Birds SA Newsletter No. 231, August 2014

Birds SA Newsletter No 231 August 2014

Birds SA is the operating name of The South Australian Ornithological Association Inc. c/- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000

The Aims of the Association are: To promote the conservation of Australian birds and their habitats. To encourage interest in, and develop knowledge of the birds of South Australia. To record the results of research in regard to all aspects of bird life. To maintain a public fund called the “Birds SA Conservation Fund” for the specific purpose of supporting the Association’s environmental objectives. PRINT POST APPROVED PP532699/00009 Letter-winged Kite Pair

Photographed by Paul Taylor near Port Wakefield on 08/06/2014 See article on p5

2 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 CONTENTS SAOA COMMITTEE 2014 – 2015 President’s Letter ……..….……..………..….…4 President David Paton 8344 8891 Miscellaneous Items ………………….…...……5 Vice President John Hatch 8362 2820 Forum4Nature…. ……………………..………..6 Vice President John Gitsham 0438900393 Past General Meetings ...…..……...... ….……...9 Secretary Brian Blaylock 0448822374 Treasurer Brian Walker 8263 3433 Past & Future General Meetings …………...…11 Assistant Secretary Kate Buckley 8261 7197 Past Excursions ...…………….…...... …....12 Journal Editor Merilyn Browne 8339 6839 Future Excursions …………………...….....….15 Newsletter Editor Cynthia Pyle 8264 5778 Bird Records …………..……….….…...... ….16 Field Program Co-ordinator Lynton Huxley 7009 5038 From the Library ………………….………..…19 Bird Record Secretary Graham Carpenter 8297 5463 Members’ Photographs……….……….……....21 Membership Officer Vacant CENTRE INSERT Member William Brooker 8381 8730 SAOA HISTORICAL SERIES NUMBER 49, Member John Spiers 8333 0272 JOHN SUTTON PART 3 Member Jody Gates 8391 6342 Member Rebecca Zanker 0413426355

DIARY

The following is a list of Birds SA activities for the next few FURTHER USEFUL CONTACTS months. Further details of all these activities are given later in Librarian Karen Donkin 0402123960 the newsletter. Image Librarian John Spiers 8333 0272 email [email protected]

Campout Organiser Graham Bate 8270 3041 Aug 31 Sunday Excursion to Yankalilla Rare Birds Secretary Colin Rogers 8336 3325 !!!!!!!!!! Sept 13 Saturday Excursion to Laratinga Wetlands Sept 18 Thursday Excursion to Charleston CP RELATED ASSOCIATIONS BirdLife Southeast SA Sept 26 Friday General Meeting Convenor, — Bob Green [email protected] 8725 0549 Sept 28 Sunday Excursion to Brookfield CP IBA Coordinator/Newsletter Editor — Bryan Haywood [email protected] 8726 8112 !!!!!!!!!! Fleurieu Birdwatchers October 3-6 Campout at Hiltaba Nature Reserve Contact Person: Neil Cheshire 8555 2736 Website: www.Fleurieubirdwatchers.org Oct 11 Saturday Excursion to Scott Creek CP

Oct 16 Thursday Excursion to Onkaparinga Wetlands WEBSITE: birdssa.asn.au Oct 31 Friday General Meeting 2014 SAOA SUBSCRIPTIONS !!!!!!!!!! Single membership $50 Nov 2 Sunday Excursion to Clements Gap CP Family/household membership $60 Single concession* $45 Nov 15 Saturday Excursion to Browns Rd. Monarto Family/household concession* $55 Nov 20 Thursday Excursion to Kaiser Stuhl CP Student members (full-time students under 25 years) $10 *Pensioners and people experiencing financial hardship can obtain Nov 28 Friday General Meeting, Members’ Night concessions. Apply in writing to the Treasurer, Birds SA. Nov 30 Sunday Excursion to Horsnell Gully CP ABN 76 339 976 789

Cover photo: Superb Fairy-wren, photographed by Trevor Cox ADVERTISING IN THE Birds SA NEWSLETTER at Tumby Bay on 29/5/14, Red-backed Fairy-wren, SAOA relies on the integrity of advertisers for the quality and nature photographed by Peter McKenzie at Gladstone, Queensland on of their products and services. We cannot guarantee them. Advertising 7/6/14, Variegated Fairy-wren photographed by Peter is charged as follows: $1.00 per line, up to $40.00 per half page and McKenzie at Broken Hill, NSW on 19/6/14 10c per inserted leaflet (single sheet). The committee reserves the right to lower or waive these fees. General meetings are held in the Hawker Centre at the Waite Institute, Waite Road, Urrbrae at 7.45pm. Doors open at COPY DEADLINE Copy for the November Newsletter is due by the October General 7.00pm. Meeting (October 31). Contributions, ‘Word’ format preferred, can be Committee meetings are held at the above venue on the second recorded on a CD, emailed to either of my email addresses, or Monday of each month, starting at 7.30pm. typed/handwritten neatly.

Donations to the Birds SA Conservation Fund are tax- • [email protected] deductible • [email protected]

New Members We welcome 12 new members who have recently joined the Printed by Abbott Printers and Stationers Association. Their names are listed on p8.

Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 3 President’s Letter I should like to draw members’ activities that would follow. g. Continue to fund research attention to five significant items: the Members are welcome to send me through the Conservation SA bird atlas; ethical bird watching their comments. Fund behaviour; strategic planning; Bird Vision statement Engage in conservation Week and the Australian With a large membership and a programs Ornithological Congress. clear focus on birds, Birds SA h. Maintain a Conservation sub- 1 The Bird Atlas should become the premier committee The bird atlas has been extended for conservation NGO in South i. Produce an annual a further six months and will stop on Australia, trusted by all as a source conservation statement 31 December 2014. Please keep the of information on South Australian j. Provide support (financial, records coming in. If you have the birds and their conservation. volunteer) for bird-related opportunity, please visit some of the Actions that follow from the vision conservation and restoration poorly covered areas shown in the statement works. May Newsletter. 1. Maintain and grow 4 Bird Week 20-26 October 2 Ethical bird watching membership 2014 While bird watching, we all need to 2. Acquire and disseminate National Bird Week is being behave in ways that minimise information resurrected by BirdLife Australia and disturbing the birds. This is 3. Engage in conservation runs from Monday 20 October to particularly true in the breeding programs Sunday 26 October 2014. Birds SA is season, and many birds have already Activities that will facilitate the planning to launch a Conservation started breeding. Ethical bird above actions Statement during this week and there watching begins by first obtaining Maintain and grow membership are likely to be other activities. permission to be on a property and a. Provide opportunities for 5 Australian Ornithological complying with any instructions members to attend general Congress (AOC) – advance from the owner or land manager. meetings, field trips and field notice Once on the land and watching birds camps The biennial AOC will be in South one should: b. Provide bird and conservation Australia in 2015. The conference (a) move away from any nests that news (newsletter, e- part of the AOC will be held at are found; newsletter) Flinders University from 2–4 (b) refrain from playing recordings of c. Maintain an up-to-date web December 2015 and field trips will bird calls to lure birds in; site run on 5-6 December. The (c) limit the use of flash when taking d. Maintain a library and images conference usually attracts people, pictures; for use by members particularly research students, from (d) respond appropriately if the birds e. Run and manage courses for around the country and New Zealand are giving distractive displays, by new members and there will be great diversity in moving away and not returning to f. Market Birds SA in the media the presentations on all aspects of the same area; g. Provide educational material bird life. Birds SA will be playing (e) not remove vegetation for a better and information when their part in the AOC by organising a view or photograph; requested variety of field trips to local and (f) think about the consequences for Acquire and disseminate more distant places. Although this is the birds of passing on details of information 15 months away much of the rarer species or species that are a. Collect field observations planning for the field trips will be nesting. from members and on field done in the next 3-4 months. Please All these actions are about protecting outings contact me if you are interested in the habitats and welfare of individual b. Provide summaries in the becoming involved. birds. journal, meetings, newsletter David Paton 3 Strategic Planning c. Provide volunteers to other [email protected] Your Management Committee is in entities to conduct surveys the initial stages of a strategic d. Establish and maintain an planning exercise that involves effective data base that is up- assessing what Birds SA is currently to-date doing and discussing other activities e. Publish the journal – focus on that we could consider doing. The SA birds following provides a summary of this f. Replicate any dissemination process to date. The first stage was to of material electronically define a vision and the actions and through web site

4 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Miscellaneous Items Raptors near Port Wakefield dislodged and fallen about a metre More formally, it is a socially Paul Taylor sent the following into tree branches. This may have networked, web-based, community, records of his observations of the been due to storm damage as the nest biodiversity workspace for Australia, activities of raptors around Port was near the top of a tall eucalypt. although anyone is welcome to Wakefield. The 2 kites were perched nearby and participate. We hope that it will be On 6 May 2014, I observed 7 Letter- proceeded to mate. Following this, used by individuals, citizen winged Kites on a private property the female flew down to the ground, scientists, amateur and professional near Port Wakefield. A pair was collected a stick and took it up to the science-based Organisations and breeding, with one bird sitting on a battered nest. I saw 4 other Letter- Societies and Field Naturalists clubs. nest. Nine raptor species were within winged Kites, including one sitting Its strength will be a single point of 500metres — 2 Black-shouldered tight on another nest. Although not entry for biological communication Kites, 7 Letter-winged Kites, several certain, I have suspicions about this and sharing. Black Kites, 2 Whistling Kites, 1 incubating Letter-winged Kite. On The primary aims of BowerBird are: Spotted Harrier, 2 Nankeen Kestrels, my previous visit on 8 June, it To share and deliver biological one Brown Falcon, 2 Black Falcons appeared as if a male Black- sightings to a broad audience and one Peregrine Falcon. There was shouldered Kite mated with a Letter- To allow individuals, local, state or a mouse plague in the area at this winged Kite. This was in the same national groups to form, manage and time. tree as this Letter-winged Kite's nest. develop their own workspaces I returned on 25 May, to find that the Today, a Black-shouldered Kite was To encourage comment and forum same pair of Letter-winged Kites was perched close by in the same tree. I discussions on sightings or topics still nesting. wonder if there have been any To aggregate a minimum dataset (eg. On 8 June, the 7 Letter-winged Kites records of Letter-winged and Black- Name, location, latitude/longitude) were still present. The nesting pair shouldered Kites interbreeding. As that will allow sightings to be shared had one bird sitting restlessly on the usual, other birds of prey were nationally and internationally (ALA, nest, perhaps indicating chicks. Its present. 2 pairs of Black Kites were GBIF, EOL etc) mate was perched nearby as usual, nesting, Spotted Harriers were still To become the community’s eyes for but appeared very thin. The other on the nest, while Black Falcons Biosecurity that will detect or Letter-winged Kites frequently fly were still present and possibly monitor invasive species. near the homestead, screeching breeding. At least 5 Brown Falcons, We provide the workspace, the tools loudly and chasing each other. The a pair of kestrels, Whistling Kites and the infrastructure to achieve property owner said this occurs and one Swamp Harrier flying past these community and society based especially towards evening. added considerable interest. The goals. A pair of Black-shouldered Kites was male often perches with tail cocked. Have a look at the various projects twice observed mating. A pair of Paul Taylor and see the great photos people are Spotted Harriers was present, with See p2 for Paul’s photograph of the uploading. For identification of one bird sitting on a nest. 2 Nankeen Letter-winged kite pair. Note the almost anything in South Australia Kestrels showed signs of breeding. A cocked tail of the male bird. and elsewhere, visit the Bowerbird pair of Black Falcons was also project site, WOMPA? — present, with the larger female seen WHAT IS BOWERBIRD? http://bowerbird.org.au/projects/1 flying onto and perching on an old Have you wondered what this link on Brian Blaylock raven's nest. One Little Eagle flew the Birds SA website is all about? overhead, but was quickly chased Information from the BowerBird web ERRATUM away by the harriers and Letter- pages) The speaker at the March 28 General winged Kites. Several Black Kites BowerBird is a social, web-based, Meeting, who spoke about the birds and a pair of Whistling Kites were biological sandpit – where everyone of Sri Lanka, was Peter Beer, not still present. can come and play. Peter Bird, as given in the report of Mouse numbers have reduced Add a sighting, see it be recognised, his presentation. substantially, so this may affect commented on and identified or that breeding success of the Letter- find that it contains unknown winged Kites. There are, however, information about a species; and, many rabbits nearby, including many then to see the sighting become part small kittens, which would provide of a larger picture for a species or food for most of the raptors. ecosystem and finally to have the I visited the property again on 6 July sighting information integrated with to find the nest of the breeding pair national and international databases. of Letter-winged Kites had been

Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 5

Forum4Nature FORUM4NATURE – ADELAIDE Commonwealth Constitutional Government that environmental 26TH MAY 2014. Powers re the Environment matters are a State responsibility. ROLLING BACK THE YEARS – It is clear from a series of High Court This is a restatement of what in the REGRESSION IN decisions ranging back to the 1980s was commonly called ‘States’ COMMONWEALTH Tasmanian Dam Case (Tasmania vs rights’ and which had ceased to have ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. The Commonwealth) in 1982 that the any real impact since the election of Forum4Nature was a meeting of Commonwealth has extensive power the Hawke government in 1983. conservation organisations held in to legislate on environmental matters There are indications that this retreat Adelaide on 26th May 2014. The by making use of its authority under will extend to other matters such as Conservation Council of South section 51 of the Constitution to health and education. Such a radical Australia set the meeting up. Its make laws with respect to matters re-conceptualisation of the role of the purpose was to discuss the changes such as trade and commerce, Commonwealth government surely that the Abbott Government has put corporations, external affairs, the warrants a broader public debate. in place since winning the election in peoples of any race and taxation. Recent Commonwealth Regression September 2013. The keynote This capacity has been used in about on Environmental Matters address, which is summarised here, 50 separate Acts including the Here is a list of current was by Adjunct Professor Rob Howard Government’s Water Act environmental initiatives by the Fowler of the Law School, 2007(Commonwealth.). However, the Abbott Government: University of South Australia. Rob is Commonwealth government has • Repeal of the carbon price a past president of the Conservation rarely used this power to over-ride legislation and replacement by a Council and a specialist in relevant state legislation. Direct Action programme; Environmental Law. Assertions of excessive • National Offshore Petroleum A Brief Historical Perspective Commonwealth ‘green tape’ have Safety and Environmental Over the past 40 years the little foundation in reality but this has Management Authority Commonwealth has provided a level not discouraged the Abbott (NOPSEMA) to be sole assessor of leadership and objectivity in Government from making them. for environmental approval of environmental assessment that is Cooperative Federalism – Forty offshore petroleum projects, difficult to identify at the State level. Years of Steady Evolution • 26 March 2014 designated as a The newly elected Commonwealth The political practice of “cooperative repeal day for the purpose of Government is intent on dismantling federalism” with respect to repealing 1000 ‘redundant’ what has been erected behind the oft- environmental matters has extended federal laws and some 9500 repeated mantra of ‘red tap/green over the past 40 years, well beyond regulations including measures tape’ reduction. What is happening is legislative measures, to include a relating to agricultural and not attracting the attention of large range of strategies, policies and veterinary medicines, regulation ordinary people; but it is, in fact, a programmes that involve of ozone-depleting substances matter of the most profound collaborative arrangements between and synthetic greenhouse gases, importance and concern in terms of the Commonwealth and the States. permit and levy processes for sea future protection of the Australian Negotiations were conducted within installations, and repealing environment. a long line of Councils, the most S255A of Water Act 2007 which The Abbott Government argues that recent of which was the Standing relates to the assessment of the Environmental Impact Committee on Environment and mining operations in the Murray- Assessment (EIA) procedures under Water (SCEW). These arrangements Darling Basin. the Environmental Protection and were abruptly brought to an end with • Review of Renewable Energy Bioiversity Conservation (EPBC) an announcement on its website, in Targets and proposed abolition of Act represent a duplication of state December 2013, that SCEW was no the Clean Energy Finance processes. In fact it was the longer to continue. Corporation, Commonwealth that first adopted The Council of Australian • Attempt to have 70,000 hectares EIA legislation in the Environment Governments (COAG) communique of Tasmanian World Heritage Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act at the end of December 2013 stated forest areas delisted by the World 1974(EPIP). It was the States and that the Commonwealth respects that Heritage Committee, Territories that adopted similar the States and Territories are • Refusal to include climate change legislation after 1974 and where this sovereign in their own sphere and on the agenda for the forthcoming was done cooperative arrangements should be able to get on with G29 meeting in Brisbane, were put in place to avoid delivering on their responsibilities • Review of Water Act 2007 duplication of processes between the without unnecessary interference announced, Commonwealth and State EIA from the Commonwealth. This systems. supports the view within the Abbott

