DOCSLIB.ORG

Australia Tasmania Extension II 20Th to 26Th September 2019 (7 Days) East Coast II 26Th September to 16Th October 2019 (21 Days)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Australia Tasmania Extension II 20Th to 26Th September 2019 (7 Days) East Coast II 26Th September to 16Th October 2019 (21 Days) Australia Tasmania Extension II 20th to 26th September 2019 (7 days) East Coast II 26th September to 16th October 2019 (21 days) Trip Report Southern Cassowary by Steve Davidson Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Steve Davidson Trip Report – RBL Australia – East Coast II and Tasmania Extension II 2019 2 Tour Summary Day One, 27th September 2018 With the group meeting in the hotel for breakfast on a beautiful Queensland day we quickly dispensed with formalities and headed out immediately, for there was much birding to be done on this the first day of the 2019 Rockjumper East Coast Highlights Tour. And they came thick and fast in the tropical climes of Cairns Esplanade, with Torresian Imperial Pigeon seemingly everywhere, as well as the ubiquitous Rainbow Lorikeet, Rainbow Bee-eater, Peaceful Dove, Helmeted Friarbird, Australian Swiftlet and Varied Honeyeater. Special guest appearances by Little Bronze-cuckoo and Spangled Drongo were warmly received, and nearby mangroves held Mangrove Robin for some of the group. In nearby gardens of lowland rainforest and wetland we cracked onto a mega with Little Kingfisher under the belt before lunch, as well as Yellow Honeyeater, Black Butcherbird, Olive-backed Sunbird and Bush Stone- curlew. In the afternoon we picked up Green Pygmy-goose, White-necked Heron and Australasian Darter, after which we timed the low tide well and headed to a huge area of mudflats where scores of shorebirds milled about on the ooze. Highlights included our only Beach Stone-curlew of the trip, as well as Eastern Curlew, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Greater & Lesser Sand-plovers, lots of Pacific Golden Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, Little Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Great Knot, Grey Plover and Red-capped Plover. It was an auspicious start to the tour with over 100 species seen for the day… Bush Stone-curlew by Steve Davidson Day Two, 28th September With the tour in full swing now we headed south of Cairns first thing this morning, en route to an area that has many times yielded a special bird for us – the inimitable and preposterously wonderful Southern Cassowary. Lo and behold we weren’t let down, with not one but two cassowaries making their acquaintance to the group. Close encounter doesn’t quite describe the experience with our second bird as it reached into the cabin for some unattended fruit. Nearby we had our first Macleay’s and Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters, Rufous (Little) Shrike-thrush, Grey Whistler and an utterly bedazzling and breathtakingly resplendent male Lovely Fairywren that posed ridiculously close for everyone. Moving up into higher altitudes toward the Atherton Tablelands we were kept company by constant sightings of Eastern Cattle Egret flocks and Black Kites wheeling above cane-fields, punctuated by our first Pied Currawong and Torresian Crows at lunch. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Australia Trip Report – RBL Australia – East Coast II and Tasmania Extension II 2019 3 We arrived at our accommodation late in the afternoon and after a quick settle in we ducked out for some final birding, picking up Scarlet and Lewin’s Honeyeaters, White-throated Gerygone, Black- necked Stork, hundreds of Plumed Whistling Ducks and none other than the amazing and enigmatic Platypus in a quiet rainforest stream as dusk drew. A beautiful home cooked meal was followed by a bit of possum watching, with Striped Possum and Sugar Glider on show, as well as cheeky Long-nosed Bandicoots, to round out a fantastic day… Days Three to Six, 29th September – 1st October, 2019 A deliciously cool morning greeted us as we all gathered at first light in the grounds of the accommodation pre-breakfast to listen to the dawn chorus and wait for the first avian activity. For as we were surrounded by dense highland rainforest here we didn’t have to move far, and the birds literally came out to us. For the next three mornings this was our course of action, with an hour or so of birding Lewin’s Honeyeater by Steve Davidson at dawn, then a sumptuous breakfast. In this way we witnessed the best early feeding activity, with treats like Brown Cuckoo-dove, Wompoo Fruit- dove, Pacific Emerald Dove, Tooth-billed Catbird, Spotted Catbird, Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike, Silvereye, Grey-headed Robin, Pale Yellow Robin, Australian Golden Whistler, White-throated (Little) Treecreeper, Black-faced Monarch and the incredible Victoria’s Riflebird. In nearby high-altitude rainforest areas we also chanced upon birds like White-eared Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Double-eyed Fig-parrot, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Bower’s Shrike-thrush, Brown Gerygone and Large-billed Scrubwren. Special mention has to go to the time and effort we all put into finally obtaining good views of the loud but highly elusive Chowchilla troop that kept us scrambling through the scrub for a good hour… they were worth it and provided