The Wren

Volume 6 Number 2 June 2017

Male Red-backed Fairy-wren in song Barry Deacon

PRESIDENTS REPORT Contents It is always exciting to go somehere new and An Interrupted Lunch / Nature Adapting ...... 2 see unfamiliar birds, some possibly for the The Clermont Report / C.P. Holiday Park ...... 3 very first time (lifers). When cyclone Debbie was finished belting us from pillar to post, I Stentwood at Woodvale / Cyclone Debbie ...... 4 finally was able to fly to Victoria for my pre- Discovering DeMoleyns ...... 5 booked break. Save the Bush Sone-curlew Project / Did You Know ...... 6 Once settled in I got the opportunity to visit Botanic Gardens Surveys / Sightings of Interest ...... 7 Kamarooka Forest, which is the northern A Major Myna Invasion ...... 8 section of the Greater Bendigo Natinal Park, Crazy Bird Stories ...... 9 where I wasn’t disappointed. There is such a Poem – A Change of Plan ...... 10 diverse range of trees and shrubs here that there is alwys something flowering, creating a Poem – A Change of Plan ...... 11 continual supply of nectar to sustain twenty New Birds in our Area / E.H. Report Summary ...... 12 species of honeyeaters. I was lucky enough to E.H. Report Summary / Sightings of Interest...... 13 see six plus good sightings of a Shy Greater Bendigo National Park ...... 14 Heathwren, a Red-capped Robin and Crested February Monthly Outing ...... 15 Shrike-tits. Profile / Sightings of Interest ...... 16 On another side of Bendigo I enjoyed the DeMoleyns Lagoon ...... 17 company and an escort around a ‘Save our Bush Stone-curlew Project’ at Shelbourne. Goodbye to the Waders / Christmas in the Congo ...... 18 Land clearing, fires and foxes have March Monthly Outing / April Monthly Outing 19 devastated the local wild population of this Sightings of Interest / Monthly Outings Calendar ...... 20 iconic bird. Daryl Barnes

The Wren

AN INTERRUPTED LUNCH I was enjoying a leisurely late lunch on the verandah, when a bird hit the window beside me and landed in my lap. Lucky it wasn't in my lunch. At first I thought it was a very young bird of some sort but couldn't guess which because of very buff colours and edges to the feathers. I searched my bird app and Bird book and came to the conclusion it must be either a Bassian Thrush or a Russett-tailed Thrush. They are so very similar and because it was in my hand, I could check details, one of which was a clincher for me, the white marking on the inside of the outside tail feathers. Apparently the Bassian Thrush just has tips of white. I played the sounds of both Thrushes and yes I have heard the Russett-tailed Thrush but hadn't known what it was. I don't recall hearing the other one here. Oh dear I hope there are more around because it didn't survive. I sent photos to my brother David who confirmed that it WAS an adult Russet-tailed Thrush. Report and photo by Rosemary Braithwaite

NATURE ADAPTING TO HUMANS AND HUMANS HELPING NATURE Having suffered the extreme heat in early March we were surprised to see a pair of our resident Peaceful Doves starting a nest in one of our galvanised pipes we use to tie our shade cloth over the pool. They continued to build and finally it was obvious that it was going to be the family home. We were so worried with the excessive heat that the eggs would not survive, so, after preparing in advance the sun umbrella with extra length etc, when mum went for a break, my husband Gary quickly erected it above the nest. We felt at least some hope of success. After a couple of weeks it was finally obvious that a pair of chicks had hatched. Being so close was a joy to watch both mum and dad share the job of looking after the chicks, with mainly mum feeding. I was worried when, at times, both parents left the nest open to predators. With cyclone Debbie fast approaching we were of course worried about the nest being so prone and wondering what we could do to protect it. Unfortunately, the morning prior to the cyclonic winds hit us, when we woke, the chicks were gone. Mum kept returning to check, but something had obviously taken them while she was away early in the morning. Both Gary and I were devastated as we were thinking of ourselves as grandparents and so enjoyed our daily entertainment of watching them feed. I may be imagining it but I am sure the look in the mums eyes changed once the chicks had hatched. To see the motherly pride of having her chicks was a wonderful sight and we were so lucky to have had them so close. Story and photo by Kim & Gary Brett

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THE CLERMONT REPORT Mid April 2017.

