August 2019

Birding Brisbane

Birds and in the River City

Volume 1, Issue 8

Northern Giant Petrel, Twinnies Pelican and Rescue

Paula and Bridgette ton. The flew Powers have been rescu- strongly out to sea, a ing sick and injured happy ending to a story in south-east that could have ended Inside this issue: Queensland for more so differently. Twinnies than 16 years, helping is a 24-hour rescue and thousands of birds of 187 rehabilitation centre for species. On 19th June, a sick, injured or or- Northern Giant Petrel 1 Northern Giant Petrel phaned birds located at was found exhausted on Landsborough. It is run In-depth bird news 1 the beach at Tangalooma on a donation basis, and eBird skills: Document- 4 resort on Moreton Island. currently there is an ing rare birds Paula and Bridgett at urgent appeal for fund- Twinnies Pelican and ing, so please consider Mystery Photo 4 Seabird rescue arranged donating to keep this Contributing to the 4 to take the bird into care. source of help for dis- Atlas Nicknamed ‘Lulu’ by the tressed birds available Undersurveyed Atlas 5 finder, the petrel was in Brisbane. To donate, Square underweight and in se- please visit Northern Giant Petrel in care on From the Atlas: Austral- 5 ian Brushturkey vere distress. www.twinnies.com.au. 19th June. Note the reddish hue List of Observers 8 This is the first eBird- to the bill tip, separating it from With expert care over the documented record of the similar Southern Giant Pet- coming weeks, the bird this species in Bris- rel. Photograph courtesy of Twin- recovered and gained bane. nies Pelican and Seabird Rescue. weight. It was released Highlights: on 11 Sep off Cape More- Story by Richard Fuller  Northern Giant Petrel on Moreton Island

 Documenting rare bird Bird news, July 2019 sightings

July continued a moder- Perhaps the best bird of  Contributing to the Atlas of the Birds of Brisbane ate winter in the Bris- the month was a one-off bane city environs, with sighting of a Red-winged  Identify the mystery bird a number of nice birds by Leigh Burgess  Go birding at Koala Refuge! turning up throughout in Anstead on the 4th.  Australian Brushturkeys the month complemented Red-winged are Northern Giant Petrel in care on by the usual suite of win- very rare vagrants to 19th June. Photograph courtesy ter migrants and rare the city from inland, of Twinnies Pelican and Seabird residents. with only a handful of Rescue. Bird news, continued records scattered around the city. There is, as with most parrots, a chance that such birds are escap- ees but this is hard to confirm – so if you see one, be sure to document it as well as possible! Winter-visiting Double-banded Plovers have been rather scarce this year. A few were at the Manly Wader Roost on the 19th (BW), but none were reported anywhere else in the city this month! This species is perhaps overlooked along the Brisbane foreshore, and they are much more common on Moreton Australasian Gannet off Shorncliffe Pier on 5th July. Photograph by Ste- Island than the mainland since phen Murray. they generally seem to prefer the sandier ocean beaches than the mudflats of the bay. Also at Manly were several birds present at on Mount Nebo Road on the same Wader Roost, Brad Woodworth Dowse Lagoon throughout the had 6 Lesser Crested on the night. Likewise, Australasian month, although none were seen Grass- were at their usual 6th. Australasian Gannets, another anywhere else in the city. Dowse is haunt at Kedron Brook Wetlands typical winter visitor to Brisbane easily the most reliable location in were seen off Shorncliffe and throughout the month and were the region for this somewhat elu- seen by several observers. A White Nudgee by several observers, as sive species, although the Bris- well as out off Moreton Island on -throated Nightjar was at JC bane Entertainment Centre la- Slaughter Falls on the 20th (TT). the 22nd (WM). A Brown Booby goons are also reliable, and much was also seen off Cape Moreton on Although often thought of as a less frequently visited by birders. summer migrant, there are rec- the 12th (GN). Similarly, Australasian Shovelers ords of this species all year in An Australian Spotted Crake was were also at Dowse Lagoon Brisbane, and one wonders if it found at Kedron Brook Wetlands throughout the month, as well as a might actually be resident, albeit on the 28th (GDa, EL), another rec- single bird found at the Port of quieter in the winter and hence ord of this nomadic species around Brisbane on the 7th (T&AB). less detected. Brisbane for the year. It is hard to The month was somewhat lacklus- Moving on to , a Spotted discern if they are a rare resident tre for diurnal birds of prey, alt- or irregularly visiting the area. Quail-thrush was at Gap Creek on hough the usual species were out the 6th (SP), a rare record of this Lewin’s Rails, a species that is and about. A Little Eagle was at definitely resident in a number of species outside its known strong- Banyo on the 5th (GT) and the air- holds in the city, as well as areas, were detected at Tinchi rd port on the 23 (TH). One Black Hawkesbury Road on the 16th Tamba (GT), Banks Street Re- Falcon was at Oxley Creek Com- serve (MGr), and Rickertt Road at (RG). It is presumably quite wide- mon on the 27th (GG). A Spotted spread through the eucalypt wood- Ransome (JCo), although as usual Harrier was at Kedron Brook Wet- were difficult to see. A Black- lands in the western portion of lands on the 28th (JC), as well as a Brisbane, but birding coverage of necked was at Oxley Creek widely-twitched individual at Ox- th this habitat is rather patchy and it Common on the 28 (JAS, WS) but ley Creek throughout the month. the species was seen nowhere else is probably fair to say our under- this month. Sooty Owls were observed on standing of the distribution of this Mount Nebo Road on the 9th (CPu, species (and others such as Buff- Cotton Pygmy-Goose continued its TB) and 17th (LI, TP), as well as rumped and Striated Thornbills) is strong year, and one wonders if at Lawton Road on Mount Glori- incomplete. Little Grassbirds were this species is slowly becoming ous on the 27th (EL, CB). An Aus- at Sandy Camp Wetlands on the commoner in Brisbane. There tralian Masked- was also seen 30th and 31st (AN, CA), and Tinchi

