Contact Call

Newsletter of BirdLife Northern Volume 9 Number 4 December 2020

Can you guess what this is? It’s a Pale Yellow Robin. But the images to the left are of a leucistic Pale Yellow Robin recently found at Yungaburra. What does leucistic (or leucism) mean? Leucism, or leukism, is an abnormal condition caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigments from reaching some—or sometimes all—of a bird's feathers. The intensity of leucism varies with a bird's genetic makeup, but the skin and eyes retain their normal pigment and color. with leucism can have: White coloured feathers in areas where the bird should not be white Paler overall plumage colour that looks faint, patchy or bleached Overall white plumage with little or no color visible.

Leucism can be inherited. The extent and location of the paler colouration can vary between adults and their young, and can also skip generations if leucistic genes are recessive. For more information go to British Trust of Ornithology

For comparison, a normal Pale Yellow Robin. Leucistic Pale Yellow Robin. Images by Gary Wilson Image by Ian Montgomery, Birdway.com

BirdLife Northern Queensland

In this issue…

25th Anniversary of the formation of Birdlife Northern Queensland ………. page 4 Keith and Lindsay Fisher report on the big weekend of activities at Malanda, held in recognition of the 25 years since the formation of BNQ.

BirdLife Northern Queensland Buff-breasted Button-quail Project Update ………. page 7 Pat Webster updates us on his research and reveals the last verified sighting of Buff- breasted Button-quail (BbBQ) was in the 1920’s from Coen. New insights about Painted and Chestnut-backed Button-quail may help our understanding of the

conservation needs of BbBQ.

Conservation Conservation Matters by Peter Valentine ………. page 8 Matters BirdLife Northern Queensland’s Conservation Coordinator, Peter Valentine provides an update on the Inquiry into Australia’s Faunal Extinction Crisis and alerts us to a range of other conservation matters, relevant to our region.

Story of the Opalton by Lindsay Fisher ………. page 9 It’s officially, Amytornis rowleyi – the Opalton Grasswren, now has species status. Learn all about it in this report by Linday Fisher.

Tooth-billed Bowerbirds, Mt Elliot, Townsville ………. page 10 The bird life of the largely inaccessible Mt Elliot, south of Townsville, is revealed in Dominic Chaplin’s update on the BirdLife Northern Queensland Bowerbird Monitoring Project.

Eungella Bird Week ………. page 13 What is it like to attend Eungella Bird Week? Read this article by Ceri Pearce to learn about Eungella , Eungella Bird Week and how you can get involved as a citizen scientist.

A late dry season visit to Rinyirru/Lakefield National Park ………. page 18 Peter Valentine recounts his search for the white-bellied subspecies of Crimson Finch, and shares his joy at finding this special finch, amongst other special birds at Rinyirru/Lakefield National Park. Note, there is also some sad news about failed breeding success in the endangered Red Goshawk.

Also Mount Isa News by Rex Whitehead Flood the lifeblood for Gulf of Book review: Celebrating ….. page 21 Carpentaria as researchers find Australia’s Magnificent Wildlife: nutrient levels lacking ….. page 25 the art of Daryl Dickson ….. Earliest fossils of giant-size bony- page 27 toothed birds from the Eocene of Another property in the Gulf Seymour Island, Antarctica ….. recognised as critical shorebird Book Review: An Australian page 22 pitstop on the East Asian- Birding Year ….. page 28 Australasian Flyway ….. page 26 Taking action to help protect our 2021 Activities ….. page 32 shorebirds ….. page 23

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Our 25th anniversary celebration was a success. I From the Convenor think everyone enjoyed socialising, catching up and making new friends, relaxed birding and reminiscing. The festive season seems to have crept up on me this Read about it on page 4. Congratulations to our event year, which means this newsletter is later than usual. organisers on a brilliant job: Sandra Christensen, As I write, the wet season is building and some storms Lindsay Fisher and Wayne Young, and also to the have arrived. “Spring” is over but the breeding season volunteers who assisted them, Keith, Gary and Robyn, continues. Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers have Peter and Rob. Special thanks to Alan Gillanders for returned amongst the other summer migrants leading the spotlighting and early morning birding. including Torresian (Pied) Imperial Pigeon, Channel- The BirdLife Northern Queensland committee has been billed Cuckoo, Dollarbird and Metallic Starling. Further busy reinvigorating our activities calendar. We’ll have north, more exotic species are arriving such as Papuan some great social events coming up next year (see the Pitta and Black-winged Monarch. The heat and last page of the newsletter for a preview). humidity may be here, but if you get out early in the morning, the birding is rewarding and energizing. As this year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families and friends Despite the impacts of coronavirus this year, all the best of the holiday season. I hope that you will miraculously we’ve managed to complete our bird have the chance to join us on one of our activities or monitoring projects for 2020 (the annual crane count, Torresian Imperial Pigeon counts, Bowerbird meetings in the new year. Better still, feel free to monitoring, monitoring for breeding activity in Beach contact us if you have ideas and/or would like to Stone-curlews, Gouldian Finch surveys, surveys for become more involved and volunteer. Carpentarian and Kalkadoon , as well as cheers Ceri Pearce, Convenor surveys in Key Biodiversity Areas). Organising and completing these activities can be a challenge in any year, but to adapt and complete them in 2020 – they are major milestones worth celebrating! Bravo to our volunteer organisers and the teams supporting them.

BirdLife Northern Queensland Committee

Convenor Ceri Pearce Email: [email protected] Phone: 0488131581

Secretary and Communications Renee Cassels Email: [email protected] Coordinator

Treasurer Lindsay Fisher Email : [email protected]

Cairns Area Coordinator and Website Mikey Kudo Email: [email protected] Phone: 0402343610 Manager

Cape York Area Coordinator and Kath Shurcliff Email [email protected] Phone: 07 4069 6595 Grasswren Survey Coordinator

Cassowary Coast Area Coordinator Sandra Christensen Email: [email protected] Phone: 0448 845 842

Tablelands Area Coordinator Graham Harrington Email: [email protected]

Stickybeak Coordinator Golo Maurer Email: [email protected]

Project Technical Support Ray Pierce Email: [email protected]

Conservation Coordinator Peter Valentine Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 40966171

Committee member Wayne Young Email: [email protected]

Committee member and Birds in Pippy Cannon Phone 0438645293 Schools Coordinator

Committee member and Assistant Gary Wilson Email: [email protected] Newsletter Editor

Newsletter Editor Ceri Pearce Email: [email protected] Phone: 0488131581

December 2020 3 BirdLife Northern Queensland

25th Anniversary of the formation of BirdLife Northern Queensland

By Keith and Lindsay Fisher.

Short History:- It was in 1994 that about 60 Royal Australasian Ornithological Union members responded to a call to form a branch of this national organisation. They met at Murray Falls National Park, near Cardwell, to discuss the feasibility of forming such a group. There was lots of enthusiasm and volunteers stepped forward to start the process and by the end of 1994 there was a full committee with Graham Harrington, as Convenor, at the helm. The first newsletter Contact Call went out on 1st March 1995 (issue Emu – newsletters were named after birds) and we were on the way with Birders of North Queensland. Name and boundary changes have occurred over the years, but Contact Call remains as our newsletter. We still have a vibrant and hardworking committee Eastern Yellow Robin plus volunteers involved in various projects and this weekend was an example of a coordinated effort to revegetated Peterson Creek going as far as Lloyd’s recognise the past 25 years. Suspension Bridge. Birds seen along the way included Azure Kingfisher, a pair of Pacific Baza soaring The weekend was based in Malanda and started Friday overhead, Eastern Yellow Robin building a nest and afternoon with a meet and greet for those staying at seven species of (eBird). the Malanda Falls Caravan Park. The evening saw us gathering at the Malanda Falls Conservation Park to Also seen were a pair of Eastern Water Dragon, a meet Alan Gillanders, a long term member and former Platypus and a Green Ringtail Possum. convenor. Alan, owner of Alan’s Wildlife Tours, had In the afternoon we split up into two groups for walks offered to take us spotlighting along the edge of the in the Malanda Falls Conservation Park, one group conservation park and we were not disappointed. We walked the northern track and the other the 1km loop saw several Coppery Brushtail Possum (NQ sub- track. We heard more species than we saw, but there species of Common Brushtail Possum), Green Ringtail was plenty of Grey-headed Robins plus White-throated Possum, Red-legged Pademelon and a Lumholtz’s Tree Treecreepers, Yellow-throated Scrubwrens, Bower’s Kangaroo. Thank you Alan. Shrike-thrushes and Spectacled Monarchs amongst Saturday morning was an early start at the Cathedral others (eBird). Fig Tree, 6.00am. This was again led by Alan Saturday evening was the social highlight of the Gillanders. The dawn chorus was in full swing when the weekend, at the Malanda Hotel for dinner and drinks, ten early morning birders arrived. Chowchilla vocal whilst being entertained with images of the groups wars across the walking track kept us entertained until activities on the screen. After dinner our MC for the we were distracted by the numerous other rainforest evening, Wayne, did a great job helping everything run species. Other wet tropic specialists seen or heard smoothly introducing the various speakers who were Victoria’s Riflebird, Macleay’s Honeyeater, Bridled reminisced about the previous 25 years. Graham Honeyeater, Grey-headed Robin, Pied Monarch and Harrington, who has been actively involved over the Bower’s Shrike-thrush. Other stunners were Australian groups 25 year history, summarised both the social King Parrot and Yellow-breasted Boatbill. Red-backed and scientific achievements of the members. Ceri Fairywrens jumped around our feet at he carpark. All Pearce, our current convenor, welcomed everyone, up, we recorded (seen or heard) 50 species (eBird). especially those who had travelled hundreds of Not a bad effort for a little over two hours birding. kilometres to celebrate, and acknowledged the Later in the morning we met up in Yungaburra at the acheivements of the original group members and the Platypus Viewing car park for a walk along the huge area they effectively covered (an area greater than the size of Germany).

