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Home , Fuscous honeyeater, Honeyeater, Lichenostomus, New Holland honeyeater, Red wattlebird, Spinebill

June 2010 223

Recent Migration in Southern

Bryan T Haywood

Abstract be seen moving through areas of south-eastern Australia during autumn (Ford 1983; Simpson & A conspicuous migration of particularly Day 1996). On occasions Fuscous Honeyeaters Yellow-faced Honeyeater, chrysops, have been reported migrating in company with and White-naped Honeyeater, lunatus, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, but only in small was observed in the SE of during numbers (Blakers et al., 1984). May and June 2007. A particularly significant day was 12 May 2007 when both species were Movements of honeyeaters throughout southern observed moving in mixed flocks in westerly and Australia are also predominantly up the east northerly directions in five different locations in the coast with moving from and New SE of South Australia. Migration of Yellow-faced South Wales (Hindwood 1956;Munro, Wiltschko Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater is not and Wiltschko 1993; Munro and Munro 1998) limited to following the coastline in the SE of South into southern . The timing and Australia, but also inland. During this migration direction at which these movements occur has period small numbers of , L. been under considerable study with findings fuscus, were also observed. The broad-scale nature that birds (heading up the east coast) actually of these movements over the period April to June change from a north-easterly to north-westerly 2007 was indicated by records from south-western direction during this migration period. This Victoria, various locations in the SE of South change in direction is partly dictated by changes Australia, Adelaide and as far west as the Mid North in landscape features, but when Yellow-faced of SA. Honeyeaters are held captive during this same period their flight tendencies also display this same directional change (Munro, Wiltschko and Ford, 1993). These seasonal movements are INTRODUCTION assisted by the abundance in flowering of forest and woodland trees and understorey plants, but Little is known about the large scale or are not limited to them (Ford 1983). Seasonal migratory movements of Australian land birds movements of honeyeaters are also well known (Munro, Wiltschko & Wiltschko, 1993; Griffioen to occur in the (SA) with and Clarke, 2002; Dingle 2008), especially birds moving 10 to 100 km in search of food population changes and movements in (Paton, Rogers & Harris, 2004). honeyeaters (Ford 1977; Simpson & Day, 1996). However, the migratory nature of the Yellow- Despite the predominant east coast movement faced Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater of honeyeaters a proportion of Yellow-faced is well documented (Schodde and Tidemann, Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater 1986) and to a lesser extent that of Fuscous populations also make their way into South Honeyeaters (Higgins, Peter and Steele 2001). Australia from south-western Victoria. Hood Hence large and restless flocks of Yellow-faced and Attiwell (1958) and Haywood (2003) both Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater can observed Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, L. melanops, 224 South Australian Ornithologist 35 (8) a species only known as a vagrant to South This paper compiles observations of mixed Australia (SAOA 2008) in amongst flocks of other flocks of honeyeaters (especially Yellow-faced honeyeater species during this migratory period. Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater) from Other previous conspicuous mass movements early April to late June 2007 from SW Victoria, and/or migration events of honeyeaters in South various locations in the SE of South Australia, Australia have been reported by Ford (1977), Adelaide and as far as the Mid North of the S.A. Hardy (1980) and Paton (1988). MIGRATION EVENT OF AUTUMN/WINTER 2007 Hood and Attiwell (1958) remarked on annual flights of wattlebirds ( sp.) and Initial observations various small honeyeaters from the end of In the Portland district (SW Victoria) in April April to May each year in the mid SE of South “large flocks (100’s) of Fuscous Honeyeater and Australia (Naracoorte district). On 11 May 1958 Yellow-faced Honeyeater were observed together. Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters were seen amongst In separate large flocks White-naped Honeyeaters these flights in the Joanna area (15 km east and much smaller numbers of Yellow-tufted of Bool Lagoon). Haywood (2003) reported Honeyeaters and Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters, a similar occurrence on 10 May 2002 when a Glyciphila melanops, were also moving together. Yellow-tufted Honeyeater was seen further Fuscous Honeyeaters were observed feeding on south at Moorak (5 km SW of Mt Gambier) lerps and the other honeyeater species fed mainly presumably arriving amongst the flocks of on blossom of Swamp Gum, Eucalytpus ovata. migrating Yellow-faced Honeyeaters seen Flocks were erratic but general movement was in during that early May period. a southerly or easterly direction” (R. Farnes pers. comm. 2007). Ford (1977) noted that in autumn 1976 the migration by both Yellow-faced Honeyeaters Flocks of Yellow-faced Honeyeater (20-100 and White-naped Honeyeaters was more flocks per day) and small numbers of White- noticeable than in previous years with naped Honeyeater were flying north over Black reasonable numbers being seen in Adelaide Forest (suburban Adelaide) during April. “This suburbs, far northern Mount Lofty Ranges occurs most years although numbers are usually and Murray Mallee districts. Hardy (1980) also less and confined to about two weeks in late reported conspicuous numbers of White-naped April - early May. Birds were only observed Honeyeaters 21 km N of Adelaide during March moving from early to mid morning and flock and April 1978. Numbers dwindled as the sizes ranged from 2 to 20 birds” (G. Carpenter season broke in late April. pers. comm. 2007).

