sign in sign up
<<
Home , Chrysolopus, Laughing kookaburra, Teleogryllus commodus

VOL. 17 (4) DECEMBER 1997 203

AUSTRALIAN WATCHER 1997, 17, 203-210

Notes on the Diet of Swifts, and Allies in Eastern New South Wales

by A.B. ROSE, Associate, The Australian Museum, 6-8 College Street, , N.S.W. 2000 (present address: 61 Boundary Street, Forster, N.S.W. 2428)

·summary Dietary records for the White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus, Laughing Dacelo oovaeguineae, kingfishers spp., Rainbow Bee-eater Merops omatus and Dollarbird Eurystomus orienta/is in New South Wales were obtained from observations and an analysis of pellets, prey remains and the stomachs of dead . The diet of the Kookaburra was 81 % by number and 95% by frequency of occurrence in stomachs: mostly and orthopterans, with a variety of other (mostly ) and a few small vertebrates (mainly reptiles) . The Sacred T. sanctus preyed on arthropods (mostly beetles and orthopterans) and a few reptiles: 72-81 % insects and 17-20% in the breeding diet. The other species ate insects; the T. macleayii also ate spiders and skinks. Introduction Previous dietary records for Australian swifts (Apodidae) , kingfishers (Halcyonidae), Rainbow Bee-eater Merops omatus and Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis have been listed by Parry (1970), Rose (1973), Van Home (1987), Barker & Vestjens (1989) and Lepschi (1993). This paper presents supplementary data obtained from an examination of the stomach contents of birds found dead (often on roads) or accidentally killed and forwarded to wildlife agencies. Regurgitated pellets of some species were also examined, and observations and collections of prey remains below nests were made for some. Species examined were White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus, Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae, Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii, Red-backed Kingfisher T. pyrrhopygia, T. sanctus, Rainbow Bee-eater and Dollarbird.

Methods Dead specimens were frozen, and later aged and sexed by dissection. Stomach contents, pellets and other prey remains were examined with a hand-lens and binocular microscope. Food items were identified from reference material and with the aid ofCSIRO (1970) and Moore (1980), and the number of individuals determined by counting skeletal parts. Incidental observations are mine unless stated otherwise. Two active nests of the Sacred Kingfisher were observed. One nest with chicks was found at Mt Colah (33 °40 'S, 151 °07 'E) near Sydney on 30 December 1984, and observed opportunistically for two days. On 31 December I found prey remains and two pellets under the nest. I placed a plastic sheet on the ground below the entrance to collect pellets and prey remains; these were collected on most days, sometimes twice per day (morning and afternoon), until 7 January when the nest was found empty. The stomach contents of a nestling found dead below the nest on 2 January were also analysed. Another nest with chicks was observed at Forster (32 °11 'S, 151 °31 'E) on 1 January 1987. A plastic sheet was also placed beneath this nest and pellets and remains were collected almost daily until18 January, when no more material was found . A fledgling was perching nearby on 23 January. White-throated Needletail Five specimens were killed by flying into overhead wires (three died after a few days; their stomachs were therefore empty). Stomach contents: 1. Cowan (33°36'S, 151 °10'E), 31 December 1972 (M. Tame), very fat subadult female: (Coleoptera), ant (Formicidae) and remains of other insects. 2. Dorrigo (30°21'S, 152°43'E), 1980 (no other data), very fat: stomach full of winged ants (Formicidae, all of one species) and four beetles (Coleoptera, all of one species). AUSTRALIAN 204 ROSE BIRD WATCHER

Table 1

Diet of the Laughing Kookaburra in eastern New South Wales 1966-1986, from the stomach contents of road-killed and other dead birds, and incorporating the data of Rose (1973): 24 birds for n prey individuals, 39 birds for n stomachs (the latter including volumetric stomach analyses, see Appendix 1). Data are presented as the minimum number of prey individuals (n) and percentage of these, and number (n and % frequency) of stomachs in which prey types were found.

