Contact Call
Newsletter of BirdLife Northern Queensland Volume 8 Number 1 March 2019
BirdLife Northern Queensland Annual General Meeting 2019 When : Thursday 14 March 2019, 7:30–9:30pm Where: Malanda Hotel, 2 English Street, Malanda Dinner is available at own cost at the venue from 6 pm.
Double-eyed Fig-parrot. Image courtesy of Peter Valentine.
Contents ➢ Convenor’s report ➢ A Bourke’s Parrot story Following the AGM there will be a ➢ Queensland Gouldian Finch research update special guest presentation by ➢ Carpentarian Grasswrens are calling Kath Shurcliff on ➢ Amazing bird discovery on Cairns Esplanade Cooktown Birds mudflats The Jewel In The Crown of North ➢ BirdLife Northern Queensland Kirrama Range Bowerbird Survey Queensland?? ➢ Golden Bowerbirds and a dead Green Ring-tailed Possum Cooktown – the site of the first British settlement in Australia, and importantly, the first reconciliation ➢ Sunbathing Papuan Frogmouth between British and Aboriginal cultures. But what is ➢ Strange colours in Victoria’s Riflebird immature its importance to our unique north Australia birds? males It lies at the very top of the Wet Tropics and the ➢ News from Mount Isa - January 2019 very bottom of Cape York. Is it poor cousin or jewel
in the crown? What is the Torresian Barrier and is it ➢ Do you have BADS? real? Come and find out, add your own insights, ➢ A birders camping guide to exploring north and together we'll discover one of our most unique, Queensland and often missed-out birding places. ➢ Lake Barrine and Cathedral Fig outing
Peter Valentine, Convenor ➢ Why has North America only 1000 breeding species? For more information, please contact me on 4096
6171 or email [email protected]. We look ➢ Warrina Lakes birding
forward to seeing you there! ➢ Stickybeaks calendar
➢ Noticeboard and events calendar
BirdLife Northern Queensland
toll on wildlife, often over-looked while we count the From the Convenor human tragedy. Reports of crashes in local insect populations from around the world ought to engender It is always a pleasure to read about birders enjoying fears not just about pollinators for human crops but birds and for me one of the great benefits of BirdLife the prospect of ecosystem collapse. I hope that this membership is the Australian BirdLife magazine from Federal election can have a big focus on our response the national office (replete with advertisements) and to Climate Change. Meantime we still learn of human our very own Contact Call so expertly edited by Ceri pets (owned by irresponsible citizens) taking out Pearce. The November edition was brim full of breeding colonies of beach birds like Hooded Plovers excellent stories that took us all around our region and and Fairy Terns. One of our important roles as a appraised us of the latest developments in birding. Our Branch is to keep working at the local level to make Branch is fortunate to have such a wonderful sure we take the necessary actions to better protect newsletter and I express my appreciation to all the our birds and that means lots of effort to inform our members who contribute and encourage others to local Councils and to work with them to produce write a piece for Ceri. Of course, in our modern world improved bird conservation. It might be useful for the we can also take advantage of the internet and first Branch to find a member who could take on the role of stop is our own informative website. Here the collated liaison with local government over bird conservation wisdom of a generation or more of BirdLife members and keep the Branch informed about improvements. informs our bird lists and birding information area, an excellent first stop for anyone planning a birding Our Branch has been concerned about the potential excursion. It’s also the way to keep up with events and effects of climate change on some of our species, to discover more about some of our ongoing projects especially the upland rainforest birds. I am hoping that like the grasswren survey and the crane count. I we may have a chance to hear from one of our experts appreciate the work that Mikey Kudo does in keeping about the basis for those concerns in April. Professor the website up to date. Our Facebook page, managed Steve Williams, who led a major program of field by our champion, Doug Herrington, is also a great research to collect data about habitat requirements for forum to share information and stay up to date with our wildlife, has developed the capacity to model the the very latest events and bird sightings in our region, ways in which various changes associated with global as well as seek advice on bird identification and share warming in our region would impact on our different birds and mammals. We will let you know the details of your amazing bird photos. the presentation when confirmed. A recent development in our communications is the Late last year I received reports from members about occasional eNews now being sent to members by our access issues at Lake Mitchell. It appears that although Secretary Renee Cassells. In a world with rapidly the causeway used by birders remained accessible, changing circumstances, email helps keep us better police had been accosting birders about the legitimacy connected and Renee is able to bring members up to of their being on the causeway. I had noticed myself date with emerging events and any essential that the old wooden gate had been replaced but that it information about our projects and other activities. remained unlocked. Subsequently I spoke with the The Senate Inquiry into Australia’s faunal extinction Mayor (of Mareeba Shire Council) about the situation crisis continues slowly and in late November an and on behalf of the Branch I have made a formal extension was granted that will not see the final report representation to the Council to clarify the question of tabled until the end of May this year. Over 400 access, after first discussing the matter with the submissions have now been made including our own Queensland Parks and Wildlife Department to ensure I and one by the national office. These can be consulted knew the facts. It is by no means a simple situation as on the website for the inquiry maintained by the the area used includes areas of a Camping and Water Parliament: Reserve (Big Mitchell Creek) but also some privately https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Com leased land and some freehold land. I hope to use this mittees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/Fa opportunity to highlight the importance of birding, both unalextinction for residents and local businesses, in the Mareeba Sadly, the critical nature of this crisis has been brought Shire and to ensure Council is fully supportive of these home even more by the numerous weather disasters activities. In the first instance, we need clarification around Australia. The record-breaking heat extremes about the access situation from the Council, who hold across most of the continent does not just make life the C&W Reserve in trust. If any members have views uncomfortable for humans but places severe stress on or experiences about this matter please feel free to let wildlife and increases the risks from wildfires. The me know (email is good) and I hope to report back unprecedented wildfires in the Tasmanian World soon with the Council response. It would be helpful if Heritage Area not only destroys ancient vegetation BLNQ members who live in the Mareeba Shire communities but stresses other wildlife. The encouraged their local Council member to take a astonishing rain events of north eastern Queensland positive view about this matter. and north western Queensland will have taken a huge Peter Valentine, Convenor.
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BirdLife Northern Queensland Committee A Bourke’s Parrot story
Committee Name Contact details I'll always remember seeing my first Bourke’s Parrot. Convenor Peter Email: It was in 2002 and we were on the Cairns Esplanade. Valentine [email protected] and This is when Keith and I were still living in Cairns and phone: 07 40966171 spent a lot of time watching waders and also talking to Deputy Convenor Martin Email: [email protected] and birdwatchers that gravitated to this iconic stretch of Willis phone: 07 40966581 mudflat. We loved it when we met up with overseas Secretary and Renee Email: birders who had just flown into Cairns and were Communications Cassels [email protected] experiencing Australian birds for the first time. Coordinator Treasurer Wendy Email This day it was a young enthusiastic English couple Cooper [email protected] who were enthralled at seeing waders so close. We and phone: 07 40968272 chatted to them about their travel plans and then they Cairns Area Tom Collis Email: [email protected] told us that they had just seen a Bourke's Parrot Coordinator and phone: 0401783795 feeding with Peaceful Doves further down the Conservation Kath Email Esplanade. I think we rolled our eyes in disbelief, but Coordinator and Cape Shurcliff [email protected] and then they brought out their digital camera and showed York Area phone: 07 4069 6595 us a photo. Just as they said, a group of Peaceful Coordinator Doves with a Bourke's Parrot feeding with them. This Tablelands Area Martin Email: [email protected] and was in the days when we both still had film cameras Coordinator Willis phone: 07 40966581 and it was my first experience of seeing a bird on the back of a digital camera. Stickybeak Golo Email: Coordinator Maurer [email protected] A short walk took us to see for ourselves – obviously KBA Coordinator Ray Pierce Email: [email protected] an escapee, but still my first Bourke's Parrot. Keith Grasswren Survey Graham Email: [email protected] and had been on a few outback trips without me, so this Coordinator Harrington phone: 07 40965051 was on the list of catch-up birds. It would have to wait Members Coordinator Sam Willis Email: [email protected] and until another time though for me to tick it off, but little phone: 07 40966581 did I know that it would be another 15 years before we Website Manager Mikey Email: [email protected] and were able to have the time to go on an extended Kudo phone: 0402343610 camping trip to outback Queensland. Newsletter Editor and Ceri Pearce Email: We headed off with our camper-trailer in July 2017 to Cassowary Coast Area [email protected] south-west of Longreach to stay at Noonbah Station Coordinator and phone: 0488131581 run by Angus Emmott and has wife Karen. We had a
camp site in the middle of the scrub next to a rocky ridge and woke on a chilly morning to total silence. After a quick cup of coffee and rugged up with scarves Contact us: BirdLife Northern and beanies, we headed up to the ridge waiting to hear Queensland committee some bird song or just a chirp would do. Then Email: [email protected] something flew up onto a branch ahead of us and I quickly put my binos up and, in the soft morning light, Internet: www.birdlifenq.org I could just distinguish a small dumpy bird with a white eye ring. ‘Bourke's Parrot?’ I called out and Keith agreed. It was only there for a minute and it wasn't the best sighting, but at long last I had seen one. The morning improved as the sun rose higher and the birds started to appear, but no more Bourke's Parrots. The next month we were at Bowra Station in south Queensland and I saw plenty of this delightful little parrot coming in to drink at waterholes, but the first sighting is always the one I'll remember on that chilly morning. Lindsay Fisher
Bourke’s Parrot image courtesy of Ian Montgomery http://www.birdway.com.au
March 2019 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland
Queensland Gouldian Finch research update From Ray Pierce and Patrick De Geest
Following our discovery of a concentration of Gouldian Finches (Erythrura gouldiae) in Northern Queensland a year ago (Contact Call: Vol 7, No. 3, August 2018), we undertook a pilot study aimed at finding more about how this isolated Gouldian population survives. A core group of skilled field observers and lab assistants have helped with this study, particularly Ceinwen Edwards, Pam Schultz, Jeff Watson, and Gary and Robyn Wilson.