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Kath Shurcliff, former convenor, spoke about the Scarlet Honeyeater, Bower’s Shrike-thrush, Yellow- merger of what was then Birds Australia and the Bird breasted Boatbill and a Pied Monarch. The walk was Observers Club of Australia in 2012 which resulted in followed by morning smoko, where a pair of Wedge- our group’s coverage shrinking from Mackay back tail Eagle soared over and an immature Golden north to Cardwell. Peter Valentine, former convenor, Whistler provided a few identification problems. Also spoke of the importance of continuing to have a strong seen was a Green Ringtail Possum with a baby. committee and a special emphasis on the importance of finding replacements, when the time comes! John Clarkson recounted the atlas surveys on Cape York, which targeted various vegetation types with the survey areas highlighted by the use of red and green dots to try and achieve full unbiased coverage of birds’ presence and absence. Lindsay then showed historic photos ranging from our first meeting in 1994 up until 2003 giving the audience plenty to do trying to identify people including themselves! Marion Crowther, who had travelled up from Mackay (in our original group area), spoke of the difficulties trying to get enough interest in her area for involvement in bird projects, but was optimistic as several people had now shown interest and a recent Bird Week in that area was a huge success. A photo of all those present was set up to be shown in 25 years! This was followed by the cutting of a 25th Green Ringtail Possum anniversary cake by some of the founder members. It was a very entertaining and engaging evening.

Hasties Swamp was the Sunday mornings first activity with members meeting at 7.00am in the bird hide. Bird numbers were counted as part of ongoing monthly surveys. There was enough water in the swamp to attract a few waterbirds with Hardhead the most Immature Golden Whistler prominent along with Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Australasian Grebe, Eurasian Coot and Glossy Ibis. This concluded a most enjoyable and successful Bush birds included both Sacred and Forest Kingfisher, weekend. Red-backed Fairy-wren, four honeyeater species and a Congratulations and thanks to the main organisers pair of Large-billed Gerygone building a nest (eBird). Sandra Christensen, Lindsay Fisher, Ceri Pearce and From Hasties Swamp we travelled the short distance to also to Wayne Young for IT expertise and being MC at Wongabel State Forest, 8km south of Atherton, where the dinner, plus the various other committee members we walked some of the tracks. The forest is 181 over the last 25 years who have put in a lot of work to hectares consisting of Hoop, Kauri and Caribbean pine keep Birdlife Northern Queensland the premier plantations and 263 hectares of endangered Mabi organisation for the conservation and awareness of forest. Grey-headed Robin were again the most birds in our region. plentiful and easy to see. Other birds seen included All images Keith and Lindsay Fisher. Tooth-billed Bowerbird, White-throated Treecreeper,

December 2020 5 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Celebrating our 25th Anniversary

Images courtesy of members enjoying the party!

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Conversely, in excess of 200 Painted Button-quail, and BirdLife Northern dozens of the other button-quail species have been recorded, including range extensions for both the Little Queensland Buff- Button-quail and Chestnut-backed Button-quail. Interestingly the highest densities of Painted Button- quail appear to be in areas where Buff-breasted breasted Button-quail Button-quail have been previously recorded such as the infamous truck-stop, Big Mitchell Creek, Mareeba Project Update Wetlands, Mt Mulligan, Brooklyn, Mt Carbine, Davies By Pat Webster Creek and Mt Molloy. Despite multiple records of the Buff-breasted Button-quail from these locations by scientists, naturalists and bird guides over the years, Despite the Buff-breasted Button-quail’s endangered we have failed to detect a single individual. status, there has been a widely held belief that the species persists across an extensive area of northern The frustration of failure, despite exhaustive search Queensland. However, recent research conducted by effort, has initiated a more detailed review of the the University of Queensland’s Green Fire Science lab literature and further consultation with the birding suggests our understanding of this species and its community. This revealed that the last sighting of this current distribution is inadequate. It appears the species to be supported by verifiable evidence dates decline of this species has largely slipped under the back to the early 1920’s from the small Cape York radar, and to say we should be concerned for Buff- town of Coen. These were the records of William Rae breasted Button-quail is an understatement. McLennan, who shot and collected several birds for H. L. White. Given the last verified record was almost a century ago it is very surprising that the species has not received more concern and attention. In the coming year we are aiming to improve awareness of the species and its plight. Despite these difficulties, the focus of our project has not shifted from the conservation of the Buff-breasted Button-quail. However, we have broadened the project scope to investigate the ecology of the closely related Chestnut-backed Button-quail and the apparently co- occuring Painted Button-quail. Australia’s tropical button-quail are poorly understood and our research has led to novel observations regarding the ecology of both these related species. We are hopeful that our findings regarding the Painted and Chestnut-backed Green Fire Science began researching the Buff- Button-quail will give us insights into the closely breasted Button-quail in 2018, funded by the National related Buff-breasted Button-quail, providing a clearer Environmental Science Programme, Birds Queensland, picture of that species conservation needs. Graham Harrington Scholarship and the Conservation We are immensely grateful for the support and Wildlife Research Trust. We knew this endeavour was cooperation of BirdLife Northern Queensland going to be particularly challenging; however, not one community and particularly the support of the Graham of us could have foreseen the hurdles and direction Harrington Scholarship. Given the interest in this bird this project would follow. The aim was clear and locally we will be sure to keep the BirdLife community simple; what are the basic ecological requirements of aware of our findings as we progress. the Buff-breasted Button-quail and what are its threatening processes. Initially, we set out to find a population of Buff-breasted Button-quail and study Editor’s note: Patrick was the first recipient of a them intensively. Given that most birders and local BirdLife Northern Queensland Graham Harrington guides seemed able to locate the species within a few Scholarship (GHS). This report is a requirement of the days or weeks of searching, we thought it would not scholarship and we thank him for it. Applications for be long until we also would uncover the secrets of this the 2020 GHS are currently being received and the mysterious species. successful applicant/s will be informed in December. Unfortunately, despite three years spent searching a Stay tuned for the announcement early in the New large proportion of Cape York Peninsula, including all Year. of the known former haunts of the species, we have failed to locate a single Buff-breasted Button-quail.

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The new Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020, being Conservation Matters developed under the leadership of Stephen Garnett is due for publication soon. Many Branch members have By Peter Valentine contributed to the work at Stephen’s request. It will be interesting to see the latest assessment and how it An update on the Inquiry into Australia’s might have changed from the 2010 Action Plan. Given Faunal Extinction Crisis the reported failings of the Queensland Government’s Threatened Species Program (the 2019 Report of the Submissions are still being received as the final Auditor General can be read here: reporting date keeps getting extended and is now set https://www.qao.qld.gov.au/reports- for the second sitting Wednesday in 2021. The resources/conserving-threatened-species) it is Committee will have access to all previous submissions imperative that the Government continues its reform in reaching their final conclusions. Despite the prospect program rapidly. The new Government needs to give that the Parliament could have made huge progress on this reform high priority if we are to save species from its committee work (given the dearth of Parliamentary extinction. This need is even greater given the activity throughout 2020) it seems little actual inevitable negative effects of climate change on many progress has been made, either on this work or on the of our Wet Tropics species. EPBC review. It’s disappointing to say the least. Maybe if our members of parliament had to turn up for work to get paid, more could be done? Other matters The Tablelands Regional Council has at long last signed up for the Queensland State Government’s Climate Resilient Council program so we can expect an assessment of how Council can do better in addressing climate change threats. Tablelands Regional Council is the last of the Councils in the Wet Tropics to join this program. Sad really. Be interesting to know how all the northern Queensland Councils are responding to the huge threat from the effects of climate change. Clean Up Australia inspires and empowers Many birders know and appreciate the Jack Barnes

Memorial Mangrove Boardwalk in Cairns. It was built communities to clean up, fix up and as a bicentennial project by the Cairns City Council in conserve our environment. 1987/1988. Some innovative technology was developed for the project supervised by local engineer You can organise a Clean Up event any day John Breen and the project cost about $330,000. The of the year, and participate as a community current Cairns Regional Council has closed the group or individual, school, youth group, or boardwalk and is now considering removing it in favour of a proposed new mangrove boardwalk at the business. northern end of the Esplanade. Many people oppose this idea as the current location and design covers a Clean up will send you a kit with everything very rich spectrum of mangrove habitats and has been you need to get started for your Clean Up recognised by mangrove experts as of international event. significance. The case has been developed to repair the existing boardwalk instead of spending a huge amount of money to remove it and then replace it with Go to https://www.cleanup.org.au/ a much inferior option. Denis Walls of Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) has been doing a great job of developing the case to support its retention along with several BirdLife Northern Queensland branch members. Members should keep a watchful eye on how this situation develops. Birders have been deprived of the excellent birding at the Boardwalk for a very long time now. The contribution of the Boardwalk to community education and the development of a positive appreciation of mangroves has been very high and it is sad to see the long delay in addressing this issue. 8 Contact Call Contact Call