us with yet another Atherton Tablelands endemic. Open grasslands and canefields yielded wonderful views of Sarus Crane and Brolga, Spotted Harrier, Australian Pipit and a chance encounter with the stately Australian Bustard. Tropical savannah woodlands produced much-wanted Red-backed Eastern Water Dragon by Steve Davidson Fairywren, as well as Bridled, White- cheeked & White-naped Honeyeaters, Leaden Flycatcher, Rufous Whistler and the northern form of Brown Goshawk (ssp didimus). Ephemeral wetlands had a plethora of waterbirds such as Wandering & Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Pink-eared Duck, Grey Teal, Hardhead, Royal Spoonbill, Intermediate Egret, Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Australia Trip Report – RBL Australia – East Coast II and Tasmania Extension II 2019 4 White-necked Heron, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pied Stilt and Australasian Darter. One morning we made the trek to some high rainforest at 1000m, and after hearing his mechanical, sizzling vocalisations and a long wait were rewarded with views of a young male Golden Bowerbird at his intricate and beautifully decorated bower. After dark we made a few sorties with the aid of spotlights and were able to lock onto a pair of imperious Rufous Owl, plus the rather red, rainforest form of Southern Boobook (ssp lurida). A small party of the highly improbable Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo bolstered our mammal tally, whilst nocturnal mammals seen included Green Ringtail Possum, Coppery Brushtail Possum and Striped Possum, plus a few Echidna and a Rakali (Water Rat) seen by a late-staying-up Susan. Herpetologically speaking we saw Macquarie and Saw-shelled Turtles, Eastern Water Dragon, Leaf-tailed Gecko and the very beautiful and prehistoric-looking Boyd’s Forest Dragon. Day Six, 1st October, 2019 Today, as a driving day, involved leaving the relative cool of the highlands and making our way north toward the Daintree River region. With the requisite stops along the way we Boyd’s Forest Dragon by Steve Davidson took in a number of tropical woodland and wetland sites, with Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Squatter Pigeon, Great Bowerbird, Pheasant Coucal, Blue- faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Red-winged Parrot, Pied Monarch and Northern Fantail being notable standouts, with a skulking Spotless Crake seen by some. Raptors included the impressive Wedge-tailed Eagle and Pacific Baza. Rocky granite outcrops near Mareeba gave us some very confiding Mareeba Rock-Wallaby. Late in the afternoon we pulled in to Daintree Village, ready for our cruise on the beautiful Daintree River early the following morning, with a colony of nesting Metallic Starling serenading us as we relaxed, in their own special way. Day Seven, 2nd October, 2019 Some low cloud and a spattering of rain made its presence felt this morning as we embarked on our cruise through the backwaters of the Daintree River with our guide, the inimitable and ebullient Murray. The weather improved and so did the birding with Shining Flycatcher, Pacific Golden Plover, Tree Martin, Black-fronted Dotterel and croaking Great-billed Herons witnessed in quick succession. There was a pair of Black-necked Stork with two juveniles in tow, a Striated Heron, soaring Brahminy Kite, a brief Cicadabird, Black Butcherbird (including the juvenile rufous morph), Radjah Shelduck, Large- billed Gerygone, Green Oriole and Australian Swiftlet constantly plied the skies overhead. The standout birds for the morning however, were the Little & Azure Kingfishers that allowed breathtakingly close views and much photography. These birds, needless to say, were much appreciated and roundly applauded. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Australia Trip Report – RBL Australia – East Coast II and Tasmania Extension II 2019 5 Common Tree Snake despite being brilliantly coloured was incredibly well camouflaged, and it also took a while to find Saltwater Crocodile given the warmer temperature of the water versus the lower ambient temperature of the air. However, it was worth the wait to see these impressive and formidable saurischians. After the cruise we birded some nearby riparian rainforest, picking up our first Fairy Gerygone and Rufous Fantail, plus Grey Whistler and great looks at a family of Spectacled Monarch. Back in Cairns we made good on a few local hotspots and picked up a single Papuan Frogmouth, as well as getting good close Daintree River Cruise by Steve Davidson views for everyone of Mangrove Robin. SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND Day Eight, 3rd October, 2019 A check of the mangroves this morning gave us one last chance of Torresian Kingfisher, and this did indeed provide our final new species for the Wet Tropics, with a beautiful adult finally giving itself up for our eyes. Boarding our flight we made our way south to Brisbane, picked up a near-new van and began the long, slow journey to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Resort in the magnificent Lamington National Park. En route we saw our first Galah, Grey Butcherbird and Noisy Miner. Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Pretty-faced Wallaby were also seen.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • TAG Operational Structure