Page 2 Birding Brisbane Bird news, continued

Tamba throughout the month by lienne. Note that sightings report- several observers. ed here may or may not be con- firmed, and records of rarities are Dusky Woodswallows appeared in small numbers in the west of the pending acceptance by relevant city, with birds present at Lake rarities committees. Manchester on several days throughout the month; this species appears to be a regular winter mi- grant to the very western edge of the city, with occasional birds be- ing vagrants further east. The in- creased coverage of the Lake Man- chester area since 2017 has result- ed in a number of species being discovered to be regular visitors or scarce residents. Conversely, a Jacky Winter was seen at Gold Creek on the 15th (SP), but this species was interestingly not seen A Fuscous Honeyeater along Kholo Break to the east of Lake at any of its usual haunts further Manchester on 14th Jul (RAF). This species is widespread west around Kholo this month. in the western woodlands, but curiously patchy in its distri- A Red Wattlebird was seen by Ste- bution. It would repay further study to better understand its habitat requirements. phen Murray at Lake Manchester on the 8th, continuing the excep- tional year for this species in the city. Birds have now been seen at more than half a dozen locations this year - a fascinating run of rec- ords! Black-chinned Honeyeaters were at their usual haunt in Lake Manchester on the 21st (SK, CP), as too were Fuscous Honeyeaters, seen throughout the month—the latter is another species that rang- es quite widely, although patchily in the western woodlands, and would repay further study. A Fus- cous Honeyeater was also seen at Enoggera Reservoir on the 6th (anon). On the other side of the city, Wayne Schulz had a White- cheeked Honeyeater at JC Trotter Memorial Park on the 14th, an un- usual record of this species in mainland Brisbane. All in all, an interesting, but not jaw-dropping winter month – hop- This pair of Long-billed Corellas were at Dowse Lagoon on ing for an eventful spring! 19th Jul (Upper photo: SM), a species that appears to be Round-up by Louis Backstrom, increasing in Brisbane. Look out for them, and be alert for Richard Fuller and Sandra Gal- apparent Little Corella hybrids (Lower photo: RAF).

Volume 1, Issue 8 Page 3 eBird skills: Documenting a rare bird sighting in eBird

Documenting a notable bird sight- why a sighting is significant. Finally, please ensure to submit ing is exciting, but it can also be official descriptions of any Queens-  Describe. This is the heart of daunting. Sometimes it is difficult land or national rarities to the ap- bird documentation: what did it to know exactly what to write in propriate rarities committee. This look or sound like? If you realize the comments box, or what to give is in addition to eBird documenta- it is a rarity at the time of the when you’re asked about a bird tion to ensure the record is official- sighting, take some time to make sighting. ly accepted. mental, if not physical, notes. A There are three key elements to photo is obviously helpful, but documenting a rare bird sighting not essential. See this helpful for Brisbane. Recognise it is rare, article by Dave Irons. Describe the bird, and Eliminate  Eliminate similar species. confusion species. What could you confuse your spe-  Recognise. If you browse sight- cies with? How did you know ings in eBird, you may have no- your bird was a Hoary-headed, ticed notations like “**Very ra- not an Australasian ? re,” “***First Brisbane record!” Some analysis of how similar or “****MEGA!!!”. eBird encour- species were eliminated will go a Hoary-headed Grebe at Kedron Brook ages observers to indicate they long way. Wetlands Reserve on 1st May 2013 Mystery photo (SM).

