DOCSLIB.ORG

Ecology and Habitat of a Threatened Nocturnal Bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ecology and Habitat of a Threatened Nocturnal Bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Tasmania Open Access Repository Ecology and habitat of a threatened nocturnal bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl By Michael Kenneth Todd B.Sc.(Hons), University of Newcastle Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Tasmania Hobart, Tasmania, Australia August 2012 1 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Declarations This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for a degree or diploma in any university or other institution. This thesis, to the best of my knowledge, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due acknowledgment is made in the text. This thesis may be available for loan and limited copying in accordance with the Copyright Act of 1968. The research associated with this thesis abides by the international and Australian codes on human and animal experimentation, the guidelines by the Australian Government's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and the rulings of the Safety, Ethics and Institutional Biosafety Committees of the University. All research conducted was under valid animal ethics approvals. Relevant permits were obtained from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and the University of Tasmania Animal Ethics Committee (A0009763 and A0009685). Michael Kenneth Todd 2 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Dedication: This thesis is dedicated to the marvelously mysterious Tasmanian Masked Owl. May they continue to haunt Tasmania’s forests. “Once the sun disappears, along with the light, She stretches her wings and sets off in flight, And hunts far and wide well into the night, Small native mammals her especial delight; She’s endangered!” From “The Masked Owl” -Philip R. Rush, Australian Poems That Would Enchant an Echidna (2007) 3 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Acknowledgements This research was conducted under permits from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme and the University of Tasmania Animal Ethics Committee. It was funded in part by the Co-operative Research Centre for Forestry, Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust, Australian Geographic Society, Threatened Species Section- Biodiversity Conservation Branch- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment, Australian Bird Study Association, the Stuart Leslie Award (BirdLife Australia- formerly known as Birds Australia) and the Forest Practices Authority. Many people assisted with the project in a myriad of different ways. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisors Sarah Munks, Alastair Richardson, Mark Hindell, Rod Kavanagh, Phil Bell, David Bowman and Iain Taylor. People who provided particular logistical support included Daniel Livingston, Shaun Thurstans, Trent Penman, Jason Wiersma, Chris Spencer, David Young, David Ratkowsky, Nick Mooney, David Ratkowsky, Nick Gust, Peter Davies, Rod Knight, Jo Lee, Phil Rush, Steve Stanton, Barry Rumbold, Wayne Kelly, Felicity Wilkinson and Richard Holmes. I would also like to thank those that volunteered their time on the off chance that they might get to see an owl including in particular, Angela Gillone, Sue Drake, Peter Tonelli, Simon Plowright, Chris Coleborn, Bronwyn Luck, Sarah Tassell, Mike Bysouth, John and Shirley Tongue, and Ron and Jill Harris among others. The following people assisted me in making the project work in many different ways; Amy Koch, Murray Lord, Craig Webb, Alan McBride, Peter Shute, Jeff Davies, Tim Bawden, Ed McNabb, David Milledge, Carl Clifford, Adelaide Marshall, Laurie Conole, Stewart Nicol, Virginia Andrews-Goff, Rohan Bilney, Priscilla Park, Linley Grant, Mel Hills, Ninna Millikin, Arthur Clarke, Vanessa Thompson, Martin Stone, Mark Wapstra, Andrew Bonnitcha, Heather Chauncy, Bill 4 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Brown, Mark Holdsworth, Matthew Webb, Genevieve Gates, Erin Flynn, Lisa Cawthen, Shannon Troy, Niall Doran, Mike Driessen, Kate Hamilton, Kit Williams, Barrie Wells, Julia and Frank at Seaview Farm, David and Robyn at Millybrook, Mike at Paradise Cottage, Carolyn at Crayfish Creek Caravan Park, Colin and Marje at Taraki Cottages, Mary Kille, Anne Watson, Barry Gallagher, Rodrigo Hamede, Kevin Redd, Tim Reid, Shelly Lachish, Belinda Yaxley, Heidi Auman and Helen Stephens. I thank my family in New South Wales as well as in Tasmania for supporting and encouraging me. In particular, Bev for hours of babysitting, Bron for supporting me through thick and thin and Henry and Lucy for giving me the inspiration I needed to persevere. Finally, I have to acknowledge my father Ernest for teaching me the importance of persistence (or was that stubbornness), and instilled in me the value of having an enquiring mind. 5 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl 6 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Abstract Rare species are often those most in need of conservation measures and yet they are often the least well known and most difficult subjects for scientific research. The methods frequently applied when researching species ecology are often not feasible with rare species. This study investigates the ways in which habitat influences the ecology and distribution of a rare, threatened nocturnal bird, the Tasmanian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops) using mostly indirect methods. The results provide insight into the value of indirect methods in determining habitat surrogates that may be used in conservation planning for rare and threatened species. Diet of owls in different habitats was determined using analysis of regurgitated pellets and a synthesis of previously published data. It was found that while the owl has a wide range of potential prey species, owls focus on particular prey species in different areas. Introduced species, particularly rodents, made up a large proportion of the diet at most sites. Sites that had little native forest contained low percentages of native species in the diet. Calling behaviour was explored using recordings of owls obtained during call playback surveys and via automatic