Guinea? sea Bird utilisation of Foraging ecology of Gould’s 9:45-10:00 Green biodiversity corridors Kim Petrel during breeding season in a pine plantation landscape. Barriers and solutions How reliable is the use of 10:00-10:15 Freimanis to incorporating Sommerfeld First Passage Time analysis to biodiversity in urban determine areas of restricted development - A pilot search behaviour in Tasman project with the boobies? development industry Guided by the light: Determining dietary shifts 10:15-10:30 Jones exploring urban Fleming caused by at-sea events lorikeet roosts using stable isotope analysis City or the bush? Sea Change for seabirds 10:30-10:45 Davis Habitat usage by an Baird urban parrot assemblage. 10:45-11:15 Morning tea Birds in modified Seabirds: Threats & Chair Freeman landscapes 1 Wilson Conservation Lord Howe Gerygone Seabird islands in French 11:15-11:30 Szabo and other lost birds – Waugh Polynesia the history of avian extinctions in Australia How do the landscape BirdLife International’s 11:30-11:45 Freeman context of Bird Important Bird Area (IBA) revegetation and the programme ecological attributes of bird species affect re- colonisation of rainforest revegetation sites? A case study in the Australian Wet Tropics Uplands. Thursday Crowther theatre Crowther theatre 29/09/2011 A3.1 A3.2 Eucalyptus wandoo New Zealand’s seabird colony 11:45-12:00 Moore crown decline - How Wilson database: a tool for does it influence the conservation foraging resources for woodland birds? Modelling interactions Seabird feather bank: a joint 12:00-12:15 Fletcher between fire regime Carlile initiative of the Australasian and Carpentarian Seabird Group and State Grasswrens to inform museum institutions within a fire management Australia program Assessment of fir Not junk food for dinner 12:15-12:30 Harrington challenge to the Carey again – Intergenerational Carpentarian transfer of plastic debris by Grasswren Short-tailed Shearwaters Critical habitat Estimating marine debris 12:30-12:45 Robinson features for birds in Hardesty impacts on seabirds burnt landscapes 12:45-1:45 Lunch Birds in modified Seabirds and climate Chair Harrington landscapes 2 Congdon change The ravenous ravens Climate change and Little 1:45-2:00 Stevenson of Rottnest Island: Dann Penguins: predictions based nest predation on bush on a long-term demographic birds by the Australian study Raven Corvus coronoides The Black-throated The influence of sea surface 2:00-2:15 Moloney fFinch southern Manno temperature and rainfall on subspecies Poephila breeding success of the Fairy cincta cincta; Declines, Prion (Pachyptila turtur) threats and conservation Surveying the Seabirds in hot water: Linking 2:15-2:30 Adams Southern Alps: Congdon foraging success and Substantial differences oceanography on the Great in indices of kea Barrier Reef (Nestor notabilis) abundance across its range may reflect response to pest management Returning the Balance: Sensitivity of tropical seabirds 2:30-2:45 Maguire managing threats to Devney to El Niño Precursors the Hooded Plover in Victoria.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Cross-Temporal Analysis of Genetic Diversity in the Endangered Medium Tree Finch (Camarhynchus Pauper) and Closely Related Darwin’S Finches
    Cross-Temporal Analysis of Genetic Diversity in the Endangered Medium Tree Finch (Camarhynchus pauper) and Closely Related Darwin’s Finches By Colleen Metzger B.S., Juniata College, 2009 A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati Department of Biological Sciences In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Science Committee Chair: Kenneth Petren, Ph.D. November 2012 Abstract Natural history collections can provide a direct view of past genotypes, which allows greater insight into evolutionary processes that are relevant for conservation and management. However, few studies have used broad surveys of multilocus genotypes from the past to address the wide range of processes that can affect conservation planning of a species today. Therefore, we assessed the history and status of the critically endangered medium tree finch, Camarhynchus pauper, an endemic finch of the Galápagos Islands. Using ancient DNA techniques, we quantified cross-temporal genetic change for 16 microsatellite loci in this species and its relatives. We tested the hypothesis that C. pauper has undergone a recent reduction in population size and loss of genetic diversity, and evaluated the hypothesis that C. pauper is genetically distinct from its two closest relatives, C. parvulus and C. psittacula. We assessed whether decline in C. pauper has led to increased hybridization with other species and evaluated a long-standing hypothesis of its origin from C. psittacula on another island using genetic distances, assignment tests, and migration analyses. Genetic diversity declined significantly in C. pauper over time, and several other tree finch populations showed similar losses of genetic diversity.