Last month’s challenge was a some- what drab , the stuff of nightmares! The sharp bill and yellow- ish underparts point to a thornbill of some kind, but which one? The un- streaked underparts rule out Brown and Striated, and the pale iris is no- ticeable. This really only leaves Yel- low-rumped and Buff-rumped. The former should show a black-and-white speckled forehead, and a clear white Buff-rumped Thornbill at Kholo Can you identify this bird? The picture supercilium. This is a Buff-rumped Break, Lake Manchester on 14th July was taken in Brisbane. Answer next Thornbill. 2019 (RAF). month.

Contributing to the Atlas

If you can, please donate your time ed in the Atlas. If you have old records and expertise to help make the Atlas stored away on notebooks and such, of the Birds of Brisbane the best it can you can enter them into eBird too! “All eBird records in Brisbane be. For full details, see the Contrib- will be automatically included uting section of the Atlas website— Write some text for the Atlas, or edit in the Atlas” http://brisbanebirds.com. Here are and improve the existing text. Full some of the key things you can do to instructions are in the Contributing help create this landmark resource. section of the Atlas website, or contact an administrator for a Word document Go birdwatching in the Brisbane City that you can edit. ([email protected]) or Rich- Council area and enter your observa- ard Fuller ([email protected]) tions on eBird, a free tool for recording Contact the Atlas administrators with bird observations. All eBird records in any questions or suggestions: Louis Brisbane will be automatically includ- Backstrom

Page 4 Birding Brisbane Undersurveyed Atlas Square: Koala Refuge

Brisbane is divided into 2 x north side of the river tential 2 km Atlas squares. Each from the road, or here, square has a target of 12 walk through the so birdwatching visits in each woodland if you can there’s of the four seasons. get access, then bird no excuses. Some night birding Lots of semi-pristine open on the south side, could also be very productive woodland here in the ex- which has a couple of here. treme south west of Bris- Only 29 species tracks running Download the survey sheet bane. Try birding on the known from this through it. Huge po- here. square so far.

From the Atlas: Australian Brushturkey

Widespread and increasing breeding resident. More records toward the end of the year, coinciding with the breeding season and building of incubation mounds. Not of conservation concern. Photo by Richard Fuller, Belmont Hills Bushland, 4 Jun 2017.

Each month we will reproduce a The Australian Brushturkey is a moving enormous quantities of draft species account from the At- common sight in parks and gar- leaf litter to form an incubation las. If you spot errors, or see any dens for many Brisbane residents, mound for their . They are additions that can be made, con- with dark grey set off common across nearly all of Bris- tact an editor—see back cover. Or wonderfully with yellow wattles bane and appear to be increasing email Richard Fuller and a red face and neck. They are in abundance. ([email protected]) for a Word well known for their impressive Document that you can edit. earthmoving abilities, capable of A common species of mixed habi-

Page 5 Birding Brisbane From the Atlas continued...

hough given the low number of checklists submitted for the Island it is possible there are localised populations of this species present there.

The distribution of Australian Brushturkeys within Brisbane shows no discernible variation across the year, with the same ar- eas inhabited in every season. Breeding has been reported from many sites around Brisbane.