recording devices set at roost sites. The screech call of the Tasmanian Masked Owl was found to be deeper and to reach higher frequencies than the Australian Masked Owl (T. n. novaehollandiae). Calls were shown to have the potential to discriminate between age, sex and potentially individuals. The occurrence of the owl throughout its potential range in forested areas of Tasmania was investigated using call playback surveys. Occupancy probability modeling (presence-absence data) was used to calculate the detectability of the Tasmanian Masked Owl in call playback surveys and to define habitat and 7 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl landscape features that best predict owl presence. Wind (negative) and air temperature (positive) were found to have the most influence on Tasmanian Masked Owl detectability, while low elevation, mature dry eucalypt forest was determined to be the best predictor of occupancy. The best occupancy probability model was used to create habitat quality map. The habitat quality map was compared with maps created using presence only records and maximum entropy models. There was broad similarity in the maps although the habitat quality map was more detailed. The occupancy probability methods will be of value for the study of habitat preferences of a wide range of cryptic, and/ or rare species. The survey methodology used would vary depending on the species of interest, but the statistical framework behind the models would remain applicable. The call analysis methods and the diet analysis methods are applicable to studies of other owl species. By combining the results obtained using the indirect techniques with knowledge of owl ecology from the literature, possible causes of the estimated small population size for the Tasmanian Masked Owl were explored. A range of habitat factors can affect the Tasmanian Masked Owl, including nesting and roosting habitat, elevation and mature dry eucalypt forest. Prey availability (abundance and accessibility) is likely to be the ultimate factor responsible for the distribution and abundance of Tasmanian Masked Owls and it probably is reflected in the distribution of low elevation, mature dry eucalypt forest in Tasmania. 8 Ecology of the Tasmanian Masked Owl Table of Contents Declarations .......................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................... 4 Abstract ................................................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 21 Ecology of rare species ....................................................................................................... 21 Owls of the world ............................................................................................................... 22 Owl ecology ......................................................................................................................... 23 Research techniques in owl ecology .................................................................................. 26 Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) ...........................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • National Multi-Species Recovery Plan for the Partridge Pigeon [Eastern
    National Multi-species Recovery Plan for the Partridge Pigeon [eastern subspecies] Geophaps smithii smithii; Crested Shrike-tit [northern (sub)species] Falcunculus (frontatus) whitei; Masked Owl [north Australian mainland subspecies] Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli; and Masked Owl [Tiwi Islands subspecies] Tyto novaehollandiae melvillensis, 2004 - 2008 Copyright Department of the Environment and Heritage GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or other, without prior permission of the Department of the Environment and Heritage. Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this document are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of the Environment and Heritage. Citation Woinarski, J.C.Z. (2004). National Multi-species Recovery plan for the Partridge Pigeon [eastern subspecies] Geophaps smithii smithii, Crested Shrike-tit [northern (sub)species] Falcunculus (frontatus) whitei, Masked Owl [north Australian mainland subspecies] Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli; and Masked Owl [Tiwi Islands subspecies] Tyto novaehollandiae melvillensis, 2004 - 2009. Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure Planning and Environment, Darwin. A Recovery Plan prepared under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
    [Show full text]
  • Tasmania 2018 Ian Merrill
    Tasmania 2018 Ian Merrill Tasmania: 22nd January to 6th February Introduction: Where Separated from the Australian mainland by the 250km of water which forms the Bass Strait, Tasmania not only possesses a unique avifauna, but also a climate, landscape and character which are far removed from the remainder of the island continent. Once pre-trip research began, it was soon apparent that a full two weeks were required to do justice to this unique environment, and our oriGinal plans of incorporatinG a portion of south east Australia into our trip were abandoned. The following report summarises a two-week circuit of Tasmania, which was made with the aim of seeinG all island endemic and speciality bird species, but with a siGnificant focus on mammal watchinG and also enjoyinG the many outstandinG open spaces which this unique island destination has to offer. It is not written as a purely ornitholoGical report as I was accompanied by my larGely non-birdinG wife, Victoria, and as such the trip also took in numerous lonG hikes throuGh some stunninG landscapes, several siGhtseeinG forays and devoted ample time to samplinG the outstandinG food and drink for which the island is riGhtly famed. It is quite feasible to see all of Tasmania's endemic birds in just a couple of days, however it would be sacrilegious not to spend time savourinG some of the finest natural settinGs in the Antipodes, and enjoyinG what is arguably some of the most excitinG mammal watchinG on the planet. Our trip was huGely successful in achievinG the above Goals, recordinG all endemic birds, of which personal hiGhliGhts included Tasmanian Nativehen, Green Rosella, Tasmanian Boobook, four endemic honeyeaters and Forty-spotted Pardalote.
