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Notes on Non-Nectar Foods of Some Honeyeaters in Eastern New South Wales by A.B

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Notes on Non-Nectar Foods of Some Honeyeaters in Eastern New South Wales by A.B AUSTRALIAN 26 BIRD WATCHER AUSTRALIAN BIRD WATCHER 1999, 18, 26-34 Notes on Non-nectar Foods of Some Honeyeaters in Eastern New South Wales by A.B. ROSE, Associate, The Australian Museum, 6-8 College Street, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000 (present address: 61 Boundary Street, Forster, N.S.W. 2428) Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) eat a variety of foods besides nectar, including fruit and insects. Many species are not primarily nectarivorous (e.g. Blakers et al. 1984, Schodde & Tidemann 1986, Longmore 1991). Incidental records of non-nectar food sources used by honeyeaters have been collated by Barker & Vestjens (1990) and Lepschi (1993, 1997). This paper lists additional records, obtained from personal observations and from the stomach contents of birds found dead. Records previously listed by Rose (1973, 1974) are not included here. Stomach contents were examined microscopically, and identified by comparison with reference material and, for insects, with the aid of a manual (CSIRO 1970). Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata Observations: 1. Wahroonga (33°43'S, 151 °08'E), 4 September 1982: one bird hopped in an ungainly manner on a lawn whilst feeding on ants (Formicidae). 2. Caringbah (34°03'S, 151°08'E), '25 January 1983 (S. Cook): three adults fed a juvenile Common Koel Eudynamys scofopacea with figs taken from a cultivated fig tree Ficus carica. Stomach contents: Two birds killed by cats and two birds killed on roads are listed below. Four other specimens contained only fluid, most likely nectar, and are not listed. 1. Wahroonga, 26 March 1970: remains of a small beetle (Coleoptera). 2. Wahroonga, 1 May 1973: 11 beetles (nine Cantharidae, one Chrysomelidae and one larval coccinellid); two species of ant; also fluid (water and/or nectar). 3. Wahroonga, 11 November 1974: one beetle; one moth (Lepidoptera); and one homopteran nymph (Hemiptera). 4. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (33°39'S, 151°09'E), 4 November 1975 (A. Norman): remains of beetles and ants. Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera Observations: 1. Mt Colah (33°40'S, 151 °07'E), 29 March 1982: a nestling was fed a mantis (Mantidae). 2. Forster (3Z0 11'S, 152°31'E), 21 October 1988: an adult bird caught a Bogong MothAgrotis infusa in mid air and ate it. 3. Forster, 30 October 1988: a massive emergence of winged termites (lsoptera) was drifting in the air. An adult bird, perched on a television aerial, repeatedly twisted its head up and down to target a termite, then fluttered up to catch it. 4. Forster, 10 March 1991: one bird caught and ate a nymphal grasshopper (Orthoptera) in a tree. 5. Forster, 24 September 1991: one bird fed on winged ants moving up the trunk of a eucalypt. 6. Forster, 2 October 1991: one bird ate White Wax Scale Gascardia destructor from a Fiddlewood Citharexylum hydalglense; also ate one caterpillar (Lepidoptera). 7. Forster, 4 October 1992: one bird ate a caterpillar. 8. Forster, 22 March 1998: one bird ate lerps Eucalyptolyma i"egularis in a eucalypt after an Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis and two Rainbow Lorikeets Trichoglossus haematodus had been feeding on lerps there. VOL. 18 (1) MARCH1999 Non-nectar Foods of Honeyeaters 27 Adult Red Wattlebird, Mt Eliza, Vic., March 1995 Plate 5 Photo: M.J. Carter Little Wattlebird, Mt Eliza, Vic., October 1993 Plate6 Photo: M.J. Carter AUSTRALIAN 28 ROSE BIRD WATCHER Stomach contents: 1. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 30 August 1972 (B. Cameron-Smith): scales of a butterfly or moth (Lepidoptera); one wasp (Hymenoptera); and remains of other flying insects. 2. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, l May 1983 (C. Bennett): sweet-smelling liquid; minute remains of vegetable matter; and trace of a small insect. 3. Forster, 30 August 1985: ants. Three other stomachs were empty or possibly contained nectar. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis Stomach contents: Griffith area (34°15'S, 146°02'E), September 1974 (J. Moore): minute remains of flying insects, including beetles. , Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata Stomach contents: West of Rankin Springs (33°53'S, 146°14'E), 22 December 1973 (K. Blade): one winged insect; one spider ( Araneae); and berries with a shiny black seed in each. Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus Observations: 1. Manobalai Nature Reserve, near Muswellbrook (32°1l'S, 150°40'E), 12 December 1978: one bird ate the fruit of Native Cherry Exocarpos cupressiformis. 2. Forster, 30 September 1985: two birds hawked a large hatch of craneflies (Tipulidae) with two Dollarbirds Eurystomus orienta/is at dusk. 3. Forster, 4 June 1986: 12 birds were swooping about over the treetops on a still day. Six Spangled Drongos Dicmrus bracteatus joined them, then five Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes Coracina novaehollandiae. All birds were catching insects, possibly flying ants, for two days later (6 June) I watched the Friarbirds flutter around a tree and settle on the trunk briefly, when a swarm of ants was about to take flight. 