On a recent drive out to Theresa Creek Dam the first thing we noticed was the lack of water birds anywhere..Howeverwedid manage to spot over one hundred Plum-headed Finches nearby. By the T.V. tower off McDonald’s Flats Road we watched on as some eighty plus White-browed Woodswallows put on an aerial display catching insects. Although we didn’t sight to many, we heard lots of Striated Pardalotes wherever we went. On about the 8 th of April we had our first sightings of a Grey Fantail for this year plus our first sighting of a Red-backed Kingfisher. Birds other than the more common species like Magpies, mudlarks, willies and Brown Honeyeaters, we saw a pair of Rufous Whistlers and a few Brown Songlarks and White-naped Honeyeaters. Generally around Clermont from a birding perspective, things have been very quiet. Report by Bob & Ollie McTrusty

CAPE PALMERSTON HOLIDAY PARK. Barry & Lesley, Gerry and I planned a trip to visit the Cape Palmerston Holiday Park and surrounding area and on Thursday March 9 th the plan was implemented. After the hour’s drive from Mackay we were keen to stretch the legs. We did so once we had arrived at Knobblers Creek where the tide was on the make. After receiving our birding fix we drove back to the park office and caught up with owners Col and Kate who were most welcoming. We had a lengthy chat with both and gained some of the history of the park plus we were informed of the current additions that were being undertaken and of future developments that were in the pipeline. It was a first time visit for each of us and we left the office with a map of the area and continued exploring tracks with high anticipation of good sightings. Neither the large or small dam in the park provided us with many bird species there was potential habitat for rails and crakes around both. Although we didn’t set eyes on one, the highlight for the morning was listening to a Wonga Pigeon call from within dense beach scrub. We paused for a smoko break sitting in the rotunda before departing the holiday park. After a drive through Greenhills residential area we made our next port of call the wetlands at the entrance to Notch Point. Here there were quite a variety of water birds scattered about and holding our interest for awhile. Once through the gate into Notch Point we parked up for a lunch break looking over Marian Creek. Here is where we got some good sightings of several birds including Pale-headed Rosellas, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and Pied Butcherbirds.

Lathams Snipe Barry Deacon

By mid afternoon we were back on the heading for Mackay having racked up 72 species. However, arguably the best bird sighting for the day came when we were going for a quick look in the Sandringham Bay Conservation Reserve. By a flooded drain adjacent the road stood a Latham’s Snipe that very obligingly hung around for a photo shoot. Report by Daryl Barnes.

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STENTWOOD at WOODVALE in VIC Situated on the edge of the Whipstick Forest just a few clicks west of Bendigo and Eaglehawk was my sister Bev and husband Ken’s property called Stentwood. It was here that I spent a restful sixteen days recovering from a bout of bronchitis on their Angora and Anglo Nubian goat property…...also with Andy the Alpaca. The Whipstick Forest wis part of the Greater Bendigo National Park and comprises variable habitat although the area immediately adjacent Stentwood had only sparse understory dominated by Ironbark, Yellow Box and Yellow Gum trees. There was little to no habitat for smallish bird species and I only had a few sightings of a Willy Wagtail plus a few circling Welcome Swallows. Either by sight or by sound Noisy Miners were the most dominant bird by far with small numbers of Galah coming in second. The resident half dozen or so Crested Pigeons were there to clean up spilt seed and grain around goat feeders. Frequent visitors to the house yard were a close family of twenty plus White-winged Choughs.

White-winged Choughs Steve Dew Their beautiful high-pitched walling calls would ring out loud and clear.. A White-backed Magpie or two were often seen and heard around and occasionally a pair of Eastern Rosellas would land nearby until they were hunted off once the Noisy Miners became aware of their presence. Story by Daryl Barnes. CYCLONE DEBBIE As far as cyclones go for Mackay, this would have to be the one with the most devastating and widespread effect on the area in most peoples memory. Whilst Mackay itself was spared from too much structural damage the northen towns of our region like Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Bowen ad the didn’t come out of it so well. From a birding perspective the adverse weather conditions brought ocean going seabirds to reach our coastline for a brief and unplanned visit. Numbers of Frigatebirds (‘Lesser’ I beleive) were frequently observed overhead along many areas whilst a flock of tired Black Noddy’s were seen resting at the Slade Point Reserve and waiting for the cyclone winds to pass Black Noddy Barry D eacon On Thursday March 30 th when the rain and the wind had subsided I saw birdlife flying around and through our house yard in Walkerston. Where they had been for the previous three days, one can only wonder, but there they were. As the days passed and food supplies began to run low, birds started to be more aggressive between species as competition hotted up. The fruit eating specialists like doves and pigeons have been forced to search further afield for food. Normally only observed in dense forested areas or high in tree canopies, sightings of birds like the Topknot and White-headed Pigeons, Wompoo, Superb and Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves and Brown Cuckoo-Doves are being seen more and more in areas where they had never or only occasionally been see before and competing for food with Figbirds, Friarbirds Mistletoebirds and Rainbow Lorikeets. Also of note, in less than three weeks after Cyclone Debbie, the Flying Fox colony in Bakers Creek Walkerston has dispersed somewhat leaving only a couple of hundred animals roosting. (30/04/2017) Report by Daryl Barnes

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SAVE THE BUSH STONE-CURLEW PROJECT