    [Show full text]
  • Occupancy Patterns of an Apex Avian Predator Across a Forest Landscape
    Austral Ecology (2020) , – Occupancy patterns of an apex avian predator across a forest landscape ADAM CISTERNE,*1 ROSS CRATES,1 PHIL BELL,2,3 ROB HEINSOHN1 AND DEJAN STOJANOVIC1 1Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601 (Email: [email protected]); 2Department of State Growth, Forest Practices Authority; and 3School of Biological Sciences, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Abstract Apex predators are integral parts of every ecosystem, having top-down roles in food web mainte- nance. Understanding the environmental and habitat characteristics associated with predator occurrence is para- mount to conservation efforts. However, detecting top order predators can be difficult due to small population sizes and cryptic behaviour. The endangered Tasmanian masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops) is a noctur- nal predator with a distribution understood to be associated with high mature forest cover at broad scales. With the aim to gather monitoring data to inform future conservation effort, we trialled an occupancy survey design to model masked owl occurrence across ~800 km2 in the Tasmanian Southern Forests. We conducted 662 visits to assess masked owl occupancy at 160 sites during July–September 2018. Masked owl site occupancy was 12%, and estimated detectability was 0.26 (Æ0.06 SE). Cumulative detection probability of masked owls over four vis- its was 0.7. Occupancy modelling suggested owls were more likely to be detected when mean prey count was higher. However, low detection rates hindered the development of confident occupancy predictions. To inform effective conservation of the endangered Tasmanian masked owl, there is a need to develop novel survey tech- niques that better account for the ecology of this rare, wide-ranging and cryptic predator.
    [Show full text]
  • Tasmanian Masked Owl)
    The Minister included this species in the vulnerable category, effective from 19 August 2010 Advice to the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) on Amendment to the list of Threatened Species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) 1. Reason for Conservation Assessment by the Committee This advice follows assessment of new information provided through the Species Information Partnership with Tasmania on: Tyto novaehollandiae castanops [Tasmanian population] (Tasmanian Masked Owl) 2. Summary of Species Details Taxonomy Conventionally accepted as Tyto novaehollandiae castanops (Gould, 1837; Higgins, 1999; Christidis and Boles, 2008). There are three other subspecies of Tyto novaehollandiae which occur within Australia. Tyto novaehollandiae novaehollandiae occurs in southeast Queensland, eastern New South Wales, Victoria, southern South Australia and southern Western Australia. Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli is listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act and occurs in northeast Queensland, the Northern Territory and northeast Western Australia. Tyto novaehollandiae melvillensis is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act and occurs on Melville Island and Bathurst Island (Higgins, 1999; DPIPWE, 2009). State Listing Status Listed as endangered under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. Description A large owl, weighing up to 1260 g, with a wingspan of up to 128 cm. Females are larger and heavier than males and considerably darker. The upperparts of this subspecies are dark brown to light chestnut in colour, with white speckling. The prominent facial disc is buff to chestnut coloured, with a darker margin, and chestnut coloured shading around the eyes. The legs are fully feathered and the feet are powerful with long talons (Higgins, 1999).