4. Forster, 5 July 1986: two birds were on a lawn with one Red Wattlebird, hopping about whilst feeding on ants. 5. Forster, 29 September 1988: one bird caught and ate a Bogong Moth. Stomach contents: 1. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 20 November 1973 (G. Vincent): one coccinellid beetle. 2. Forster, 24 June 1986: stomach empty, but face thickly coated with pollen. Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis Observations: 1. Forster, 5 June 1987: one bird gleaned in a tomato bush Lycopersicon esculentum, eating insects (not the fruit). 2. Kyogle (28°35'S, 152°55'E), 30 July 1989: one bird fed on a ripe avocado Persea americana still hanging in the tree. 3. Braemar State Forest south of Casino (29°04'S, 153°01'E), 14 March 1996: two birds hopped on the ground around a picnic table, picking up ants. Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala Observations: 1. Bobbin Head (33°39'S, 151°09'E), 30 January.1969: three birds fed on sap oozing from a Grey Gum Eucalyptus punctata. 2. Bobbin Head, 28 October 1971: one bird ate a large earthworm (Lumbricidae) washed out by rain. VOL.18 (1) MARCH1999 Non-nectar Foods of Honeyeaters 29 3. Bobbin Head, 25 October 1973: one bird ate a large cicadaPsaltoda moerens, with two other Miners in pursuit. The cicada's head and abdomen were eaten before dropping the remainder, which another Miner took to a tree, dropping one wing then the body. This second bird then flew down and took the remains to flat ground for consumption, leaving only the wings. On 30 November two Miners were eating the same species of cicada. 4. Forster, 3 May 1985: one bird fed on insects (including moths) and spiders, by fluttering up to take them where they rested under the eaves of a verandah. 5. Forster, 27 April 1988: seven birds fed on insects on the ground amongst grass and weeds. 6. Forster, 25 May 1988: one bird with a green caterpillar in its bill. 7. Forster, 4 October 1988: young in two nests were fed entirely on Bogong Moths. 8. Forster, 7 and 12 December 1988: two juveniles with two adult birds fed on insects on a verandah. 9. Forster, 18 March 1998: five birds fed on lerps (Psyllidae) in a eucalypt. Stomach contents: 1. Bobbin Head, 10 October 1973: three different species of beetle; ants; and one spider (Salticidae). 2. Bobbin Head, 22 November 1973: one beetle and one moth. 3. Bobbin Head, 29 January 1974: minute remains of insects, including lepidopterans. 4. Bobbin Head, 16 January 1975 (M. Wilson): two weevils (Curculionidae); one coccinellid beetle; and one caterpillar. 5. Fitzroy Falls (34°38'S, 1500Z7'E), 14 July 1975 (H. Malone): beetle remains; quartz grit. 6. Patonga (33°33'S, 151.17'E), September 1975 (no other data): one elaterid beetle; otherwise full of ants, of four different species, including some large winged individuals. Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula Stomach contents: Rankin Springs, 18 April 1976 (J. Brickhill): many small dark bugs (Hemiptera); one locust (Acrididae); two coccinellid beetles; one ant; and one seed. Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii Obsetvations: 1. Gloucester (31.57'S, 152001'E), 6 October 1973: one bird fed at garden flowers then on berries of Holly /lex comuta. 2. Gloucester, 22-26 December 1977: nestlings were fed chrysomelid beetles, plums Prunus, Cape Gooseberries Physalis peruviana, strawberries Fragaria, apricots Prunus armeniaca, peaches P. persica and Purple Prune P. purpurea fruit; also sunflower Helianthus annuus petals, and nectar from lemon Citrus limon and Crepe Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica flowers. 3. Gloucester, 5 October 1978: one bird ate Holly berries between bouts of nest-building. 4. Gloucester, 21 October 1978: one nestling was fed a Black Beetle Heteronychus arator. 5. Gloucester, 24 October 1978: one bird chased a Small White Butterfly Pieris rapae 50 m before catching it. 6. Woko National Park, near Gloucester (31°48'S, 151°48'E), 6 June 1980: 12+ birds ate the fruit of White Cedar Melia azedarach, in company with Olive-backed Orioles Oriolus sagittatus. 7. Port Macquarie (310Z7'S, 152°55'E), 4 February 1997: one bird ate three medium-sized black ants. Stomach contents: 1. Bobbin Head, 1 July 1975 (J. Steenson): remains offruit and one seed of Cape Gooseberry (a weed). 2. tiona, near Forster (32.18'S, 152.32'E), 27 May 1988: small black ants. Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops Obsetvation: Forster, 30 October 1988: two birds fed on scale (Hemiptera) on eucalypt leaves. AUS1RALIAN 30 ROSE BIRD WATCHER Yellow-throated Miner Plate 7 Photo: Dorothy Deason Lewin's Honeyeater Plate 8 Photo: B. & K. Richards VOL.18 (1) MARCH1999 Non-nectar Foods of Honeyeaters 31 White-eared Honeyeater Plate 9 Photo: B. & K. Richards New Holland Honeyeater Plate 10 Photo: K.
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