Prey species Prey individuals Stomachs with prey n % n % Beetles (Coleoptera): scarabs (Scarabaeidae) 11+ 9 8 21 ground-beetles (Carabidae) 3 2 4 lO () 1 1 3 8 bess beetle (Passalidae) I I 1 3 Tenebriona larvae 1 3 elaterid I I I 3 unidentified 4 3 7 18 total beetles 21+ 17 19 49

Orthopterans: mole-crickets (Gryllotalpidae) 17 + 14 7 18 crickets () 6 5 8 21 locusts (Acrididae) 5+ 4 11 28 grasshoppers (Tettigoniidae) 6+ 5 5 13 grasshoppers (Eumastacidae) 2 2 1 3 unidentified 2+ 2 5 13 total orthopterans 38+ 31 21 54

Moths (Lepidoptera): adult 4 3 9 23 caterpillar 6 5 6 15 total lO 8 13 33

Ants (Formicidae) unidentified 2+ 2 I 3 Campo notus 16 13 1 3 total ants 18+ 15 2 5

Bug (Hemiptera) unidentified 1+ 1 1 3 Pentatomoidea 1 1 1 3 total bugs 2 + 2 2 5

Cockroaches (Blattodea) 4+ 3 5 13 Mantids (Mantidae) 4 3 8 21 Stick- (Phasmatidae) 1 1 I 3 Fly (Diptera ) larvae I 3 Unidentified insects 2+ 2 6 15

Total insects 100+ 81 37 95 Spiders (Araneae) 9 7 10 26 Centipede (Chilopoda) 1 1 1 3 Crayfish (Crustacea) 1 1 1 3 Unidentified arthropods - 2+ 2 2 5 Gordian worm (Nematomorpha) 1 1 1 3 Snails (Mollusca) 4 3 3 8 VOL. 17 (4) DECEMBER 1997 Diet of Swifts, Kingfishers and Allies 205

Table 1 continued

Prey species Prey individuals Stomachs with prey n % n % Frog I 1 1 3 Skink (Scincidae) 3 2 5 13 1 3 House Mouse Mus domesticus 1 1 2 5 - Total vertebrates 5 4 8 21 Total 123+ 39 Bread 1 3 Grass 4 10 Feather (own?) 1 3

Observation: Forster, 29 November 1987: hawking winged (Isoptera) with Dollarbirds. Laughing Kookaburra Stomach contents: A count of individual prey items in stomachs (Appendix 1, combined with data in Rose 1973) revealed a diet predominantly of arthropods: 81% insects (17% beetles, 31 % orthopterans, 15 % ants, 8 % lepidopterans [moths and caterpillars], 11 % other), 7% spiders, and 4% vertebrates (mostly lizards) by number, with a few other invertebrates (Table 1). Arthropods also predominated by frequency of occurrence in stomachs: insects occurred in 95% of stomachs (beetles in 49 %, orthopterans in 54%, moths and their larvae in 33%, mantids in 21%, cockroaches in 13%), spiders in 26%, and vertebrates in 21 % (lizards in 13%), with various other invertebrates in a few stomachs (Table 1). Human food scraps occurred in one stomach, and grass in four (10%, probably swallowed accidentally with prey). Averaging the volumetric data for individual specimens for each region (Appendix 1) revealed that: (a) on the coast (all year) beetles and orthopterans predominated in stomachs by volume, followed by caterpillars and spiders; (b) on the western slopes of the Great Divide (in autumn) beetles and their larvae and orthopterans predominated, with smaller volumes of mantids and ; (c) in agricultural areas on the western plains (in autumn) beetles, moths and mice predominated. Observations: L Wahroonga (33 °43 'S, 151 °08 'E), 6 September 1972: one killed two nestling New Holland Honeyeaters Phylidonyris novaehollandiae that were nearly fledged, and took one away. 18 September 1972: one took spiders (Araneae) fleeing from a bushfire. 13 November 1971 (J.A. Rose): one observed swallowing a frog . II November 1974: one ate 16 earthworms (Annelida) washed out by rain; one also observed eating worms 15 November. 2. Tuncurry (32 °10 'S, 152 OZ9'E), 15 January 1989: three juveniles being fed by five adults, mainly with Christmas beetles Anoplognathus and one Toe-biter Laccotrephes tristis (Nepidae, Hemiptera). 3. Forster, 26 October 1990: one held a juvenile (10 em long) Eastern Bluetongue Tiliqua scincoides, bashed it, then dropped it in long grass and left it. 9 October 1993: one held a 30-40 em long Marsh Snake Hemiaspis signata; one fed a juvenile with a large scarab beetle (Scarabaeidae). March 1988: one held a 60 em Yellow-faced Whip Snake Demansia psammophis.