Victoria’s Bush Stone-curlew population has been in decline and is becoming more and more fragmented as time goes on. This is largely due to habitat loss as Judy Crocker, the ‘Save Our Bush Stone-curlew’ project manager explained. A few kilometers south-west of Bendigo near Shelbourne a band of dedicated locals were preparing several sites for the release of captive bred Bush Stone-curlews. Ten years since inception, the project was finally nearing the stage of releasing the first birds. On Easter Monday 2017, Judy very obligingly agreed to meet and show my brother-in-law Ken and I around two of the sites. The first of these was a release enclosure which was being meticulously prepared by introducing fallen timber and allowing the build-up of twigs and leaf litter to create habitat where these distinctive and unusual native Australian birds might adopt as ideal secure nesting sites. A three metre high perimeter fence was designed to keep out all mammals including potential predators like cats and foxes for when the curlews were breeding. Next we were escorted to and shown the familiarisation and initial breeding pens at the nearby residence of Jenny and Frank Steele. We observed several curlews inside enclosures that were a few meters in size and fully enclosed. Here birds were monitored closely allowing people to get to know how these unique birds thought and reacted and behaved in general. Birds had been carefully selected and matched with the help of a similar but more advanced operation near Albury in N.S.W. Judy informed us that the frustratingly slow progress was partially due to conforming to requirements specified by the Federal Government. She did however acknowledge and understand the reasons behind such rigid rules and regulations. Both Judy and Jenny spoke with controlled enthusiasm and optimism as their anticipation grew with release day now fast approaching. Story by Daryl Barnes DID YOU KNOW A whitish or translucent membrane that forms an inner eyelid in birds, reptiles, and some mammals can be drawn across the eye to protect it from dust and keep it moist.

Nictitating membrane The nictitating membrane is a transparent or translucent third eyelid present in some animals that can be drawn across the eye for protection and to moisten it while maintaining vision. Some reptiles, birds, and sharks have full nictitating membranes; in many mammals, a small, vestigial portion of the membrane remains in the corner of the eye. Some mammals, such as camels, polar bears, seals and aardvarks, have full nictitating membranes. Bush Stone -curlew Robert Zimsek Often called a third eyelid or haw, it may be referred to in scientific terminology as the plica semilunaris, membrana nictitans or palpebra tertia. Report by Daryl Barnes

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MACKAY REGIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS MONTHLY BIRD SURVEYS We have been coordinating the birding surveys on the last Friday morning of the month at the Botanic Gardens since July last year after the retirement of Madge Barnett. Madge had been compiling lists of birds at five sites along the lagoon since the water quality testing was set up at these sites many years ago. When we took over, we modified the whole process to just tally the total numbers of birds seen as we walk from the cotton trees at the Eulamere Wetland up to the railway bridge and back to the carpark. Since the closure of the boardwalk at the wetland, we have been counting the roosting birds from the deck and then walking up to the railway bridge, back to the wetland and up to the woodland area near the road before returning to the carpark. This ensures we visit all gardens habitat types. The count usually takes 2 hours depending on how many spotters turn up and how much incidental talking and photography goes on. Our tally sheet lists the 147 species that have been sighted at the gardens over the years. On any one count we generally see 40-50 different species and count around 400 birds, but it has been as high as 550 when the Plumed Whistling-Duck arrive in numbers and lower than 300 when cyclones arrive. There are always interesting or unexpected bird sightings, our delightfully colourful tropical birds and cute little chicks to be seen. Following nesting activities and observing juveniles being fed are highlights for me. Last season saw Willy Wagtail, Olive- backed Oriole, Dusky Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Australasian Grebe, Brown Goshawk, Silvereye, Peaceful Dove, Olive-backed Sunbird, Comb- crested Jacana, Figbird, Pied Imperial Pigeon and 4 duck species all successfully raise young. Discovering 4 Jacana chicks that survived the cyclone and watching the 11 ducklings of a Wandering Whistling-Duck have been my most satisfying sightings. One morning soon I may even see that elusive platypus or find the Barking Owl’s new roost. But I have finally seen the Red- whiskered Bulbul, proving that if you are persistent, you will eventually see every bird on Olive-backed Oriole Barry Deacon the list! If you would like an email reminder a few days before the count and/or the list of birds we see, please email Lesley at [email protected] It is not necessary to book a spot but just come along and see what birds we can find. (You can have at least one free morning before you will be asked to count all the Dusky Moorhen!) Report by Lesley Deacon SIGHTINGS OF INTEREST FEBRUARY 2017.

12 th . On North Harbour Beach one juvenile Red-footed Booby was unable to fly. It was taken to the Better Pets Vets in Andergrove but we were informed it later passed away. Lynette Fenaughty. 16 th . Late afternoon we had a ‘new’ visitor to the house bird bath, one White-gaped Honeyeater. Bill McLean. 18 th . Perched on a power line in Wood Street Mackay this morning was one Sacred Kingfisher. Greg Strohal. 26 th . At the Creditin Hall I observed one Common Bronzewing. Coral Morgan. 28th . Obtaining nectar from the Paw Paw tree flower just off my deck I saw a Red-headed Honeyeater. Whilst it was interacting with its mate that was out of sight in a nearby tree, I was able to confirm its identity from the call on my bird app. Rosemary Braithwaite. 28th . Overhead at 22 Blue Gum Street Proserpine I saw between 20 and 30 Indian Myna’s travelling in a north westerly direction. Dale Mengel. 28 th . Off Crystalbrook Road Proserpine I observed 6 Bustards. Dale Mengel.