    [Show full text]
  • South Africa 3Rd to 22Nd September 2015 (20 Days)
    Hollyhead & Savage Trip Report South Africa 3rd to 22nd September 2015 (20 days) Female Cheetah with cubs and Impala kill by Heinz Ortmann Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader: Heinz Ortmann Trip Report Hollyhead & Savage Private South Africa September 2015 2 Tour Summary A fantastic twenty day journey that began in the beautiful Overberg region and fynbos of the Western Cape, included the Wakkerstroom grasslands, coastal dune forest of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the Baobab-studded hills of Mapungubwe National Park and ended along a stretch of road searching for Kalahari specials north of Pretoria amongst many others. We experienced a wide variety of habitats and incredible birds and mammals. An impressive 400-plus birds and close to 50 mammal species were found on this trip. This, combined with visiting little-known parts of South Africa such as Magoebaskloof and Mapungubwe National Park, made this tour special as well as one with many unforgettable experiences and memories for the participants. Our journey started out from Cape Town International Airport at around lunchtime on a glorious sunny early-spring day. Our journey for the first day took us eastwards through the Overberg region and onto the Agulhas plains where we spent the next two nights. The farmlands in these parts appear largely barren and consist of single crop fields and yet host a surprising number of special, localised and endemic species. Our afternoon’s travels through these parts allowed us views of several more common and widespread species such as Egyptian and Spur-winged Geese, raptors like Jackal Buzzard, Rock Kestrel and Yellow-billed Kite, Speckled Pigeons, Capped Wheatear, Pied Starling, the ever present Pied and Cape Crow, White-necked Raven and Pin-tailed Whydah, almost in full breeding plumage.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands
    Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands - including Sacha Lodge Extension Naturetrek Tour Report 29 January – 20 February 2018 Medium Ground-finch Blue-footed Booby Wire-tailed Manakin Galapagos Penguin Green Sea Turtle Report kindly compiled by Tour participants Sally Wearing, Rowena Tye, Debbie Hardie and Sue Swift Images courtesy of David Griffiths, Sue Swift, Debbie Hardie, Jenny Tynan, Rowena Tye, Nick Blake and Sally Wearing Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf’s Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands - including Sacha Lodge Extension Tour Leader in the Galapagos: Juan Tapia with 13 Naturetrek Clients This report has kindly been compiled by tour participants Sally Wearing, Rowena Tye, Debbie Hardie and Sue Swift. Day 1 Monday 29th January UK to Quito People arrived in Quito via Amsterdam with KLM or via Madrid with Iberia, while Tony came separately from the USA. Everyone was met at the airport and taken to the Hotel Vieja Cuba; those who were awake enough went out to eat before a good night’s rest. Day 2 Tuesday 30th January Quito. Weather: Hot and mostly sunny. The early risers saw the first few birds of the trip outside the hotel: Rufous- collared Sparrow, Great Thrush and Eared Doves. After breakfast, an excellent guide took us on a bus and walking tour of Quito’s old town. This started with the Basilica del Voto Nacional, where everyone marvelled at the “grotesques” of native Ecuadorian animals such as frigatebirds, iguanas and tortoises.
    [Show full text]
  • Recommended Band Size List Page 1
    Jun 00 Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme - Recommended Band Size List Page 1 Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme Recommended Band Size List - Birds of Australia and its Territories Number 24 - May 2000 This list contains all extant bird species which have been recorded for Australia and its Territories, including Antarctica, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and Cocos and Keeling Islands, with their respective RAOU numbers and band sizes as recommended by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme. The list is in two parts: Part 1 is in taxonomic order, based on information in "The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories" (1994) by Leslie Christidis and Walter E. Boles, RAOU Monograph 2, RAOU, Melbourne, for non-passerines; and “The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines” (1999) by R. Schodde and I.J. Mason, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, for passerines. Part 2 is in alphabetic order of common names. The lists include sub-species where these are listed on the Census of Australian Vertebrate Species (CAVS version 8.1, 1994). CHOOSING THE CORRECT BAND Selecting the appropriate band to use combines several factors, including the species to be banded, variability within the species, growth characteristics of the species, and band design. The following list recommends band sizes and metals based on reports from banders, compiled over the life of the ABBBS. For most species, the recommended sizes have been used on substantial numbers of birds. For some species, relatively few individuals have been banded and the size is listed with a question mark. In still other species, too few birds have been banded to justify a size recommendation and none is made.