Story of the Opalton Grasswren Amytornis rowleyi By Lindsay Fisher

Back in 1970, Mr J.D. Macdonald, President of the Queensland Ornithological Society, and his wife were travelling around western Queensland and were curious about a report of a grasswren sighted near Opalton. They were in Longreach and decided to head due west, but by the time they reached Vergemont Station they got bushed on the many tracks and did a circuit of 30 miles ending up where they had been the previous day. However, they did find grasswrens in the porcupine grass as spinifex was known in those days. A grasswren was collected and given to the

Queensland Museum and subsequently identified as a The Opalton Grasswren Amytornis rowleyi Image: Keith which was found in many places in Fisher Australia, but this was the first record for Queensland. Mr. Macdonald noted that “Grasswrens do not present themselves for easy identification; they are accomplished in the art of keeping out of sight, usually under the other side of a clump of porcupine grass, VALE STEPHEN DAVIES especially if they have found out that you want to see them”. Nothing has changed – they are just as hard to Stephen Davies died peacefully in Perth on Thursday see today! 29 October. He was a former President of the RAOU, Since that time, it has been determined that there are its first Director, an RAOU Fellow, and a former Chair enough differences to make it a sub-species of the of the WA Group of the RAOU, and a good friend to Striated Grasswren, the Rusty Grasswren, Amytornis many of us. He was tall, and his baldpate and striatus rowleyi. In July 2020, the I.O.C. officially exuberant hair, and droll sense of humour was a made it a full species, Amytornis rowleyi – the Opalton frequent presence in RAOU HQ when it was located in Grasswren. Moonee Ponds. Opalton Grasswren is only found in a very small area Stephen, (born 26 April 1935) worked for the CSIRO in the Forsythe Range around Opalton and Lark Division of Wildlife Research in Western Australia Quarry, south of Winton. They tend to favour flat 1964–1984. He carried out research on emus and sandy areas with lateritic gravel and spinifex often magpie geese. close to creek beds with Normanton Box, and forage for seeds and insects as they scurry around. Opalton has long been a birdwatcher’s destination, but CONGRATULATIONS PHIL GREGORY now it will be an even more desirable location and, hopefully, the local residents will be proud of ‘their’ BirdLife Northern Queensland member Phil Gregory is bird. one of three Award winners in this year’s NSW Whitley References Book Awards. He won it for his excellent volume, Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds, published earlier this year Macdonald, J.D.(1970) Striated Grasswren in by Bloomsbury Publishing. Queensland. Sunbird 1, 92-96 Well done Phil; a fitting recognition for years of study Wood, K.A. (2014) Habitats of the Striated Grasswren and effort that has resulted in a wonderful book. (A Amytornis striatus rowleyi at Opalton, central western review will appear in a forthcoming issue of Contact Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology 31, 1-16 Call). Wood, K.A. (2014) Observations of the Striated Grasswren at Opalton, central western Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology 31, 17-23

December 2020 9 BirdLife Northern Queensland

Tooth-billed Bowerbirds, Mt Elliot, Townsville By Dominic Chaplin

As part of the BirdLife Northern Queensland’s Bowerbird Monitoring Project we visited the top of Mt Elliot, 30km south of Townsville. Nine active Tooth- billed Bowerbird (TBB) courts were recorded along Tooth-billed Bowerbird court on Mt Elliot. approx.1.3km of the plateau above 1050m. Three other Wet Tropics 'endemic' birds were recorded there; It is 100km from Paluma where TBBs are common. It these were Grey-headed Robin, is hard to imagine how there could be any gene flow and Spotted Catbird. We did not confirm a 1990 record between upland bird populations on Mt Elliot and the of a fifth endemic, Victoria's Riflebird. There are public Wet Tropics. Wildnet records, in 1990, of the bowerbird, honeyeater It is no surprise there has been little bird survey and robin on Mt Elliot, but this could be a range activity on Mt Elliot as it is arguably the most difficult extension for Spotted Catbird. mountain to ascend in our region. There are no walking tracks up, making ascent inconvenient, strenuous and not recommended. The mosquitoes were atrocious. TBBs were first recorded here by George Heinsohn, now retired from JCU, at the peak of Saddle Mountain (personal communication). This is possibly the source of a 1984 Wildnet record listed under Stephen Garnett. Subsequently Steve Williams recorded them in 1990 on Wildnet, along with Bridled Honeyeater and Grey- headed Robin. Steve has made around 15 trips up Mt Elliot and may have other records in the JCU database. My neighbour, Greg Honey, trekked the southern part of the plateau in 1998. He reports seeing lots of TBB courts along this section. At the summit of Mt Elliot is an approximately 6 km long plateau at an altitude of 1000-1200m. Pleasant, cool, wet and mossy, this sanctuary is relatively flat, open and easy to traverse, especially compared to the Map illustrating the location of Mt Elliot, south east of ascent. Townsville. BACKGROUND Mt Elliot (1230 m) and the adjacent Saddle Mountain (867 m) are officially part of the Bowling Green Bay NP. The park is not part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (although it perhaps should be included). Mt Elliot looms like a monolith south of Townsville, the summit often cloaked in menacing dark cloud. It is home to the endemic Mt Elliot Nursery Frog, Mt Elliot Mulch Skink and Mt Elliot Leaf-tailed Gecko. The mountain is an island of isolated rainforest separated by 50-60 km of dry country from the nearest rainforest area, the Bluewater Range to the north. It is ~70 km from the nearest upland rainforest further north at Mt Halifax (1022 m), where we found just one TBB court.

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Spotted Catbird On the ascent at about 800m. One bird only heard. Not viewed. Unmistakable 'strangled cat' call repeated loud at close range, and the usual 'squeak' contact call also heard. There are no Wildnet, Birdata or eBird records of this species south of Bluewater, and our record constitutes a range extension. Other bird species above 950m Noisy Pitta (heard all the way up the moutain), Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Australian Brush Turkey (2 nests), Little Shrike-thrush, Brown Cuckoo- Dove, Golden Whistler, Pale Yellow Robin, and Large- billed Scrubwren.

BOWERBIRD SURVEY WORK This survey almost completes our initial investigation of the current range of court sites of the Tooth-billed Bowerbird. We have measured the positions of around 650 courts, hopefully providing a useful database for the future. Courts have been found to still be present at all previously known locations (see maps overpage). We are not aware of any sites where they have become extinct. Sites are also included in some isolated low altitude fragments such as Curtain Fig Tree NP (~750 m). For monitoring purposes, it is important to survey the edges of the bowerbirds' range. A declining population BIRDS might vanish from the northern or southern extremes of its range. We have found Tooth-billed Bowerbirds Tooth-billed Bowerbird are still present at the historically known northern edge of their range, the nearly inaccessible Mt Amos, During about 4 hours spent on the plateau along 1.3 near Cooktown. That the population at Mt Elliot is km above 1050m, we detected 9 TBBs calling. Five of persisting at the southern extreme gives us hope for the courts were photographed and GPS coordinates the future. recorded of the others. Only two birds were viewed. There was no obvious mimicking other species apart from perhaps a Shrike-thrush. Grey-headed Robin Perhaps 6-8 birds were heard calling continuously from the plateau down to about 900 m. One of the characteristic sounds usually heard throughout the mountains of the Wet Tropics. However, no birds were seen. This species was also recorded by Steve Williams (Wildnet 1990). Bridled Honeyeater Occasional call from the canopy, perhaps 6-7 times. Heard infrequently and the calls were an exact match to the second descending rollicking call on the Pizzey &

Knight app. No birds were seen. Also recorded by Steve Williams (Wildnet 1990). There is also one Birdata record from Sep 2000 of a wintering bird down near the Mountain View Lake Holiday Park.

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Map illustrating Toothbilled Bowerbird court locations in the Map illustrating Toothbilled Bowerbird court locations in the northern region of the Wet Tropics, Queensland. central (Atherton) region of the Wet Tropics, Queensland.

One of the waterfalls discovered while climbing Mt Elliot. Report, maps and images provided by Dominic Chaplin.

Map illustrating Toothbilled Bowerbird court locations in the southern region (Paluma, Mt Elliot) of the Wet Tropics and surrounding area, Queensland.

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Eungella Bird Week 14-18 SEPTEMBER, 2020 By Ceri Pearce Earlier this year, Sandra and I were lucky enough to secure the last two positions at Eungella Bird Week. You may recall that the Eungella Honeyeater was the Queensland fund raising target species for BirdLife Australia’s National Twitchathon in 2019. Sandra and I, with our friend Helen, participated in the twitch and contributed to the fund raising. So Eungella Bird Week provided us with a perfect opportunity to explore the Eungella Honeyeater (C)Sonja Ross 2013 area with the people who know it best, to see these birdlifephotography.org.au special birds and to learn about the wonderful BirdLife Mackay team and their conservation endeavours. Eungella Honeyeater has the most limited On September 15th, we headed south. On arrival at distribution of all Australian breeding the Eungella ‘hub’ (the local community hall), we (Menkorst et al., 2017). It is only found in a small registered and were made very welcome. There were area of plateau rainforest, and occasionally twenty participants in all, and around fifteen BirdLife rainforest margins and adjacent open forest in the Mackay members providing support. Several of the Clarke Range west of Mackay (Morecombe, 2004; participants were old friends from BirdLife Townsville, Menkorst et al., 2017). so we were off to a jolly start. We received a BirdLife bag full of goodies including useful local birding and tourism information, a re-useable BirdLife Mackay drinking mug (for use during our stay) and two booklets by Maureen Cooper; Freshwater Wetland Birds of Mackay and the Whitsunday District, and Biodiversity of Sandfly Creek, Book One, a great little booklet about migratory shorebirds in a tidal wetland near the mouth of the Pioneer River.