Seasonality tats across nearly all of Brisbane, are somewhat less threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation Australian Brushturkeys are an Given the conspicuous nature of than many other local species, excellent example of a species that mound-building and the preco- they are at risk of predation by has successfully adapted to subur- ciousness of Brushturkey chicks, it domestic pets, with newly hatched ban living. They are an increasing- is not surprising that this species chicks especially vulnerable to ly common sight in parks and gar- has more breeding records than cats and dogs (Jones & Everding dens, as well as remaining wide- most others within the Brisbane 1991). Furthermore, human- spread across remnant habitats, area. Breeding activity has been conflict arising from this including rainforest, wet sclero- reported in nearly every month, species propensity to dig up and phyll and dry woodland. with a small peak over Jul-Sep destroy gardens continues to cre- followed by a slightly larger one in ate problems for this species’ sur- Brushturkeys are widely distribut- Dec-Jan. The exact reasons for vival in an urban environment ed across all of mainland Bris- this are unclear, although it is (Göth et al. 2006). bane, having been reported from possibly a peak in nest-building nearly every surveyed Atlas and associated activities followed square. They never occur in large Distribution and Habitat by a peak in chicks hatching and numbers, with most records being wandering. Despite the relatively of single birds or pairs, although Australian Brushturkeys are significant amount of breeding groups of up to ten are not uncom- widely distributed across Bris- data already available for this spe- mon. Breeding has been reported bane, with the exception of More- cies, it would be good to collect from more than two dozen loca- ton Island, where the species has additional data to be able to make tions, with the majority of these only been reported once. They oc- finer-scale conclusions about this being of nest building (NB) behav- cur across the entire elevational species’ breeding season and hab- iour or recently fledged young gradient, although most reports a its from within the LGA. (FL), both conspicuous and easily from below 100m. Birds have been detectable activities. Counts of reported in all habitats except for Trends over 15 birds are known from 4 ocean, but are most common in locations, with a high count of 23 rainforest, wet sclerophyll and dry Over the Atlas period, the report- birds at Lone Pine Koala Sanctu- woodland (>20% of all checklists), ary in January 2016 (Drucker and less common in non-remnant 2016). and wetland environs. They are only occasional visitors to heath, Brushturkeys are present in Bris- built-up and estuarine habitats. bane all year-round, with a slight increase in reporting rate over The geographic distribution of spring and early summer, coincid- Brushturkeys in Brisbane is pre- ing with the breeding season when sumably driven by the availability adults are more active and con- of leaf-litter and ground scrub for spicuous when mound-building, the birds to use as a food source and chicks (which are precocious) and as matter to be used in nest- and juveniles wandering widely in building. This explains the species’ search of suitable habitat (Göth & absence on Moreton Island, alt- Vogel 2003). While Brushturkeys Volume 1, Issue 8 Page 6 From the Atlas continued... ing rate for Australia Brushtur- References keys has remained relatively sta- ble, albeit with a noticeably low  Drucker J (2016) eBird Check- reporting rate in 2009 that is as list: yet unexplained. However, this http://ebird.org/view/checklist/ species is widely reported in the S26751335. literature, e.g. (Jones & Everding Göth A & Vogel U (2003) Juve- 1991), to have significantly in-  creased in abundance within Bris- nile dispersal and habitat se- bane over the 1970s-1990s. It lectivity in the Alec- would seem that this explosion in tura lathami (Australian population has now levelled out, brush-). Wildlife Re- with Brushturkeys now occupying search, 30, 69–74. most suburban parks and gardens  Jones DN & Everding S (1991) as well as many bushland re- Australian brush-turkeys in a serves. suburban environment: impli- cations for conflict and conser- Despite this increase in popula- vation. Wildlife Research, 18, tion, these birds are still some- 285–297. what threatened by anthropogenic  Göth A, Nicol KP, Ross G & activities, with domestic pets be- Shields JJ (2006) Present and ing a key one. Loose cats and dogs past distribution of Australian will predate chicks (and some- Brush-turkeys Alectura times even adults), threatening lathami in New South Wales? the long-term survival of the spe- implications for management. cies. Furthermore, many landown- Pacific Conservation Biology, ers are increasingly irritated by adult Brushturkeys digging up their gardens for use in nesting mounds, creating human-wildlife “If you spot errors, or see any conflict that can result in negative additions that can be made, outcomes for the birds. However, for the moment these threats seem contact an editor—see back to be well-controlled and the popu- cover.” lation appears stable.

Information Gaps

 Determine the distribution of this species on Moreton Island  Collect some more breeding data.

Key Conservation Needs

 Educate landowners about the threats to the species from pets  Protect bushland and remnant habitats from being cleared

Contributors to Species Ac- count

 Louis Backstrom

Page 7 Birding Brisbane Birding Brisbane: Birds and Birdwatching in the River City

We would love to able to use your photographs from eBird Birding Brisbane is a monthly newslet- in future issues of Birding Bris- ter aimed at sharing information about bane. Please email Richard birds and birdwatching in Brisbane. It is Fuller ([email protected]) to a companion project to the Atlas of the give us permission to repro- duce your images directly Birds of Brisbane, which is compiling all from eBird. known information about the birds of Brisbane into a single reference work. The Atlas uses eBird data. Any eBird records submitted in Brisbane will au- tomatically be incorporated into the brisbanebirds.com Atlas. The Atlas is being written by the bird- watching community, and is freely available at http://brisbanebirds.com The geographic area encompassed by this newsletter is the Brisbane Local Government Authority boundary, and all coordinates offshore that are closer to Brisbane LGA than any other LGA. Please feel free to contact the Atlas editors with any questions, suggestions or offers of help: Louis Backstrom ([email protected]); Richard Fuller ([email protected])

List of Observers

AN Andrew Naumann; BW Brad Woodworth; CA Chris Attewell; CB Chris Burwell; CP Carla Per- kins; CPu Cesar Puechmarin; EL Elliot Leach; GDa Gus Daly; GG Gavin Goodyear; GN Greg Neill; GT Ged Tranter ; JAS Jo-Anne Schulz; JCo Jon Coleman; LI Lenn Isidore; MGr Matteo Grilli ; RG Rod Gardner; SK Stuart Kelly; SP Stephen Prowse ; T&AB Terry & Audrey Burgess; TB Tyde Bands; TH Tim Healy; TP Tomás Poch ; TT Tom Tarrant; WM Wayne Mat- Buff-rumped Thornbill, Lake Manchester, 14 Jul 2019 (Stephen thews; WS Wayne Schulz. Murray)