Forest Kingfisher Stomach contents: Yamba (29°27'S, 153°20 'E), 1980 (M. Mitchell), adult male: two wolf spiders Lycosa. AUSTRALIAN 206 ROSE BIRD WATCHER

Pellet: South Grafton (29 °43 'S, !52 °57 'E), 4 January 1981 (G. Clancy): one individual each of Black Beetle Heteronychus arator, weevil Chrysolopus, grasshopper (), bug (Hemiptera), sk.ink (Scincidae). Red-backed Kingfisher Stomach contents: Forbes (33 °24 'S, 148 °01 '1_?), 1983 (per D. Turner): beetle remains. Sacred EJngfisher Two previous records of stomach contents (Rose 1973) are not listed here. Most of the 57 road-, window- or cat-kills were received between 19 September and 12 April. One bird overwintered at Bobbin Head in 1971 (pers. obs.) and one was killed by a cat at Sutherland on 28 June 1983 (both suburbs of Sydney). Stomach contents: I. Toongabbie (33 °47 'S, 150°58 'E), December 1981 (A.K. Morris), fledgling: one weevil (Curculionidae), one scarab beetle. 2. Bouddi National Park near Gosford (33 °28 'S, 151 °27 'E), 6 January 1973 (B. Booth), adult male: beetle remains. 3. Wahroonga, 10 January 1976: remains of beetle and bugs. 4. Wahroonga, 17 January 1976, adult male, killed by cat: two Grass Skinks wmpropholis guichenoti and grasshopper remains. 5. Bilgola (33°45 'S, 151 °17'E), 23 January 1976 (E. Edmonson), fledgling: a trace of beetle and some skink scales. 6. Pymble (33°47'S, 151 °09'E), 10 February 1975: one sk.ink, one grasshopper and some beetle remains (mainly weevil). 7. South of Forster (32 °!8 'S, !52 °31 'E), 1987 (no other data), subadult male: one beetle and two small cicadas (Cicadidae). Including the data of Rose (1973), beetles were the most common prey type in stomachs (six of nine stomachs), with smaller numbers of orthopterans (three stomachs) and skinks (three stomachs, Table 2). Observations: I. Forster, 26 October 1988: one caught a Grass Sk.ink and ate it. 2. Gloucester (31 °57 'S, !52 °01 'E), 9 January 1980: observed catching grasshoppers. 3. Stockton Bridge, near Newcastle (32°56'S, 151 °47'E), 5 March 1989: three on a dead limb on a mudflat seen feeding on crabs (small Sesarma sp. and Soldier Crabs Mictyris longicarpus). 4. Forster, 23 May 1991 : one seen feeding on an oyster lease on marine invertebrates (possibly crabs) .

Table 2: Occurrence of food items in stomachs of the Sacred Kingfisher, incorporating the data of Rose (1973); nine stomachs in total.

Species n stomachs Beetles (Coleoptera) total 6 (Curculionidae) 2 scarab (Scarabaeidae) 1 unidentified 5 Grasshoppers (Orthoptera) total 3 locusts (Acrididae) 1 unidentified 2 Bug (Hemiptera) 1 Cicada (Cicadidae) 1 Moth (Lepidoptera) 1 Ant (Formicidae) 1 Skinks (Scincidae) 3 VOL. 17 (4) DECEMBER 1997 Diet of Swifts, Kingfishers and Allies 207

Table 3

Food items brought to active nests of the Sacred Kingfisher: Mt Colah (MC) 30 December 1984 to 7 January 1985, and Forster (Fo) 1-18 January 1987. Combined minimum no. of prey individuals from observations, pellets, remains below nest, and stomach contents of one dead nestling. Species MC Fo Beetles Anoplognathus viriditarsus 8+ Anoplognathus porosus I rhinoceros beetle (Scarabaeidae) I other scarabs 8+ 3+ elaterids 2+ weevils 2 chrysomelid Paropsis I carabid I longicorn beetle (Cerambycidae) I unidentified 7+ 10+ total beetles 22+ 24+ Orthopterans unidentified 8+ king crickets (Stenopelmatidae) 3 crickets (Gryllidae) 2 mole- (Gryllotalpidae) unidentified crickets 3 total orthopterans 8 9+