    [Show full text]
  • A Report on a Community Partnership in Eco-Acoustic Monitoring in the Mount Alexander Region, Victoria
    Tawny Frogmouth. Photo: Andrew Haysom A REPORT ON A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN ECO-ACOUSTIC MONITORING IN THE MOUNT ALEXANDER REGION, VICTORIA Prepared by: Dr Sera Blair, Dr Christine Connelly & Caitlin Griffith, Victorian National Parks Association. Dr Karen Rowe & Dr Amy Adams, Museums Victoria Victorian National Parks Association The Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) helps to shape the agenda for creating and managing national parks, conservation reserves and other important natural areas across land and sea. We work with all levels of government, the scientific community and the general community to achieve long term, best practice environmental outcomes. The VNPA is also Victoria’s largest bush walking club and provides a range of information, education and activity programs to encourage Victorians to get active for nature. NatureWatch NatureWatch is a citizen science program which engages the community in collecting scientific data on Victorian native plants and animals. The program builds links between community members, scientists and land managers to develop scientific, practical projects that contribute to a better understanding of species and ecosystems, and contributes to improved management of natural areas. Project Partners Museums Victoria Museums Victoria has been trusted with the collection and curation of Victoria’s natural history for over 160 years and serves as a key international research institute and expert in data archiving and long-term data protection. Responding to changing intellectual issues, studying subjects of relevance to the community, providing training and professional development, and working closely with schools, communities, and online visitors, Museums Victoria works to disseminate our collective knowledge through online resources and image, audio and video databases.
    [Show full text]
  • Muruk Aug 2010
    Observations of Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus, South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki and other skuas in Papua New Guinea waters. By Neil Cheshire From 1985 to 2007 I made twenty voyages in CSIRO research vessels to the seas around Papua New Guinea including the Gulf of Papua, northern Coral Sea, Solomon Sea, Bismarck Sea and adjacent Equatorial Pacific, with voyages in all months except December. All observations listed are within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Papua New Guinea which extends up to 200 nautical miles (370km) offshore. I made counts of seabirds whilst steaming between stations when research work permitted. Most of my counts were from well offshore and very few Skua sp. were recorded. Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus has a circumpolar Arctic breeding distribution during the northern summer with migration to the southern hemisphere commencing in late August (Furness 1987). In the SW Pacific region it is regularly recorded in small numbers off south east Australia, in the Tasman Sea and around northern New Zealand between September and May (Higgins and Davies 1996). There are no documented records for Papua New Guinea waters. Greensmith(1975) reported an immature near San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands on 5 Feb 1975. I made the following observations of Long-tailed Skua in Papua New Guinea waters:- 15 Jan 1986 1°50’S 147°35’E 10 n.miles N from Manus Island. Equatorial Pacific, 1 immature 6 May 1988 0°00’ 149°00’E 95 n.miles NNW from Mussau. Equatorial Pacific, 1 immature 9 Sept 1990 5°52’S 152 24’E 32 n.miles SE Cape Orford, New Britain, 1 immature 24 Sept 1990 6°46’S 147°50’E 4 n.miles S from Busiga, Bismarck Sea, 2 adults 8 Nov 1993 11°31’S 154°24’E 8 n.miles S Adele Island, Coral Sea.
    [Show full text]
  • 5Th Australasian Ornithological Conference 2009 Armidale, NSW
    5th Australasian Ornithological Conference 2009 Armidale, NSW Birds and People Symposium Plenary Talk The Value of Volunteers: the experience of the British Trust for Ornithology Jeremy J. D. Greenwood, Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, Scotland, [email protected] The BTO is an independent voluntary body that conducts research in field ornithology, using a partnership between amateurs and professionals, the former making up the overwhelming majority of its c13,500 members. The Trust undertakes the majority of the bird census work in Britain and it runs the national banding and the nest records schemes. The resultant data are used in a program of monitoring Britain's birds and for demographic analyses. It runs special programs on the birds of wetlands and of gardens and has undertaken a series of distribution atlases and many projects on particular topics. While independent of conservation bodies, both voluntary and statutory, much of its work involves the provision of scientific evidence and advice on priority issues in bird conservation. Particular recent foci have been climate change, farmland birds (most of which have declined) and woodland birds (many declining); work on species that winter in Africa (many also declining) is now under way. In my talk I shall describe not only the science undertaken by the Trust but also how the fruitful collaboration of amateurs and professionals works, based on their complementary roles in a true partnership, with the members being the "owners" of the Trust and the staff being responsible for managing the work.