6 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Forum4Nature (cont) • Approval of extensive dumping It is the proposed abdication by the produce adequate scientific of sediments in the Great Barrier Commonwealth of any further role in analysis in their EISs. Reef in connection with relation to environmental approvals • It is also arguable than when expansion of port facilities at that has most concerned ENGOs. considering the costs of the EIA Abbott Point, Justifications Offered For The process one should also take into • Abandonment of management OSS Initiative account the benefits of the plans for Commonwealth Avoidance of Duplication and process. designated marine parks, Streamlining of Environmental The Wider Agenda Beyond the • Termination of National Wildlife Approval Processes OSS Initiative Corridors initiative, The resource sector and State The resources industry has been • Termination of funding for Governments are the parties behind waging a campaign against Environmental Defenders the ‘green tape’ argument. They Commonwealth involvement in EIA Offices, argue that it is necessary to eliminate since adoption of the EPIP Act in • Termination of Federal excessive ‘green tape’ and the 1974. The current ‘green tape’ Government funding for duplication of functions already propaganda is simply the latest Environmental Non Government performed by the States so that the stanza. Underlying this campaign is Organisations (ENGOs), costs and delays experienced by their the growing pressure to shift industries will be significantly • Proposed extinguishment of a Australia’s energy generation from number of national bodies reduced. The Abbott government has fossil fuels to renewables in response addressing environmental enthusiastically embraced this to the challenge of climate change. matters, including Climate rhetoric in advancing its one-stop- The Abbott government has become Commission, National Water shop initiative. the handmaiden of the fossil fuel Commission and the Australian In practice the Commonwealth has industry and is vigorously promoting Renewable Energy Agency, pursued a highly coordinated and its cause. collaborative approach in this area. It The OSS agenda has found willing • Repeal of energy efficiency has confined itself to addressing the opportunities programme, ears at the State level, where listed matters of national significance governments are keen to eliminate • Reduction of funding for Land and has left the States to address all Commonwealth involvement in Care by $484 million, whilst other environmental aspects decision-making concerning large- allocating $525 million to a new separately. Any lack of coordination scale resource projects that they wish ‘Green Army’, could be addressed by means other to attract to their State. The South • Referral by Attorney General than the complete withdrawal of the Australian Premier, Jay Weatherill, George Brandis to the Australian Commonwealth. indicated as much in a recent letter to Law Reform Commission of a Extensive Costs and Unnecessary Professor Fowler. The Premier used reference to enquire into the Delays for Industry a report by the Productivity incursion into ‘freedoms’ (e.g. In relation to the arguments of Commission to justify his decision to property rights) by particular excessive costs and delays Prof negotiate an approval bilateral types of laws, including Fowler notes that: agreement with the Commonwealth. environmental laws. • Independent assessment has The report in fact recommended that The One-Stop-Shop Initiative. found that the allegations of bilateral agreements should only be The ‘one-stop-shop’ (OSS) initiative, excessive costs by the Business proceeded with if five other which will ultimately see the transfer Council of Australia (BCA) in an conditions are satisfied. of Commonwealth approval powers April 2012 submission to COAG Maintenance of High under the EPBC Act to the States , have been found to be spurious Environmental Standards Under involves three steps: and greatly exaggerated, the OSS System • Execution of a Memorandum of • The level of costs genuinely The Abbott Government has insisted Understanding with each State, occurred in complying with the that the handover of its approval Revision of existing assessment • EPBC Act represent only a small powers to the States will only be bilateral agreements, and proportion of the overall pursued where the State systems • Execution of approvals bilateral development costs of most major offer equivalent standards of agreements with each State resource projects, protection to those required under the transferring approvals powers to • Delays have often been a result of EPBC Act. the Sates under the EPBC Act. State processes rather than The first stage was completed by Commonwealth processes and are December 2013, and the further steps often attributable to project are well advanced in Queensland and proponents having failed to NSW.

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Forum4Nature (cont) For this to happen there must be: Conclusions and Future Directions Environment Minister in the • Legal equivalence requiring The OSS initiative may be no more performance of many substantial modification of most than a cost shifting exercise rather biodiversity-related functions State environmental legislation. than a red-tape reduction one. needing to be performed under This could result in substantial Staffing levels have already been the EPBC Act. delays in the implementation of reduced within the Commonwealth • A reversal of the OSS process so the proposed handover of Environment Department. Most that the Commonwealth process Commonwealth powers. The States, on the other hand, have made prevails over State process in Abbott government is attempting significant reductions within their regards to matters of national to circumvent this by own environment departments. It is environmental significance. amendments to the EPBC Act. difficult to see how they can While it may be difficult to prevent • Practical equivalence. The effectively perform their new tasks at the Abbott Government from principal argument against the the same level as the commonwealth transferring its responsibilities under OSS scheme is that the States are has done. Increased litigation against the EPBC Act every effort should be overly influenced by the inadequate performance may cause made to do so, while looking forward economic benefits they expect them to seek handing back their to a next generation Commonwealth from resource development. They powers to the Commonwealth. environmental law that could offer do not take into account the needs Where should we go from here? the possibility of truly effective of the whole of Australia in their The scale of the environmental protection for the Australian decisions. There have been a challenges makes it difficult to environment. number of cases where the understand the rationale for a John Spiers Commonwealth has stepped in to withdrawal from the field of prevent a State Government environmental management by the proceeding with an Commonwealth. Professor Fowler environmentally damaging advocates: project – sand mining on Fraser • Establishment of a Island, the Franklin River dam, Commonwealth Environment and the Traveston Crossing dam Protection Authority to in Queensland. administer State of Environment There are checks on the misuse by Reporting, establish national the states of their newfound powers standards for environmental in the form of judicial review actions. quality, administer the EIA Judicial review, however, is hard to process, and replace the secure unless some reasonably obvious flaw in the decision-making process is evident. The reduction of NEW MEMBERS government resources in Canberra We welcome the following new members, who have joined the Association will greatly limit the practical ability in the past few months: of the Commonwealth to review State assessments. Laurie Evans CHANDLERS HILL Other Arguments Against the OSS • Elimination of the Claire Ralfs & Suzy Stiles TORRENSVILLE Commonwealth as an ‘honest Patricia Leila Katnich & Barry Ronald Durman NORTH ADELAIDE broker’ is likely to result in a return to direct action protests, Kelly Woolerton NOVAR GARDENS legal proceedings and the new Tristan O'Brien BELAIR tactic of discouraging financial investment in contentious Lachlan Duncan ONE TREE HILL projects. Donna Belder CLAPHAM • A likely outcome is more Jeffrey S & Elspeth Robinson STEPNEY complexity and uncertainty for industry. In practice an ‘eight- Mary-Ann van Trigt SEMAPHORE PARK stop-shop’ will develop, with differences in the detailed If your name has inadvertently been omitted from this list, please contact procedures and practices of the our treasurer. His ‘phone number is on p2. States and Territories.