Eungella Honeyeater (Bolemoreus hindwoodi) distribution map. BirdLife International (2020). http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/eungella- honeyeater-bolemoreus-hindwoodi In 2018, a severe bushfire ravaged the Eungella region resulting in destruction of at least 5% of the Eungella Honeyeater’s habitat within the Clarke Range Key Biodiversity Area. An assessment of the extent and severity of the fires found that 11,217 Checking in with Barry Deacon on arrival at the hub. Image: ha of highly sensitive rainforest and scrub Photographer Jennifer White [email protected] communities including cloud rainforests in the After welcome (BYO) drinks, Daryl Barnes, the Eungella-Crediton area had burnt (Hines et al, President of BirdLife Mackay, gave an opening address, 2020). This has left a question mark over the long- followed by event organisers Barry Deacon and Ian term survival of the honeyeater and as a result the Cruickshank who provided an overview of the Eungella Clarke Range Key Biodiversity Area was declared a Honeyeater and the planned activities over the next KBA in Danger in 2019 (BirdLife Australia, 2019; few days. Birdlife International, 2020). We learned that for a long time the bird we now know Eungella Honeyeater is listed as Vulnerable under as Eungella Honeyeater was thought to be Bridled Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992. Honeyeater. In 1976, while working in the Australian

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Museum collection, Wayne Longmore noticed that the Bridled Honeyeater specimen collected from the Clarke Range the year before, was not a Bridled Honeyeater at all, and in fact it wasn’t any bird he knew. After further field trips and research, Wayne and Walter Boles described Eungella Honeyeater in 1983. That makes it one of the last new species of birds to be discovered in Australia (Boles, 2020).

The Eungella Honeyeater is smaller than Bridled Honeyeater, has an all-black bill (compared to the Flowering Pandan Vine (Freycinetia yellow and black bill of a Bridled Honeyeater) and the Monitoring site excelsa), a favourite food of Eungella facial markings are different They are both currently sign Honeyeater. Image: C. Pearce classified in their own , Bolemoreus. BirdLife Mackay in partnership with the Mackay We were divided into groups (Sandra and I were Regional Council, have established permanent bird assigned to the ‘Spinebills’) and we met our group monitoring sites, each labelled with a uniquely leader, Jason. A sumptuous welcome dinner was numbered star picket (see image). We completed a 20 prepared and served by BirdLife Mackay. It was an minute 2 hectare BirdLife survey at each survey site, entertaining and informative first night. and yes, we saw Eungella Honeyeater frequenting its favourite Pandan Vine (Freycinetia excelsa) flowers, amongst other honey flora. Sandra was excited to see a lifer. We also saw Eastern Yellow Robin, Grey Fantail, Top Knot Pigeon, and Crimson Rosella amongst other species that morning. After our surveys we met up with the group again at Chelman’s Road for morning tea, but instead of relaxing, we grabbed some cake (the catering was superb) and a cuppa to go, as we were keen to see David Braithwaite and his sister, Rosemary, bird Foggy start. Janet and Barbara arriving at the hub. Image: banding. We raced off into the forest. The mist nets Photographer Jennifer White [email protected] were set up about a kilometre or so along the track, Tuesday morning greeted us with pea soup fog. We and were as fine as hair. I didn’t even notice them at got lost trying to find the hub, which was only a couple first. Our timing was impeccable as David had just of hundred meters from our accommodation, but caught a Eungella Honeyeater. We watched in awe as eventually we found it before our 6.30am departure he calmly and carefully took the bird from the bag, time. Our team was tasked with surveying Chelman’s measured (wing shoulder to tip, tail vent to tip, head Road, a well-known site for Eungella Honeyeater, and to bill tip), weighed and assessed the birds age, sex then another site on Dalrymple Road.

Eungella Bird Week particpants observing bird banding by David Braithwaite. Eungella Honeyeater with banding by David Image: Photographer Jennifer White [email protected] Braithwaite. Image: Photographer Jennifer White [email protected]

14 Contact Call Contact Call and condition (blowing gently on its belly feathers to assess body fat and looking for potential egg bulges (if present), while Rosemary recorded the data. He then placed silver and coloured bands on the bird’s legs before taking a quick photo and releasing the bird. Now keen bird life photographers visiting the area and taking photos of Eungella Honeyeaters may identify colour banded birds and report that information as part of the local citizen science project. The project is seeking to monitor the population, range, age and health of the Eungella Honeyeaters in the Clarke Range Key Biodiversity Area. The banding wasn’t over, several other birds, perhaps part of a bird wave, were captured in the net while we were there. David and Rosemary sprang into action, removing the birds gently and placing each into its own clean cotton bag to await processing. Once in the bag, the bird remained quiet but time was of the essence and it was Koala with baby found near . Image: fascinating to see how quickly the team worked. Our Photographer Jennifer White [email protected] favourite captive that morning was a Rufous Fantail. Regrouping at the hub again at 7.15pm for bird call, a Not only was its plumage delicately patterned and few of us then went spotlighting out at Broken River. beautifully coloured, at 10 grams, it weighed less than We had great views of Tawny Frogmouth, heard a 20c coin (which is 11.3 g). All birds were expertly Southern Boobook, and saw a few Red-legged handled and banded – David Braithwaite is an A Class Paddymelon, a water rat, a Southern Ocellated Gecko bird bander. and other small critters, before returning to base. It was still Tuesday and so much had already Wednesday greeted us with fog and cold rain. At least happened. We headed back to the hub for lunch, the Buff-banded Rail bathing in a roadside puddle in before heading out to the Crediton Hall area for a the middle of Eungella was happy. Fortunately, we relaxing afternoon bird watching. And the birding were well prepared with warm clothes, raincoats and didn’t disappoint. Regent Bowerbird were not umbrellas. Birding was challenging with fogging binos, uncommon here. With striking gold and black even the birds were hiding from the wind to start with. markings, I hate to admit it (because Golden Our first survey at Cockies Creek was a bit of a fizzer Bowerbirds should be my favourite) but Regent thanks to the wind, but we made it further down Bowerbird is the most beautiful bowerbird in Australia. Cockies Creek Road to the second site just as the We walked along the roads, circuiting the creeks and weather started to lighten. The gums were in flower, forest boundaries. Eastern Yellow Robin were plentiful so honeyeaters and lorikeets were plentiful, and a wherever we went, as were Scarlet, Yellow-faced, and couple of White-browed Scrubwren in a thicket kept us Dusky Honeyeaters, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Top Knot busy searching for them. After our survey there, we Pigeon and Red-browed Finch. We returned to base carefully made our way back (the black soil road had around 5 pm for dinner (self-catered). become quite slippery) and headed out to Eungella Dam for a BBQ lunch. Driving through drier country now, we saw Bustard in the long grass, Pale-headed Rosella and Squatter Pigeon. Eungella Dam is 30km west of Eungella and is about a third the size of Lake Tinaroo, so still quite large. Waterbirds on the dam were plentiful, including Great, Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants, Black Swan, Australasian and Great Crested Grebe, Hardhead, Pacific Black Ducks, Grey Teal, Cotton Pygmy-Geese, egrets, coot, pelican, moorhen and jacana, and we were pretty chuffed to see Whiskered Terns working their way across the water. Yellow- throated Miner and Noisy Friarbirds frequented the flowering gums. To top off our visit out to the dam, we Regent Bowerbird (C) Sonja Ross 2010 were very excited to see a Koala with baby high in a birdlifephotography.org.au gum tree.