Fig. 2 Creek in typical Gouldian breeding season habitat
(P. personata leucotis), but notably also wood- swallows, trillers and others. The alarm calls of Black- faced Wood-swallows (Artamus cinereus) appeared to be providing an early warning of approaching predators (raptors and feral cats, with many of the Fig. 1 – A male Gouldian Finch latter being “caught” on camera traps). Soon after the Wet Season discovery in 2018, our Our observations to date suggest that there may be surveys revealed many territorial Gouldian Finches not some key differences in how Gouldian Finches utilise far from the Wet Season flocking site. The breeding the local environment compared with that in NW birds were in open woodland of rolling hill country Australia. This includes dietary differences, e.g. we are dissected by substantial creeks. The area was lightly finding seasonally high use of annual grasses and grazed and had not been burnt for many years, sedges in The Wet and specific perennials and insects allowing high levels of seeding of some important in The Dry; the apparent sentinel role of Black-faced perennial grasses, all of which boded well for the Wood-swallows; lack of other hole nesting finch finches and other fauna. These areas also had plenty competitors; and a cooler environment here that is of old growth ghost gums and other eucalypt trees, the less prone to heat waves, all of which have clear types of which are used by Gouldian Finches for implications for population sustainability. nesting in NW Australia. Although we did not find nests in this pilot study, we did see 13 family parties, each with dependent young, indicating that they had nested successfully in the area. Some young were poor fliers indicating they had fledged just recently from nearby nests. After breeding, most birds were seen in flocks of widely varying sizes, usually in more open woodland and grassland and sometimes in recently burnt sites. Typically, we observed 80-150 birds on each trip and by August-September most of these birds were juvenile. The Gouldian Finches exhibited a strong association with other species through much of the year, particularly with Black-throated Finches (Poephila Fig. 3 Dependent young begging to red-faced adult male. cincta atropygialis) and Masked Finches
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Gouldian Age Structure 2018 140
120
100
80
60 No. birds 40
20
0 Feb A Feb B Mar A Mar B Apr A Apr B May B July A Aug B SepB
No. Adults No. dependent young No. independent young
Fig. 4 – Draft graph of relative ages of Gouldian Finches observed in the study site in February-September 2018 (note: few birds were seen in March-early April which was before we found the breeding concentrations). Note: for each month: A = 1st - 15th, B = 15th - 31st.
These and other aspects will be the subject of closer An update on this project will be provided at an study in 2019 with questions spanning diet (e.g. do illustrated talk for BLNQ in Cairns on 6 April 2019. they use Spinifex seeds in early Wet periods of relative This will include discussing cues that birders can seed scarcity as they do in NW Australia); relative use use to maximize the chances of finding Gouldians in of different fire and grazing regimes; nesting success; Queensland and outlining a wider Gouldian Finch the association with Black-faced Wood-swallows and survey being planned later for this year in which other bird species; predator species; and the wider members can participate. distribution of this population. We are also collecting Report and images by Ray Pierce and Patrick De Geest information on other finch species, particularly the local race of Masked Finch which also seems to have declined in recent decades. We thank BirdLife Australia, Wettenhall Environment Trust and Mitchell River Watershed Management Group for assisting with our travel expenses, the many field volunteers, Pam Schultz, Gary Wilson and the Australian Tropical Herbarium for help with plant identifications, Dr Steve Murphy of UQ for ongoing advice, landowners and managers for their ongoing hospitality and North Queensland Natural History Group and BirdLife Northern Queensland for providing administrative support.
Come and join us for a presentation PROGRESS WITH QLD GOULDIAN FINCH RESEARCH by Dr. Ray Pearce and Patrick De Geest
Saturday 6th April 2019, 7.30pm Stratford Library 11 Kamerunga Road Stratford, Cairns
March 2019 5 BirdLife Northern Queensland
Carpentarian Grasswrens are calling YOU!
Do you want to be a part of our important work on the Endangered Carpentarian Grasswren, and get to see some amazing parts of beautiful western Queensland as well? Just put your hand up and volunteer for the surveys we will be doing this year.
When - 13-26th May 2019. Where - based on Calton Hills Station, just north of Mount Isa, and adjacent properties. Who - anyone who can walk up some hills and through spinifex country and listen and watch for grasswrens. We supply training on the best ways of doing this. For the last 10 years, BirdLife NQ under the leadership of Graham Harrington, has been completing systematic surveys for Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswrens in western Queensland. Based on these results the Carpentarian Grasswren has been listed as Endangered, since their numbers are impacted by wildfires in their spinifex habitat. This listing has convinced management agencies, in particular the Southern Gulf Natural Resource Management group that a regional fire management plan needs to be developed. This plan is now being kicked off at Calton Hills station, which sits at the core of the Carpentarian’s range. The plan calls for a mosaic of controlled burns to be done, just after significant rain events. We need to assess if these burns have a positive impact on grasswrens. Will they prevent catastrophic wild fires, and supply sufficient refuges for grasswren survival? Will there be different impacts on the Carpentarian and Kalkadoon? Can we establish a “grasswren corridor” between Calton Hills and Boodjamulla National Park? We plan to set up 50+ monitoring sites (using our normal methodology of 10 points per site). These sites will include those where grasswrens are known to be, and those where they currently seem to be absent. We are aiming to start this work in May, but final dates will be weather dependent. So if you would like to be part of this work, please volunteer. We plan to be in the Calton Hills area for approximately two weeks, travelling in teams, camping on the property. So we will require participants who are comfortable camping in the bush, and spending your mornings walking through hilly, but not mountainous terrain. We will need some volunteers who have reliable 4wd vehicles, since many of the roads are typical station tracks. Training in our methods and recognising grasswrens will be provided, as well as the opportunity to share our experiences with other surveyors. We will be able to provide some assistance with fuel costs. If you are interested in being part of this important effort, please contact Kath Shurcliff. on 07 4069 6595, or at [email protected] for further details.
Image courtesy of Virginia Hills. F: https://www.facebook.com/jemlocoimages
6 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
I know that you have heard from the local bird group Amazing bird discovery recently about the importance of our mudflats and I hope that this story inspires you and the CRC to do on Cairns Esplanade everything in your power to maintain, enhance and protect our precious Esplanade wader habitat. mudflats I have attached a picture of a Red-necked Stint and look forward to getting a response to this letter/email back from you regarding your support for the There was a news article about Red-necked stint with Esplanade mudflats. a Japanese flag in the Cairns Post on 18 Dec 2018. Yours sincerely You can read this article here Hidetoshi Kudo https://www.dropbox.com/s/v03ewve0zqi90qz/Article %2020181218_135722.jpg?dl=0 Regarding this article, I wrote the following letter to Bob Manning, the current mayor of Cairns: I had the following reply from him: Dear Bob My dear Hidetoshi, I was watching wading birds on the Esplanade recently Thank you very much for taking the time to write and when I noticed something unusual - a small migratory tell me about your amazing discovery - you must have bird called a Red-necked Stint had a plastic band on its been thrilled. leg. Yes, I am inspired by your story and I believe we have On closer examination with my binoculars and camera, a duty to ensure that we protect and preserve the I was able to work out that this small shorebird had an Cairns mudflats. identification (known as a flag) from Japan. I noticed that from the colour combination. I passed the Thank you again for sharing your news with me. information on to the Queensland Wader Study Group Regards. which revealed that the bird actually came from the area where I used to live and it was flagged by Bob. someone I know! How small could that chance be? This particular bird that I saw was captured and banded with two flags for scientific purposes by Mr. Hosoya in Tori-No-Umi near Sendai, Japan, while the bird was stopping for rest and food in the long journey to Australia. Mr. Hosoya and I met each other at an ornithological conference held in Japan many years ago and this type of study is important to understand the biology of birds as well as to identify and protect the East Asian Australasian bird flyway for conservation purposes. The network of people checking flagged birds is an essential part of this study. The Red-necked Stint is a truly extraordinary little bird. It is the smallest of the migratory waders, its body length is only 15 cm, it weighs only 30 gm. They breed in the tundra area in Siberia and Alaska and make a return trip of 20,000 km each year all the way Red-necked Stint with the two leg flags that indicated it had been tagged in Japan. to countries in the southern hemisphere like Australia.
The Cairns Esplanade mudflats are a crucial stopping for feeding on their migratory pathway and it is, thus, Report and image by Hidetoshi Kudo vital that we protect that habitat to the very best of our ability so that the wondrous flight of these little birds can continue to astonish us and the generations to come.