    [Show full text]
  • 1000 CHAPTER 6 the Creation Of
    1000 CHAPTER 6 The creation of man: creation, not macroevolution – mind the gap. a] Human Anatomy: the generally united creationist school. b] Spotting the wood from the trees - the similarities of homology in promisians, simians, satyr beasts, & men; & the generally united creationist school. c] Soul-talk: i] Distinguishing man from animals - the soul gives man a god focus & capacity for religious belief in the supernatural, and conscience morality seen in a moral code. ii] A revised taxonomy for primates must replace the erroneous twofold taxonomy used for primates. iii] Distinguishing satyr beasts & Man, the Apers & Adamites: A clean cut – like putting a knife through butter. A] Men have souls, animals do not: the APER (African Pre-Edenic Race). B] An Aper Case Study: Australia. C] People “going ape” over the Apers. iv] Where creationists do differ: Subspeciation with respect to man. A] Where are the Adamites in the fossil record? B] Did God create diverse human races? A short preliminary discussion. d] The illusive search for Mitochondrial Adam & Eve: “I know that my genes have ancestors back to Adam: whereas paleontologists can only speculate that fossils they find had descendants.” e] Perforated bones: “Blowing the bone whistle” on “anthropologists” playing loony tunes on “bone flutes.” f] Frustrated Darwinian Macroevolutionists use fraudulent “transitional fossils” against the generally United Creationist School. (Chapter 6) a] Human Anatomy: the generally united creationist school. In 1802, creationist Paley used as a teleological argument of the human body, saying, “For my part, I take my stand in human anatomy 1.” This validly looks to the complexities of human biology to see a design pointing to a Divine Designer.
    [Show full text]
  • December 06 Book.Pmd
    186 AUSTRALIAN FIELD ORNITHOLOGY 2006, 23, 186–191 Prey Partitioning and Behaviour of Breeding Masked Owls Tyto novaehollandiae on the Central Coast of New South Wales MICHAEL TODD 187 Excelsior Parade, Toronto, New South Wales 2283 (Email: [email protected]) Summary Masked Owls Tyto novaehollandiae were observed at a nest that successfully fledged two owlets near Newcastle, central coastal New South Wales, over winter 2005. The nest was situated in bushland supporting native mammal species. The female Owl was observed to bring Bush Rats Rattus fuscipes (n = 3) and a Petaurus glider to the nest. In contrast, the male brought only smaller prey including the Brown Antechinus Antechinus stuartii (n = 3) and House Mouse Mus domesticus (n = 3). The combined feeding rate in the second half of the nestling period, when the female Owl was hunting, was 1.2 items/h (n = 13.1 h) in the evenings. Introduction Although the diet of the Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae has been examined in several areas of mainland Australia and Tasmania, most of these studies have been of regurgitated pellets rather than direct observations of captured prey (summarised by Higgins 1999; later studies by Kavanagh 2002 and McNabb et al. 2003). The Masked Owl exhibits strong reversed sexual size dimorphism (female 30% heavier than male: Higgins 1999), especially in the Tasmanian subspecies T.n. castanops in which the sexes take different-sized prey (prey of male averages 97 g, of female 261 g). The larger female Owl takes prey as large as European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (Mooney 1993). There are limited observations of such prey partitioning on the Australian mainland.
    [Show full text]
  • Part VI Teil VI
    Part VI Teil VI References Literaturverzeichnis References/Literaturverzeichnis For the most references the owl taxon covered is given. Bei den meisten Literaturangaben ist zusätzlich das jeweils behandelte Eulen-Taxon angegeben. Abdulali H (1965) The birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Ali S, Biswas B, Ripley SD (1996) The birds of Bhutan. Zoo- Islands. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 61:534 logical Survey of India, Occas. Paper, 136 Abdulali H (1967) The birds of the Nicobar Islands, with notes Allen GM, Greenway JC jr (1935) A specimen of Tyto (Helio- to some Andaman birds. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 64: dilus) soumagnei. Auk 52:414–417 139–190 Allen RP (1961) Birds of the Carribean. Viking Press, NY Abdulali H (1972) A catalogue of birds in the collection of Allison (1946) Notes d’Ornith. Musée Hende, Shanghai, I, the Bombay Natural History Society. J Bombay Nat Hist fasc. 2:12 (Otus bakkamoena aurorae) Soc 11:102–129 Amadom D, Bull J (1988) Hawks and owls of the world. Abdulali H (1978) The birds of Great and Car Nicobars. Checklist West Found Vertebr Zool J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 75:749–772 Amadon D (1953) Owls of Sao Thomé. Bull Am Mus Nat Hist Abdulali H (1979) A catalogue of birds in the collection of 100(4) the Bombay Natural History Society. J Bombay Nat Hist Amadon D (1959) Remarks on the subspecies of the Grass Soc 75:744–772 (Ninox affinis rexpimenti) Owl Tyto capensis. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 56:344–346 Abs M, Curio E, Kramer P, Niethammer J (1965) Zur Ernäh- Amadon D, du Pont JE (1970) Notes to Philippine birds.