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On our return to Eungella, we pulled up at a dry creek Thrush but to no avail, although we had seen platypus bed to explore and had a great time chasing Buff- at another location, in a dam on the way to Chelmans rumped Thornbill, Leaden Flycatcher, White-throated Road. Honeyeaters and more White-browed Scrubwren. After lunch we visited Diggings Road to complete our We finished the day with a great night out at the last survey. This also proved to be a lovely lush Eungella Chalet – a group dinner provided as part of rainforest area, with birding easy as we wandered Eungella Bird Week registration. along the road. Top Knot Pigeons and Australasian Figbird (Specotheres vieilloti subspecies vieilloti) were Thursday morning was a later start. We departed from plentiful, feasting in several fruiting trees. This is a the hub at 7 am, ‘team spinebill’ on our last day out different subspecies of figbird to the one we find here together. It was once again foggy and raining. Our up north. It has a grey breast and olive-yellow belly. destination was Snake Road. As we walked along the We also had great views of Emerald Dove and Golden dirt road from the survey point, the intact rainforest Whistler. was magical, though other areas we walked through were still severely scarred by the fires two years One of the most stunning bird sights of the trip before. Eastern Whipbird and Noisy Pitta were calling, happened on our way back to base. We stopped at the though not seen. We did see Golden Whistler, Brown Sky Window lookout for the view, off the Eungella Cuckoo-Dove, Brown Gerygone and Brown Thornbill, range escarpment to the valley below, and were Eastern Spinebill, Scarlet Honeyeater and more stunned to see a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring on the Eungella Honeyeater, which we were always relieved thermals – but we were so high on the range, that we to see. were above it. It’s the first time I have ever looked We regrouped on ‘down’ on a Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight. Magnificent!! Dalrymple Road Our final social dinner together was at the hub, and before visting a put on by the local Community. Home cooked roast grazing property lamb and beef and veggies with all the trimmings, with nesting followed by apple crumble and cream/custard. Perfect Brolgas. The for a cold night. Marion and Kevin Crowther joined the female Brolga group for the evening. Marion and Kevin were original made a grand members of Birders of North Queensland and it was a entrance by flying delight to meet them. The hub was decorated with bird in low over our themed art work produced by Eungella State School as heads to meet up part of a Eungella Bird Week. For a small donation, we with the male could vote for our favourite artwork, which of course near a small dam we all did, raising over $200 for the school in the below us on the process. slope. We could see the nest Dinner was followed by a presentation by David which was a Braithwaite on bird banding in Queensland. The depression on a presentation revealed exciting news. They had grassy island in captured a ‘banded’ Eungella Honeyeater earlier that The pair of Brolgas with a nest the middle of the day. This was their first recapture. Initially banded in nearby. Image: C. Pearce dam, and thought January 2019, this Eungella Honeyeater was in good we could just condition, and was now determined to be at least 1 make out two year and 9 months old. The life span of Eungella white eggs within it. As we watched, the male danced Honeyeater is unknown. The recapture demonstrated around the female, picking up grass and tossing it in how bird banding can add valuable data about this the air to impress her. We were enthralled watching little known species. David said there are now 31 them. Eventually we were distracted by other bird life, Eungella Honeyeater banded. Keen photographers in with Regent Bowerbird seen at the forest margin. the Eungella area can help contribute to knowledge and conservation of the species by submitting images After morning tea at the hub, we headed to Broken of banded Eungella Honeyeaters to BirdLife Mackay. River for a couple of hours birding along the trails before lunch there. Noisy Pitta called endlessly as we Lots of chat and farewells followed as Eungella Bird walked the circuit trail and we were delighted when an Week came to a close. Anyone wanting to stay the Azure Kingfisher zoomed past us at the river’s edge. next morning were invited to the Eungella School for White-browed and Large-billed Scrubwren kept us on the art competition presentation and tree planting at our toes, searching for them. Two Tawny Frogmouth the school with BirdLife Mackay and Pioneer Catchment posed for photos, and White-eared Monarch Landcare. entertained us flitting around the shrubs in the carpark. We searched for platypus and Russet-tailed

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Participants and organisers at Eungella Bird Week. Image: individual birds all up) in a very pleasant hour and a Photographer Jennifer White [email protected] half. But we did have to depart and drive home to Innisfail eventually! Final notes There is an entry cost to participate in Eungella Bird Week. In 2020, the cost per person was $390 which included three days/four nights of Eungella Honeyeater data collection and guided birding (we were ‘chauffeur’ driven on all scheduled day trips by the BirdLife Mackay team), a welcome dinner on the first night, bush morning teas - Tuesday and Thursday, a group

dinner at ‘The Chalet’ Wednesday night (excluding BirdLife Mackay is continuing to monitor and foster drinks) and a farewell dinner at the Eungella research with a view to conservation of the Eungella Community Hall. And of course funds raised also Honeyeater. Their program includes: contribute to Eungella Honeyeater conservation efforts • Expansion of the bird banding program with David led by BirdLife Mackay. Braithwaite. For accommodation, we treated ourselves to a rustic • Completion of surveys in vine/palm forest systems two bedroom cabin at Eungella Cabins, just behind the when palms are in flower to determine their role in chalet. The modernised cabins were centrally located providing seasonal or year round habitat for the in Eungella, and easy walking distance to the Eungella Honeyeater. The Pandan Vine was community hub that was the centre of activities for flowering while we were there. Eungella Bird week. The cabin had a fireplace which was a bonus as the weather was cold and wet and an • Completion of surveys in eucalyptus woodland inside fire was a real treat for peeps coming from the ecosystems adjacent to the vine forests that the tropical swampy lowlands. There are other Eungella Honeyeater utilises in winter for nectar so accommodation options available locally including that the birds extent of range can be delineated other cabins and camping. more accurately. Look out for advertising of Eungella Bird Week in 2021. BirdLife Mackay have compiled a report about the By participating you are assisting BirdLife Mackay weeks activities including survey results which can be conserve the Eungella Honeyeater. found here. References A big thank you to BirdLife Mackay for the exceptional organising and hosting of Eungella Bird Week. We BirdLife Australia, 2019. learnt a great deal by attending this event. And a very https://twitchathon.birdlife.org.au/#content-14 special thank you to Jason who was our gracious team BirdLife International, 2020. leader and expert bird guide for the week. http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/clarke- Sandra and I stayed at Eungella for a further two range-iba-australia nights so we could revisit our newly found favourite Boles, W. (2020). Eungella Honeyeater. sites, soak up views of more Eungella Honeyeaters and https://australian.museum/learn/collections/natural- Regent Bowerbirds, visit Marion and Kevin Crowther science/ornithology/ornithology-collection-eungella- again to learn more about Eungella, and just relax. honeyeater/ On the way home, we met up with Jason and he Hines, HB; Brook, M; Wilson, J; McDonald, WJF; showed us around one of his local birdwatching Hargreaves, J (2020) The extent and severity of the haunts, DeMoleyns Lagoon. This is a fabulous wetland Mackay Highlands 2018 wildfires and the potential area, surrounded by grassland and farming land. It is impact on natural values, particularly in the mesic near the rubbish tip, at the end of Brand Road, forests of the Eungella-Crediton area. Proceedings of between Mirani and Marion. We had a great time The Royal Society of Queensland Volume 125, p 139- wandering around the small lake, viewing the 157. waterbirds including Radjah Shellduck, Plumed Whistling-ducks (at least 100), around 50 Little Black Menkorst, P., Rogers, D., Clarke, R., Davies, J., Cormorants, Australasian Grebe, Hardhead and Marsack, P and Franklin, K. (2017). The Australian Bird Wooducks. White-browed Robin and Fan-tailed Cuckoo Guide. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria. were seen. Amongst the raptors present, we were Morcombe, Michael (2004). Field Guide to Australian thrilled to see a Black Falcon, as well as a White- Birds, Complete Compact Edition. Archerfield, bellied Sea Eagle, several Pacific Bazas, and Black, and Australia: Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. p. 279. Whitling Kites. We saw 45 species (nearly 300

December 2020 17 BirdLife Northern Queensland

A late dry season visit to Rinyirru/Lakefield National Park By Peter Valentine

Martin Willis and I had previously seen the restricted white-bellied subspecies of Crimson Finch (Neochmia Crimson Finch phaeton evangelinae) but had unsatisfactory images. backed Buttonquail – but it too quickly disappeared We decided that October provided us with the best into the tall grass. At one waterhole, we saw flocks of chance of finding and photographing this gorgeous Banded Honeyeaters drinking and bathing, along with grassfinch. We needed to be there before the rains so a few Crimson Finches, other honeyeaters and a pair that birds would still be coming in to accessible of Brolga, several egrets and herons, three splendid waterholes rather than being dispersed over the Jabiru and an adult White-bellied Sea Eagle. extensive habitat in Rinyirru/Lakefield National Park. There had been quite a few recent records of Crimson Back at camp later in the afternoon we were Finches in the 12 mile lagoon camping area and that astonished to find a flock of our target species feeding was where we had seen them a couple of years ago, so around the campsite. When disturbed they would fly that was our focus and we booked a campsite for the into a patch of thick greenery on the bank of the river 11th – 14th October. where they would occasionally pose quite well. We soon realised that the secret to success would be to We were delighted to discover very few campers in the simply sit or stand quietly and let them continue with park (maybe COVID19 effect, or just because the their social engagements and their feeding. It did weather was getting warm) and our campsite was a seem to us that over the period we were camped at splendid site on the bank of the Normanby River. this site, they became more used to us and were a Along the track into the campsites we disturbed small little more tolerant of our photography efforts. flocks of finches including Double-barred Finch, Red- Patience and persistence seemed to be the best browed Finch (the local black-vented subspecies strategy. minor) and some Crimson Finches. After setting up our minimalist camp, we drove along the narrow access When feeding on the ground there would be the tracks and soon had views of many birds. The Crimson occasional interaction within the flock, with one bird Finches proved to be quite flighty and despite our harassing another, and when the flock flew into the efforts at careful stalking we found it very difficult to protective shrubs there was a constant chase as one get close enough for good photographs. At one of the bird moved another along. While they were engaged first places we saw them we also saw a single Red- with these social interactions within the flock we were often given a clear view – sufficient for a long-range photo. The joy of a telephoto lens! For most of the time we simply enjoyed seeing them behaving naturally. Both the male and female adult-plumaged birds are very attractive with their much brighter red colour than the black-bellied form and the white belly standing out nicely. The contrast with their grey upper parts was also appealing. Their bright red beaks have a couple of small white patches near the base and these further enhanced their attractiveness. It is hard to imagine a more appealing campsite. As we sat in our camp chairs at the end of Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton evangelinae) Crimson Finch (female) the day we were entertained by