    PARROT TAXON ADVISORY GROUP (TAG) Regional Collection Plan 5th Edition 2020-2025 Sustainability of Parrot Populations in AZA Facilities ...................................................................... 1 Mission/Objectives/Strategies......................................................................................................... 2 TAG Operational Structure .............................................................................................................. 3 Steering Committee .................................................................................................................... 3 TAG Advisors ............................................................................................................................... 4 SSP Coordinators ......................................................................................................................... 5 Hot Topics: TAG Recommendations ................................................................................................ 8 Parrots as Ambassador Animals .................................................................................................. 9 Interactive Aviaries Housing Psittaciformes .............................................................................. 10 Private Aviculture ...................................................................................................................... 13 Communication ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary Biology of the Genus Rattus: Profile of an Archetypal Rodent Pest
    Bromadiolone resistance does not respond to absence of anticoagulants in experimental populations of Norway rats. Heiberg, A.C.; Leirs, H.; Siegismund, Hans Redlef Published in: <em>Rats, Mice and People: Rodent Biology and Management</em> Publication date: 2003 Document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Citation for published version (APA): Heiberg, A. C., Leirs, H., & Siegismund, H. R. (2003). Bromadiolone resistance does not respond to absence of anticoagulants in experimental populations of Norway rats. In G. R. Singleton, L. A. Hinds, C. J. Krebs, & D. M. Spratt (Eds.), Rats, Mice and People: Rodent Biology and Management (Vol. 96, pp. 461-464). Download date: 27. Sep. 2021 SYMPOSIUM 7: MANAGEMENT—URBAN RODENTS AND RODENTICIDE RESISTANCE This file forms part of ACIAR Monograph 96, Rats, mice and people: rodent biology and management. The other parts of Monograph 96 can be downloaded from <www.aciar.gov.au>. © Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research 2003 Grant R. Singleton, Lyn A. Hinds, Charles J. Krebs and Dave M. Spratt, 2003. Rats, mice and people: rodent biology and management. ACIAR Monograph No. 96, 564p. ISBN 1 86320 357 5 [electronic version] ISSN 1447-090X [electronic version] Technical editing and production by Clarus Design, Canberra 431 Ecological perspectives on the management of commensal rodents David P. Cowan, Roger J. Quy* and Mark S. Lambert Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UNITED KINGDOM *Corresponding author, email: [email protected] Abstract. The need to control Norway rats in the United Kingdom has led to heavy reliance on rodenticides, particu- larly because alternative methods do not reduce rat numbers as quickly or as efficiently.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of the Mammals of Indonesia
    CHECKLIST OF THE MAMMALS OF INDONESIA Scientific, English, Indonesia Name and Distribution Area Table in Indonesia Including CITES, IUCN and Indonesian Category for Conservation i ii CHECKLIST OF THE MAMMALS OF INDONESIA Scientific, English, Indonesia Name and Distribution Area Table in Indonesia Including CITES, IUCN and Indonesian Category for Conservation By Ibnu Maryanto Maharadatunkamsi Anang Setiawan Achmadi Sigit Wiantoro Eko Sulistyadi Masaaki Yoneda Agustinus Suyanto Jito Sugardjito RESEARCH CENTER FOR BIOLOGY INDONESIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCES (LIPI) iii © 2019 RESEARCH CENTER FOR BIOLOGY, INDONESIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCES (LIPI) Cataloging in Publication Data. CHECKLIST OF THE MAMMALS OF INDONESIA: Scientific, English, Indonesia Name and Distribution Area Table in Indonesia Including CITES, IUCN and Indonesian Category for Conservation/ Ibnu Maryanto, Maharadatunkamsi, Anang Setiawan Achmadi, Sigit Wiantoro, Eko Sulistyadi, Masaaki Yoneda, Agustinus Suyanto, & Jito Sugardjito. ix+ 66 pp; 21 x 29,7 cm ISBN: 978-979-579-108-9 1. Checklist of mammals 2. Indonesia Cover Desain : Eko Harsono Photo : I. Maryanto Third Edition : December 2019 Published by: RESEARCH CENTER FOR BIOLOGY, INDONESIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCES (LIPI). Jl Raya Jakarta-Bogor, Km 46, Cibinong, Bogor, Jawa Barat 16911 Telp: 021-87907604/87907636; Fax: 021-87907612 Email: [email protected] . iv PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION This book is a third edition of checklist of the Mammals of Indonesia. The new edition provides remarkable information in several ways compare to the first and second editions, the remarks column contain the abbreviation of the specific island distributions, synonym and specific location. Thus, in this edition we are also corrected the distribution of some species including some new additional species in accordance with the discovery of new species in Indonesia.