    [Show full text]
  • Indonesia's Southern Moluccas
    Streak-breasted Fantail (Craig Robson) INDONESIA’S SOUTHERN MOLUCCAS 6 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 LEADER: CRAIG ROBSON Of all the birding tours that visit the smaller and more remote islands of Wallacea in Indonesia, this one surely offers the highest number of endemics and, with current taxonomic progress, that number is ever growing. Birdquest was one of the pioneers of tours to the southern Moluccas, and this was our sixth tour to take in Buru, Ambon, Haruku, Yamdena (Tanimbar), Kai, Seram and Boano. Among the many highlights in 2019, were: Moluccan and Tanimbar Megapodes, Tanimbar Cuckoo-Dove, Wallace’s, White-bibbed and Claret-breasted Fruit Doves, Spectacled and Seram Imperial Pigeons, Buru and Seram Mountain Pigeons, 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Indonesia’s Southern Moluccas www.birdquest-tours.com Pygmy Eagle, Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk, Meyer’s Goshawk, Seram, Buru and Tanimbar Boobooks, Lazuli Kingfisher, Tanimbar Corella, Seram (or Salmon-crested) Cockatoo, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Buru Racket-tail, Purple-naped Lory, Blue-streaked and Blue-eared Lories, South Moluccan, Papuan and Elegant Pittas, Wakolo Myzomela, Buru and Seram Honeyeaters, a trio of endemic friarbird/oriole combos on Buru, Tanimbar and Seram, Island Whistler, Tanimbar, Kai, Seram and Buru Spangled Drongos (if you split them!), likewise Kai, Buru and Seram Fantails, Cinnamon-tailed, Streak-breasted, Tawny-backed and Long-tailed Fantails, an amazing range of island-endemic monarchs (including Boano or Black-chinned), Violet Crow, Golden-bellied Flyrobin, Seram and Buru Golden Bulbuls, Buru, Seram and Kai Leaf Warblers (in the process of being split), the splittable Buru and Seram Bush (or Grasshopper) Warblers, Rufescent Darkeye, Grey-hooded, Pearl-bellied, Golden-bellied, Seram, Buru and Ambon White-eyes, Long-crested Myna, Slaty-backed, Buru, Seram (heard only) and Fawn-breasted Thrushes, Streak-breasted Jungle, Tanimbar and Cinnamon-chested Flycatchers, and Flame-breasted and Ashy Flowerpeckers.
    [Show full text]
  • FOI 190702 Part 5 Document Set Redacted
    LHIB Rodent Eradication Project Public Environment Report 1993). The highly successful captive breeding and release program resulted in the release of 82 birds bred from just three breeding pairs originally captured (NPWS, 2002). Prior to the commencement of the program it was estimated that only 37 individuals remained in the wild. In preparation for the LHI REP, a captive management pilot study that was conducted in 2013 for woodhen and currawongs on LHI (Taronga Conservation Society Australia, 2014) has also added significant knowledge on the captive management of the two species. The pilot study showed that woodhens and currawongs could be held in large groups for prolonged periods with no observable impact. All 20 woodhens and 10 currawongs were successfully released at their individual capture sites. The trial report is included in Appendix D – LHI Trials Package. Figure 8 Woodhens in 2013 Captive Trial Figure 9 Currawongs in 2013 Captive Trial Figure 10 Woodhen Aviary in 2013 Captive Trial Figure 11 Currawong aviaries in 2013 Captive Trial 2.2.1 Bird capture Only experienced staff will be involved in the capture of both species. These include rangers on LHI who are involved in the capture of woodhen for banding as part of the annual monitoring of the population and Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) scientific officers (with assistance from the LHIB rangers) that have been catching and banding currawongs since 2005 to determine their population status and movements. Hand-nets will be used to capture woodhen, and clap-traps will be used for currawongs. Upon capture, birds will be placed into cloth bags or ventilated cardboard boxes (one bird per bag or box) and taken to the holding facility where they will be checked by a veterinarian.
    [Show full text]