8 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Past General Meetings FRIDAY JANUARY 31 Marcus Pickett described the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) Southern Emu- wren recovery efforts between 1993 and 2013. The Conservation Council of SA has hosted the MLR Southern Emu-wren Recovery Program since its inception in 1995. The Recovery Program followed a population and habitat survey in 1993 and preparation of the first recovery plan in 1994. Marcus has worked on the program since 1995, initially as a volunteer. His illustrated talk covered: Male MLR Southern Emu-wren Species description. Photographed by Martin Stokes Habitat and general • populations that survived had management. Major activities biology/ecology decreased in size. Natural include research, monitoring, • Distribution and abundance colonisation was very rare. Reasons planning, management/policy advice, • Conservation status, recent for these recent local extinctions on-ground habitat works, stakeholder distribution/abundance changes include one case of accidental fire engagement, and formal protection of and key threats and one of cattle grazing; but most, if important habitat. Marcus provided • Biological and ecological not all other cases, were probably detailed examples, including vulnerabilities relevant to threats mainly due to the effects of small population studies, fencing to protect • Recovery program and strategy population size, isolation, or changes swamp habitat, new protected areas, • Major activities 1993–2013 in habitat suitability. A succession of habitat manipulation trials, and • Key achievements and failures natural habitat change is probably the translocation. 1993–2013. most significant current threat, Key achievements for 1993–2013 • Key working assumptions and because changes in habitat structure are: challenges, and the realities and floristic composition affect food, • The two largest local populations affecting outcomes shelter and nesting resources. Key persist. • Future directional changes ecological vulnerabilities include: • Positive and widespread • Expectations and major obstacles • Nests near ground level, which stakeholder awareness, interest to recovery. are particularly vulnerable to and participation. The MLR Southern Emu-wren, one trampling and disturbance by • Swamp habitat listed as a of eight Southern Emu-wren stock, which is mainly an issue in threatened ecological community subspecies, is endangered nationally grazed swamp habitat (EPBC Act). and in SA. Prior to European • These birds’ sedentary habit and • Important swamp and dry-heath settlement it probably occurred small home ranges of about 1ha. habitat included in three new wherever suitable swamp or dry- This results in impacts that are reserves. heath habitat existed on the Fleurieu comparatively limited in time and • Substantial new ecological Peninsula. Widespread range space having a disproportionate information. contraction and fragmentation then impact on the population at a • Translocation demonstrated as a occurred due to extensive clearance given site practical option (reintroduction to of native vegetation for agriculture • Very poor flight capability, which Cox Scrub Conservation Park). and in 1993 there were 35 extant means Emu-wrens require • Habitat manipulation trials using local populations comprising 400– corridors of dense vegetation fire. 800 individuals in total. Between resembling their normal habitat Unfortunately, however, it is not a 1993 and 2012 there was further for movement between patches. story of overall success, and major range contraction and population Once a local population is lost, offsetting failures include ongoing isolation. In 2012 (the latest census natural reoccupation of the site is decline in MLR Southern Emu-wren year) the number of local populations dependent on dispersal from a distribution and abundance, no and individuals had halved compared connected population. meaningful (functional) increases in to 1993. Most local extinctions since The broad recovery strategy involves habitat extent, quality and 1993 were small populations — less threat abatement, habitat re- connectivity, and ongoing than 5 pairs in swamps, but many establishment and population

