'(3 U co::l >. c o ~ >. .0 Ul o ~ 0...

Australia Revisited: Gou/dian Finches in Their Natural Habitat by Tony Bucci, San Pedro, CA

t was always my desire to see and study Gouldian Finches Chloebia I gouldiae in their native habitat. I have visited Australia in the past and made attempts to see Gouldians but failed to do so. Last spring, while "surf­ NatIlral luaterinfJ bole.for Gouldian Finches in tbe wild. ing" the Internet for Australian bird web sites, I came across a Gouldian Finch site. Michael Fendley, a coordi­ nator of the Threatened Bird Network at the RAOU Head Office in Australia, was looking for volunteers to help count Gouldian Finches in the Northern Territory. My first thought was: Here is my chance! Immediately I sent Mr. Fendley e­ mail indicating that I was interested in volunteering for the survey. The next day I received Mr. Fendley's reply telling me that" he had sent my name to Mr. Peter Dostine, Senior Research Wildlife Officer with the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory in charge of the Gouldian Finch project. Several days later I received a letter Arttficial watering holes lined with black plastic are readily used by the Gouldian Finch in the from Mr. Dostine informing me of lui/d. These holes are qften only about three.feet in diameter. details for the Gouldian count project. He stated, 'The main objective of the I left Los Angeles on the 7th ofJuly, old lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin at the work is to derive population indices to landed in Sydney, then proceeded to southern tip of the state of Western monitor trends through time and infer the city ofPerth in Western Australia, a Australia is the guiding light for sailors responses to management actions to region I had never visited before. In entering Australia's South Sea from the assist the conservation of the Perth I visited with my cousin. I knew Indian Ocean. The next day we trav­ Gouldian." 1997 would be the second it was mid-winter in Australia, but I did elled north along the beautiful south­ year for the project of counting not realize that it would be so cold in western coast and returned to Perth. Gouldians at waterholes during the dry Perth. I was forced to buy some win­ It was then time to part with my season in the Northern Territory. ter clothes. cousin. I left Perth by bus and travelled In order for me to participate in the Perth and its port at Fremantle were north toward Broome. I chose to ride project, I was to be in Darwin or beautiful places to visit. My cou in a bus in order to see more of Western Katherine, Australia, on July 28th. insisted that I visit with him longer. He Australia. It was a gruelling two-days­ There I would be met by a Northern drove me to Albany in the southwest­ and-one-night bus ride to reach Territory ranger and taken to the loca­ ern part of Australia, and then headed Broome. Broome has beautiful beach­ tion. toward Cape Leeuwin. The century- es and a tropical climate. I was now

the afa W ATCHBIRD 23 '0 U wearing shorts, a tank top, and san­ ::J m dals. This would be my "uniform" for ~ o t- the rest of my stay in Australia. I rested >. .0 en in Broome for two days then proceed­ o (5 .c. ed with another night's bus ride to CL Katherine. I stayed in Katherine for two days and visited the famous Katherine Gorge. It was now July 28th, and I anxiously waited to be picked up by the Northern Territory ranger. To my surprise, I was picked up right at 2:00 P.M., as planned, by Mr. Peter Dostine, and we drove to Edith Falls where we made our base camp. I immediately pitched my tent on nice grassy ground. This was to be my home for the next seven days. I met all ofthe Australian volunteers and a cou­ ple from Germany. In total, we were GU11~ 15 enthusiastic "bird nuts," there to do Salmon Gum Tree. Favorite Gouldian· nest in a Salmon Tree. our job. Mr. Dostine was in charge of the project.

Every morning we got up at 5:00 (2.15") Gouldian Finch . A.M. A quick breakfast was available on ~ Erythrura gou/diae .1 A ~~~.'" L1 .~_/ . i-;; a "help yourself' basis, which was 55 mm ~~. ~i reminiscent of my army days. By 5:30 , Nest Hollow ~...;/ '. we were on our way to the Yinberrie ~~ '. Hills. ~:. I (12.48") ",/ The Yinberrie Hills are used by ~----- 320 mm " .?;. Gouldian Finches each year during the dry season to feed and nest. It is the Long-tailed Finch site of the largest known breeding Poephi/a acuticauda population. Study of the area is there-

Drawings/graph by Sonia C. Tidemann

Characteristics of the hollows selected as breeding sites by Gouldian and Long-tailed Finches.