Cicada Cicadetta labeculata 7 unidentified 2 total cicadas 9

Ant (Formicidae) unidentified I+ 4 + sugar ants Camponotus 2+ total ants I+ 6+

Cockroach Oniscosoma I unidentified I total cockroaches 2

Mantids (Mantidae) 2 Moth (Lepidoptera) I Dragonfly (Odonata) I Total insects 44+ 44+ Spiders (Araneae) unidentified 3+ wolf spiders (Lycosidae) 2 trapdoor spider Dyarcyops fuscipes total spiders 5+ Lizards skink Lampropholis 1 Three-lined Skink Bassiana duperreyi 1 unidentified skinks 9+ 9 Tree Dragon Amphibolurus muricatus I total lizards 12+ 9 Total prey items 61+ 54+ AUSTRALIAN 208 ROSE BIRD WATCHER

Pellet: Gunbar (34 °03 'S, 145 °23 'E), 25 February 1984 (J. Brickhill): beetle, grasshopper, spider and skink remains. Nest observations: The combined results from observed feeding visits, pellets and remains at the two nests were remarkably similar. Breeding diet consisted of 72% insects (36% beetles, 13% orthopterans, 15% cicadas, 2% ants, 3% cockroaches, 2% moths, 2% dragonflies), 8% spiders and 20% lizards at the Mt Colah nest; and 81% insects (44% beetles, 17% orthopterans, 2% cicadas, 11% ants, 4% mantids, 2% moths, 2% dragonflies), 2% spiders and 17% lizards at the Forster nest (Table 3).

Rainbow Bee-eater Stomach contents of road-kills: 1. 5 km north of Griffith (34°12'S, 146 °02'E), 20 December 1975 (1. Brickhill): one dragonfly (Odonata), beetle and hymenopteran remains. 2. Kosciusko National Park (36 OZ3 'S, 148 °35 'E), 21 February 1976 (R. McKinney), juvenile: remains of flying insects including flies (Diptera) and ants. Observations: 1. Gloucester, 2 January 1976: one dropped a butterfly wing after being given it by its mate. 2. Barrenbox Swamp near Griffith (34 °16'S, 146°05 'E), 3 March 1980: one caught a large dragonfly by the abdomen and beat it repeatedly on a bough before swallowing head-first. Prey remains below a nest: Gloucester, 2 January 1976: dragonflies, introduced Honey Bees Apis mellifera, one native bee, wasps (Thynnidae and Scolidae), grasshopper, several beetles including scarabs, one shiny blue fly (Diptera) , one butterfly (Meadow Argus Junonia villida) , winged ants.

Dollarbird Stomach contents of road-kills: 1. Kumell (34°01 'S, 151 °l2 'E) , 26 October 1971 (L. Cairns), adult female : insect remains including beetle and butterfly or moth . 2. Wahroonga, 13 December 1971 (T. Barratt), adult female: stomach empty except for a few ant heads. Observations: 1. Forster, 29 November 1987: seen hawking winged termites with swifts. 2. Tuncurry, 16 January 1994: 15 seen hawking above trees in one spot.

Discussion Results for the Laughing Kookaburra, from all sources combined, are similar to the prey list provided by Barker & Vestjens (1989), although no fish were recorded in this study. In quantitative terms, the results (Table 1) are similar to those obtained by Parry (1970), although she found a greater proportion of reptiles (by direct observation at nests). It bears noting that Strahan's (1994) figure of75% for human hand-outs should, from Parry (1970), be 7%. Results for the Sacred Kingfisher, from all sources combined, are similar to the prey list in Barker & Vestjens (1989), although no fish were recorded in this study. The results on breeding diet are similar to those for a previous nest near Sydney (see Rose 1973). There are no other quantitative studies for this species from , but the breeding diet is similar to that for the Red-backed Kingfisher in the arid zone, in terms of the relative contribution of broad prey types (see Van Horne 1987). The specimen and other data in this study, and that of Rose (1973), are consistent with the Sacred Kingfisher being a spring-summer migrant to New South Wales. However, they are also consistent with the overwintering of a few individuals in coastal estuaries, where they prey on marine invertebrates (see also Gosper & Gosper 1996). VOL. 17 (4) DECEMBER 1997 Diet of Swifts, Kingfishers and Allies 209