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A MAJOR MYNA INVASION WE DON’T WANT THIS BIRD, LET’S KEEP IT OUT. Allowing the introduction of INDIAN (COMMON) MYNA’S into Mackay would be an ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.

Common (Indian) Myna birds were introduced into in 1862 to assist market gardeners around Melbourne by controlling insect pests. Shortly after this they were introduced to Northern to do a similar task in the cane fields. In both cases the ‘experiment’ was a complete failure. The 12 cm tall chocolate brown bird has a black head and neck with yellow eye patch, feet and legs. A white patch on each wing is exposed upon flight. Indian Myna’s are opportunistic feeders, and so they are not fussy, not like some of our natives that tend to be specialist eaters. Indian Myna’s are capable scavengers but they do prefer fruit and insects plus will take the young of other birds...... and even from the nest. When searching for nest sites they will evict other birds and mammals from tree hollows and will also use crevices in buildings. Seen in either pairs, small or large flocks and in mass gatherings when roosting. Some words to describe Indian Mynas include aggressive, pompous, domineering, adaptable, unafraid, smart and noisy. Vigilant Mackay Regional Council pest control manager, Lawrie Warren. Indian Mynas are colonists and they are survivors. Replace Rainbow Lorikeets, Honeyeaters Blue-faced, Brown, Dusky andYellow, Hornbill & Little Friarbirds, Figbirds and Bush Stone-curlews.

*Birdlife Mackay are calling for the general public to Google this bird to become familiar with its identification. Recent Sightings: PLANTAION PALMS, EIMEO, MACKAY GOLF COURSE, BEACONSFIELD, SHOAL POINT, ETON Report by Daryl Barnes ______MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK. Please note that Birdlife Mackay will be heavily involved in the combined bushwalking and bird observing week at Eungella from September 25 th until October 2 nd this year. Please indicate a.s.a.p. if you can help in any way during this time. Accommodation will be supplied for active volunteers so come and enjoy a week of fun and excitemet and meet loads of new and interesting people.

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CRAZY BIRD STORIES Yes folks, my second book has now been published and is available for purchase. You can obtain an Ebook, a paperback or hardcover copy. Book 2 of Crazy Bird Stories has a similar layout to the first but ‘Benny’s Dreamtime Adventure’ has more than that. The story has a moral to it which is; ‘be grateful for what you have, the grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence’. And Benny learns this lesson the hard way. Benny is a Beach Stone-curlew who’s solitary existence was no longer satisfying enough for him, a young and energetic young bird who is yearning for excitement in his life. As you will see from his dreamtime adventure that things don’twork out as Benny would have liked and so he returns home with the help of a ‘guardian angel’ a White-bellied Sea Eagle, who comes to his rescue. When Benny wakes from his dream and is greeted by four of his friends on the beach he immediately realises that contemplating life somewhere else like in a zoo was not what he really wanted after all and so he happily accepts these tidal mud flats as his home. The series of Crazy Bird Stories is now underway with the publishing of the second book. The manuscript for book number three is now in the hands of the publishers and there will be more to follow. Marketing and promoting my work is taking up a lot more of my time and energy than writing the books in the first place. A big thanks goes to Steve Dew, friend and the designer of this colourful and new advertisng tool, a two metre high roll-up banner.. Book two of Crazy Bird Stories, ‘Benny’s Dreamtime Adventure’ is also about to be turned into an animated short film. I have left this task primarily in the hands of a very capable local digital artist in Donna Maree Robinson, whom I had approached in mid 2016 about taking on this project. Donna was happy to accept this challenge and now we both walk down a path into unknown territory together. ...Ebook ($4.95) paperback ($15.00) and hard back ($25.00) copies are now available direct from me. Contact me direct or go to my website and order via my paypal account. Some local outlets will soon be stocked with copies also.

Daryl Barnes

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A CHANGE OF PLAN

We built a house, up on the hill With an ocean view, for some people, would kill Some days are calm and others get blowy There’s work to be done to make a garden that’s showy

Already a screen with an easterly fence Plus three year old trees, now bushy and dense To the north of the house and at some expense We added some fill, it was good common sense

The landscapers arrived on this very fine day The yard they mapped out, without any delay They took measurements straight from the plan Then sprayed white lines straight from a can

Two tip-trucks were coming up the bitumen road One carrying soil, the other a sand load Large rocks were available and delivered on demand All this was designed, to make our place grand

This day I sat down, to take a short break When a bird flew close by me, now make no mistake To decide its identity I required another chance As again it whizzed past me and I got only a glance

So I followed its path, the one that it took To see where it landed and to get a better look

I soon saw where it went, into an old pile of sand Scratching my head, now this wasn’t planned This hole wasn’t there when I’d looked before Then out the bird shot and disappeared to next door