    [Show full text]
  • A Global Overview of Protected Areas on the World Heritage List of Particular Importance for Biodiversity
    A GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF PROTECTED AREAS ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE FOR BIODIVERSITY A contribution to the Global Theme Study of World Heritage Natural Sites Text and Tables compiled by Gemma Smith and Janina Jakubowska Maps compiled by Ian May UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre Cambridge, UK November 2000 Disclaimer: The contents of this report and associated maps do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organisations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organisations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION 1.0 OVERVIEW......................................................................................................................................................1 2.0 ISSUES TO CONSIDER....................................................................................................................................1 3.0 WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?..............................................................................................................................2 4.0 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................3 5.0 CURRENT WORLD HERITAGE SITES............................................................................................................4
    [Show full text]
  • Birders Checklist for the Mapungubwe National Park and Area
    Birders Checklist for the Mapungubwe National Park and area Reproduced with kind permission of Etienne Marais of Indicator Birding Visit www.birding.co.za for more info and details of birding tours and events Endemic birds KEY: SA = South African Endemic, SnA = Endemic to Southern Africa, NE = Near endemic (Birders endemic) to the Southern African Region. RAR = Rarity Status KEY: cr = common resident; nr = nomadic breeding resident; unc = uncommon resident; rr = rare; ? = status uncertain; s = summer visitor; w = winter visitor r Endemicity Numbe Sasol English Status All Scientific p 30 Little Grebe cr Tachybaptus ruficollis p 30 Black-necked Grebe nr Podiceps nigricollis p 56 African Darter cr Anhinga rufa p 56 Reed Cormorant cr Phalacrocorax africanus p 56 White-breasted Cormorant cr Phalacrocorax lucidus p 58 Great White Pelican nr Pelecanus onocrotalus p 58 Pink-backed Pelican ? Pelecanus rufescens p 60 Grey Heron cr Ardea cinerea p 60 Black-headed Heron cr Ardea melanocephala p 60 Goliath Heron cr Ardea goliath p 60 Purple Heron uncr Ardea purpurea p 62 Little Egret uncr Egretta garzetta p 62 Yellow-billed Egret uncr Egretta intermedia p 62 Great Egret cr Egretta alba p 62 Cattle Egret cr Bubulcus ibis p 62 Squacco Heron cr Ardeola ralloides p 64 Black Heron uncs Egretta ardesiaca p 64 Rufous-bellied Heron ? Ardeola rufiventris RA p 64 White-backed Night-Heron rr Gorsachius leuconotus RA p 64 Slaty Egret ? Egretta vinaceigula p 66 Green-backed Heron cr Butorides striata p 66 Black-crowned Night-Heron uncr Nycticorax nycticorax p
    [Show full text]
  • Neotropical News Neotropical News
    COTINGA 1 Neotropical News Neotropical News Brazilian Merganser in Argentina: If the survey’s results reflect the true going, going … status of Mergus octosetaceus in Argentina then there is grave cause for concern — local An expedition (Pato Serrucho ’93) aimed extinction, as in neighbouring Paraguay, at discovering the current status of the seems inevitable. Brazilian Merganser Mergus octosetaceus in Misiones Province, northern Argentina, During the expedition a number of sub­ has just returned to the U.K. Mergus tropical forest sites were surveyed for birds octosetaceus is one of the world’s rarest — other threatened species recorded during species of wildfowl, with a population now this period included: Black-fronted Piping- estimated to be less than 250 individuals guan Pipile jacutinga, Vinaceous Amazon occurring in just three populations, one in Amazona vinacea, Helmeted Woodpecker northern Argentina, the other two in south- Dryocopus galeatus, White-bearded central Brazil. Antshrike Biata s nigropectus, and São Paulo Tyrannulet Phylloscartes paulistus. Three conservation biologists from the U.K. and three South American counter­ PHIL BENSTEAD parts surveyed c.450 km of white-water riv­ Beaver House, Norwich Road, Reepham, ers and streams using an inflatable boat. Norwich, NR10 4JN, U.K. Despite exhaustive searching only one bird was located in an area peripheral to the species’s historical stronghold. Former core Black-breasted Puffleg found: extant areas (and incidently those with the most but seriously threatened. protection) for this species appear to have been adversely affected by the the Urugua- The Black-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis í dam, which in 1989 flooded c.80 km of the nigrivestis has been recorded from just two Río Urugua-í.