    [Show full text]
  • Calaby References
    Abbott, I.J. (1974). Natural history of Curtis Island, Bass Strait. 5. Birds, with some notes on mammal trapping. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 107: 171–74. General; Rodents; Abbott, I. (1978). Seabird islands No. 56 Michaelmas Island, King George Sound, Western Australia. Corella 2: 26–27. (Records rabbit and Rattus fuscipes). General; Rodents; Lagomorphs; Abbott, I. (1981). Seabird Islands No. 106 Mondrain Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia. Corella 5: 60–61. (Records bush-rat and rock-wallaby). General; Rodents; Abbott, I. and Watson, J.R. (1978). The soils, flora, vegetation and vertebrate fauna of Chatham Island, Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 60: 65–70. (Only mammal is Rattus fuscipes). General; Rodents; Adams, D.B. (1980). Motivational systems of agonistic behaviour in muroid rodents: a comparative review and neural model. Aggressive Behavior 6: 295–346. Rodents; Ahern, L.D., Brown, P.R., Robertson, P. and Seebeck, J.H. (1985). Application of a taxon priority system to some Victorian vertebrate fauna. Fisheries and Wildlife Service, Victoria, Arthur Rylah Institute of Environmental Research Technical Report No. 32: 1–48. General; Marsupials; Bats; Rodents; Whales; Land Carnivores; Aitken, P. (1968). Observations on Notomys fuscus (Wood Jones) (Muridae-Pseudomyinae) with notes on a new synonym. South Australian Naturalist 43: 37–45. Rodents; Aitken, P.F. (1969). The mammals of the Flinders Ranges. Pp. 255–356 in Corbett, D.W.P. (ed.) The natural history of the Flinders Ranges. Libraries Board of South Australia : Adelaide. (Gives descriptions and notes on the echidna, marsupials, murids, and bats recorded for the Flinders Ranges; also deals with the introduced mammals, including the dingo).
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Printable PDF Format
    Field Guides Tour Report Australia Part 2 2019 Oct 22, 2019 to Nov 11, 2019 John Coons & Doug Gochfeld For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. Water is a precious resource in the Australian deserts, so watering holes like this one near Georgetown are incredible places for concentrating wildlife. Two of our most bird diverse excursions were on our mornings in this region. Photo by guide Doug Gochfeld. Australia. A voyage to the land of Oz is guaranteed to be filled with novelty and wonder, regardless of whether we’ve been to the country previously. This was true for our group this year, with everyone coming away awed and excited by any number of a litany of great experiences, whether they had already been in the country for three weeks or were beginning their Aussie journey in Darwin. Given the far-flung locales we visit, this itinerary often provides the full spectrum of weather, and this year that was true to the extreme. The drought which had gripped much of Australia for months on end was still in full effect upon our arrival at Darwin in the steamy Top End, and Georgetown was equally hot, though about as dry as Darwin was humid. The warmth persisted along the Queensland coast in Cairns, while weather on the Atherton Tablelands and at Lamington National Park was mild and quite pleasant, a prelude to the pendulum swinging the other way. During our final hours below O’Reilly’s, a system came through bringing with it strong winds (and a brush fire warning that unfortunately turned out all too prescient).