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Some tiny Pardalotes had taken a liking to our site They had taken to nesting, in a place that seemed right So I made up a sign and on it I wrote ‘Beware of the Nesting, Striated Pardalote’

After we’d made, a new change of plan The removal of sand, I ‘d placed on it a ban The birds were let be, to do their own thing They would fly in, sometimes they would sing

Once food was delivered, away they would go Only soon to return there was a regular flow For several days, we were constantly entertained When they didn’t return, only the memories remained

Daryl Barnes

Striated Pardalote Steve Dew

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NEW BIRDS IN OUR AREA One of our neighbours and we here at Farleigh are still so lucky to be seeing new species of birds taking up residence on our 3 acre blocks. We have both worked hard over the last nine years to make it a paradise for native birds andother animals. We are a part of “LAND FOR WILDLIFE” and have seen the fruits of our labour. We had noticed a pair of Sacred Kingfishers around lately and excited that they may nest as we have many native figs with hollows etc. Sadly one of the pair flew into our window so we are not sure if the mate will stay. I also watched a small Bush Hen fossicking around in the grass the other day, my first sight of it here. This year we have been lucky enough to have 3 families in our “Nesting Tree”, a huge eucalypt in our front garden. A family of Figbirds took the top floor while down of the 2 nd floor a pair of Spangled Drongos took up residence and finally below on the 1 st floor was the obligatory Pee Wees. We have also had a single Lewin’s Honeyeater chick in a nest, at head height, in our Sacred Bamboo. I am sure there are other birds nesting as I have found several nests on the ground the one pictured, after Cyclone Debbie went through. As we get older the block becomes a bit of work, but oh it is definitely worth it as our entertainment is far better than TV. Spangled Drongo nesting Kim Brett Story by Kim & Gary Brett

Eungella Honeyeater REPORT SUMMARY When logging resumed in Crediton State Forest in 2013 Mackay Conservation Group obtained a biodiversity grant from the Norman Wettenhall Foundation to monitor its impacts in 2014 on the Eungella honeyeater which is endemic to the Clarke Range west of Mackay. The Eungella honeyeater is based in the rainforest of Eungella National Park but utilises food resources such as insects and nectar in the surrounding state forest eucalypt woodlands when they are available. Flowering of these eucalypts begins in July and can continue through September. In the past (winter 1998) flocks of up to 60 Eungella honeyeaters have been seen by Birdlife Mackay bird watchers in Crediton State Forest feeding on nectar. Birdlife Mackay bird watchers volunteered under the coordination of Daryl Barnes, President of Birdlife Mackay, to survey three 10 ha sites recommended by Birdlife Australia in an area in Crediton State Forest near Hazelwood Creek. Twenty minute surveys were done at each corner of the sites. Two sites were close to the logging area, and one site, the control, was located to the south well away from the logging. Eungella Honeyeater Bill Cameron Results were analysed by Patricia Julien, then a Research Analyst with Mackay Conservation Group and sent to DEHP and DAF. We found few Eungella honeyeaters on all sites, with fewest in the sites next to the logging area. The low numbers appeared to indicate there had been a drastic decline in EH in the past few decades, or the difference was due to the way in which data was being collected i.e. we covered a 10 ha area for each site and averaged

12 The Wren The Wren the results to EH per ha. Whereas earlier surveys monitoring the clustering behaviour of these birds flocking to nectar sources during the flowering season. We obtained Natural Environment grants from Mackay Regional Council to repeat the surveys in 2015 and 2016. Birdlife member Graham Armstrong also led surveys in Cathu State Forest. Again EH numbers were zero to very low in the sites next to the logging and a little higher in the control site, and an additional unlogged site of similar tree density near the two sites next to the logging. All earlier survey data as well as data from the 2014-2015 surveys was converted to EH per ha. for comparison. The selective logging was having an adverse effect but something else was having a bigger impact on the winter woodland population. The 2014-2016 survey years were all below average rainfall but there had been years in the past of low rainfall and higher densities of EH reported. We did notice that no EH were observed eating nectar in the 2014- 2016 woodland surveys. A report on long-term bee behaviour in relation to nectar production in Australia found that nectar production volumes depended on good rainfall in the prior wet season and lower rainfall 4-6 weeks prior to flowering. Patricia reviewed the climate data and found the best explanation in the rainfall data. Rainfall from Nov- September (i.e. the wet season plus the flowering season) and June rainfall (four weeks prior to the start of flowering in July). The Nov-Sep rainfall for the years 2014-2016 was below 1,000 mm. Rainfall for the same period in earlier years when larger EH densities were reported was greater than 2,000 mm. We concluded that in low rainfall periods little to no nectar was being produced and consequently few EH were being attracted from the rainforestto seek food in the woodlands. There was also a linear increase in EH densities as June rainfall decreased. Drier June conditions could trigger the volume of nectar produced when soil moisture conditions (as indicated by Nov-Sep rainfall >2,000 mm) were adequate. Patricia looked at records of the Southern Oscillation Index back to the 1890s. A negative value between -20 to -30 indicates dry conditions. The duration of such periods is increasing each decade. This is not good news for nectar production and nectivores such as the EH which depends on nectar as an energy source. If this pattern continues the woodlands and rainforest are also at risk. We used the lowest EH density numbers per Birdlife Mackay survey in Eungella National Park since 1998 as a basis on which to calculate total EH population. Because then they would no be clustering around food resources. We estimated current population at 5,100. Actual population would be lower as some areas within the area of occupancy for this species would not always have EH present as they are opportunistic and follow food resources. Derec Ball formerly with QPWS estimated a population of 2,500. Either way the current population is very low, compared to earlier anecdotal reports of hundreds of thousands 25 years ago. This was based on a sighting of large flocks in rainforest trees. While climate change appears to be the biggest EH population change factor, logging does not help. Report by Patricia Julien SIGHTINGS OF INTEREST MARCH 2017. 6th . A bird crashes into kitchen window on the porch side and lands in my lap. It later died. With the help of my brother David I identify it as a Russet-tailed Thrush. It was my first sighting at my place of a Russet-tailed Thrush. 19 th . Whilst driving the Bruce Higway just north of The Leap I had a sighting of a flock of Metallic Starlings. Barry Deacon. 20 th .At our home near Farleigh I had the displeasure of disposing of two bodies, both belonging to Sacred Kingfishers after crashing into a house window. Kim Brett. 23 rd . From our house at Mt Jukes we saw 2 adult and 5 juvenile Pacific Baza’s hovering. Also, I (Marlis) recognised the call of a Green Catbird nearby. Marlis Schoeb & Robert Zimsek. 27 th . At Hay Point I observed several Lesser Frigatebirds. At Slade Bay I observed several Black Noddy’s. Gerry Woodruff.