March 2019 7 BirdLife Northern Queensland
The whole area is generally lower than Golden BirdLife Northern Bowerbird habitat elsewhere in the Wet Tropics barely reaching 1000m at the highest points. Queensland Kirrama On November 24th and 25th we surveyed various locations on the Kirrama Range Road. Range Bowerbird We were very excited when Golden Bowerbirds were located. One male and one female were seen. Silent Survey Tooth-billed Bowerbirds were also found. We couldn't find any courts or bowers. Tooth-billed Bowerbirds were notably less common here compared to similar SUMMARY habitat elsewhere. It is interesting that Golden Bowerbirds can exist here • Two Golden Bowerbirds, one male plus one at 800m when they are largely absent at the same female, sighted. altitude elsewhere in the Wet Tropics. You will all be familiar with the Massenerhebung effect. This was first • Two Tooth-billed Bowerbirds sighted. described in the Alps and since found to be widespread • Two Tooth-bill Courts located at around 600m in the tropics. Altitudinal ranges are lowered and altitude. compressed on small low mountains, especially near the sea, compared to large high mountains further • One Tooth-bill heard singing at his court near the from the coast. David Bishop found the same highest point of the road, 780m altitude. phenomenon in New Guinea. Birds restricted to high • One Cassowary sighted along the Society Flat altitudes on the central ranges were found to occur on walking track. much lower peaks of smaller outlying mountains. Special thanks should be given to the sharp eyed Tracey Clements who joined us for the survey. Tracey SURVEY found the Cassowary, the two Tooth-bill courts and spotted the two Golden Bowerbirds, all of which the rest of us would probably have missed. Tracey is John th November 24-25 2018. Young's partner and news of their plans made for Present: Dom Chaplin, Tony Jurgensen, Ceinwyn interesting campsite conversation. We wish them all Edwards, Tracey Clements, and Jill. the best in their future activities and hope they can join more BirdLife Northern Queensland activities next We have now found Golden Bowerbirds to be still year. present in almost all locations where they were known 20 years ago. But one area not surveyed has been the Report and images by Dominic Chaplin Kirrama Range road which connects Cardwell to Mt Garnet. Around year 2000, Golden Bowerbirds were recorded on the Birds Australia Atlas about 2-3km south of the Kirrama Range Road. We also have verbal reports from Klaus Uhlenhut and John Young of bowers closer to the road. Back in July I spent a day transecting the very overgrown rainforest south of the Kirrama Range Road. I was not hopeful of Golden Bowerbirds still persisting in the area, due to the very poor condition of the forest, which has been severely impacted by the two cyclones. Also, the road is very low, barely getting over 750m at its highest point. Our average Golden Bower altitude is over 1100m with only one record below 800m. A stunning male Golden Bowerbird
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Golden Bowerbirds and a dead Green Ring- tailed Possum
I have some encouraging news regarding my Golden Bowerbirds. Most of you know that I had six bowers on my property in the early nineties but they were eroded to a single bower sometime around 2009. Last year this bower was taken over by a bird in immature plumage except for some yellow feathers on its belly. My neighbour put two of his motion-sensitive cameras on this bower. We suspected that there were other bowers in the vicinity because the "owner" of the bower was observed chasing off other Golden Sunbathing Papuan Bowerbirds including a male in adult plumage. This behaviour has not been recorded before (Cliff Frith, Frogmouth pers. com). We attempted to colour band the owner but the band Sunbathing is a well-known behaviour in birds but a was not visible on the subsequent videos. The recent observation of it was a little unexpected. At explanation came one year later when we discovered 1620 hrs on January 7, we saw our resident Papuan three bowers, which had not been recorded before. Frogmouth glide down onto the lamina of a Licuala One of the bowers was being operated by the banded palm frond, spread its wings and spend five minutes bird! So, it was interfering with the original bower sunning. The conditions were mild, fine and bright, and when it was trapped and banded! Clearly the Golden the bird remained motionless for most of that period, Bowerbirds on my property are recovering. then looked around several times, and then flew away One notable thing is that the new bowers are all into the dense mid-stratum. further upslope than those that disappeared. The behaviour was unexpected in this species, which is Another is that whilst the bird operating the original generally crepuscular and nocturnal in activity. An bower was in immature plumage last year, and is now interesting associated observation is that the several in mature male plumage, the three new bowers are all small passerine species, e.g. Graceful Honeyeater, operated by immature birds. These immature birds all Yellow-spotted Honeyeater and Dusky Myzomela, that call like the males in adult plumage and probably mate had been harassing the Frogmouth prior to the successfully. sunning event, did not harass it during that time, but resumed it immediately the Frogmouth resumed its Another observation, pertinent to Dominic’s report, is cryptic pose in the mid-storey vegetation. that so far, we have not found bowers on my neighbour’s adjacent property. The regrowth is much Report and image by Gary and Robyn Wilson denser on this property due to logging about 20 years ago. This may discourage the Golden Bowerbirds.
The sharp eyes of Henry Stoetzel also noticed a dead Green Ringtail Possum at (location withheld) altitude 898m. It was heavily decomposed so cause of death was not ascertained but, in all probability, it had succumbed to the hot weather. Graham Harrington, 11th December 2018
March 2019 9 BirdLife Northern Queensland
Some of the colour changes in moulting Strange colours in Victoria’s immature male Victorian Riflebirds Riflebird immature males
The plumage differences between adult male Victoria Riflebirds and adult females are very different and are well known. The black appearance of the male shows obviously although close inspection reveals the olive-green underparts and the blue-green throat, crown and middle tail feathers. The female is predominantly brown from the head across the back and wings to the tail. Underparts are pale in the throat area and buff under the belly and vent. Close inspection reveals darker v-shaped spots and barring underneath with a solid curved bill. The challenge in being confident about a brown bird sex is that immature males begin with plumage very like the female, extremely difficult to tell them apart in flight or perched. Observing this species in a patch of rainforest one usually sees more brown birds than the black fully mature males. It is believed that immature males may take five years to reach their adult plumage and for much of that time will be very difficult to separate on appearance from females. As far as it is known, only the males display so it might be safe to identify a brown bird that is displaying as an immature male. I have watched as many as three brown birds displaying together. At first, I thought it was one immature male displaying to a female but as I observed over a longer period each of the brown birds took a turn at displaying suggesting all three were males and were sharing in a practice session. On another occasion on one display perch I watched two brown birds display to each other, immature males learning the ropes. On numerous occasions, I have watched a single brown bird on a display post practicing his moves and dancing to any bird that came near including catbirds, honeyeaters and other riflebirds and even a butterfly in flight. HANZAB suggests that brown immature males do not finally achieve their adult black plumage until they are five years of age. But what happens in between and how quickly do they moult? I am conscious of this question because we have seen a few brown birds with tiny patches of black amongst their otherwise brown plumage and suspect that these are late stage immatures, heading for a black outcome at the next moult. On a very few occasions, and usually for only a brief period, we have seen birds that are heavily splashed with black plumage and brown plumage. My inclination is to see these as birds in the late stage of moulting. They are remarkable looking birds, almost like a completely different species! They seem to stay like this briefly and then only during the summer moult (December through February/March). These “halfway” birds are a feature of the wet season whereas the brown birds with a tiny patch of black may occur throughout the year. In the five years that I have been living in the rainforest I have not recorded these halfway birds every year and presume their presence reflects success in breeding a few years previously. The photos show two different “halfway” birds (2018 and 2019) and other plumages. It would be interesting to hear from other members about their experiences with these black and brown birds. Article and images by Peter Valentine
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Warblers, and finches has been fenced off with a high News from Mount Isa - security fence preventing access to this site. On the plus side, what is known as the Eastern Scenic January 2019 Road around the edge of Lake Moondarra has been upgraded to a bitumen sealed road. Previously it was just a very rough track. This has made better access to As we are about half way through the current numerous birding sites around the edge of this section migratory bird season (2018-2019), I thought I would of the lake. It is a bit over 5km in length. touch on the migratory birds we have had visit Lake I hope 2019, is a good year, for all you birdos. Moondarra since August 2018. Report and images by Rex Whitehead As always, the first to arrive are the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, followed by the Marsh Sandpipers, both of which are still here and generally stay until April. Other migrants that have passed through here are as follows: Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Long- toed Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Swinhoe's Snipe, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Pacific Golden Plover, Oriental Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Lesser Sand Plover, and of course the single Red-necked Phalarope which I touched on in the last edition of
Contact Call. Oriental Pratincole Many of the above species are still here, however Little Curlews that were here 12 months ago haven't showed as yet. They don't come every year so this may be one of those times. On the native bird scene, the Yellow Chat originally identified by Karen Walsh in August 2018 hasn't raised the interest of the birding community I thought it would. I also thought it would be long gone by now but there is a small community of them still here, along with the Crimson and Orange Chats. Hopefully they may find Mount Isa to their liking and stay here. Yellow Chat - female Since the discovery of the Yellow Chats here, Karen and I have spent many hours/days studying their movements and habits, allowing us to get many images of them through all their stages. We have now started on the observation of Orange Chats in the same fashion. Interestingly, all species of Chats here have now reached their vibrant breeding colours. When we first started observing the Yellow Chats, they were all very dull in colour. Over the months we could see the Yellow Chat - male changes in them, from what I would call the ugly ducklings, to the beautiful birds they are today, all species of Chats have progressed simultaneously to little colourful jewels of the outback. It would appear that in the non-breeding season the males go into an eclipse plumage stage similar to male fairy-wrens. There have been some changes to well-known birding sites in Mount Isa. The ‘horse paddocks’ which was always a good birding site has seen some changes and is not so bird friendly anymore. One of my favourite birding sites, adjacent to the Clear Water Lagoon Oriental Plover which was always good for Crakes, Rails, Reed
March 2019 11 BirdLife Northern Queensland
better look at a bird. Do you have BADS? 3. not remaining seated until your aircraft comes to a standstill and the seatbelt lights go out – because If you suffer from some, or heaven forbid, all of the you think you saw a Yellow Wagtail at the side of below you probably do! the runway. Inattentive behaviours which can include: 4. constant chatter or talking too loudly at the wrong times about birds. 1. do not hear when you are asked something (needing to ask a number of times to get a 5. interrupting other people’s conversations to tell response) – probably because you are looking at them about a bird you just saw. or listening to a bird. 6. difficulty getting to bed, staying in bed, or getting 2. not following through on what you are asked to to sleep at night – because you are excited about do, despite agreeing to do so (like fetching milk tomorrow’s birding excursion. from the shop) – probably stopped to look at a Impulsive behaviours which can include: bird on the way. 1. being disruptive at work, perhaps trying to draw 3. easily distracted from a task by noises or own people’s attention to the Peregrine Falcon perched thoughts (hard to keep attention on the task at on the window ledge. hand) – heard a bird calling or thinking about the next birding trip. 2. leaving a task to go birding without thinking through the consequences. 4. daydreaming at work so that important instructions or phone calls are missed – 3. rushing through activities without doing them contemplating where to go birding at the properly in order to go birding. weekend. 4. impulsively calling out the name of a bird you just 5. not following safety instructions like “KEEP OUT – heard without realising the comment might be open mine shafts in the area” – you think you inappropriate – like Brown Boobies when at the may have glimpsed a Buff-breasted Button-Quail beach. beyond that fence. 5. difficulty keeping secrets when asked – having to 6. losing important belongings – because you have tell someone about that secret Bowerbird location left in a hurry to see a rare bird and left them someone told you about and asked you to keep behind. quiet about. 7. forgetting to bring the dog home from the park – 6. difficulty tolerating boredom (opting for because you are still on a high from seeing a flock stimulating activities like birding). of White-throated Needletails. 7. getting excited about a date with a new girlfriend 8. forgetting to return library books – because you and then quickly losing interest when a rarity where away on a birding trip when they were due. appears. 9. not looking after important belongings like your 8. difficulty persisting with activities that require lawnmower – because you left it in the middle of commitment and practice unless very interested the lawn when you got a phone call about a (e.g. birding). Spotted Whistling Duck on your local pond and 9. overeating and making poor food choices – when rushed off to see it. driving 800km to twitch a Citrine Wagtail. 10. starting a task but not completing it, often due to 10. running up bills for excessive phone use or getting distracted by birds. internet downloads whilst researching your next 11. messy and disorganised house (drawers and doors birding trip. left open, rotting food and dirty plates) – too busy 11. careless spending of savings on birding trips birding to clean up. and/or new binoculars. 12. leaving doors and windows unlocked because you 12. difficulty resisting the stimulation of birding. left in a hurry to see a rarity. 13. engaging in risky impulsive road trips, typically 13. losing track of time and regularly running late when a rarity has been sighted on the other side because you were birding. of the county.