Characteristics (means) of variables measured at nest sites of Gouldian and Long-tailed Finches and trees chosen randomly. Field researchers preparing to study the Lady Gould Finch in the wilds q(the Northern :"Jest sites Territory) Australia. Gouldian Long-tailed Random

Tree Height (m) 9. 6 9·7 9·4 Nest Height (m) )·1 ) <')_.:l 2·9 Number of trunks per tree 1.1 1.8a 2.) Diameter of trunk bearing nest (m) 0.)" 0.)2.:1 0.29 Depth of hoUow (m) 0·47 0.62 0.52 "Significantly different from random.

24 MarchiApril 1998 fore of obvious importance to assess the conservation status ofthe Gouldian THE INCUBATOR Finch. Results from simultaneous FOR EXOTIC SPECIES counts conducted in 1996 suggest that this method provides a useful index of population size. Our group would do the same as Octagon 20 was done previously: simultaneous counts of birds' daily watering points 1k~~t;j conducted at the same time. That was tk~~ the reason why many volunteers were Original concept, scientifically needed. designed, quality engineered to We left in groups of three to four hatch your eggs with confidence. volunteers in four-wheel drive Toyota trucks and Land Cruisers. The roads Safe automatic turning - any size without extras. are very rocky and dusty in the Yinberrie Hills. In fact, the truck in Electronic humidity control optional. which I was riding had two flats before Supplied, serviced and supported we got there. One at a time we were in America by the manufacturers. dropped off at different locations. Each Call for full details. ofus had a location assigned each day. Brinsea Products Inc. Most of the time, after being dropped 3670 S. Hopkins Avenue, Titusville, FL.32780 off, we had to walk to our location "Zr (407) 267-7009 Fax: (407) 267-6090 through riverbeds to reach a water­ hole. Waterholes in the riverbeds varied Brinsea ~~~~r:~~~~ in size. Some were about half the size of a backyard SWimming pool, while others were much smaller. At the end ofJuly, it was well into the dry season. By season's end in ovember, these waterholes would be totally dry. In addition to the riverbed water­ Looking For The Best holes, there are artificial waterholes in the Yinberrie Hills, maintained by the Lory Diet? Mt. Todd Gold Mine workers. The arti­ ficial holes are maintained by the mine You Just Found It! to help Gouldians survive the dry sea­ son. Also, it discourages Gouldians from visiting contaminated waterbod­ Lory Life Powder &Nectar ies on the mine site. The artificial waterholes are made with black plastic I ..,-<.c sheeting placed amongst rocks to form a small pool. The pool formed is AUrea approximately 3 feet in diameter, and Breeders of Lories & Softbills some rocks are placed in it to create an island for Gouldians and other finches Also offering: Cuttlebone, Spray Millet, to land and drink. The water supply is Soak & Cook, Nest Boxes, Spirulina kept in a drum placed about 30 feet away. A small hose supplies the water­ KAYT~ct hole by a gravity drip system. I was ~CT NUTRITION· NO MESS told that Gouldian Finches prefer to drink from these small artificial holes. CUTTLEBONE PLUS As I mentioned before, we were left alone at the waterhole. I usually posi­ P.O. Box 305, Fallbrook, CA 92088 tioned myself about 40 feet away from (760) 591-4951 the waterhole, a good distance from Orders only: (800) 747-9878 which to observe using binoculars. We were given data sheets with I the afa WATCHBIRD 25 My first day of counting was at one Gouldian Finches for breeding sites is of the artificial waterholes. For me, it rocky. The requirements of a breeding was a very happy and fulfilling day. I site are Sorghum grass, water within was picked up at 11:30 and taken back four km (2 l/Z miles), and the hollow to the campground where lunch was Salmon Gum Trees. The historical dis­ waiting for us. Many thanks to Sue tribution of Gouldian Finches is across ("Gilli") who prepared all of our food. Northem Australia. Breeding starts in Gilli came all the way from southern late March after the wet season, and Australia as a volunteer to cook for us. ends (I assume) in August. Also, many thanks to David Hooper The next four days we continued I '\ (Technical Officer) who made daily our job of counting Gouldians. Every ,",,0· \j "0· trips to Katherine to bring fresh sup­ day I was at a different waterhole. Historical distribution of Gouldian Finches across north­ plies of food and liquids. David had a Each location was different with ern Australia (after Blakers et al. 1984). Study sites were situated near Katherine (x) and Kununurra (+). secret place to