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GREATER BENDIGO NATIONAL PARK

Situated about 30 km north of Bendigo, Kamarooka Forest is part of the Greater Bendigo National Park. Kamarooka Forest comprises open, tall Grey Box woodland with patchy under-story of various acacias (including Whirrakee Wattle), Cassinia, melaleucas and other shrubs. Strips of Yellow Gum occur along depressions and flats with Red Gum only along seasonal creeks. There are large areas of mallee eucalypts from tall Kamarooka Mallee and Bull Mallee on better soils merging into low Green Mallee and Blue Mallee on poorer stony land. Other plants of significance include Grey Mulga, Hop Bush, Moonah, Quandong, Murray Pine, Berrigan, Sugarwood and Turkey Bush. Bird species on the edge of their northern and southern ranges meet in Kamarooka. The dominant family is the honeyeaters, mainly due to the mixed eucalypts and shrubs providing blossom though variable in quality and timing, almost the whole year Wedge-tailed Eagle Sylvia Martinez round. Particularly attractive to the twenty honeyeater species which have been recorded here are Yellow Gum (flowering April-November), Kamarooka Mallee (flowering January-February), and Blue Mallee (flowering April-

June). More specifically, Tawny-crowned and Purple-gaped Honeyeaters live in low mallee; White-gaped and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters visit from May to August; Black and White-fronted Honeyeaters are erratic visitors although occasional nesting has been recorded. Other birds to listen and look for include Crested Bellbird, Jacky Winter, Hooded, Eastern Yellow and Red-capped Robin, Shy Heathwren, Inland Thornbill, Brush Bronzewing, Superb and Variegated Fairy-wren, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail, White- browed Babblers, Gilbert and Rufous Whistlers and the yellow rumped form of the Spotted Pardalote. Other honeyeaters prominent included: Yellow-tufted, Yellow- plumed, Fuscous, Black-chinned, White-eared and White-cheeked. Pointed out to me by local historian, fungi authority and keen bird observer Ray Wallace, was the fact that the Black-backed and the White-backed Magpie territories overlaped in the Bendigo region of Victoria. Story by Daryl Barnes.

Ray Wallace Daryl Barnes

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MONTHLY GROUP OUTING – FEBRUARY 5TH 2017 Bill & Marg McLean’s at Mt Ossa The alarm sounds at 5am, I pack the car with breakfast, morning tea, cameras and gum boots etc, then with my grandson Jake settle in the car off we go on this months birding adventure. Arriving at 5.30am just outside of the property, Jake and I like to get a jump start on the day, we have breakfast at the bus shelter and hear the call of an Emerald Dove, grabing our cameras we walk down the dirt road and spot him, Jake and I give each other that "oh this is a great start to the day smile" as the Emerald Dove takes flight and passes overhead. Daryl and the other birders arrive a little while later and we drive in to the warm welcomed smiles of Bill and Marg McLean. What a great couple and the their property is a credit to them and their love of wildlife. Everyone grouped up into small groups for a couple of hours of delightful bird watching.

