VOL. 12 (8) DECEMBER 1988 TRAILL: Turquoise Parrot in East 267

Reynolds, R.T. (1972), 'Sexual dimorphism in Accipiter hawks: a new hypothesis', Condor 74, 191-197. --& Wight, H.M. (1978), 'Distribution, density, and productivity of Accipiter hawks breeding in Oregon', Wilson Bull. 90, 182-196. Roberts, N.L. (1955) , 'A survey of the habit of nest appropriation', Emu 55, 110-126. Schnell, J.H. (1958), 'Nesting behaviour and food habits of Goshawks in the Sierra Nevada of California', Condor 60, 377-403. Serventy, D.L. & Whittell, H .M. (1976), Birds ofl#stern , Univ. of Western Australia, Perth. Slater, P. (1961), 'Nesting of the Australian Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)', Emu 61, 134-136. Smeenk, C. & Smeenk-Enserink, N. (1977), 'Observations on the Shikra Accipiter badius in Nigeria', Ardea 65, 148-164. Steyn, P. (1972), 'The Little Sparrowhawk at home', Bokmakierie 24, 13-16. Tarboton, W.R. (1978), 'Breeding of the Little Banded Goshawk', Ostrich 49, 132-143. Tonge, W.C. (1925), 'Sparrow-hawk at home', Victorian Naturalist 42, 4-5. • Short Notes-

The Thrquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella in

In the early part of the century the Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella suffered a severe decline in numbers, with some observers even regarding it as extinct (e.g. Campbell1915). Populations recovered from the 1930s onward (Chaffer & Miller 1946, Frith 1952, Forshaw 1981, Blakers et al . 1984) and in populations in the north­ east of the state are still increasing in range and numbers (B. Quinn pers. comm.). However, the species is still regarded as restricted and rare in Victoria (Forshaw 1981, Anon. 1987). Thrquoise Parrots have been recorded near Mallacoota, east Gippsland, Victoria, for a number of years. The population is of interest, as it is very isolated from other known populations, and because it uses coastal heathland, an atypical habitat for the species (Forshaw 1981, Blakers et al. 1984). In this note I describe the status and distribution of the species in far-east Gippsland. There have been irregular records of Turquoise Parrots in far-east Gippsland since a sighting in 1950 (L. Robinson pers. comm.). Until 1984 all records were from the coast near Mallacoota, mostly at Shipwreck Creek, 15 km west of Mallacoota (K. Morrison pers. comm., L. Robinson pers. comm., M. Ruffpers. comm., H. Beste pers. comm.). In addition it is possible that some records of Blue-winged Parrots Neophema chrysostoma from the district (e.g. Pascoe 1979) may have been misidentified Thrquoise Parrots. Blue-winged Parrots are absent, or are at best very rare visitors to east Gippsland (Emison et al. 1987). Numbers ofThrquoise Parrots around Mallacoota are quite low. The highest number of birds recorded at one time was of six birds at Shipwreck Creek in 1986 (M. Ruff pers. comm.). At this site they have been observed in both coastal heathland and adjacent lowland sclerophyll forest (sub-community 17.1 and community 16 in Forbes et al. 1982). In December 1984 and March 1985, Turquoise Parrots were observed in a separate area 30 km north of the Mallacoota sites (Drummond 1985, pers. obs.). Pairs of adults inspecting nest sites were observed in December and a group of eight juvenile-plumaged birds was observed in March. All observations were along the Wingan River (north of the ) and the adjacent catchments of Jones Creek and Genoa Creek. All of the parrots observed were in coastal heathland or nearby lowland sclerophyll forest (sub-communities 17.1, 17.4 and 16.2 in Forbes et al. 1982). Most of this area AUSTRALIAN 268 TRAILL: Turquoise Parrot in East Gippsland BIRD WATCHER

was burned severely by wildfire in February 1983. Regrowth was vigorous with many seeding grasses and this may have produced good conditions for the parrots. A local aviculturist and forestry worker, Mr Ray Johnson, has known of Turquoise Parrots in the upper Wingan River area since the early 1970s. He has worked throughout the region but has observed the birds only at the sites on the upper Wingan River, and Shipwreck Creek. Surveys in other heathlands in east Gippland were carried out by the Victorian Fisheries and Wildlife Department in the early 1980s and by the Monash University Biological Society during brief searches in 1986. No Turquoise Parrots were observed. However, the possibility remains that the birds move locally and that other sites are regularly used besides Shipwreck Creek and the upper Wingan River. Although observations of Turquoise Parrots in east Gippsland have been sporadic, some points on the status and ecology of the species in the area can be made. In east Gippsland all observations to date have been at, or very near, the two areas mentioned: Shipwreck Creek and the upper Wingan River. All sightings have been in coastal heathland (sub-communities 17.1, 17.2 & 17.4 in Forbes et al. 1982), or in lowland sclerophyll forest (sub-communities 16.2 and possibly other sub-communities of community 16, in Forbes et al. 1982). Turquoise Parrots were never observed more than a kilometre from heathland. The number of birds is low, and I estimate that there are fewer than 50 adult birds between the two sites. Breeding has only been recorded at Wingan River but is likely to occur also at Shipwreck Creek. Most sightings have been in spring-autumn, but this may only reflect seasonal differences in the number of observers present. At least one observer has observed them in the winter and early spring (R. Johnson pers. comm.). It appears that in east Gippsland the parrots are dependent on a heath-forest ecotone. This is different from most other areas in the range of the Turquoise Parrot, where grassland-forest ecotones are used (Forshaw 1981). The closest known breeding population to east Gippsland is to the north, near Nowra on the New South Wales south coast. There have also been occasional reports from the Monaro Tablelands south of Canberra and from the upper in Victoria (Forshaw 1981; Emison et al. 1987). It is possible that there has always been a small population in east Gippsland which was overlooked by early observers (e.g. Le Souef 1895, White 1915). Alternatively, the .area may have been colonised recently, following the general increase in Turquoise Parrot numbers in the last few decades. Despite the small population, the Turquoise Parrot is probably fairly secure in east Gippsland. The Shipwreck Creek site is protected in the Croajingalong National Park. The Wingan River site is designated for timber production but this is unlikely to affect the particular sites used by the Turquoise Parrots. Further work would be needed to determine if the population is stable. My thanks to all the observers who helped by passing on their records and also to members of the Monash University Biological Society who assisted in 1986. Initial observations were carried out while I was employed by the Victorian Department of Conservation, Forests & Lands doing pre-logging surveys of fauna. Anne Opie provided information on the plant communities at the various sites. Peter Menkhorst provided valuable comments as referee. References Anonymous, (1987), Conservation in Victoria: 1. Plants and Animals at Risk, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, Melbourne Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F. & Reilly, P.N. (1984) , The Atlas ofAustralian Birds, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne. VOL. 12 (8) DECEMBER 1988 TANNER & JAENSCH: Sarus Crane near Karratha, W.A. 269