Paton (1988) remarked on mixed flocks Large numbers (many 100’s) of honeyeaters of honeyeaters (including Yellow-faced were observed flying through different parts of Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater) the SE of South Australia by several observers and their direction of flight at Cape Jervis on on 12 May 2007 (Table 1). The flocks observed 3 May 1986. Paton (1988) also detailed how were mixed but dominated by either Yellow- he believed that migration events in the SE faced Honeyeater or White-naped Honeyeater. of South Australia may follow the coastline. Observations ranged from mid morning This coastal movement also appears normal through to mid afternoon. The sites where for Yellow-faced Honeyeater in southern and this was observed included Port MacDonnell, eastern Victoria (Higgins et al. 2001) whereby Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park (CP), birds moving along the coastline have to travel Moorak, Bool Lagoon area, and Butcher Gap east to north-east. CP (Figure 1). Observers noted that the flocks June 2010 225

Clare

Koolunga

New South Wales

Adelaide

Victoria Cape Jervis South Australia

Gemini Downs Keith

Messent CP

Cantara Homestead

Blackford Drain Butcher Gap CP

Bool Lagoon area

Casterton

Moorak

Piccaninnie Ponds Direction of flock movements Port MacDonnell Portland district 0 50 100 North Kilometres

Figure 1. Locations of Honeyeater movements in autumn/winter 2007 Figure 1 Locations of honeyeater movements in Autumn/Winter 2007 226 South Australian Ornithologist 35 (8) never sat for longer than a minute or two, but Honeyeaters were observed, up to four at a generally only a few seconds. On occasions time and apparently passing through. Two other honeyeater species were observed, but were feeding in flowering Peppermint Box, E. with little time and opportunity to identify porosa, in a small heritage block on the same them. property on the 24 May and one or two others were heard near the farmhouse that day. In In SW Victoria on 16 May 2007 in the Cape late June at least a couple were still present Nelson area (Portland district) erratic feeding in flowering SA Blue gum, E. leucoxylon, movements of large mixed flocks of Yellow- near the farmhouse and along the Broughton faced Honeyeater and smaller numbers of River about a kilometre to the north. White- White-naped Honeyeater and some Tawny- naped Honeyeaters have only been previously crowned Honeyeaters were observed on 26 recorded once near Koolunga, in May about ten May 2007 at Drajurk State Forest, (20 km west years ago. On 30 June 2007 an Eastern of Casterton). Many hundreds of Yellow- was observed near the house. This species has faced Honeyeater and , never previously been recorded between the Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris, and good numbers Tothill Ranges and the Beetaloo area of the of Tawny-crowned Honeyeater were all seen southern Flinders Ranges. Also Yellow-faced mainly feeding near the ground on Flame Honeyeaters have never been recorded between Heath, Astroloma sp., and to a lesser extent on Clare, where they are regular, and the Beetaloo flowering Brown Stringybark, E. baxteri (R. area (L. Pedler pers. comm. 2007). Farnes pers. comm. 2007). Upper South-east observations Subsequent observations Interestingly approximately 50 km inland (from Despite the numerous flocks of Fuscous the Coorong) at Keith, this migration event Honeyeater in SW Victoria during this time, on particularly on 12 May 2007 (of Yellow-faced only four occasions were Fuscous Honeyeaters Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater) confirmed to be amongst flocks of Yellow-faced was not observed. However Red Wattlebirds, Honeyeaters and White-naped Honeyeaters in Anthocaera carunculata, were reported some South Australia (Table 1). weeks earlier in larger numbers than usual (D. Sando pers. comm. 2007). Fuscous Honeyeaters observed at Telford Scrub CP were feeding on flowering Swamp Gum, Two further observations in early June were E. ovata (R. Green pers. comm. 2007). The two made of large numbers of in sightings in or near the Coorong were of birds the upper SE. Several hundred Red Wattlebirds feeding in flowering Coastal White Mallee, E. were observed in Messent CP on 11 June diversifolia, an abundant resource during that 2007 feeding on flowering Desert , period. Banksia ornata, in an area burnt in autumn 2002. Amongst them were large numbers Mid North observations of New Holland Honeyeaters, On 23 May 2007 Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, novahollandiae, and occasional Tawny-crowned White-naped Honeyeaters and Eastern Honeyeaters. were all observed at Neagles Rock, on the western side of Clare township (200 km Over 120 Red Wattlebirds in three flocks were north of Adelaide) (D. Potter, pers. comm, 2007). observed at Cantara Homestead (southern At a farming property near Koolunga Coorong) heading south over the inland during early May to June 2007 White-naped edge of coastal dunes on 13 and 14 June 2007. On subsequent days similar numbers were June 2010 227