    [Show full text]
  • Australia ‐ Part Two 2016 (With Tasmania Extension to Nov 7)
    Field Guides Tour Report Australia ‐ Part Two 2016 (with Tasmania extension to Nov 7) Oct 18, 2016 to Nov 2, 2016 Chris Benesh & Cory Gregory For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. The sunset over Cumberland Dam near Georgetown was especially vibrant. Photo by guide Cory Gregory. The country of Australia is a vast one, with a wide range of geography, flora, and fauna. This tour, ranging from the Top End over to Queensland (with some participants continuing on to Tasmania), sampled a diverse set of regions and an impressively wide range of birds. Whether it was the colorful selection of honeyeaters, the variety of parrots, the many rainforest specialties, or even the diverse set of world-class mammals, we covered a lot of ground and saw a wealth of birds. We began in the tropical north, in hot and humid Darwin, where Torresian Imperial-Pigeons flew through town, Black Kites soared overhead, and we had our first run-ins with Magpie-Larks. We ventured away from Darwin to bird Fogg Dam, where we enjoyed Large-tailed Nightjar in the predawn hours, majestic Black-necked Storks in the fields nearby, and even a Rainbow Pitta and Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove in the nearby forest! We also visited areas like Darwin River Dam, where some rare Black-tailed Treecreepers put on a show and Northern Rosellas flew around us. We can’t forget additional spots near Darwin, like East Point, Buffalo Creek, and Lee Point, where we gazed out on the mudflats and saw a variety of coast specialists, including Beach Thick-knee and Gull-billed Tern.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Participate in the Fairywren Project
    How to participate in the Fairywren Project Step 1: Log in to eBird Step 2: Choose a participation level and contribute The Fairywren Project is interested in many aspects of fairywren behavior and ecology. We’ve broken down our data-collection into three levels of participation, beginning with the most important way to contribute. Whether you choose to participate at the basic, intermediate, or advanced level, any data you submit to eBird is a significant contribution! Basic Participation: Which plumage types are you seeing? The simplest, but by far the most important way to contribute to the project is to let us know what species and plumage types you’re seeing. We’ve divided plumage into five categories, one for females, three for males, and one for dull birds of unknown sex: Bright Male Plumage (b): A bright bird is one that is in full flashy breeding plumage and does ​ not obviously show any dull feathers intermixed with bright feathers. A species bright plumage is typically the plumage the species is known and named for. Only males exhibit bright plumage. Intermediate Male Plumage (i): Intermediate plumage is a male in any stage between dull (no ​ bright feathers) and completely bright (all bright feathers). An intermediate male may be actively molting, but some species are known to maintain intermediate plumages for months at a time. Dull Male Plumage (d): Dull male plumage is the species typical winter or non-breeding ​ plumage (sometimes referred to as “eclipse” plumage). A male in dull plumage should show no bright body feathers, although some species like Superb Fairywrens often maintain blue tails year-round, even when in dull plumage.
    [Show full text]
  • Grand Australia
    GRAND AUSTRALIA PART II: QUEENSLAND, VICTORIA & PLAINS-WANDERER OCTOBER 12-29, 2020 TASMANIA EXTENSION OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4, 2020* ©2020 *DATES DIFFER FROM THOSE THAT APPEAR IN OUR 2020 CATALOG This is the second part of our Grand Australia tour; VENT’s finest, most comprehensive tour of Australia. We will travel to several of the most important bird areas on the continent, searching out birds, mammals and wildflowers from the common to the rare and most elusive. We expect the field list from either of these parts to represent close to 50% of the species of Australia, which is half of Australia’s regular birds in two weeks of birding. We have designed all sections to allow flexibility for those who may have already enjoyed a birding trip to Australia, but missed some of the key sites. It also caters to those who have never visited Australia and wish to experience the whole spectrum of this diverse country by taking all three sections. Travelling in Australia is a delight; friendly people, excellent roads and hotels, reliable airlines, plenty of fresh produce and tasty food. You can drink the water and eat the salads! On this tour we make a number of two and even three-night stays and travel in a vehicle that affords excellent viewing and an abundance of seats! Australia’s geographic isolation has resulted in the evolution of a remarkable array of endemic birds and other wildlife. More than 300 species and eight families are endemic (making it one of the richest in the world). Colorful parrots, fairywrens, finches and honeyeaters light up the environment while giant Cassowary and Emu, peculiar bowerbirds and birds-of-paradise make their home down under.