Lewin’s Honeyeater Sylvia Martinez

Jake and I concentrated our efforts around the homestead, Forest Kingfishers were out in force, a couple of Australasian Grebes were enjoying the morning feast on the dam. At one point we decided to use the veranda of the empty house as a hide, all was good, I walked across the veranda to get a better vantage point, when I hear jake say, “Omi don’t move, of course I freeze immediately, he says, "there is a snake just near you, well you can all guess what fear goes through your body at that point. I slowly turn around only to see the the snake, and breath a sigh relief, the snake is a plastic. It is good to know that my grandson has my back…..

Everyone settled on the front veranda to catch up with our hosts Bill and Marg and share any birding news to well earned morning tea,, Daryl modelled the new Birdlife Mackay shirt which was a treat real. . The biggest thanks again to Bill and Marg, we enjoyed the morning immensely once Striated Pardalote Jacob Annetts again. The number of bird species recorded on this morning totalled a meagre 48. The prize winner for guessing this amount was Francis Eiteneuer. Story by Sylvia Martinez

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FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS THE PASSIONATE PROFILE OF GREG STROHAL

Q1/ What is it about bird watching that appeals to you? A. Birdwatching appeals to me because it can occur any time (could be restricted at night) or any place . An ideal way to link with nature and participate in the environment. Q2/ Do you have a favourite bird and why? A. My favourite bird is the Magpie. If was on Australia's coat of arms just black and white imagine how revered it would be rather than being that ...... bird that attacks during breeding season. Q3/ If money was no object where would you like to go birding? A. No guessing Antartica. I have spoken with a couple of people who have worked there and have reminded me that with penguins the smell of rotting fish is very evident. So I want to experience that smell myself. Q4/ Which bird has eluded you the most? A. Buff breasted Paradise-Kingfisher. Have only seen a deceased one at Finch Hatton Gorge in November 1989. I cannot wait to see a "live" one. 5./ Do you prefer to go birding alone or with company? A. With company of course. How else will you get verification on a bird you are unsure about. Greg with Costa Georgiadis at the Sarina Community Day on Saturday 7 th of September 2013.

SIGHTINGS OF INTEREST April 2017. 1st . By the drain at the intersection of Beaconsfield and Holts Roads were 2 Black-necked Storks. Greg Strohal 12 th . At the was 1 Bustard. Greg Strohal. 24 th . At 5 Fadden Street Walkerston. 1 Brown Cuckoo-Dove feeding in Native Mulberry tree but it was continually being chased by Figbirds. Daryl Barnes. 24 th . At Mt Jukes and fighting one another for food were Wompoo, Rose-cowned and Superb Fruit-Doves. Also sighted was one Little Eagle cruising overhead. Marlis Schoeb & Robert Zimsek. 25 th . Seen leaving the midst of the Flying Fox colony behind 5 Fadden Street Walkerston was one White-bellied Sea Eagle. Daryl Barnes. 27 th . One Brown Cuckoo-Dove trying to feed on native mulberry tree in my backyard but continually being harassed by some Figbirds. I have watched this happen a few times in the past week. The Brown Cuckooo-Dove is not a regular sighting around here. Daryl Barnes.

May 1 st 2017. Observed whilst chacing insects at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens was one juvenile Buff- breasted Paradise-Kingfisher. Dan & Ollie Burndred. (N.B. First ever sighing of this species at this site)

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Month 2012 17 The Wren

GOODBYE WADERS Each autumn, the thousands of migratory shorebirds that visit Mackay’s coast leave to continue their migration to the Arctic circle. After months of feasting in the intertidal zone, the birds have built up enough body weight to start the next leg of their journey. So, around April every year, Reef Catchments and Birdlife Mackay jointly organise an event to wave the waders off, aptly named ‘Goodbye Waders’. This year, the event was held on April 8 and was a great success, with more than twenty people heading down to Far Beach for a peek at the feeding shorebirds. Birdlife volunteers hosted a small walk onto the foreshore and assisted in identifying birds, including whimbrels, ruddy turnstones, red- capped plovers, great knots, pied and sooty Budding bird watcher Leila Dykyj Cass Hayward oystercatchers, and even a couple of Eastern curlews. Unfortunately, before everyone headed home, we saw visitors to the beach throwing te nis balls into the midst of the feeding birds, encouraging their dogs to disturb the birds. The importance of reducing disturbances to the birds was discussed, and free dog leashes were given to participants. Disturbances force the birds to expend their energy while they are supposed to be resting. This not only reduces the likelihood of their having a successful migration and breeding season, but also the likelihood of their return to Mackay. We hope that these events continue to attract bird lovers from across the region. Report by Cass Hayward (Reef Catchments) CHRISTMAS IN CONGO No not The Congo in Africa, but Congo on the south coast of NSW, near Moruya. It is a small coastal settlement with a beautiful creek (Congo Ck), a small camping ground at the mouth of the creek, two beaches with great surfing, a rock shelf, Eurobodalla National Park, quite a few houses and lots of birds. Not shops. No public transport except a school bus. We spent a few weeks over Christmas there, as we do nearly every year as our son lives there. Our rental house had a big verandah that faced east, but had lots of trees between the house and the ocean. This year’s special treat was having two galahs having a midday sleep, for more than half an hour, in the big gum tree in front of the house (see photo). At the same time as our galah friends were slumbering a young magpie sang prettily for about 20 minutes, then relocated to a fence at the back of the house to continue his (or her) song. What a lunch time treat for us. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos visited daily to feed on the Coastal Banksias, also in front of the house. Some other regulars were Crimson Rosella, King Parrot and Little Wattlebird. The resident Sea Eagle soared above on some days, and we even saw a few Wedge-tailed Eagles one day while kayaking on the creek. Two Galahs at rest Margaret Lane Down on the beach we watched Pied Oystercatchers. The really good news was that for the first time in a decade a pair of Pied Oystercatcher have hatched a chick at Congo, within Eurobodalla National Park, much to the delight of volunteers and campers. I am seeking an update. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/endangered-bird-hatches-at-congo-for-first-time-in-10-years Report by Margaret Lane