Hyperactive behaviours which can include: Yes – you probably have BADS – Birding Attention 1. wagging work to go birding. Deficit Syndrome. 2. climbing up trees, fences, buildings in an unsafe Thanks to Doug Herrington for this contribution. manner despite being asked not to do so to get a
12 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
A birder’s camping guide to exploring north Queensland
If you have a 4WD and a tent or trailer, there are an amazing number of places in our region to explore and bird. This trip is one Keith and l did a couple of years ago and takes in some beautiful country in western Queensland. Our first stop was a little used National Park, Blackbraes, where the Northern Queensland BirdLife group visited twice in the early 2000’s to do surveys. It is about a five hour drive from the Tablelands, taking the Kennedy Development Road towards Hughenden from The Lynd. It then takes about 45mins to get from the main road to the camp site at Emu Swamp. There is a small camping area just before getting to the dam wall and another at the far end of the track along the wall. Last time we went, the dam was full, so there weren't too many water birds, but previous visits, when the water levels have been lower, there have been plenty. Remember you are at over 800m in altitude and winter months can be very cold!
Sunset at Blackbraes National Park The Bough Shed Waterhole campground at Bladensberg is pleasant and shady, and a stay of three nights to explore the area is recommended.
The Bough Shed Waterhole campground in Bladensburg National Park. Just 100k further south is the very quirky campground at Opalton. This bush camp is for the miners of the From Blackbraes National Park it is a long drive of over area and they welcome fossickers and birdwatchers to 400km to Bladensberg National Park, so a stop along use the facilities. Hot showers and toilets for $2.50 pp the way or at Winton is a good idea. are very welcome and there are always other interesting campers to meet.
March 2019 13 BirdLife Northern Queensland
Lake Barrine and Cathedral Fig outing
Fourteen members and guests met Alan Gillanders at 0600 hrs on Nov 10th in light drizzle at Lake Barrine Teahouse upper car park for a morning of Social Birding. Ignoring the inclement weather, we introduced ourselves and commenced a wander around the terraced grounds of the Teahouse. Numerous birds including Catbirds, Chowchillas,
Opalton Bush camp Orange-footed Scrubfowl and Whipbirds could be heard calling from the surrounding rainforest while the ornamental trees in the grounds were playing host to a There is a dam a short walk from the campground variety of honeyeaters. which is a great place to sit and watch the birds come The photographers among us got busy with their long in to drink in the late afternoon. lenses while others took a broader view of the water From Opalton the road does a loop of 150km back up birds on the lake and in the air. Some were surprised to the Jundah Road and down to the Mayne River to see the resident Australian Pelicans and the White- crossing. Some maps show a road cutting across to the Bellied Sea-Eagle. A male Victoria's Riflebird taunted Mayne River, but this no longer exists. The camp is a us while flitting around a Queensland Umbrella Tree lovely shady area along the river with plenty of room before posing on a palm stump where he stubbornly and lots of birds. refused to perform his courtship display. A Spotted Catbird came to check us out and several Wompoo The road then heads south and then east for 115km to Fruit-Doves were seen. Noonbah Station. The station is run by Angus and Karen Emmott who offer some beautiful secluded camp We next took a short stroll down the track towards the sites by waterholes. Angus is an amazingly twin Kauri Pines to visit the display ground of a Tooth- knowledgeable naturalist and photographer and he and Billed Bowerbird known to Alan. Karen make birders very welcome to their extensive The bird was calling constantly in the undergrowth but property. afforded us only an occasional glimpse. Our guide entertained us meanwhile with his incredible fund of stories and comprehensive knowledge of the flora and LINKS fauna. https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/experiences/camping/ca Having skimmed the surface of Lake Barrine we took mping_bookings.html to our wheels and headed to the Cathedral Fig Tree along Danbulla Drive. A short walk down the road www.noonbahstation.com.au showed us the rock strewn paddock of a volcanic flow For those of you who haven't downloaded the which ends suddenly in a dip where there is apparently Wikicamps app, it is a great way of finding out the best a concealed lava tube and a range of trees and shrubs places to camp and get up-to-date information. For with which most of us were not familiar. In the trees instance, the Opalton Bush Camp doesn't have a web around the car park were numerous Wompoo and site (well there is no internet there!), but Wikicamps Brown Cuckoo-Doves with Scaly-Breasted Lorikeets in gives you lots of information. the higher trees. Whipbirds were raucous along the track but hard to see while a group of Grey-headed https://www.wikicamps.com.au Robins, Golden Whistlers and Shrike-thrushes kept the Special thanks to Lindsay Fisher for this article and images. shutters clicking. A Musky Rat-Kangaroo made a dash under the walk way. The low light conditions and high
Do you know a great place to go camping contrast made photography challenging but fill-in flash made a world of difference. and bird watching? A tray of chocolate brownies was enjoyed before we returned to Lake Barrine. Our thanks again to Alan for Why not write in and share it with us. We’d love to turn this article into a series on great places to a most enjoyable and informative morning.
go exploring and birding in north Queensland. Ian Gibbs
14 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
BIRDLIST FROM SOCIAL BIRD WALK, LAKE BARRINE AND CATHEDRAL FIG NOVEMBER 10 2018
This list consists of birds seen by and or reported to Alan Gillanders. There may have been others.
Australian Brush-turkey Peaceful Dove Pale-yellow Robin Orange-Footed Scrub Fowl Bar-shouldered Dove Grey-headed Robin Pacific Black Duck Wompoo Fruit-Dove Eastern Whipbird Hardhead Superb Fruit-Dove Golden Whistler Australasian Grebe Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Little Shrike-thrush Great Crested Grebe Rainbow Lorikeet Spectacled Monarch Darter Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Magpie-lark Little Pied Cormorant Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Willie Wagtail Little Black Cormorant Australian Swiflet Spangled Drongo Great Cormorant Laughing Kookaburra Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike Australian Pelican Forest Kingfisher Barred Cuckoo-Shrike White-faced Heron Dollarbird White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike Cattle Egret Spotted Catbird Pied Currawong Intermediate Egret Tooth-Billed Bowerbird Victoria's Riflebird Eastern Black Kite Large-Billed Scrubwren Torresian Crow Whistling Kite Brown Gerygone Mistletoe Bird Nankeen Kestrel Lewin's Honeyeater Welcome Swallow Eurasian Coot Eastern Spinebill Australasian Pipit Bush Stone-curlew Dusky Honeyeater Common Myna Osprey Scarlet Honeyeater Red-browed Finch Brown Cuckoo-Dove Helmeted Friarbird Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Emerald Dove Macleay's Honeyeater
COME AND JOIN US TO Wave the Waders Goodbye
Shorebird Identification Workshop followed by shorebird viewing on the Cairns Esplanade When: Saturday 30 March 2019, 3.00-6.00pm Where: Cairns City Library Meeting Room 1 followed by Cairns Esplanade Contact Tom Collis 0401 783 795 for further details
March 2019 15 BirdLife Northern Queensland
from Antarctica on India, some Pittas and Broadbills Why has North America jumping ship as they moved past Africa, on the way north to meet with Eurasia, while the Asities evolved only 1000 breeding on Madagascar which was attached to the Indian continent for a while. species? Most sub-oscines, however, must have evolved on Antarctica after India and Africa had separated as the great majority of them are now found on South One thousand species of breeding birds sounds like a America which didn’t break from Gondwana until about lot but that’s all there is in North America, the 40 million years ago. Then that continent was on its Nearctic, the Neo-temperate Region, call it what you own for over 30 million years with most of the sub- will, one of the world’s six Avifaunal Regions. oscines on it. In comparison Eurasia has about 1300 breeding While in this long isolation they evolved into many species; Africa south of the Sahara, Southern Asia or families - Manakins, Cotingas, the Sharpbill, the the Oriental Region, and Australasia have about 1600 Royal Flycatchers, the Tityras & Becards, the breeding species each; and South America or the American Flycatchers now split into several families by Neotropic Avifaunal Region has nearly 3000 breeding DNA studies (Piprites, Spadebills, Rush-tyrant, species, maybe more. Why has the Neo-temperate Monectine Flycatchers, and the rest of the Region have so few? Not only does no-one seem to American Flycatchers which still have over 390 know why, but few even seem to know. species today), Crescent-chests, Gnat-eaters, The main reason is that the North American continent Antbirds, Antpittas, Tapaculos, Ant-thrushes, was isolated from the mainstream of avian evolution Leaf-tossers & Miners, Woodcreepers, and the for most of the time that passerines were evolving, the Horneros, Spinetails & Gleaners. All of these sub-oscine passerines evolving mostly on South amazingly diverse families and species evolved in the America, and the oscine passerines evolving on myriad niches that formed and reformed over those Australasia. 30-odd million years yet one characteristic stands out - the inability of most of these families to cross open The story starts in Gondwana with the evolution of spaces especially water. sub-oscines about 140 million years ago; they were passerines in which the syrinx, the vocal organ of birds This characteristic is pertinent to understanding why located at the base of the trachea had not evolved to the sub-oscines, of which there were so many in South the extent that was to be found in later songbirds, the America, failed to colonise North America as South oscines. The sub-oscines probably began evolving on America drifted closer. The exception is the family of western Antarctica and the oscines on the eastern modern American Flycatchers. Antarctica. Fifty-five million years ago, or thereabouts, back in As Gondwana broke up, the earliest families of sub- Gondwana, Australia broke away, carrying with it the oscines, Pittas, Broadbills, and Asities, sailed north ancestors of another newly-evolving group of birds,
Gondwana, 152 Million years ago 94 Million years ago Breaking up - India, then Africa have left.