The results for other kingfishers and the aerial insectivores are similar to the prey lists provided for these species by Barker & Vestjens (1989).

Acknowledgements I gratefully acknowledge the people named herein for collecting and forwarding specimens, and the Australian Museum for providing facilities . Mrs Susie Debus typed the manuscript onto computer disk, and Stephen Debus assisted in the presentation of the paper. I also thank John Peter for editing the manuscript, and Julia Hurley for her care in its production.

References Barker, R.D. & Vestjens, W.J.M. (1989), The Food ofAustralian Birds. 1. Non-Passerines, CSIRO, Melbourne. CSIRO (1970), The Insects of Australia, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne. Gosper, D. G. & Gosper, C.R. (1996), 'Seasonal status of kingfishers Todiramphus spp. in northern New South Wales', Aust. Birds 29, 33-39. Lepschi, B.J. (1993) , 'Food of some Australian birds in eastern New South Wales: additions to Barker & Vestjens', Emu 93, 195-199. Moore, B.P. (1980), A Guide to the Beetles of South Eastern Australia, Aust. Entomological Press (pub!. in fascicles 1-12). Parry, V. (1970), , Lansdowne, Melbourne. Rose, A.B. (1973), 'Food of some Australian birds', Emu 73, 177-183. Strahan, R. (Ed.) (1994), Cucko(Js, Nightbirds & Kingfishers ofAustralia, Angus & Robertson, Sydney. Van Horne, B. (1987), 'Nesting and foraging behaviour of breeding Red-backed Kingfishers pyrrhopygia', Corella 11, 65-68.

Received 4 September 1996

Appendix 1: Raw dietary data for Laughing Kookaburra. Specimens are listed in season order from spring.

Stomach contents (those in Rose 1973 not listed): I. Palm Beach (33°36'S, 151 °20'E), 15 September 1975 (S. Forster), subadult male: one frog, two spiders (Mygalomorpha), two snails (Mollusca), and cockroach (Blattodea) remains. 2. Wisemans Ferry (33 °22 'S, 150°58 'E), 14 October 1973 (H. Malone), adult female: nine scarab beetles Heteronychus arator, two mole-crickets Gryllotalpa, one moth (Lepidoptera) and one caterpillar (Noctuidae). 3. 10 km north of Moree (29°22 'S, 149°53 'E), 14 October 1977, adult male: one cockroach, one click-beetle larva (Elateridae) and one moth. 4. Royal National Park (34 °05'S, 151 °05'E), November 1970 (L. Cairns), adult female: one ground-beetle (Carabidae). 5. South of Stroud (32 °36 'S, 151 °54 'E), 30 November 1974, adult female: crayfish (Crustacea), skink (Scincidae), snail shell, one Diamond Weevil Chrysolopus spectabilis, one moth and one locust (Acrididae). 6. Wahroonga (33 °43 'S, 151°08 'E), 3 November 1977, adult female found dead in garden (prominent blood vessels in skin, a sign of pesticide poisoning): remains of caterpillar and bugs (Hemiptera). 7. South of Stroud, 25 December 1975: one Christmas beetle Anoplognathus. 8. St lves (33 °44'S, 151 °11 'E), 22 January 1976, subadult male: spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) remains. 9. Bobbin Head (33 °39 'S, 151 °09'E), 9 February 1971 (A. Linklater), subadult female: in mouth - bread with black ants on it; in stomach - skink, centipede (Chilopoda) and ground-beetle. 10. North Turramurra (33 °43 'S 151 °07 'E), 20 February 1973, adult male: one long-horned grasshopper (Tettigoniidae). 11. Hornsby (33 °43 'S 151 °06'E), 18 February 1981 , subadult female: two cockroaches (one Platyzosteria, one Blattella). AUSTRALIAN 210 ROSE BIRD WATCHER