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Past General Meetings (cont) uncertainty regarding declines in • Do sedentary birds show a strong specialists showed that canopy small populations. response? Blue-breasted foraging birds had a shorter tarsus Marcus spoke at length about some Fairywren and Inland Thornbill length than shrub foraging birds that of the assumptions and challenges of The study was carried out on Eyre had a long tarsus length. The canopy recovery, and the numerous realities Peninsula at Pinkawillinie specialists also had a smaller bill- that have affected (generally Conservation Park, Hambidge CP, head length than the shrub foraging negatively) outcomes to date. Future Heggarton CP and Hincks CP. Two specialists. strategic changes include: replicate ‘Burn Ages’ were identified Inland Thornbills colonise a burnt • A change from a traditional at each site. These were: area two years after a fire. Foraging vision of widespread recovery to Burnt – 0-5 years after fire; generalists had a bigger home range focussing more on preventing Regenerating – 8-15years after than foraging specialists. further decline and maintaining fire; The study showed that fire clearly the remaining population. Mature – 30+ years after fire. has an effect on birds and there is a • A shift in focus from whole-of- Simone’s Avian Survey found that need to manage a range of Burn Ages range recovery to concentrating 11 bird species showed fire response. to promote avian diversity. effort on core populations. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Blue- • More focus on improving habitat breasted Fairywren, Inland Thornbill FRIDAY MAY 30 values of existing vegetation and Shy Heathwren were most John Hatch introduced the first guest rather than on increasing abundant ~7 years after a fire. White- speaker, Dr. Diane Colombelli- vegetation extent. eared Honeyeater, Weebill and Négrel from the School of Biological • Intensifying development and White-browed Babbler were most Science, Flinders University, trials of management tools, abundant after ~7 years and 20+ Penguin Ecologist for Gulf St particularly habitat-manipulation years, respectively. Western Yellow Vincent. She spoke on the decline of and translocation. Robin, Purple-gaped Honeyeater, the Fairy, or Little Penguin. • Exploring opportunities to learn, Golden Whistler and Southern Scrub Data was gathered from Granite such as captive holding and Robin were the most abundant Island, Kangaroo Island, Troubridge breeding trials, using other species after 20+ years. Island and Althorpe Island. The Southern Emu-wren subspecies. At Burnt sites there were more decline on Granite Island has been Marcus concluded the talk with a list granivorous birds and more open-cup dramatic. Diane’s team has been of major obstacles to recovery. Most nesting species whereas at looking at nest predation and nestling of these relate to funding restrictions, Regenerating and Mature sites learning calls, but she focussed on but also include limitations with the insectivorous birds and dome-nesting loss and predation. remaining population and habitat— species dominated. The decline in Little Penguin and a reminder to the audience that Simone counted over 90,000 population has been observed not there are no guarantees of recovery invertebrates during the study. There only on Granite Island, Kangaroo progress, even with a focussed was no overall difference across Island has also suffered a 20-30% program and a highly dedicated Burn Ages but Hymenoptera decrease. team, as the past 20 years of MLR (Formicidae) were more abundant Fur Seal numbers have increased, but Southern Emu-wren recovery effort ~10 years post fire. predators on the land are numerous: clearly demonstrates. The foraging techniques of Blue- foxes, cats, dogs and goannas. breasted Fairy-wrens differed over Pollution is also having an impact FRIDAY MAY 2 the Burn Ages: along with parasites and a decrease in John Hatch introduced Professor Burnt ~3 years – pick; food supplies. Sonia Kleindorfer from Flinders Regenerating ~10 years – glean We need to identify if the decline is University who presented the and Mature due to:- reproductive failure, adult research results of two PhD students 30+ years – probe. mortality or migration. Reproductive Simone Dalgairns and Brendan Measurements of the birds’ bills failure means that eggs fail to hatch Meulders working on Bird Fire provided evidence that selection or the chick dies. Do the chicks die Ecology. favoured small bills in the burnt sites, from starvation or parasites, (these The study had three main objectives: but favoured large bills in mature two can work together). Are • Avian survey: how do birds sites. Simone also radio-tracked the predators eating the eggs? respond to fire? Eyre Peninsula; fairy-wrens to show the changes in In the big colonies of 200 breeding Mallee habitat territory size and composition. pairs there are 80 fledglings = 40% Brendan Meulders working on the success rate • Invertebrate sampling: how does avian prey respond to fire? Pitfall Inland Thornbill, found that there Small colonies may have 10 breeding and sweep net samples was no difference in morphology or pairs with 8 fledglings = 80% foraging between each of the Burnt success rate. Ages. Measurements of ‘mature’