    [Show full text]
  • Birdquest Australia (Western and Christmas
    Chestnut-backed Button-quail in the north was a bonus, showing brilliantly for a long time – unheard of for this family (Andy Jensen) WESTERN AUSTRALIA 5/10 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2017 LEADER: ANDY JENSEN ASSISTANT: STUART PICKERING ! ! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western Australia (including Christmas Island) 2017 www.birdquest-tours.com Western Shrike-tit was one of the many highlights in the southwest (Andy Jensen) Western Australia, if it were a country, would be the 10th largest in the world! The BirdQuest Western Australia (including Christmas Island) 2017 tour offered an unrivalled opportunity to cover a large portion of this area, as well as the offshore territory of Christmas Island (located closer to Indonesia than mainland Australia). Western Australia is a highly diverse region with a range of habitats. It has been shaped by the isolation caused by the surrounding deserts. This isolation has resulted in a richly diverse fauna, with a high degree of endemism. A must visit for any birder. This tour covered a wide range of the habitats Western Australia has to offer as is possible in three weeks, including the temperate Karri and Wandoo woodlands and mallee of the southwest, the coastal heathlands of the southcoast, dry scrub and extensive uncleared woodlands of the goldfields, coastal plains and mangroves around Broome, and the red-earth savannah habitats and tropical woodland of the Kimberley. The climate varied dramatically Conditions ranged from minus 1c in the Sterling Ranges where we were scraping ice off the windscreen, to nearly 40c in the Kimberley, where it was dust needing to be removed from the windscreen! We were fortunate with the weather – aside from a few minutes of drizzle as we staked out one of the skulkers in the Sterling Ranges, it remained dry the whole time.
    [Show full text]
  • Element Repetition Rates Encode Functionally Distinct Information in Pied Babbler 'Clucks' and 'Purrs'
    Anim Cogn (2017) 20:953–960 DOI 10.1007/s10071-017-1114-6 ORIGINAL PAPER Element repetition rates encode functionally distinct information in pied babbler ‘clucks’ and ‘purrs’ 1,2,7 2,3,4 1,2,5,6 Sabrina Engesser • Amanda R. Ridley • Simon W. Townsend Received: 18 January 2017 / Revised: 28 June 2017 / Accepted: 5 July 2017 / Published online: 20 July 2017 Ó Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017 Abstract Human language is a recombinant system that repeated elements. Specifically, babblers produce extended achieves its productivity through the combination of a ‘purrs’ composed of, on average, around 17 element rep- limited set of sounds. Research investigating the evolu- etitions when drawing young offspring to a food source and tionary origin of this generative capacity has generally truncated ‘clucks’ composed of a fixed number of 2–3 focused on the capacity of non-human animals to combine elements when collectively mediating imminent changes in different types of discrete sounds to encode new meaning, foraging site. We propose that meaning-differentiating with less emphasis on meaning-differentiating mechanisms temporal structuring might be a much more widespread achieved through potentially simpler temporal modifica- combinatorial mechanism than currently recognised and is tions within a sequence of repeated sounds. Here we show likely of particular value for species with limited vocal that pied babblers (Turdoides bicolor) generate two func- repertoires in order to increase their communicative output. tionally distinct vocalisations composed of the same sound type, which can only be distinguished by the number of Keywords Element repetition Á Temporal structure Á Animal communication Á Combinatoriality Á Language evolution Á Turdoides bicolor Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10071-017-1114-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
    [Show full text]
  • Can Darwin's Finches and Their Native Ectoparasites Survive the Control of Th