91 – Compilation of Honeyeater flock observations from April to June 2007.

Approx. Movement Date Species Location Observer/s Nos. Direction

Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s Fuscous Honeyeater 100s Apr Portland District, VIC S to E R Farnes White-naped Honeyeater 100s Tawny-crowned Honeyeater few

Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s Apr/May Adelaide N G Carpenter White-naped Honeyeater 10s Apr/May Red Wattlebird 100s Keith NW D Sando Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s 12 May Moorak NW B Haywood White-naped Honeyeater 100s Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s 12 May Bool Lagoon area variable J & P Bourne White-naped Honeyeater 100s Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s 12 May Port MacDonnell W J Campbell White-naped Honeyeater 100s Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s 12 May Piccaninnie Ponds CP W R Green White-naped Honeyeater 100s Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s 12 May Butcher Gap CP NE V Natt White-naped Honeyeater 1000+ Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s Cape Nelson, Portland 16 May White-naped Honeyeater 10s variable R Farnes District, VIC Tawny-crowned Honeyeater few

Yellow-faced Honeyeater few 23 May White-naped Honeyeater few Neagles Rocks, Mid North variable D Potter Eastern Spinebill few

Yellow-faced Honeyeater 10s 25 May White-naped Honeyeater 10s Blackford drain, Kingston variable C Tzaros Fuscous Honeyeater few

Yellow-faced Honeyeater 100s 26 May Eastern Spinebill 100s Drajurk SF, VIC variable R Farnes Tawny-crowned Honeyeater 10s Fuscous Honeyeater few J Starks & G 27 May Telford Scrub CP variable White-naped Honeyeater 10s Jackson May Jun White-naped Honeyeater few Koolunga, Mid North variable L Pedler Fuscous Honeyeater few 8 Jun Yellow-faced Honeyeater few Bool Lagoon area variable J & P Bourne White-naped Honeyeater few

Fuscous Honeyeater few 9 Jun Yellow-faced Honeyeater 10s Gemini Downs, Coorong NW B Haywood White-naped Honeyeater 10s

Red Wattlebird 100s 11 Jun 100s Messent CP, Coorong variable B Haywood Tawny-crowned Honeyeater few 13/14 Jun Red Wattlebird 120 Cantara, Coorong NP S then N T Dennis 30 Jun Eastern Spinebill 1 Koolunga, Mid North variable L Pedler 228 South Australian Ornithologist 35 (8) observed flying in the opposite direction (T. coastline. This remark has been substantiated here, Dennis pers. comm. 2007). however migration is not limited to the coast in this region as observers some 30-100 km inland saw flocks of honeyeaters clearly on migration in DISCUSSION 2007 and also previously (Hood and Attiwell 1958). The origin of these honeyeater flocks is likely to be Higgins, Peter and Steele (2001) refer to regular from south western Victoria due to the proximity autumn movements of Yellow-faced Honeyeater of these sites to the SA/VIC Border. Paton also and White-naped Honeyeater and it is not has never observed migratory flocks of Yellow- uncommon for Fuscous Honeyeaters to be faced Honeyeater or White-naped Honeyeater in amongst them. In two of the last seven years Ngarkat CP since beginning ornithological studies (2002 and 2007) conspicuous/mass movements there in1990 (D Paton pers. comm., 2008), but both of honeyeaters have been observed in the SE species have been recorded in several years. of South Australia and Fuscous Honeyeaters have also been reported from the region (Birds The two sightings of Fuscous Honeyeater SE database, unpublished), but not in any other near the Coorong are much further west than years during this period. In 2002, numerous previously noted for this species in the mid to sightings of Fuscous Honeyeater occurred from upper SE of South Australia, although Fuscous as far south as Moorak to Bordertown in the SE Honeyeater has been observed in eastern of the State from April to October. This same Ngarkat CP (6 km E of Pertendi Hut) on 19 July year a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater was observed 1994 (D Paton pers. comm., 2008). for five days at Moorak after presumably coming through with migrating Yellow-faced It is of interest to note that studies have shown Honeyeater (Haywood 2003). captive Yellow-faced Honeyeaters during this migratory period show a flight orientation that Paton (1988) remarked that migration in the SE suggests they change direction during migration of South Australia is likely to occur along the from north-east to north-west (Figure 2). Does this change in direction explain why we observe