16 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call the oscines, or modern songbirds. Many new families evolved some of which were the Lyrebirds, Bowerbirds, Grasswrens & Fairywrens, which, like most of the sub-oscines, did not have the ability to cross open water but the next to evolve, the Honeyeater and Australasian Warbler families, exhibited a limited ability to do so. The oscines were poised to change history. Australia became Australasia as bits such as New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji broke off the mother continent and archipelagos formed as a sort of bow- wave on the north side of New Guinea as the continent surged north. This is when oscines really began to radiate as most of the families next to evolve could cross open water and colonise new lands. Which is a critical difference from most families of sub-oscines as oscines were now able to conquer the entire planet. South America and Australasia, both isolated, 14 million Many of the families that evolved with the next wave years ago, each with different sub-orders of passerines evolving on them. of oscines crossed open water to early South-east Asia, and many of them radiated again from there. For example, Orioles and Cuckooshrikes made it all the are found in abundance throughout the Americas, way to Africa, some even back to Australia, but one while other, newer, oscine families such as Icterids, family, the Vireos expanded northward, leaving only American Warblers, Cardinals & Grosbeaks, and one of their species in South-east Asia - the White- Tanagers, have obviously evolved there. bellied Erpornis (was Yuhina). They crossed Bering Strait when the weather conditions at last turned All of these oscine passerine colonisations and new favourable. The oscine passerines had finally family radiations happened within perhaps the last ten arrived into North America. They have now radiated million years for some of the newest American oscine and spread all the way to southern South America. families seem very well established throughout both continents even though the two American continents Icy conditions again prevailed in the northern had not finally joined above water. hemisphere, subsequently the next several new oscine families that evolved and expanded, went west across Between 5 and 3.5 million years ago when they finally southern Asia and into Africa. It wasn’t until the joined above water only the American Flycatchers Shrikes and Crows evolved that new oscine families had colonised North America from the south colonised North America. because all the other families of sub-oscines could not cross open spaces especially open water. Northern hemisphere icy conditions must have prevailed during most of this time with ‘windows’ appearing now and again to let occasional families through the Bering Strait, for several families evolved in and spread through the Old World before the Tit family ‘came over’, in North America called Chickadees, followed after a while by the Swallows, then Nuthatches, and one Northern Treecreeper, the Kinglets, Waxwings, and Dippers. By this time families of oscines were beginning to evolve in North America itself - Wrens, Silky Flycatchers, Mockingbirds & Thrashers - all endemic families to North America except for one of the wren species. Thrushes were probably next to occupy the Americas, and very successfully for they are found all the way down to southern Chile, with Pipits and Fringillid Finches having much the same distribution. Old World The world at present, showing the six Avifaunal Areas. Buntings, disguised now as New World Sparrows,
March 2019 17 BirdLife Northern Queensland
So, the North American continent is relatively depauperate of species because: 1) many oscine families found in the ‘Old World’ did not get anywhere near the Bering Strait because of severe cold periods in the northern hemisphere; 2) most of the South American sub-oscines simply could not cross open water. Even now, apart from the American Flycatchers, they have struggled to spread north - only one species has made it as far as southern USA and a handful of others have accessed the temperate zone of northern Central America which is, of course, full of temperate species that evolved in the north.
And that’s another story. Cardwell Birding Weekend
Saturday / Sunday 27–28 April 2019 References Join us for the day or the weekend, Birding Aus http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/birding- exploring and birding in the Cardwell aus/1997-05/msg00086.html area.
Central American Seaway We will be visiting Cardwell State Forest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_American_Sea (Saturday), and on Sunday, Edmund Kennedy way National Park in the Coastal Wet Tropics Key Biodiversity Area. Corvoid Radiation If time permits, we will go to Murray Falls after https://www.pnas.org/content/108/6/2328.full?sid= that. 03737e49-c4b2-400b-8373-075d8c8b99ff On Saturday, meet at Cardwell at the Coral Sea Encyclopaedia Britannica Park Playground, on Coral Sea Drive, off White St at https://www.britannica.com/science/faunal-region the northern end of Cardwell at 1.30pm. This is a great little birding spot right next to the beach, with “Neotemperate Birds - An Illustrated Guide”, Malthus picnic facilities and toilets. And the playground Anderson (To be published 2019) equipment is fun too. On Sunday we’ll meet at 7.30 am at the corner of Scotese, C. R., 2001. Atlas of Earth History, Volume the Bruce Highway and Cliff Rd turn off to Edmund 1, Paleogeography, PALEOMAP Project, Arlington, Kennedy National Park, north of Cardwell. Texas, 52 pp. http://www.scotese.com/late1.htm For those wishing to stay overnight, Cardwell offers a range of accommodation options. “Where Song Began”, Tim Low For more information, please contact Ceri Pearce https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/boo on 0488 131 581, or Sandra Christensen on 0448 k-review-where-song-began-by-tim-low-20140623- 845 842. We hope you can make it! zsj9c.html Image of the beach at Cardwell courtesy of Paul Bica from Toronto [CC BY 2.0 TiF (Taxonomy in Flux) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] http://jboyd.net/Taxo/List13.html
Malthus Anderson, Jan 2018.
Note: If you would like to provide comment on this article, please do. Direct the comments to the Editor via email: [email protected], who will forward them on to the author for consideration.
18 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
Atherton Tablelands Birdwatchers’ Cabin
The modern self-contained and well-appointed cabin is the only guest accommodation on our 35 acre forest property, which borders onto the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. We offer undisturbed bird and wildlife watching from the cabin’s veranda and along our private forest trails. The Tall Sclerophyll Forest with a diverse understorey of flowering and fruiting shrubs in the ecotone between open woodland and tropical rainforest makes it easy to observe the great number and diversity of birds, mammals and butterflies (species lists on our website). Summers in the tropics are very pleasant here, as we are situated at 1000m elevation. We are close to excellent birding hotspots in a variety of ecosystems (e.g. savannah , tropical rainforest, wetlands). Bromfield Swamp and Mt. Hypipamee NP are 10 min away, Palm Cockatoo bags Hastie’s Swamp 15 min. For more details: Buy one of our Palm Cockatoo calico bags and www.athertontablelandsbirdwatcherscabin.com.au email: [email protected] support BirdLife Northern Queensland as well as Christina and Thomas wage war on plastic. $10. Only available at Ph.: 07 42010993 (Int.+61 7 42010993) 114 Webster Rd, Wondecla Qld 4887 (no mail delivery to this BirdLife Northern Queensland Meetings. address!) Postal address: PO Box 1579, Atherton QLD 4883
Situated 1½ hrs north of Cairns in Tropical North Queensland we offer accommodation in self-contained units and bunkhouse rooms. We also have a small camping area. The property is a rainforest wildlife sanctuary catering for birdwatchers and naturalists. Join us on Facebook We are central to a variety of habitats and provide bird species lists, area maps and Wi-Fi internet access. Guiding is available by arrangement. We offer packages for individuals and small groups.
Carol and Andrew Iles RN6, Mt. Kooyong Road Julatten QLD 4871 Ph: (07) 4094 1263 Email: [email protected] www.birdwatchers.com.au
March 2019 19 BirdLife Northern Queensland
Male Golden Bowerbird at his bower. Image courtesy of Dominic Chaplin
20 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
Warrina Lakes birding
Monthly outings in Warrina Lakes parkland in Innisfail continue in 2019. These are generally on the second Sunday of the month, birding from 7am for 2 hours or so, followed by smoko in the undercover area. On the January 13th outing, seven participants found 45 bird species. Besides the usual suspects, we were thrilled to find two Pacific Baza feeding a juvenile bird with a large grasshopper. Brown-backed Honeyeaters were observed nest building (ongoing). Five Bush Thicknees were found, up from the usual two or three. Three Wandering Whistling-ducks were observed near the lake and five Royal Spoonbill decorated a tall tree top near the lake’s edge. A skulking Black Bittern tried Pacific Baza juvenile (Left) and adult (right). Images courtesy to avoid us, but we had a good view of him in the end. of Greg Dawe. On February 10th the weather was superb. There were eight participants, and 36 taxa identified. While only 17 Pacific Black Ducks were seen (well down on usual high numbers), 12 of them were the cutest ducklings. At one stage we heard continuous calling, and despite searching and searching we could not locate the bird, but suspected a juvenile calling for food. In the end a juvenile Brush Cuckoo was found, being tended by two frantic Brown-backed Honeyeaters who were constantly going backwards and forwards with food for the big baby cuckoo. A Yellow Oriole was observed feeding a juvenile bird, and Metallic Starlings had built nests in a tree where they had not been observed before.