    [Show full text]
  • New Guinea & Australia 2016
    Field Guides Tour Report New Guinea & Australia 2016 Oct 27, 2016 to Nov 14, 2016 Jay VanderGaast & Doug Gochfeld For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. The amazing Wattled Ploughbill, a Papuan endemic, photographed by guide Doug Gochfeld. As the snow falls outside and winter envelops my home, it's fun to look back on this wonderful tour and recall the tropical heat and all the hot birding that took place during our time in PNG and Australia. It was a whirlwind couple of weeks in which we visited some of eastern Australia's premier birding hotspots, sandwiched around a brief visit to a couple of choice destinations in PNG. The results were satisfying, as we enjoyed a great selection of the region's unique birds, including representatives of a number of families restricted to this part of the world, from Emus and brushturkeys to bowerbirds, fairywrens, and of course, birds-of-paradise. We began our adventure in the steamy tropics of Far North Queensland, arriving in the friendly coastal city of Cairns, which we used as a base to explore the surrounding, bird-rich areas. Our first afternoon of birding just to the north of the city and along the famous Esplanade gave us our first taste of the treats in store for us, with Green Pygmy-Goose, Magpie Goose, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Rainbow Bee-eaters, and Crimson Finches starting things off right at Yorkey's Knob and Cattana Wetlands, and the high tide along the Esplanade pushing a plethora of shorebirds within easy viewing distance.
    [Show full text]
  • TRAFFIC POST Galliformes in Illegal Wildlife Trade in India: a Bird's Eye View in FOCUS TRAFFIC Post
    T R A F F I C NEWSLETTER ON WILDLIFE TRADE IN INDIA N E W S L E T T E R Issue 29 SPECIAL ISSUE ON BIRDS MAY 2018 TRAFFIC POST Galliformes in illegal wildlife trade in India: A bird's eye view IN FOCUS TRAFFIC Post TRAFFIC’s newsletter on wildlife trade in India was started in September 2007 with a primary objective to create awareness about poaching and illegal wildlife trade . Illegal wildlife trade is reportedly the fourth largest global illegal trade after narcotics, counterfeiting and human trafficking. It has evolved into an organized activity threatening the future of many wildlife species. TRAFFIC Post was born out of the need to reach out to various stakeholders including decision makers, enforcement officials, judiciary and consumers about the extent of illegal wildlife trade in India and the damaging effect it could be having on the endangered flora and fauna. Since its inception, TRAFFIC Post has highlighted pressing issues related to illegal wildlife trade in India and globally, flagged early trends, and illuminated wildlife policies and laws. It has also focused on the status of legal trade in various medicinal plant and timber species that need sustainable management for ensuring ecological and economic success. TRAFFIC Post comes out three times in the year and is available both online and in print. You can subscribe to it by writing to [email protected] All issues of TRAFFIC Post can be viewed at www.trafficindia.org; www.traffic.org Map Disclaimer: The designations of the geographical entities in this publication and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WWF-India or TRAFFIC concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Pest Risk Assessment
    PEST RISK ASSESSMENT Quaker parrot Myiopsitta monachus Photo: Flickr 2008. Image from Wikimedia Commons licenced under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. May 2011 This publication should be cited as: Latitude 42 (2011) Pest Risk Assessment: Quaker parrot (Myiopsitta monachus). Latitude 42 Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd. Hobart, Tasmania. About this Pest Risk Assessment This pest risk assessment is developed in accordance with the Policy and Procedures for the Import, Movement and Keeping of Vertebrate Wildlife in Tasmania (DPIPWE 2011). The policy and procedures set out conditions and restrictions for the importation of controlled animals pursuant to s32 of the Nature Conservation Act 2002. For more information about this Pest Risk Assessment, please contact: Wildlife Management Branch Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Address: GPO Box 44, Hobart, TAS. 7001, Australia. Phone: 1300 386 550 Email: [email protected] Visit: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au Disclaimer The information provided in this Pest Risk Assessment is provided in good faith. The Crown, its officers, employees and agents do not accept liability however arising, including liability for negligence, for any loss resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information in this Pest Risk Assessment and/or reliance on its availability at any time. Pest Risk Assessment: Quaker Parrot Myiopsitta monachus 2/18 1. Summary The Quaker parrot, Myiopsitta monachus, is a medium-sized bird, mostly green and grey with a blue- grey forehead. It is unique among psittaciformes in that it builds a stick nest rather than breeding in a cavity. These stick nests are often communal, with multiple pairs breeding in the same large stick structure.
    [Show full text]