(a) (b)

Figure 2 – Showing a significant change of flight orientation in migratory direction by the Yellow- faced Honeyeater during indoor experiments in Armidale (NSW). (a) during March and April, (b) during May and June (adapted from Munro, Wiltschko and Ford 1993). June 2010 229 birds moving in the SE of South Australia in a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS west to north-westerly direction at this time of year? I would like to thank all observers who kindly contacted me and/or who provided their own Dingle (2008) suggested that changes in observations. They include; Vicki Natt, Jack temperature and rainfall are influential in and Pat Bourne, David Sando, Jeff Campbell, initiating migration in birds. Further analysis Bob Green, Chris Tzaros, Rob Farnes, Graham of monthly through to weekly changes in Carpenter, Lynn Pedler, Dave Potter, Terry temperature and rainfall in the lead up to Dennis, David Paton, Jon Starks and Gavin conspicuous movements along with flowering Jackson. Without this ever increasing, vigilant of suitable food plants could improve our and close knit birding network a story such as understanding of migration in Yellow-faced this could never be compiled and presented at Honeyeaters and White-naped Honeyeaters, a landscape scale. Bob Green, Dragos Moise, and other lesser migratory species like Fuscous Graham Carpenter, Lynn Pedler, Ursula Munro Honeyeaters and Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters. and the Observers Club of Australia are Large disturbance events such as wildfire particularly thanked for providing comments could also be a factor because in south-western on an initial draft, and/or suggesting other Victoria a large wildfire could have contributed reference material for this paper. I would also to to honeyeaters moving away from a lost resource thank an anonymous referee and the editors of into South Australia in 2007 (D. Paton, pers. the journal. comm, 2009). A large fire in the Grampians National Park (~200 km from SA) burnt over 50% REFERENCES of the 167 000ha reserve in January 2007.

Further research could include; where does Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F. and Reilly, P.N. migration begin for birds that end up moving 1984. The Atlas of Australian Birds. RAOU and into South Australia or into Melbourne Press, Melbourne. for that matter? Purchase (1985) reported that Dingle, H. 2008. Rowley Review – Bird banded Yellow-faced Honeyeaters have been migration in the southern hemisphere: a review captured in excess of 740 km from their original comparing continents. Emu 108: 341-259. banding location. This would suggest that a common breeding ground of SW Victoria for Ford, H. A. 1977. The ecology of honeyeaters in this species easily accounts for an individual South Australia. South Australian Ornithologist moving into the Mount Lofty Ranges or even 27: 199-203. the Mid North of South Australia. However this Ford, H. A. 1983. Relation between number of conjecture cannot be substantiated here as birds honeyeaters and intensity of flowering near moving in the Adelaide and the Mid North Adelaide, South Australia. Corella 7: 25-31. districts are thought to be local aggregations of honeyeaters from the Mount Lofty Ranges Griffioen, P. A. and Clarke, M. F. 2002. Large- rather than from the SE (D Paton, pers. comm scale bird-movement patterns evident in eastern 2009). This highlights the need for further Australian atlas data. Emu 102: 99-125. banding studies in south-western Victoria and Hardy, A. 1980. An influx of White-naped south-eastern South Australia. Honeyeaters in a Salisbury garden. South Australian Ornithologist 28: 111.

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Munro, U., Wiltschko, W. and Ford, H. 1993. Changes in the migratory direction of Yellow- faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops (Meliphagidae) during Autumn Migration. Emu 93: 59-62. Bryan Haywood Paton, D. C. 1988. Migratory flocks of Birds South-east (SA) honeyeaters at Cape Jervis, South Australia. CMB, Moorak, SA, 5291 South Australian Ornithologist 30: 133-134. email:[email protected]