A Masked Lapwing was found with the most poorly Juvenile Brush Cuckoo that was being fed by two Brown- chosen nest site – in between the tracks of the backed Honeyeaters. Image Ceri Pearce miniature railway line, and a Black Bittern graced us with sensational views in the open on one of the lake’s islands, as it searched for food on the water’s edge. Since the wet season commenced in December, there have been fewer water bird species and numbers of those present are down. All data were gathered using the BirdLife Australia 500m radius search methodology and entered into eBird. Please see the events calendar on the last pages of this newsletter for the dates of the monthly Warrina Lakes outings. For more information phone Ceri Pearce on 0488 131 581 or Sandra Christensen on 0448 845 842. We look forward to seeing you there. Report by Ceri Pearce, with special thanks to event co- organiser Sandra Christensen. Crazy Masked Lapwing nest site. Image Ceri Pearce
March 2019 21 BirdLife Northern Queensland
Saturday 29th of June 8 am -10:00 am Creative art courtesy of Kate Tree-planting to save frogs and birds with Kuranda Gorringe-Smith envirocare Meet at Kuranda Envirocare Nursery 284 Myola Rd, Kuranda QLD 4881 https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev ents/ Don’t forget to RSVP Golo and bring your sun smart gear, water sturdy shoes. There will be scones and Tea afterwards.
Saturday 27th of July 8 am -10:00 am BirdLife Australia Curlew counting Cairns Cemetery Stickybeaks Family Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev ents/ For enquiries and to RSVP, contact Golo: Meet at Little Street Park Mobile 0467 444 114 or [email protected] Don’t forget to RSVP Golo and bring your sun smart gear, water and sturdy shoes. There will be scones and Tea afterwards. THERE’S A BIG YEAR PLANNED FOR THE KIDS Saturday 31st of August 2 pm – 4pm Shells at Ellis Beach Saturday 30th of March 3 pm - 6pm https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev Waving the waders goodbye Talk (3-4:30 pm) and Birding ents/ 4:30-6pm Meet at Parking Lot Meet at Cairns City Library or Southern observation deck on Esplanade at 4:30pm. Don’t forget to RSVP Golo and bring your sun smart gear, water and sturdy shoes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev ents/ Saturday 28th of September 5 pm to 7 pm Don’t forget to RSVP Golo and bring your sun smart gear, water and sturdy shoes. Spotlighting at Centenary Lakes
https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev Saturday 27th of April 5 pm – 7 pm ents/ Of Bats and Trees with Maree Treadwell Kerr Meet at Chinese Pagoda Meet at Cairns City Library Don’t forget to RSVP Golo and bring your torch, Mozzie repellent, water and sturdy shoes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev ents/ Saturday 26th of October 10 am -12:00 am Don’t forget to RSVP Golo. Bird week count Esplanade maybe sausage sizzle with
branch Saturday 25th of May 10 am -11:30 am https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev Indigenous Plant uses led by Gerry Turpin ents/ Meet at JCU E2 building. Don’t forget to RSVP Golo and bring your sun smart gear, https://www.facebook.com/groups/362094987191145/ev water sturdy shoes. ents/
Don’t forget to RSVP Golo and bring your sun smart gear No stickybeaks November and December and water.
22 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
Noticeboard Activities
From the Editor Check out the BirdLife Northern Queensland activities A big thank you to all of our awesome contributors. for 2019 in the event calendar below. A regularly updated list is also available on our website Please do keep sending your articles and images in http://birdlifenq.org/. to [email protected] Do come and join us. Please note, there is no need to format a document (combine images and text) when they are sent in. You do not have to be a BirdLife member or an expert Separate text and images are easier for the editor birder. Most of us are still learning and keen to share to place into the newsletter template. the fun.
Newsletter deadlines for 2019 Everybody is welcome. For more information about an event, contact the ➢ April 10th for the May/June Edition leader listed, or check the website for details: ➢ July 10th for the September Edition http://birdlifenq.org/, or join us on Facebook ➢ October 10th for the December Edition In the event of a severe weather warning or other unforeseen circumstances, events may be cancelled at BirdLife Northern Queensland Newsletter short notice. Contact the event organiser to confirm ‘Contact Call’ events or monitor our Facebook page or emails for updates. [email protected] www.birdlifenq.org We look forward to seeing you there!
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and Peter Valentine collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Convenor Based mainly at and around the bird hide, members will Hastie’s Swamp, For more information, survey the birds present at the wetlands and count the Friday Atherton please contact me on 7:00– numbers of each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds 1 March Meet at Hasties 4096 6171, or Martin 9:00am in the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. We hope 2019 Swamp Hide car Willis 4096 6581, or to follow the seasonal changes through the year. We'll park email meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car park on Koci Road. Start [email protected]. time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at au. around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Tom Collis Cairns Area Coordinator Tea and coffee will be Stratford Library Saturday CAIRNS TALK provided. For more 11 Kamerunga 2 March 7:30pm Birding Paradise – Ecuador information, please Road Stratford 2019 Dr Rolf Jensen contact me Cairns on 0401 783 795 or email [email protected].
Centenary Lakes, SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND CENTENARY LAKES Tom Collis Cairns You're invited to join our friends at Cairns Birders Group Cairns Area Coordinator Meet at the for a morning excursion around the lakes where up to 50 For more information, Sunday Chinese 6:30– species are regularly recorded. We'll meet at the Chinese please contact me on 3 March Friendship Garden 9:00am Friendship Garden near the freshwater lake on 0401 783 795 or 2019 near the Greenslopes Street, Cairns. Bring sun smart gear, water, email motom4@bigpond freshwater lake mozzie repellent, binoculars/scope, field guide, and .com, or Andy Anderson on Greenslopes morning ‘smoko’. on 0476 167 713. Street, Cairns.
March 2019 23 BirdLife Northern Queensland
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Ceri Pearce Warrina Lakes, You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Cassowary Coast Area Innisfail social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in Coordinator Meet in the Sunday the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the corner For more information, please 7:00– carpark in Park 10 March of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After birding we'll contact me on 0488 131 581, or 9:30am St, off the 2019 have morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). Sandra Christensen on 0448 corner of Emily It’s the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and 845 842, or email and Charles St, waterproof shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / [email protected] Innisfail scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellant. . Peter Valentine 2019 AGM Convenor Thursday Followed by a special presentation: 7:30– For more information, please 14 March Malanda Hotel Cooktown Birds – The Jewel In The Crown of North 9:30pm contact me on 4096 6171 or 2019 Queensland?? email Kath Shurcliff [email protected]. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Cairns Bring the kids! Meet at Cairns You're invited to join us to wave the waders Golo Maurer City Library or goodbye and a 500 m area search for Birdata. We'll Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday 3:00– southern meet at the Cairns City Library at 3:00pm, or the For more information, please 30 March 6:00pm observation southern observation deck on the Esplanade at contact me on 0467 444 114 or 2019 deck on the 4:30pm. Please bring your sun smart gear, water email Esplanade at and snacks, mozzie repellent, and [email protected]. 4:30pm binoculars/scope. Talk (3:00 –4:30pm) and birding 4:30–6:00pm. Cairns City Tom Collis WAVE THE WADERS GOODBYE Saturday Library Meeting Cairns Area Coordinator 3:00– Shorebird Identification Workshop at the Cairns 30 March Room 1 followed For more information, please 6:00pm City Library followed by shorebird viewing on the 2019 by Cairns contact me on 0401 783 795 or Cairns Esplanade. Esplanade email [email protected]. Peter Valentine Convenor TABLELANDS TALK For more information, please Hosted by Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group and Thursday contact me on 4096 6171, or BirdLife Northern Queensland 4 April 7pm Malanda Hotel Martin Willis 4096 6581, or Special guest Professor Steve Williams will talk 2019 email about the ‘Effects of climate change on wildlife in [email protected]. We the Wet Tropics’ look forward to seeing you there! HASTIES SWAMP MONT HLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Peter Valentine Hastie’s Swamp, the bird hide, members will survey the birds Convenor Friday Atherton present at the wetlands and count the numbers of For more information, please 7:00– 5 April Meet at Hasties each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds in the contact me on 4096 6171, or 9:00am 2019 Swamp Hide car adjacent fringing vegetation are included. We hope Martin Willis 4096 6581, or park to follow the seasonal changes through the year. email Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a [email protected]. cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Tom Collis Cairns Area Coordinator Stratford Library Saturday CAIRNS TALK Tea and coffee will be provided. 11 Kamerunga 6 April 7:30pm Progress with Qld Gouldian Finch Research For more information, please Road Stratford 2019 Dr Ray Pierce and Patrick De Geest contact me Cairns on 0401 783 795 or email [email protected]. Centenary Lakes, Cairns Tom Collis SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND CENTENARY LAKES Meet at the Cairns Area Coordinator Sunday You're invited to join our friends at Cairns Birders Chinese For more information, please 7 6:30– Group for a morning excursion around the lakes Friendship contact me on 0401 783 795 or April 20 9:00am where up to 50 species are regularly recorded. Garden near the email [email protected], 19 Bring sun smart gear, water, mozzie repellent, freshwater lake or Andy Anderson on 0476 167 binoculars/scope, field guide, and morning ‘smoko’. on Greenslopes 713. Street, Cairns.