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A pair of Fairy Gerygone had started nest-building, perhaps anticipating the wet season’s early arrival. In the fruiting sandpaper figs there were many birds feeding including Red-winged Parrots, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Great Bowerbirds, White-gaped Honeyeaters, Australasian Figbirds, Olive-backed and Green Orioles. Blue-winged Kookaburras cheered up the campsite with their calls and occasional Koel and Channel-billed Cuckoos joined the Pheasant Coucals with their impressive greetings. Torresian Imperial Pigeons fed and called throughout the day. Lovely Fairywrens kept well hidden in the surrounding bush. On our last day we went north to Nifold Plain, in search of the Star Finches we had seen there before. We were tens of thousands of flying foxes on their way to feed. unsuccessful on this front but at a small dam found They flew upstream along the river in a continuous huge flocks of Black-throated Finches with a few ribbon for 20 minutes or so and presumably most of Masked Finches and Double-barred Finches. There was the local population passed overhead. It seemed likely no sign of the usually large flocks of Chestnut-breasted there were two species; perhaps Little Red Flying Fox Mannikins. Along the side of the road were occasional made up the bulk of the individuals, but some larger parties of Brolga and Sarus Crane and we disturbed were also present, most likely Black Flying the road-kill feeders including Wedge-tailed Eagle, Foxes. As dusk fell a single medium-sized microbat Black and Whistling Kites and the inevitable crows. A circled through the campsite, too swift to see enough rather fat young male pig refused to leave its lunch of detail to identify. A nearby Large-tailed Nightjar long dead wallaby. A large flock of Red-tailed Black started calling but we were surprised that it restricted Cockatoos was feeding in eucalypts along the road. itself to only a few minutes at this time each night. During the night, a Papuan Frogmouth called and then visited the camp to perch in trees above our tents. Early in the morning (5.30 am) the flying foxes returned, a little more rowdy than the evening flight, and with an occasional release of fluid sprayed on my mozziedome! Not really nectar of the Gods. The Green Orioles would start singing about then and keep us company most of the day, along with the noisy Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Little Friarbirds and ever-present lorikeets, delighted with the huge amount of blossom in the eucalypts and the paperbarks. The occasional Black Butcherbird was pleasing to hear. We had a range of other local species including several Radjah Shelducks on the river’s edge and a couple of quite large freshwater crocodiles who sunbaked on the sandbar or floated in the warmer shallow water.

Red Goshawk We decided to check out a Red Goshawk nest just northwest of the National Park boundary and we quickly found the female perched in a tall tree not far from the nest tree. There was no sign of the male. We watched for a while from a distance as we expected the female might return to the nest in which we believed there might be a young chick.

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After some time and no movement from the female we became a little suspicious as in the heat of the day there would usually be a parent protecting the chick from the sun. We approached the nest tree and were Black-winged Monarch shocked to discover a dead chick, perhaps dead for 4-5 days, on the ground immediately beneath the nest. The cause of death was not certain but presumably a fall from such a great height would be fatal. We heard later that in a Red Goshawk nest near Musgrave a chick had been blown out of the nest previously and there were certainly very strong winds this year. This experience caused us some distress as these Endangered raptors are struggling to survive due to extensive habitat loss; such loss continuing in this last remaining fortress for the species due to mining and grazing activities (see the latest Australian BirdLife magazine). The next day we headed back to Cooktown to catch up with Kath Shurcliff and Dave Houghton, and while in the area to check out the possible arrival of the Black- winged Monarch. We were lucky and had great views Join us on Facebook of this breeding migrant and of a few other species including Satin Flycatcher, Shining Flycatcher, Rose- crowned and Superb Fruit-doves; Yellow-spotted, Macleay’s and Cryptic Honeyeaters (about the northern most location for these guys) as well as Grey Whistler and Metallic Starlings. Despite the heat and the dust, we thoroughly enjoyed this short trip and look forward to a return to this wonderful National Park. It is just a few hours from the tablelands. If any of our members or supporters has photographs of the white-bellied Crimson Finch, please contact member Ray Pierce who is studying this bird and is looking for photos (see article in Contact Call November 2017, Vol 6 Number 4 page 15). Email: [email protected] Images by Peter Valentine

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Mount Isa News

By Rex Whitehead As I mentioned in my last Mount Isa News, the migratory birds are starting to arrive. This season I have recorded eight species to date. All of last season I recorded 16 species visiting . However I expect more to arrive as the season progresses. One bird recently recorded was a Red Knot; just a single bird. To my knowledge this species hasn't been recorded in Mount Isa before. It's a long way from its normal habitat along the coast. Similar to recording the Red-necked Phalarope a couple of years Gibberbird with lunch ago I guess. The regular water birds are also returning in numbers as the outside waters begin to dry up. My birding partner and I, have carried out two trips to the Birdsville area during August and September. We experienced unseasonal rain in August preventing access to many places hence the follow up trip in September. Our main targets were the Grey and Eyrean Grasswrens, Gibberbird, plus whatever else turned up. We were lucky with most of our targets along with many others. Some included nesting Black Falcons with young in the nest, Flock Bronzewings, in their thousands, and two species of Quail-thrush. Some other unexpected birds were Australian Shelducks on One small section of Flock Bronzewings Eyre Creek, which I thought was a bit out of their range. Our species count for the August trip, was 110. In September, it was 112.

Grey Grasswren

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Earliest fossils of giant- size bony-toothed birds Aves: Pelagornithidae) from the Eocene of Seymour Island, Antarctica

Kloess PA, Poust AW, Stiolham TA (2020) Highlight by Gary Wilson A paper published in October 2020 by Kloess et al. in Scientific Reports describes what may be the largest flying bird ever. The authors, from California and China, identified a section of jawbone of a giant bony- toothed bird that lived in Antarctica. While bony- toothed bird fossils have been found in places all over the world the newly described Antarctic fossils, are the oldest known and suggest that these birds quickly diversified into a range of sizes within six million years of their origin. By 50 million years ago, there were bony-toothed birds from the size of a modern-day albatross to giants with wingspans twice as wide. The most recent species flew through the skies about two million years ago. The bird jaw has a series of large and small spikes resembling teeth. On a living , they would have been covered in keratin. That feature immediately identifies the jaw as belonging to a pelagornithid, the bony-toothed birds. These birds probably used their spiky jaws to feed on fish and squid snatched from just beneath the surface. First author Kloess said “Eocene Antarctica was much warmer than we see today,” with carpets of ferns and stands of gymnosperms that sheltered prehistoric marsupials and even frogs. Some of the other birds present would have been familiar, as fossils of ancient relatives of penguins, albatrosses, and falcons have been found in rocks of the same age. The discovery caught the attention of the public and was reported on in many news outlets. An article about the discovery appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine on October 6 of this year. The material reported here is derived from the Magazine and the paper, with added editorial input. The paper is available Open Access at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75248-6

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anything about it which was incredibly frustrating. In Taking action to help the end we decided to continue our survey as we still had a long stretch of beach to investigate while the protect shorebirds tide was right. On our return, the situation of our bird had changed By Ceri Pearce and Sandra Christensen dramatically. No longer able to get away, fishing line was wrapped around both legs. This time, we could do Sandra and I have been monitoring Beach Stone- something about it. The bird would die from predation curlew at Coquette Point and Glady Inlet as part of a or starvation if we didn’t intervene. I took my shirt off BirdLife Threatened Coastal Birds Project led by to capture and completely cover the injured Beach Amanda Freeman, Paul Fisk and Sally Sheldon. Stone-curlew, mindful of its powerful bill. I’d seen them crack open sand crabs too many times to not Coquette Point is part of the Johnstone River estuary, respect the power that bill might have. Fortunately for and accessibility by foot from a primitive boat ramp is us, the bird went still and barely struggled at all once tide dependant. The foreshore is constantly changing captured. On examination, the fishing line and other as are several mangrove lined creek mouths that must debris was lightly knotted around one leg, then be crossed. We are always mindful of crocodiles and of wrapped around both legs, and the hook was now getting cut off by rising water. There are no other lodged through the skin under the bird’s wing. Lucky walking tracks out and the area behind the foreshore for us, a fellow was passing by and came to assist. He contains mangrove lined tidal creeks. We know our had a pocketknife! So together we carefully cut the tidal parameters well. fishing line away, but we had to return to the fellow’s The vegetation behind the shoreline is predominantly vehicle for pliers to cut the stainless steel hook and mangroves, coastal shrubland/woodland and Melaleuca remove it from under the wing. There didn’t appear to swamp/littoral rainforest and is part of the Wet Tropics be any serious damage to the bird’s legs or the wing World Heritage Area. The Johnstone River itself is an itself, so we returned to the place where we had Estuarine Conservation Area within the Great Barrier captured the bird and released it. The bird was a little Reef Marine Park, while the offshore area from stunned at first, but quickly recovered and ran a short Coquette Point to Glady Inlet is a General Use Area distance away. We were so happy! And a little shaky. within the Marine Park. We headed home for a cup of tea! When the tide goes really out, large areas of sand flats can be exposed, and while wader variety and numbers are generally low here, there always tends to be a couple of Pied Oystercatchers and our three Beach Stone-curlews. As part of the much broader Beach Stone-curlew project, we have been monitoring monthly for any signs of breeding behaviour, as it is not known if many are successfully breeding on the mainland. Because Coquette Point is not easily accessible to vehicles and people, we are hoping that the birds will find it safe to breed there. Our survey in September illustrated how unprepared we were for the unexpected. It was a fine day and the tide low and going out. We found our birds, but their behaviour was very strange indeed. All three ran full pelt directly towards us like a scene out of Jurassic Park. They were only 20 metres or so away when they diverted towards the shoreline. There seemed to be jostling between the two larger birds as if trying to separate out the slightly smaller bird. There was even Dwelling on the plight of our Beach Stone-curlew and what appeared to be an attempted copulation. We the hazards associated with rubbish and fishing line, were excited and hopeful that our birds were going to we spoke to our friends at the Johnstone Ecological breed at Coquette Point, but there was something Society (JES). The JES group has already organised to really odd about their behaviour too. They seemed undertake a Clean-Up Australia event locally, but when distressed and one bird started limping. Luckily, Ceri we spoke to them about what happened to our Beach had her camera and was able to get a close-up photo. Stone-curlew, the site for the clean-up was moved to It became clear one of the birds had a fishing hook and Coquette Point. a clump of something fine wrapped around one leg. We tried but we couldn’t get close to the bird to do

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On top of that, when we told our families about our experience and not having the right tools to manage the situation ourselves, we were both gifted pocketknives and multitools. So, about a week after our injured Beach Stone-curlew incident, a group comprised of BirdLife Northern Queensland and Johnstone Ecological Society members spent about two hours picking rubbish up and removing fishing line from a stretch of the shoreline between the boat ramp and the point. The pocketknives and multitools were put to good use.