12. Royal National Park, March 1973 (L. Cairns), subadult female (shot): one House Mouse Mus domesticus, one skink, one snail, one mole-cricket (Gryllotalpidae), one locust, one mantis (Mantidae), one caterpillar. 13. West Head Road, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (33 °37'S, 151 °17'E), 5 March 1975 (J. Farrell), subadult male: beetle and other insect remains, including moth. 14. Dorrigo (30 °21 'S, 152 °43'E), 9 April1972 (G. King), adult female: Orthoptera (several tettigoniids, two eurnastacids, five Black Crickets commodus, one mole-cricket Gryllotalpa), one ground-beetle, one wolf spider (Lycosidae) with egg-sac, one Gordian worm (Nematomorpha). 15. Gloucester (31 °58'S, 151 °59'E), 13 May 1974, adult female: three mantids Tenodera australasiae, one Black Cricket, one mole-cricket and some locust remains. 16. Bobbin Head, 23 May 1975 (J. Robson,) subadult male: two spiders (one Olios), one stick-insect (Phasmatidae) and beetle remains. 17. Sawpit Creek, Kosciusko National Park (360Z3'S, 148 °35 'E), 27 July 1973 (G. Worboys), subadult female: a few remains. 18. Seven Hills (33 °46'S, 150°56'E), July 1986: small grasshoppers and other insect remains with grass. 19. Bobbin Head, 15 August 1972, subadult female: one spider and other arthropod remains.

Volumetric stomach analyses: Proportions are by percentage volume in .each stomach. 20. Royal National Park (34 °08'S, 151°05 'E), 31 January 1973 (J . Clunes): 70% orb-weaver spiders (Argiopidae), 30% unidentified insect remains. 21. Asquith (33°42 'S, 151 °06 'E), I March 1974 (G. Vincent): 75% scarab beetle (Scarabaeidae) and other undetermined insect remains, 25 % grass. 22. Bobbin Head (33 °39 'S, 151 °09'E), 29 May 1973 (D. Connolly): 50% tettigoniids, 49% Black Crickets, 1% moth. 23. Gloucester (31 °59'S, 151 °59'E), 13 May 1974: 50% mantids Tenodera australasiae, 50% Orthoptera (including mole-cricket, Black Cricket and locusts). 24. Royal National Park, 2 June 1971 (J. Clunes): 60% weevil (Curculionidae), 25% beetle larvae, 15% Orthoptera. 25. Dorrigo (300Z1'S, 152 °43 'E), 22 July 1971 (N. Fenton): 80% caterpillars (six Phsychidae), 18 % grass, 2 % feather (possibly its own). The following were collected by A.K. Morris in connection with research on pesticide residues in Kookaburras: (a) Mudgee (32°37'S, 149°35'E), March 1974 26. 50% scarab beetles Anoplognathus, 12 % beetle larvae Tenebriona , 18% Black Crickets, 9% plague locusts Chortoicetes terminifera, 9% mantid, 2% skink. 27. 50% locusts, 25 % Black Crickets, 15 % mantids Tenodera australasiae, 8% beetles (three weevils, one ground-beetle, one undetermined), 2 % remains including cockroach Laxta granicollis, two beetle larvae, skink scales. 28. 40% Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus, 45 % locusts (including one Gastrimargus musicus), 15% mantid T. australasiae, and traces of Black Cricket, Christmas beetle and lepidopteran scales. 29. 90% beetle (mainly Anoplognathus), 10% spider with a little Orthoptera remains and lepidopteran scales. (b) 'Myall Vale,' Wee Waa (30 °ll'S, 149°33'E), 9 April1974 30. 90% moths, 10% spider with a few insect remains. 31. 62 % Orthoptera (including cricket and locust), 18 % fly larvae (Diptera), 20% moths and one caterpillar. 32. 80% plague locusts Chortoicetes terminifera, 20 % mantids Tenodera australasiae. 33. 100% House Mouse with a few insect remains. 34. 80% plague locust, 12 % cockroach, 8% mantid. •