24 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Ceri Pearce You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Cassowary Coast Area Warrina Lakes, social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in Coordinator Innisfail the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the corner For more information, Sunday 7:00– Meet in the carpark of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After birding we'll please contact me on 14 April 9:30am in Park St, off the have morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). 0488 131 581, or Sandra 2019 corner of Emily and It’s the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and Christensen on 0448 845 Charles St, Innisfail waterproof shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / 842, or email scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellant. Please birdlifenqnewsletter@gm note this is in the middle of school holidays. ail.com. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Golo Maurer Bring the kids! Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday You're invited to join us for an afternoon “Of Bats For more information, 5:00– Meet at Cairns City 27 April and Trees” with Maree Treadwell Kerr and a 500 m please contact me on 7:00pm Library 2019 area search for Birdata. We'll meet at the Cairns City 0467 444 114 or email Library. Please bring your sun smart gear, water and [email protected] snacks, mozzie repellent, and binoculars/scope. .au. Cardwell Meet at the Coral Ceri Pearce Sea Park SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND CARDWELL Cassowary Coast Area Playground at Join us for the day or the weekend, exploring the Coordinator Saturday 1.30pm on Cardwell area. We will be visiting Cardwell State For more information, /Sunday Saturday and/or Forest (Saturday), and on Sunday we will visit please contact me on 27–28 7.30 am at the Edmund Kennedy National Park in the Coastal Wet 0488 131 581, or Sandra April corner of the Bruce Tropics Key Biodiversity Area, and if time and energy Christensen on 0448 845 2019 Highway and Cliff permits, Murray Falls. Further details to be 842, or email Rd turn off to announced. birdlifenqnewsletter@gm Edmund Kennedy ail.com. National Park on Sunday HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and Peter Valentine around the swamp. Based mainly at and around the Convenor Hastie’s Swamp, bird hide, members will survey the birds present at For more information, Friday Atherton the wetlands and count the numbers of each species. please contact me on 7:00– 3 May Meet at Hasties Both waterbirds and bush birds in the adjacent 4096 6171, or Martin 9:00am 2019 Swamp Hide car fringing vegetation are included. We hope to follow Willis 4096 6581, or park the seasonal changes through the year. We'll meet email at Hasties Swamp Hide car park on Koci Road. Start [email protected]. time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at au. around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Saturday / Monday 2019 BLNQ CAMPOUT 4, 5, 6 Details to be confirmed. May 2019 Martin Willis Tablelands Area Coordinator TABLELANDS TALK Thursday For more information, 7:30– Science is not a dirty word: Recent discoveries from 9 May Malanda Hotel please contact me on 9:30pm invasive bird research that helps conservation 2019 4096 6581 or email Dr Steve Murphy [email protected], or Peter Valentine on 4096 6171. Ceri Pearce SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Cassowary Coast Area You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Warrina Lakes, Coordinator social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in Innisfail For more information, Sunday the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the corner 7:00– Meet in the carpark please contact me on 12 May of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After birding we'll 9:30am in Park St, off the 0488 131 581, or Sandra 2019 have morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). corner of Emily and Christensen on 0448 845 It’s the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and Charles St, Innisfail 842, or email waterproof shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / birdlifenqnewsletter@gm scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellant. ail.com.
March 2019 25 BirdLife Northern Queensland
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
Kath Shurcliff Cooktown Area 2019 GRASSWREN SURVEYS Coordinator 13-26 Calton Hills, near Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswren surveys For more information, May Mt Isa Establish 50 long-term monitoring sites on this and please contact me on 2019 nearby properties. Details to be confirmed. 4069 6595 or email [email protected] .au. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Golo Maurer Bring the kids! Smithfield Stickybeak Coordinator You're invited to join us for a morning “Indigenous Saturday James Cook For more information, 10:00– Plant Uses” led by Gerry Turpin and a 500 m area 25 May University please contact me on 11:30am search for Birdata. We'll meet at the JCU E2 building, 2019 Meet at JCU E2 0467 444 114 or email James Cook University Smithfield. Please bring your building [email protected] sun smart gear, water and snacks, mozzie repellent, .au. and binoculars/scope. ECOFIESTA Tom Collis BLNQ will have a stall at the annual ECOfiesta event Cairns Area Coordinator Sunday (organised by the Cairns Regional Council). Members 10:00am Cairns Cruise- For more information, 2 June will be needed to assist in setting up and running the –4:00pm liner Terminal please contact me on 2019 stall throughout the day. Large numbers of visitors 0401 783 795 or email attend ECOfiesta and it is a great opportunity to [email protected]. raise our profile in Cairns and district. HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and Peter Valentine around the swamp. Based mainly at and around the Convenor Hastie’s Swamp, bird hide, members will survey the birds present at For more information, Friday Atherton the wetlands and count the numbers of each species. please contact me on 7:00– 7 June Meet at Hasties Both waterbirds and bush birds in the adjacent 4096 6171, or Martin 9:00am 2019 Swamp Hide car fringing vegetation are included. We hope to follow Willis 4096 6581, or park the seasonal changes through the year. We'll meet email at Hasties Swamp Hide car park on Koci Road. Start [email protected]. time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at au. around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Ceri Pearce SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Warrina Lakes, Cassowary Coast Area You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Innisfail Coordinator social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in Meet in the For more information, Sunday the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the corner 7:00– carpark in Park please contact me on 9 June of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After birding we'll 9:30am St, off the corner 0488 131 581, or Sandra 2019 have morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). of Emily and Christensen on 0448 845 It’s the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and Charles St, 842, or email waterproof shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / Innisfail birdlifenqnewsletter@gm scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellant. ail.com. Ceri Pearce Bramston Beach Cassowary Coast Area Area Coordinator Meet at Bramston SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND BRAMSTON BEACH For more information, Sunday Beach, at Join us as we visit Russell River National Park, please contact me on 23 June 7:30am Bramston Beach birding in the Coastal Wet Tropics Key Biodiversity 0488 131 581, or Sandra 2019 Rd car park, next Area. Bring morning tea and picnic lunch. Christensen on 0448 845 to the parks for 842, or email potential car birdlifenqnewsletter@gm pooling ail.com. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Kuranda Bring the kids! Golo Maurer Meet at Kuranda You're invited to join us for a morning of “Tree- Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday Envirocare planting to save frogs and birds” with Kuranda For more information, 8:00– 29 June Nursery at 284 Envirocare and a 500 m area search for Birdata. please contact me on 10:00am 2019 Myola Rd, We'll meet at the Kuranda Envirocare Nursery. 0467 444 114 or Kuranda QLD Please bring your sun smart gear, water and snacks, email golo.maurer@birdl 4881 mozzie repellent, and binoculars/scope. There will be ife.org.au scones and tea afterwards.
26 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
3–5 July 2019 AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL https://birdlife.org.au/get- Darwin 2019 CONFERENCE involved/whats-on/aoc/ HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Peter Valentine the bird hide, members will survey the birds Hastie’s Swamp, Convenor present at the wetlands and count the numbers Friday Atherton For more information, please 7:00– of each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds 5 July Meet at Hasties contact me on 4096 6171, or 9:00am in the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. 2019 Swamp Hide car Martin Willis 4096 6581, or We hope to follow the seasonal changes through park email the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car [email protected]. park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Martin Willis Tablelands Area Coordinator TABLELANDS TALK For more information, please Thursday 7:30– Galapagos – Getting there, cruising, staying and, Malanda Hotel contact me on 4096 6581 or 11 July 9:30pm photographing email [email protected], Dr Cliff Frith or Peter Valentine on 4096 6171. SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Ceri Pearce Warrina Lakes, You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Cassowary Coast Area Innisfail social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet Coordinator Meet in the in the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the Sunday For more information, please 7:00– carpark in Park corner of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After 14 July contact me on 0488 131 581, 9:30am St, off the corner birding we'll have morning tea at the lakes (BYO 2019 or Sandra Christensen on of Emily and morning tea). It’s the very wet tropics so bring 0448 845 842, or email Charles St, an umbrella and waterproof shoes, just in case. [email protected] Innisfail Also binoculars / scope, sunscreen, hat, and m. insect repellant. Mission Beach Area Ceri Pearce SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND MISSION BEACH Meet at Mission Cassowary Coast Area Saturday Join us for the day or the weekend, exploring the Beach C4 Coordinator and Mission Beach area. We will be visiting local Environment For more information, please Sunday national park areas and a couple of local Centre carpark, contact me on 0488 131 581, 20-21 favourite spots, birding in the Coastal Wet 2.30pm Saturday, or Sandra Christensen on July Tropics Key Biodiversity Area. Join us for a social and 7.30am 0448 845 842, or email 2019 dinner on Saturday night at a local venue (at own Sunday at the [email protected] cost). Further details to be announced. Licuala Forest day m. use area. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Bring the kids! Golo Maurer You're invited to join us for a morning of “Curlew Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday 8:00– Cairns Cemetery counting at Cairns Cemetery” and a 500 m area For more information, please 27 July 10:00a Meet at Little search for Birdata. We'll meet at the Little Street contact me on 0467 444 114 2019 m Street Park Park near Cairns Cemetery. Please bring your sun or email smart gear, water and snacks, mozzie repellent, [email protected]. and binoculars/scope. There will be scones and tea afterwards. HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Peter Valentine the bird hide, members will survey the birds Hastie’s Swamp, Convenor present at the wetlands and count the numbers Friday Atherton For more information, please 7:00– of each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds 2 August Meet at Hasties contact me on 4096 6171, or 9:00am in the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. 2019 Swamp Hide car Martin Willis 4096 6581, or We hope to follow the seasonal changes through park email the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car [email protected]. park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’.