We found many mangrove roots wrapped in fishing line, other fibres and rotting clothes. It was a challenge to cut them away. As well as the significant amount of fishing line, some with hooks and lures The fishing line we gathered from a couple of hundred metres of river mouth and beach. The ruler is 40 x 60 cm. attached, we collected lots of plastic, rubber thongs, cigarette lighters, cans and bottles, decaying clothes, I can’t tell you how happy we all felt about doing and almost a lounge suite amongst other trash. One of something positive. We were hot and filthy but smiling our group, Lorraine Lamothe is an artist. She plans to from ear to ear. And to top it off, our three Beach put some of the trash to good use in her art. Stone-curlew seemed to all be present and accounted for, so our injured bird had made a complete recovery. It’s amazing how you can think a beach looks relatively clean, but on close inspection you find an inordinate With our pocketknives handy, Sandra and I plan to amount of trash. repeat the activity and gradually work our way around the beach. While we can’t carry away large items of rubbish (we’d need a boat at high tide for that), we can reduce the smaller items and monitor for fishing line. Special thanks to the Johnstone Ecological Society for organising the clean up of Coquette Point and in doing so, helping us to reduce at least one of the serious threats posed to our beach nesting shorebirds. If you are interested, you too can

Go to https://www.cleanup.org.au/for details. BirdLife Northern Queensland and Johnstone Ecological Society members completing a ‘clean-up’ at Coquette Point.

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Austral Fisheries general manager Andrew Prendergast Flood - the lifeblood for said the research provided more insight into the impact of floods on the banana prawn and barramundi Gulf of Carpentaria as fisheries. The inference is that proposed activities on the rivers researchers find and continuing dry conditions in the catchments have an adverse impact on the migratory birds, and the nutrient levels lacking banana prawn and barramundi fisheries. Final note: Reported by ABC North West Qld By Krystal Gordon. Reviewed by Gary Wilson. From previous research, e.g. by the Queensland Wader Study Group, and observations from numerous Researchers from Griffith University's Australian Rivers observers, including Rob Reed, we know the shores of Institute have completed a four-year project looking the Gulf of Carpentaria are an important resource area into how water development in three Gulf rivers — the for both resident and migratory species of birds. More Flinders, Mitchell and Gilbert — is likely to affect the than 250 species have been recorded in and near near-shore environment and the wildlife that depend Karumba – the Far Eastern Curlew (IUCN Endangered) on it for survival. (in the image below) is one of the species that utilizes Professor Michele Burford said the Gulf was "poorly the area on its migratory flights. With the exception of studied" and that the research would help the 7610 ha Finucane Island NP, 25 km NE of governments take action to ensure sustainability — if Burketown, there are no other littoral-zone parks or they acted fast. conservation areas in the SE Gulf. (A request for a species list for Finucane Island NP reveals that no Dr Burford said flocks of migratory shorebirds that avian species are currently recorded in the park, visited the southern Gulf every year were endangered despite conservation of them being one of the reasons and that the Federal Government needed to follow for its listing). However, the SE Gulf is a Key international conventions to protect them. Biodiversity Area in the Birdlife Northern Queensland Australia is signatory to the RAMSAR Convention, an region, and any additional data we can contribute will international treaty that aimed to halt the worldwide assist in the discussion of appropriate land loss of wetlands, but Dr Burford said the Gulf of management and habitat conservation in the Gulf Carpentaria was not listed under the agreement. Plains. Australia was also a signatory to the East Asian- The full story can be found at Australasian Flyway Partnership, which aimed to https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10- protect migratory waterbirds and their habitats. Both 30/barramundi-banana-prawns-could-be-threatened- are voluntary agreements. gulf-of-carpentaria/12828280 The research found • a number of estuaries on the Gulf of Carpentaria are nutrient starved • the lack of nutrients could threaten migratory shorebirds, barramundi and banana prawns • heavy flooding brings nutrients from the land into the rivers, fuelling the food chain The team measured the productivity of the ecosystems and counted how many shorebirds and prawns were present at each estuary. They found that algae in the mud, the basis of the food chain, grew faster as more nutrients were added. Dr Burford said the research would help the State Government make decisions about water planning and Far Eastern Curlew, an Endangered migratory wader that allocations for irrigated agriculture. She highlighted a visits the Gulf of Carpentaria. Image by Gary Wilson. cotton farm on the Gilbert River, plans for irrigated agriculture on the Gilbert and Flinders Rivers, and the potential for a dam on the Mitchell River. The study identified another key challenge: keeping lucrative fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria viable.

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Another property in the Gulf recognised as critical shorebird pitstop on the East

Asian-Australasian Image courtesy of the The East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership https://www.eaaflyway.net/the-flyway/

Flyway The nomination is based on shorebird count data collected by CLCAC’s Normanton Rangers with support One of Queensland’s most important migratory from ornithologist Roger Jaensch and older data shorebird areas, the South-East Gulf of Carpentaria, collected by the Queensland Wader Study Group – a has been recognised as an important migratory citizen science group dedicated to the conservation of shorebird stop on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. shorebirds and their habitat. Department of Environment and Science Manager for Nomination of the site will principally increase Wetlands Mike Ronan said the Wernadinga Coast site recognition of the South-East Gulf of Carpentaria’s had been internationally recognised as a critical flyway importance for shorebird conservation in Queensland. site by the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership While a designation of a site to the Flyway Site (the Partnership), and an important part of the global Network has no statutory effect, its inclusion provides effort to protect migratory waterbirds and their recognition for the site’s values and creates habitats. opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships to Formal designation of the site was made on December improve management. 16, 2020 by the Partnership. A certificate of Mr Ronan said the flyway was essential for flocks of designation will be presented to all proponents. shorebirds that take to the skies annually to start a The Gkuthaarn and Kukatj People, represented by migration from as far away as the Arctic to Australia Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and New Zealand, and back again, in a cycle of (CLCAC) together with the leaseholder of the site, AJM breeding, chick rearing, travel, feeding and living in Pastoral, proposed the site in the South-East Gulf of perpetual summer. Carpentaria from Leichhardt River to Gore Point Unlike previous Flyway Site designations in ‘Wernadinga Coast’ to be included in the Flyway Queensland, the three Gulf sites are not in public Network. The site is located on the traditional country tenure and demonstrate the desire and capacity of of the Kukatj People. Traditional Owner groups to protect wildlife in their Mr Ronan said the Wernadinga Coast was the third country. such site in the South-East Gulf of Carpentaria to be Acting CLCAC Normanton Ranger Coordinator and recognised. Kukatj man, Hayden Tyrrell, said the site is an “The South-East Gulf of Carpentaria is recognised as important step towards protecting shorebird species one of the most important migratory shorebird areas in and their habitat. Australia,” Mr Ronan said. “We’ve lost so many animals in the past 250 years, “The Wernadinga Coast site supports up to 13,000 and we’re still losing them today. We want to protect migratory shorebirds of at least 22 species, including these species for the future and the next generation, seven Australian threatened species, as well as before another piece of our culture disappears,” Mr internationally important numbers of species such as Tyrrel said. great knot, red knot and greater sand-plover. “We’re helping these shorebirds in their fight to survive “The site incorporates approximately 7080 hectares of another thousand, two thousand years, and into the wetland including land of the Wernadinga pastoral future, and as time passes we’ll know we’ve done the lease, intertidal areas and marine waters.” right thing by mother nature.” The Queensland Government supports the Partnership View more information on the East Asian-Australasian through cooperating with and enabling Traditional Flyway Partnership and Flyway Site Network. Owners and landholders to nominate important sites to Queensland Department of Environment and the Flyway Site Network. Science media release issued 16 December 2020.