    Insect Conservation and Diversity (2017) 10, 193–199 doi: 10.1111/icad.12219 FORUM & POLICY Coextinction dilemma in the Galapagos Islands: Can Darwin’s finches and their native ectoparasites survive the control of the introduced fly Philornis downsi? 1 2 MARIANA BULGARELLA and RICARDO L. PALMA 1School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand and 2Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand Abstract. 1. The survival of parasites is threatened directly by environmental alter- ation and indirectly by all the threats acting upon their hosts, facing coextinction. 2. The fate of Darwin’s finches and their native ectoparasites in the Galapagos Islands is uncertain because of an introduced avian parasitic fly, Philornis downsi, which could potentially drive them to extinction. 3. We documented all known native ectoparasites of Darwin’s finches. Thir- teen species have been found: nine feather mites, three feather lice and one nest mite. No ticks or fleas have been recorded from them yet. 4. Management options being considered to control P. downsi include the use of the insecticide permethrin in bird nests which would not only kill the invasive fly larvae but the birds’ native ectoparasites too. 5. Parasites should be targeted for conservation in a manner equal to that of their hosts. We recommend steps to consider if permethrin-treated cotton sta- tions are to be deployed in the Galapagos archipelago to manage P. downsi. Key words. Chewing lice, coextinction, Darwin’s finches, dilemma, ectoparasites, feather mites, Galapagos Islands, permethrin, Philornis downsi. Introduction species have closely associated species which are also endangered (Dunn et al., 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • GALAPAGOS NEWS Fall – Winter 2016
    GALAPAGOS NEWS Fall – Winter 2016 RESTORING 2017 FLOREANA Galapagos ISLAND Calendar on sale Sea Lion Secrets Photo Contest Snail Trails Winners PROJECT UPDATES: Holiday Local Education Gift Marine Sanctuary & Ideas Shark Count App TORTOISES in the GC BLOG www.galapagos.org FROM THE PRESIDENT Johannah Barry CONTENTS ith the support and encouragement of our donors and friends, Galapagos 3 GC Membership WConservancy continues to build coalitions of institutions and individuals dedicated Galapagos Guardians to the long-term conservation of the Galapagos Islands. As you will read in this issue of 4-5 Galapagos News Galapagos News, our work lies along two very important axes — wildlife and ecosystem 6-7 Adapted to Change conservation and enhancing efforts to build a sustainable society. One cannot exist without 8-9 On the Trail of the Snail the other in the Galapagos Archipelago — a place of extraordinary natural beauty which 10-12 The Snake and the is also home to thousands of residents. Their livelihood depends on an economic system Mockingbird that provides meaningful and dignified work that also enhances and protects this priceless biological jewel. 13 From the GC Blog We work with our partners to address these two realities. Our support of direct 14 Education Update and applied science assists local government agencies and NGO partners to address 15 Shark Haven & Apps significant conservation challenges facing the islands. These range from quarantine and 16 Galapagos Conservancy control, to the science of invasive bot fly management, and
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Australia: October-November 2016
    Tropical Birding Trip Report Eastern Australia: October-November 2016 A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour EASTERN AUSTRALIA: From Top to Bottom 23rd October – 11th November 2016 The bird of the trip, the very impressive POWERFUL OWL Tour Leader: Laurie Ross All photos in this report were taken by Laurie Ross/Tropical Birding. 1 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] Page Tropical Birding Trip Report Eastern Australia: October-November 2016 INTRODUCTION The Eastern Australia Set Departure Tour introduces a huge amount of new birds and families to the majority of the group. We started the tour in Cairns in Far North Queensland, where we found ourselves surrounded by multiple habitats from the tidal mudflats of the Cairns Esplanade, the Great Barrier Reef and its sandy cays, lush lowland and highland rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands, and we even made it to the edge of the Outback near Mount Carbine; the next leg of the tour took us south to Southeast Queensland where we spent time in temperate rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests within Lamington National Park. The third, and my favorite leg, of the tour took us down to New South Wales, where we birded a huge variety of new habitats from coastal heathland to rocky shorelines and temperate rainforests in Royal National Park, to the mallee and brigalow of Inland New South Wales. The fourth and final leg of the tour saw us on the beautiful island state of Tasmania, where we found all 13 “Tassie” endemics. We had a huge list of highlights, from finding a roosting Lesser Sooty Owl in Malanda; to finding two roosting Powerful Owls near Brisbane; to having an Albert’s Lyrebird walk out in front of us at O Reilly’s; to seeing the rare and endangered Regent Honeyeaters in the Capertee Valley, and finding the endangered Swift Parrot on Bruny Island, in Tasmania.
    [Show full text]