10 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Past & Future General Meetings So the smaller colonies are doing activities when he was involved with and Roberts’ Birds of Southern better. the Association. The book contains Africa. Roberts’ VII Multimedia A Granite Island graph showed the over 200 pages and more that 500 Birds of Southern Africa HD is an following numbers: good colour photos. He donated a excellent application for iPhone and 2001 over 1500, 2012 only 26, 2013 copy of his book to the Birds SA iPad but it takes up almost 1 GB. 38. This increase in 2013 appears to Library. be a positive sign, but more research is necessary. Breeding success has FRIDAY JUNE 27 increased and predation has been John Hatch introduced Jeremy FUTURE GENERAL MEETINGS reduced. Robertson, past President of the On Kangaroo Island cats, black rats Association. Jeremy said that he was General meetings are held in the and goannas are the main predators, asked if he would lead a group of Charles Hawker building of the whilst on Granite Island they are university students to South Africa Waite Institute on Waite Road water rats, black rats and brush tail over 12 months ago by the Urrbrae on the last Friday of every possums. Tracking tunnels were used International Students Volunteers month except December, public to obtain this data. Rat predation is at organisation. The group was based at holidays or prior to a long weekend. its peak during June and July when Masebe Nature Reserve in Limpopo the penguins breed. But it is not at Province. The students carried out The doors are opened at 7pm and the egg stage, but rather the chick plant, bird and herpetology surveys meetings start at 7.45pm. stage. and he found them to be very Blood samples were taken from 104 enthusiastic. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26 individual birds and 30% were found Wildlife conservation in South Jean Turner and Aleisa Lemanna: to be infected with parasites. These Africa is radically different to the 'Samphire Coast Icon Project — parasites were generally found in the rest of Africa. The reserves are all Conservation Outcomes for male birds. fenced to keep people out. Whilst the Shorebirds'. It is apparent that different factors students went to look at some of the affect different populations of Fairy larger reserves Jeremy hired a bird FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 Penguins. guide Casper Badenhorst from John Spiers, The African Penguin. Fur Seal numbers have increased and Birding Limpopo. They visited North they are having an impact on the Kruger National Park, Entambeni FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28 penguins, but the seals are Forest, Hoedspruit, Marieskop, Pre-Christmas Members' Night. indigenous to this area. Southern Kruger N.P., Swaziland, Please submit offers to present short Humans do have an impact on the Ndumo Game Reserve, Ithala G.R. talks and other items to John Hatch penguins by harassment, careless and Wakkerstroom. before mid-November so that the discarding of fishing line and from Jeremy showed many photographs of whole programme can be arranged. domestic cats. the birds seen and some of the other The talks will be preceded and The decline is a complex problem wildlife. During the whole trip from followed by drinks and nibbles, so requiring multiple approaches, late January to mid February 2014 he please bring a plate of food to share. because not all colonies are facing saw 412 bird species and the same threat. Therefore long term photographed 179. He also annual monitoring to determine photographed 29 of the 39 Spotting Scope for Sale which is the greater, adult mortality mammals and reptiles Kowa TS-2 Spotting Scope, 25x, or chick mortality is most important. observed. Some of the bird species shown were 60mm, with additional The second Guest Speaker was Brian Crested Barbet, Gorgeous 25-50x zoom eyepiece, tripod and Furby, now resident on Magnetic Bushshrike, Grey-headed Island. Brian showed numerous Bushshrike, Black-bellied photo adapter. interesting photographs of this Bustard, Yellow-billed All in good condition. $180. peaceful setting including birds such Duck, African Finfoot, as the Beach Stone Curlew, Figbird, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Frank Day on 82585438 or Pied Pigeon, Dollarbird and the Blue Korhaan, Speckled [email protected] Channel-billed Cuckoo. Brian said Mousebird, African that the Island is very quiet and Paradise Flycatcher, Red-billed visited by few tourists. Brian has Oxpecker, Yellow-billed Oxpecker ‘self-published’ a book Brian's and White-backed Vulture. entitled ‘Tall Stories and True –The The main field guides available are Adventures of a Nature Lover’, Sasol Birds of Southern Africa, which describes some of his Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa,

Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 11

Past Excursions Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park Some of the group then diverted to a produced a limited number of 20 March waterhole that had dried out enough species. It was obvious that A warm and rather muggy day saw to allow access. Black-winged Stilts, Silvereyes were on the move with 25 members and friends gather for Purple Swamphens, Little Pied almost every bush containing several. the excursion, which commenced at Cormorants, White-faced Herons and We crossed the river from the the Cox Rd gate. The action started Black-fronted Dotterels were primary school, back to the cars. early with a Crested Shrike-tit and observed. Naturally, we were all Then a stop at Wattle Reserve found several Mistletoebirds clearly visible hoping to see the Painted Snipe, some gum trees with blossom. Large in trees adjoining the car park. This which had been recorded there just numbers of New Holland was a bonus for early arrivals. days earlier; but no luck despite Honeyeaters and Red Wattlebirds The walk started off heading west determined scrutiny of the reeds found these attractive, to the along the track where it was along the edge. However, as if to detriment of other species. encouraging to see the scrub in good make up for this no-show of Painted A further short drive to the northern condition, having recovered well Snipe, we were instead treated to end of Wattle Drive, then a walk from all those dry years not so long excellent views of a Peregrine Falcon along the track through the tall gums ago. Mistletoebirds were seen at circling above the waterhole. The next to the river produced some regular intervals, as well as Red only other raptor seen during the day Kookaburras, but no sighting of the Wattlebirds, several lorikeets and was a Brown Falcon. Crested Shrike-tits that could be honeyeaters, Eastern Spinebills, On the way back to the car park, clearly heard the other side of the rosellas (Crimson and Eastern), a several flowering banksias were river. Rufous Whistler and assorted other encountered, each seeming to have Following lunch, a quick last look at species. Female Golden Whistlers its own Little Wattlebird in the swampy area next to the track were also active along the track. attendance. Overall, a total of 59 produced a Eurasian Coot, a Little We continued up through the scrub species was recorded for the day. Grassbird and a Grey Shrike-thrush to an entrance on the western Ali Ben Kahn to bring the total to 52 species. boundary and, after a short diversion Peter Gower to view the Coral Ferns in their Browns Road Reserve, Monarto special enclosure, headed north and 12 April Anstey Hill then east. Silvereyes, which always Nineteen members and friends 22 May seem to be active in this location, recorded 43 species at the Browns A fine mild morning saw 18 were duly noted as well as Grey Road Reserve excursion. members assemble for a survey of Shrike-thrush and Magpie Lark. The weather, although overcast, was Anstey Hill. The group initially split At the corner, we were able to kind with a light breeze and mild into two, with the more athletically observe the proliferation of housing temperature. There was not a lot of inclined taking the steeper route. along the northern edge of the bird activity, and with limited trees This group ultimately split into two reserve and the landscaping that is flowering, Lorikeets and groups to handle the descent. This being done. Several conservation Honeyeaters were relatively quiet arrangement provided fairly good organisations lobbied government and not in the big numbers coverage of the park. years ago when the development was sometimes seen here. Overcast skies did not provide ideal first announced for a much wider Interesting sightings included twelve conditions for birding, but buffer zone between the housing Diamond Firetails, spread throughout persistence paid off with 33 species development and the Conservation the area, a Fan-tailed Cuckoo and recorded for the morning. Park. Unfortunately, we ended up several groups of White-browed The dominant species were Red with only the barest minimum! Babblers amounting to about 40 birds Wattlebird (150) and New Holland Several dead trees along this altogether. It was also pleasing to Honeyeater (100), but the total boundary had colonies of House record seven Hooded Robins. included a pair of Peregrine Falcons Sparrows. Peter Gower and two Common Bronzewing Kookaburras were hunting along the Pigeons. Superb Fairy-wrens were fenceline and we soon started seeing Hindmarsh River Estuary, Victor reasonably common with 40 various waterbirds including some Harbor observed. Surprisingly one Striated not strictly within the boundary of 17 May Thornbill but no other Thornbills the reserve. A Dusky Woodswallow A mild, overcast morning greeted were seen. Despite a search of the was seen in a tree on the edge of the nine members to the excursion at the normal roosting site the Tawny reserve as well as a noisy group of Hindmarsh River in Victor Harbor. Frogmouths could not be located. Weebills. Firstly, a walk down to the beach Other honeyeaters observed included along the Tea Tree boardwalk Noisy Miner (4), Yellow-faced (18)