Campbell, A.J. (1915), 'Missing birds', Emu 14, 167-168. Chaffer, N. & Miller, G. (1946), 'The Thrquoise Parrot near Sydney', Emu U, 161-167. Drummond, R. (1985), Victorian Bird Report, 1985, Bird Observers Club, Melbourne. Emison, W.B., Beardsell, C.M., Norman, El. & Loyn R.H. (1987), Atlns of Victorian Birds, Department of Conservation, Forests & Lands and the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne. Forbes, S.J., Walsh, N.G. & Gullan, P.K. (1982), 'Vegetation of East Gippsland', Muelleria 5, 53-113. Forshaw, J.M. (1981), Australian Parrots, 2nd edn, Lansdowne, Melbourne. Frith, H.J. (1952), 'A record of the Thrquoise Parrakeet', Emu 52, 99-101. Le Souef, D. (1895), 'Trip to Mallacoota', Vic. Nat. U, 76-81. Pascoe, B. (1979), Birds of Mallacoota, Mallacoota School, Mallacoota. White, S.A. (1915), 'The birds of Mallacoota', Emu 14, 135-144. By B.J. TRAILL, 1 Jllirwick Road, UVdonga, Victoria 3690 • A Sarus Crane near Karratha, Western Australia

The Sarus Crane Grus antigone has two subspecies: antigone in India and sharpei in south-eastern Asia, the Philippines and Australia. In Australia, it occurs mainly in northern Queensland but it has been recorded also at scattered localities to the west, including the Victoria River district in the Northern Territory (15 °S, 129 °E) and three localities in the Kimberley Division of Western Australia (Blakers et al. 1984, Pizzey 1980). It is similar in appearance to the Brolga G. rubicundus. Two of the Kimberley records were made during fieldwork for The Atlas of Australian Birds (Blakers et al. 1984) and apparently have not been described in the literature. The first was from Bigge Island (14 °35 'S, 125 OJO 'E) on 22 July 1977: two birds were seen on beach or tidal flats near mangroves by G. Wells, H. Messel and W. Green. The observers had no prior experience with the Sarus Crane but after a few minutes of observation at 100 m they noted that the cranes had 'more red on neck area than Brolga' (Atlas data: Unusual Record Report Form). The second record was from 1.0 km south of Windjana Gorge (17 OZ5 'S, 124 °57 'E) on 7 August 1978: two birds were seen moving through tall grassland, by R. Moon and his wife. These observers also had no prior experience with the Sarus Crane though Brolgas were reasonably common in the neighbourhood. They watched the Sarus Cranes for 2-3 minutes at 100-200 m and noted 'large grey bird(s) with definitely more red around the head (than Brolga) and extending down neck' (Atlas data: Unusual Record Report Form). Whereas Storr (1980) does not mention Sarus Crane in his comprehensive list of Kimberley birds, Pizzey (1980) includes the Ord River area in the range of the Crane. We are aware of reports of the Crane from the lower Ord River floodplain and Lake Argyle by local observers, but are not aware of any confirmed or published records from the Ord River area. An occurrence of the Sarus Crane in the Pilbara Division, Western Australia, has recently been documented. On 24 February 1988, I. Tanner saw and photographed a crane at Miaree Pool (20 °5l'S, 116 °36 'E) on the Maitland River, about 28 km WSW of Karratha. As the bird was thought to be a Sarus Crane, a print was sent to J. Starks (RAOU, Melbourne) and R. Jaensch (RAOU, Perth), and this indentification was confirmed. The photograph illustrates red colour extending down the neck, lack of a dewlap under the chin and pink legs, all of which are typical of Sarus Crane but not of Brolga. The Karratha record is, as far as we know, the most southerly and westerly occurrence of the Sarus Crane in Australia. Future occurrences in Western Australia should be documented in detail, in order that the status of the Crane in this State may be clarified. The range of this species is apparently extending quickly: the Sarus Crane was