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Celebrating Australia’s Magnificent Wildlife: the art of Daryl Dickson

By Peter Valentine

Like many other people in northern Queensland I love to hear the nocturnal call of the Bush Stone-curlew; those spirit birds that shepherd the souls of the dead to the afterlife, according to many Aboriginal stories. They are frequently seen resting in the day time in urban cemeteries. We have a print of Daryl Dickson’s life-size (acrylic on canvas 2009) rendition of Bush Stone-curlews hanging in our living room and brightening each day. This work is amongst many other wonderful paintings of birds in her new book, Celebrating Australia’s Magnificent Wildlife. There is much visual enjoyment in this splendid volume, from the Double-eyed Fig-parrots on the Luckily for us, that led to Daryl leaving school rather cover through to a diverse selection of bird paintings than art and through international travel and work she and many equally appealing other wildlife paintings in was able to develop and nurture her creative abilities. several different styles and media. The first part of the But perhaps the best decision that Daryl and husband book includes an all too brief account of Daryl’s life and Geoff Moffatt made was to move to far northern art. Although born in England, Daryl emigrated to Queensland and settle within the Wet Tropics World Australia with her parents when only 7 years old. Heritage Area. And within no time at all, both were Growing up on the Fleurieu Peninsula (south of strongly engaged with wildlife conservation and Adelaide) Daryl was immersed in nature, quite rehabilitation with leading roles in the newly different from her earliest recollections from England – rediscovered but Endangered Mahogany Glider it was a “wonderful, adventurous and creative early recovery plan. Much of Daryl’s wildlife art reflects that childhood”. northern Queensland connection, with beautiful works Determined to pursue her love of art, Daryl was on Mahogany Gliders, Tree Kangaroos, possums and disappointed to be told by her school advisor that quolls. Many birds also feature in this wonderful there was no future for women in art! collection, including our iconic Cassowary. The bulk of the book consists of the plates, more than 100 pages of Daryl’s art each in vibrant colour with details of the medium, the year completed and the original dimensions of the work. Most of the art is watercolour on paper, but several other media are used. For each piece, there is a short text typically about the subject, especially behaviour and conservation details. There are 36 bird species included, some with more than one painting. Much of the art spreads over the past 20 years and members may recall that Daryl was awarded the 2008 Wet Tropics Cassowary Award for Art. But Daryl and Geoff have continued with conservation activities together and that was recognised in 2017 by the William T. Cooper Conservation Award from the Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group. All this time the art developed further and more distinctive works were produced. One of the recent works is a fine likeness of a Macleay’s Honeyeater (in 2018) and about the same time a beautiful Ulysses butterfly was created.

December 2020 27 BirdLife Northern Queensland

It’s impossible to pick favourites from the plates, but I am very much drawn to the panorama of crested terns An Australian Birding that Daryl calls ‘Tern Tern Tern’. In this painting, we engage with a flock of terns spread across the page Year with heads in all directions seeming to be chatting with each other. Another treat is the wonderful pair of Tawny Frogmouth perched together. BY R. BRUCE RICHARDSON (2020) This is a delightful book with plenty of interest and JOHN BEAUFOY PUBLISHING many outstanding artworks beautifully illustrated. A book to enjoy often and at $55 this large format hard Review by Lindsay Fisher cover volume is excellent value. There have been many books written about birding years, most memorable being The Big Twitch by Sean Dooley, but this one is from a rather different perspective. Apart from starting on 20th August, 2015 and finishing twelve months later, Bruce had no detailed plan or aspirations to set any records. Rather it was a laid back meander around Australia with just one side-trip to Norfolk Island, some house-sitting and family breaks included and even so, 640 birds were seen. Bruce and his wife Lynn bought ‘Matilda’, a Join us on Facebook secondhand campervan, to start their travels, but after a while they realised they needed a vehicle to take them to more remote places, so ‘Troopi’ was purchased. This was a story of finding birds, but also finding friends and meeting, in person, many of Bruce's Facebook birding friends. It was a tale of how important friendship is in the birding world and just how generous most birders are with their time and knowledge. It was also a tale of Australia seen from the perspective of two American's giving us many interesting observations of our land. Bruce and Lynn were persistent with their task of finding as many birds as possible, often at a slow pace though with many days of excitement finding lifers to go on their year list. Celebrating lifers is Bruce's forte with his traditional ‘Lifer Pie’, often just an ice cream on a stick or sometimes a special meal. His descriptions of his huge delight in finding an elusive bird makes you want to race off and look for it yourself! Alongside Lynn was celebrating with him and often was the one who located the bird with her excellent hearing. They worked as a team and sometimes felt challenged in Australia's outback camping in Troopi's confined area, but treated themselves to cabins or motel rooms when they felt the need. A follow-up book could be about the best fish and chips and caravan parks found around Australia! Keith and l actually met Bruce and Lynn on this trip while they were looking for near Mt Isa with his friends Robert and Laurie – three troopy's together! Thank you Bruce for writing this often very personal book which will inspire us to all head out and explore our vast country.

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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. 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

December 2020 29 BirdLife Northern Queensland

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the local BirdLife group in Northern Queensland. Any profit is used for education and conservation projects in our region. The advertisements must be relevant to BirdLife Northern Queensland members and compatible with BirdLife Australia objectives and fund- raising guidelines.

Quarter page advertisements for four issues can be purchased for $80 plus GST, or $25 plus GST for single-issue advertisements. Contact the Editors of Contact Call or the BNQ Treasurer for further information.

______WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORGANISE AN ACTIVITY IN YOUR AREA? OR PERHAPS A CAMP OUT? The BirdLife Northern Queensland role of activities coordinator is currently vacant. If you would like to take on this role, or even just

help with organising a single event, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

______ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING This is just a little advance notice that the BirdLife Northern Queensland Annual General

Meeting will be held in March 2021, at a date and venue to be announced. Financial BirdLife Northern Queensland members can nominate for a position on the committee.

If you are interested in nominating for a position, or, if you would like to play a more active role, but not be a committee member, then please do let us know.

Contact [email protected] or call one of the current or past committee members for further information. Take your interest in birds and nature to the next level Join us and get involved

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Noticeboard Advice on BirdLife Northern Queensland FROM THE EDITOR Special thanks to all of our contributors in 2020. It has Activities and COVID-19 been a challenging year and we aprreciate your stories, news, reports, and images. BirdLife Northern Queensland activities are managed in line with Queensland Government COVID-19 A big thank you to Assistant Editor, Gary Wilson, and requirements. Activities may be cancelled at short our talented photographers who answer our call for notice if circumstances change. images, often at short notice, and to our proofreader, Kath Shurcliff. Please remember, if you plan on attending BirdLife Northern Queensland activities or Newsletter deadlines for 2021 are: events: ➢ January 30th for the February-March Edition ❖ Contact the activity organiser to confirm your ➢ April 10th for the May/June Edition attendance ➢ July 10th for the September Edition ❖ Stay at home if you are unwell ➢ October 10th for the December Edition ❖ Practice physical distancing as much as possible and: ➢ avoid contact such as hugs, kisses and handshakes ➢ cover coughs and sneezes ➢ use hand sanitiser or wash your hands regularly with soap and water ➢ wherever possible keep at least 1.5 metres away, two big steps, from people you don’t live with.

❖ Don’t share personal equipment (e.g. binoculars).

For more information: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/

December 2020 31 BirdLife Northern Queensland

BirdLife Northern Queensland 2021 Activities

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Contact the leader FINCH SURVEY TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Our finch survey team is planning training sessions in For more information, January – January to April (they will be opportunistic hence no please contact Ray Pierce April 2021 prescribed dates yet). [email protected] We are aiming to get more people trained in our survey methods for Gouldian Finches. For more information HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY please contact Ron You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding Schweitzer and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the Hastie’s swamp. Based mainly at and around the bird hide, [email protected] Swamp, members will survey the birds present at the wetlands We look forward to seeing Atherton Friday 1st 7:00– and count the numbers of each species. Both waterbirds you there! Meet at and bush birds in the adajcent fringing vegetation are January 9:00 am In the event of a severe Hastie’s included. We hope to follow the seasonal changes weather or other Swamp Hide through the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car unforeseen circumstances, car park park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to events may be cancelled at finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring short notice. Contact the binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and event organiser to confirm morning ‘smoko’. events. BIRDING AROUND WARRINA LAKES Warrina You're invited to join us for a couple of hours of social Lakes, birding around Warrina Lakes. Sandra Christensen, Innisfail Cassowary Coast Area After birding we'll have morning tea at the lakes (BYO Sunday Meet in the Coordinator 7:00– morning tea). 10th carpark in For more information, 9:30am January Park St, off It’s the very wet tropics so bring an umbrella and please contact 0448 845 the corner of waterproof shoes, just in case. Also, binoculars, 842. Emily and sunscreen, hat, and insect repellent. In the event of a Charles St, severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, We hope you can make it! Innisfail events may be cancelled at short notice. Contact the event organiser to confirm events.

HASTIES SWAMP MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY For more information please contact Ron You're invited to join us for a great morning of birding Schweitzer and collecting data on the birdlife in and around the Hastie’s [email protected] swamp. Based mainly at and around the bird hide, Swamp, members will survey the birds present at the wetlands We look forward to seeing Atherton Friday 5th 7:00– and count the numbers of each species. Both waterbirds you there! February 9:00 am Meet at and bush birds in the adajcent fringing vegetation are In the event of a severe Hastie’s included. We hope to follow the seasonal changes weather or other Swamp Hide through the year. We'll meet at Hasties Swamp Hide car unforeseen circumstances, car park park on Koci Road. Start time is 7:00am and we plan to events may be cancelled at finish with a cuppa at around 9:00am. Bring short notice. Contact the binoculars/scope, field guide, notebook and pen, and event organiser to confirm morning ‘smoko’. events.

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