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MONTHLY GROUP OUTING - MARCH 5 TH 2017 Sandringham Bay Conservation Reserve.

On arrival at the entry to the reserve the thought on everyone’s mind was, Where’s the Aeroguard?’ as a White-browed Robin welcomed us all with its continual calling. Liberal amounts of insect repellant were applied to all exposed areas of the body and we were on our way. It wasn’t long and our group of twelve had soon drifted to become four small groups of three until a photographic opportunity arose which would draw us back together momentarily. We were seeing and hearing some of the usual suspects like Rufous Whistler, Sacred and Forest Kingfisher, Spangled Drongo, Varied Triller, Yellow, Brown, Mangrove and White-throated Honeyeater, Little-bronze Cuckoo and Leaden Flycatcher. The nectar eaters were not plentiful because there were no real signs of masses of blossom anywhere and the paperbark trees had none at all. Overhead, a couple of small flocks if Pied Imperial Pigeons were spotted plus a Little Pied and Little Black Cormorant and one Whistling Kite……raptors were scarce until after bird call and we were leaving the area. Some of the girls in the group had periods of constant clicking and occasionally a , ‘This one’s not too bad’, could be heard after examining and after sharing the image. Then at other times it was, ‘What do you think this is?’ Emma’s friend and first time birder, Tory, was on a steep learning curve and seemed to enjoy the expertise provided by the more experienced. I’d like to think that her experience was overall a pleasant one and that she’ll return again another day. White-browed Robin Steve Dew

The diverse range of habitat at this location did not provide the quantity of species today like we have come to expect. Rather, it reflected the general feeling by many suggesting that birds just aren’t around just now. Report by Daryl Barnes

MONTHLY GROUP OUTING – 2nd APRIL 2017 Cape Palmerston Holiday Park The April outing to the Cape Palmerston caravan park and surrounds came just a few days after Cyclone Debbie, and both birdwatcher numbers and bird numbers were down. Two branch members travelled to the park to meet the friendly staff and see what species had not been blown away by the weather. A total of 43 were seen on the day, split between the lakes, the park itself, the beach and the dune scrub. On the water were Wandering Whistling Duck, Hardhead, Comb-crested Jacana and Eurasian Coot, with Pied, Little Pied and Little Black Cormorant all in the same dead tree above, providing good Pied versus Little Pied comparisons. The littoral rainforest by the beach is healthy in many places, but might repay an earlier start time on a future visit as it was very quiet in terms of birds. A good number of Radjah Shelduck are resident in the park, and eight juveniles with a parent were seen. Other sightings included Whistling Kite, and a Wonga Pigeon was heard calling. The van park, with the option of going to the nearby national park if 4x4s are available, is a new destination for the branch but has a good bird list and is probably worth another visit, albeit preferably not just after a cyclone. Report by Tom Curtis

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SIGHTINGS OF INTEREST *Banded Lapwing Clermont / Rubyvale Road April 24 th .2017. Graham Holder (left) *Greater Frigatebird Cannonvale March 29 th 2017 Teresa Jackson. ( right)

BIRDLIFE MACKAY OUTINGS CALENDAR 2017 Our half-day outing is on the first Sunday of each month. It is suggested that food and water is carried as well as hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Gold coin donation applies. Date 2015 Destination Meeting Place Meeting Time Contacts DeMoleyn’s Tourist Info 07 49593382 June 4 th . 0630 Lagoon Centre. 0427826677 Lake Barfield Tourist Info 07 49593382 July 2 nd . at 0630 Centre. 0427826677 Hay Point Proserpine Service Station 07 49593382 August 6 th .. 0600 (TBA) at Coningsby 0427826677 07 49593382 Tedlands near Tourist Info September 3 rd . 0630 0427826677 Koumala Centre

Chelman’s Road Tourist Info 07 49593382 October 1 st . 0600 near Eungella Centre. 0427826677 Lake Clive near Service Station 07 49593382 November 5 th . 0600 Belmunda at Coningsby 0427826677 President/Newsletter: Daryl Barnes [email protected] 07 49593382 *For further information go to: www.birdlifemackay.org

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