March 2019 27 BirdLife Northern Queensland
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
Stratford Tom Collis Library Cairns Area Coordinator Saturday 11 CAIRNS TALK For more information, please 3 August 7:30pm Kamerunga Details to be confirmed. contact me 2019 Road Tea and coffee will be provided. on 0401 783 795 or email Stratford, [email protected]. Cairns Tom Collis Sunday Cairns Area Coordinator SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND CAIRNS 4 August For more information, please Details to be confirmed. 2019 contact me on 0401 783 795 or email [email protected]. Martin Willis Tablelands Area Coordinator Saturday TABLELANDS TALK 7:00– For more information, please 10 August Lake Barrine Topic to be confirmed. 10:00am contact me on 4096 6581 or 2019 Alan Gillanders email [email protected], or Alan Gillanders on 4095 3784. Warrina SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Lakes, You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Ceri Pearce Innisfail social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet Cassowary Coast Area Meet in the in the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the Coordinator Sunday 7:00– carpark in corner of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After For more information, please 11 August 9:30am Park St, off birding we'll have morning tea at the lakes (BYO contact me on 0488 131 581, or 2019 the corner of morning tea). It’s the very wet tropics so bring Sandra Christensen on 0448 Emily and an umbrella and waterproof shoes, just in case. 845 842, or email Charles St, Also binoculars / scope, sunscreen, hat, and [email protected] Innisfail insect repellant. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Bring the kids! Golo Maurer You're invited to join us for an afternoon of 2:00– Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday Ellis Beach “Shells at Ellis Beach” and a 500 m area search 4:00pm For more information, please 31 August Meet at for Birdata. We'll meet at the parking lot at Ellis contact me on 0467 444 114 or 2019 Parking Lot Beach. Please bring your sun smart gear, water email and snacks, mozzie repellent, and [email protected]. binoculars/scope. There will be scones and tea afterwards. HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Hastie’s Peter Valentine the bird hide, members will survey the birds Swamp, Convenor Friday present at the wetlands and count the numbers Atherton For more information, please 6 7:00– of each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds Meet at contact me on 4096 6171, or September 9:00am in the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. Hasties Martin Willis 4096 6581, or 2019 We hope to follow the seasonal changes through Swamp Hide email the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car car park [email protected]. park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Atherton 2019 ANNUAL CRANE COUNT David Merrall Saturday Tablelands 12:00–2:00pm – Volunteers needed Crane Count Coordinator 7 Meet at 3:00pm – Meet at Hastie’s Swamp bird hide for Various For more information, please September Hastie’s briefing contact me on 0458 952 784 or 2019 Swamp Hide 4:00–6:30pm – Counting at crane roosts email [email protected]. car park 7:00pm – Dinner at Malanda Pub Warrina SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Lakes, You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Ceri Pearce Innisfail social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet Cassowary Coast Area Sunday Meet in the in the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the Coordinator 8 7:00– carpark in corner of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After For more information, please September 9:30am Park St, off birding we'll have morning tea at the lakes (BYO contact me on 0488 131 581, or 2019 the corner of morning tea). It’s the very wet tropics so bring Sandra Christensen on 0448 Emily and an umbrella and waterproof shoes, just in case. 845 842, or email Charles St, Also binoculars / scope, sunscreen, hat, and [email protected] Innisfail insect repellant.
28 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
Martin Willis Thursday Tablelands Area Coordinator 12 7:30– Malanda TABLELANDS TALK For more information, please September 9:30pm Hotel Details to be confirmed. contact me on 4096 6581 or 2019 email [email protected], or Peter Valentine on 4096 6171. STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Bring the kids! Centenary Golo Maurer You're invited to join us for an evening of Saturday Lakes, Stickybeak Coordinator “Spotlighting at Centenary Lakes” and a 500 m 28 5:00– Cairns For more information, please area search for Birdata. We'll meet at the Chinese September 7:00pm Meet at contact me on 0467 444 114 or Pagoda in Centenary Lakes. Please bring your 2019 Chinese email torch, water and snacks, mozzie repellent, and Pagoda [email protected]. binoculars/scope. There will be scones and tea afterwards. Tom Collis SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND EAST TRINITY Cairns Area Coordinator September Dennis Walls / Cairns Birders / BLNQ. For more information, please 2019 Details to be confirmed (8 or 15 September)? contact me on 0401 783 795 or email [email protected] HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Hastie’s the bird hide, members will survey the birds Peter Valentine Swamp, present at the wetlands and count the numbers Convenor Friday Atherton 7:00– of each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds For more information, please 4 October Meet at 9:00am in the adjacent fringing vegetation are included. contact me on 4096 6171, or 2019 Hasties We hope to follow the seasonal changes through Martin Willis 4096 6581, or email Swamp Hide the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car [email protected]. car park park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Stratford Tom Collis Library Cairns Area Coordinator Saturday 11 Tea and coffee will be provided. CAIRNS TALK 5 October 7:30pm Kamerunga For more information, please Details to be confirmed. 2019 Road contact me Stratford, on 0401 783 795 or email Cairns [email protected]. Tom Collis Sunday Cairns Area Coordinator SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND CAIRNS 4 October For more information, please Details to be confirmed. 2019 contact me on 0401 783 795 or email [email protected]. Martin Willis Tablelands Area Coordinator Saturday TABLELANDS TALK 7:00– For more information, please 12 October Tinaroo Topic to be confirmed. 9:00am contact me on 4096 6581 or 2019 Alan Gillanders email [email protected], or Alan Gillanders on 4095 3784. Warrina SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Lakes, You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Ceri Pearce Innisfail social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet Cassowary Coast Area Meet in the in the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the Coordinator Sunday 7:00– carpark in corner of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After For more information, please 13 October 9:30am Park St, off birding we'll have morning tea at the lakes (BYO contact me on 0488 131 581, or 2019 the corner of morning tea). It’s the very wet tropics so bring Sandra Christensen on 0448 845 Emily and an umbrella and waterproof shoes, just in case. 842, or email Charles St, Also binoculars / scope, sunscreen, hat, and [email protected]. Innisfail insect repellant.
March 2019 29 BirdLife Northern Queensland
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
STICKYBEAKS FAMILY GROUP Bring the kids! Golo Maurer You're invited to join us for a “Bird week Count at Stickybeak Coordinator Saturday 10:00– the Esplanade” and a 500 m area search for For more information, 26 October 12:00 Birdata. We'll meet at the southern observation please contact me on 0467 2019 am deck on the Esplanade. Please bring your sun 444 114 or email smart gear, water and snacks, mozzie repellent, [email protected]. and binoculars/scope. There will be scones and tea afterwards. Monday – Sunday https://birdlife.org.au/get- 21–27 National 2019 NATIONAL BIRD WEEK involved/whats-on/bird- October week 2019 Monday – Sunday https://aussiebirdcount.org. 21–27 National 2019 AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT au/ October 2019 Saturday / Sunday www.birdlifetwitchathon.org. 26–27 National 2019 NATIONAL TWITCHATHON au October 2019 HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Hastie’s Peter Valentine the bird hide, members will survey the birds Swamp, Convenor Friday present at the wetlands and count the numbers of Atherton For more information, 1 7:00– each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds in the Meet at please contact me on 4096 November 9:00am adjacent fringing vegetation are included. We hope Hasties 6171, or Martin Willis 4096 2019 to follow the seasonal changes through the year. Swamp Hide 6581, or email We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car park on Koci car park [email protected]. Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’. Warrina Ceri Pearce SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Lakes, Cassowary Coast Area You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of Innisfail Coordinator social birding around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in Sunday Meet in the For more information, the Warrina Lakes carpark in Park St, off the corner 10 7:00– carpark in please contact me on 0488 of Emily and Charles St, Innisfail. After birding we'll November 9.30am Park St, off 131 581, or Sandra have morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). 2019 the corner of Christensen on 0448 845 It’s the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and Emily and 842, or email waterproof shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / Charles St, [email protected] scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellant. Innisfail om. Julia Hazel Synchronised PIP Count 16 Coordinator 4:00– Any coastal November 2019 SYNCHRONISED REGIONAL PIP COUNT For more information, 6:30pm area 2019 please contact me on 0407 431 382 or email [email protected]. Martin Willis Tablelands Area Coordinator For more information, Thursday TABLELANDS TALK 7:30– please contact me on 4096 7 Malanda Hotel Birds of Finland 9:30pm 6581 or email November Harry Nyström [email protected], or Peter Valentine on 4096 6171.
30 Contact Call Volume 8 Number 1 Contact Call
BirdLife Northern Queensland 2019 Events
Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader
Saturday GOLDEN BOWERBIRD GROUP SURVEY, MT and LEWIS Dominic Chaplin Sunday Mt Lewis, Please contact Dominic Chaplin for more details at dominic@pinecreekpictures. 23-24 Julatten area. [email protected] if you are com.au November interested to come along. 2019 Saturday and Sunday www.birdlife.org.au/get- 30 National 2019 CHALLENGE COUNT involved/whats- November on/challenge-count/ to 1 December 2019 Warrina SOCIAL BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Ceri Pearce Lakes, You're invited to join us for our Cassowary Coast Cassowary Coast Area Innisfail Christmas and a couple of hours of social birding Coordinator Meet in the around Warrina Lakes. We'll meet in the Warrina For more information, Sunday 1 7:00– carpark in Lakes carpark in Park St, off the corner of Emily please contact me on 0488 December 9:30am Park St, off and Charles St, Innisfail. After birding we'll have 131 581, or Sandra 2019 the corner of morning tea at the lakes (BYO morning tea). It’s Christensen on 0448 845 Emily and the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and 842, or email Charles St, waterproof shoes, just in case. Also binoculars / [email protected] Innisfail scope, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellant. om. HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding and collecting data on the birdlife in and Peter Valentine around the swamp. Based mainly at and around Hastie’s Convenor the bird hide, members will survey the birds Swamp, For more information, Friday present at the wetlands and count the numbers of Atherton please contact me on 4096 6 7:00– each species. Both waterbirds and bush birds in the Meet at 6171, or Martin Willis 4096 December 9:00am adjacent fringing vegetation are included. We hope Hasties 6581, or email 2019 to follow the seasonal changes through the year. Swamp Hide [email protected]. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car park on Koci car park We look forward to seeing Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to finish you there! with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and morning ‘smoko’.
March 2019 31