keep liquids cold, and respect to the numbers of Gouldian if you were nice to him, he would give Finches and other birds counted. several columns and lines to keep you some after lunch. According to Mr. Dostine's compiled records. The columns were labeled During and after lunch made for information of the total count for the "Gouldian Finch-Adult," "Gouldian great fellowship. Comparing notes year of 1997, the population of the Finch-Juvenile," "Long-tailed Finch," with other volunteers offered opportu­ Gouldian Finch has increased from the "Masked Finch," and the fifth column nity to learn. At this time Mr. Dostine count taken in 1996. was used for doves, parrots, and other gave us the compiled results of our For me, the six days spent in the finches. efforts for the day. The rest ofthe after­ Yinberrie Hills were some of the hap­ The lines were spaced for 15 noon was our time. I enjoyed hiking piest days ofmy life. I met some ofthe minute counts. For example: 07:15­ the surrounding hills of the Edith Falls nicest people. Don Franklin, a 07:30; 07:30-07:45; etc. It continued campground. Also, I went swimming Gouldian Finch Project employee, and down through the last count, from in the small lake at the base of the his girlfriend Christina, insisted that I 11:00 to 11:15 A.M. We were told to Edith Falls. stay with them in Darwin until I was count only the ones that drink. I On the second day, I was assigned scheduled to depart the Northem assume it was because once the bird to count birds at one of the natural Territory. took a good drink, it would not come waterholes located in the dry riverbed. Our group left Edith Falls in the back the same morning. I enjoyed the solitude and the beauty afternoon of the 3rd of August and My first day was the most exciting. of the region. Since it was the dry sea­ reached Darwin in the evening. Many birds arrived first thing in the son, the tall grass on the banks of the During the next three days, I visited morning, mostly Yellow-tinted Honey dry river was yellow and gold in color. Kakadu National Park, which is con­ Eaters, Long-tailed Finches, and a few I lay there amongst the tall grass under sidered the highlight of the Northern Masked Finches. There were no a small tree. Hidden, with a good view Territory. Gouldian Finches in sight. Suddenly, at of the waterhole, I waited patiently. On my last two days, I visited with 8:15 A.M., I saw a Black-headed Many birds flew over my head but Don and Christina. They showed me Gouldian hen drinking. My heart was none came down to drink. That day around Darwin and graciously made pounding. For the first time I was see­ my record showed only two Bar­ me feel at home. I enjoyed their com­ ing a wild Gouldian Finch! I held my shouldered Doves. I was told that pany, good food, and the tropical breath, hoping not to scare her away. some waterholes can be incredibly warm weather of Darwin. Then I saw four young (uncolored) busy and others quiet. I left Darwin on August 7th and, and a red-headed male. They must Gouldian Finches make nests in the because of the time change, arrived have been a family. hollows at the ends of tree branches. the same day in Los Angeles. And I I took a deep breath and entered in These hollows are formed by termites. brought with me many wonderful the proper columns: two adult Certain trees are more favored by ter­ memories. Gouldian Finches, four juvenile mites. In the Yinberrie Hills it is the Gouldian Finches, and ten Long-tailed Salmon Gum Tree, or Eucalyptus Reference Finches. I continued to count birds tintinnans. These trees have very Tidemann, Sonia C. 1993. "Management of a until 11:15 A.M. The morning went very smooth trunks and branches, and are Threatened Species: The Gouldian fast with a total count of 40 adult pink in color. To satisfy my curiosity, I Finch Example," in c.P. Catterall, P.V. Driscoll, K. Hulsman, D. Muir, and Gouldians, 80 juvenile Goulds, 100 broke off the dead end of a branch, E.A. Taplin, eds. Birds and their Long-tailed Finches, 15 Masked exposing a hole with termites inside. Habitats; Status and Conservation in Finches, several doves, four Northern Queensland, pp. 123-131. The Salmon Gum Trees are approxi­ (Queensland Ornithological Society, Rosella, two Hooded Parrots, and mately 20 to 30 feet high and are St. Lucia). many Yellow-tinted Honeyeaters. sparsely distributed among other trees. Ninety per cent of the Gouldians I According to author Sonia Tony Bucci's e-mail address is: observed were blackheaded. Tidemann, the terrain selected by [email protected] • 26 March/April 1998