12 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Past Excursions (cont) Crescent (10) and Eastern raptor, all of which could be We first traversed the edge of the Spinebill (7). reasonably expected, and the closest park where we spotted Little Ravens, Brian Walker we got to an Emu was a set of recent Crimson Rosellas, New Holland footprints. Overall, it was a pleasant Honeyeaters and Superb Fairy- Newland Head Conservation Park morning, worth the long drive. wrens, as well as a flock of about 50 Sunday 1 June Barbara Bansemer Red-browed Finches with the Five members and one visitor occasional European Goldfinch, attended the Newland Head Magazine Road Wetlands Dry Silvereye and Yellow-rumped excursion. The morning was cool and Creek: 19 June Thornbill keeping them company. overcast with a light wind. Twenty-three people from Birds SA We also heard and saw Elegant Birds were active around the car park gathered for a leisurely walk around Parrots flying over and observed a and up the hill as everyone started Stage 3 (Magazine Road) of pair of Musk Lorikeets examining the walk. Unfortunately, a dark Greenfields Wetland, from the car hollows in a distant eucalypt. cloud came up from the southwest park, along the path through the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos wheeled with a dampening shower, lasting wetland and back via the western about overhead and Grey Shrike- about fifteen minutes, but once it had embankment. Water levels were high thrushes, White-Browed Scrubwrens, passed there was no more rain. in all ponds, especially the pond in Striated Thornbills and Grey Fantails Interesting sightings included Brush front of the hide. Consequently, no were busy in the bush beside the Bronzewing, Elegant Parrot, both over-wintering waders or resident track. We were rather surprised that, Red and Little Wattlebirds along dotterels and plovers, or crakes were despite plenty of mistletoe, we saw with plenty of Superb Fairy-wrens on observed. However, Eurasian Coots, only one Mistletoebird. However the most tracks. Hoary-headed and Australian Grebes, sudden appearance of a single White- A visit to the beach added a good Grey Teal and Australian Pelicans naped Honeyeater and a pair of range of water birds with at least 500 were quite numerous. Black Swans Golden Whistlers kept us busy. Crested Terns roosting on the beach. were abundant and at least three We were unable to cross the creek The total count amounted to 48 nesting birds were observed, with due to the recent rains, so we retraced species. one nest appearing to have eggs. our steps a short distance and Peter Gower A large congregation of Purple proceeded through the centre of the Swamphens was seen in the drier scrub. There we had a good sighting Bakara Conservation Park section. Herons and egrets were of a Brown Falcon that, after being 14 June scarce. Raptors included the usual flushed, settled in a tree further along Seven intrepid birdwatchers left Black-shouldered Kite, Swamp the track. We also saw a group of home in atrocious weather for a long Harrier, Nankeen Kestrel and about 6 Purple-crowned Lorikeets drive into the Mallee, hoping it Whistling Kite. Little Grassbirds queuing up to enjoy some vigorous would be fine by 8.30am. Luckily, were observed but were generally bathing in a water-filled hollow some the rain kept off until we were silent. No Reed-Warblers were seen 10m above the ground in a tall putting our chairs and eskies back or heard. Singing, New Holland and eucalypt. It must have been a large into our cars. Birds seemed to be White-plumed Honeyeaters were hollow as the birds emerged quite scarce, but eventually 31 species seen along the western embankment soaked and we marvelled at why this were seen. and around the car park. A cold wind seemed such an attractive pastime on Highlights included about six Red- developed late in the morning and a very glacial day. capped Robins and six Jacky the sky, being overcast, threatened The rain held off until we sat down Winters, several Splendid Fairy- rain, which luckily did not eventuate. to lunch and, just as the heavens wrens including a male in full colour, We enjoyed our lunch in the shelter opened, we were joined by several and a few Variegated Fairy-wrens. of the trees at the roadside. In all we 4WDs obviously wanting to take Silvereyes were abundant, and at recorded 43 species. advantage of the weather and already least some of these were the Martyn Price parlous state of the tracks to do more Tasmanian sub-species with damage and generally enjoy playing cinnamon flanks, presumably on a Bullock Hill Conservation Park in the mud. Naturally, this sort of holiday in warmer climes. There 29 June activity is not allowed within or were also Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Four intrepid birdwatchers arrived around the edge of the Conservation Brown Treecreepers, both Striated for this excursion in a close Park but this area is clearly a and Spotted Pardalotes, two Golden approximation of Antarctic favourite with those wishing to prove Whistlers, Galahs and Australian conditions. However, despite the how tough they and their vehicles Ravens. cold and threatening sky, we were are! None of us saw a Singing lucky and managed to avoid rain Honeyeater, a Hooded Robin, or a until just after the end of the walk.

Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 13

Past Excursions (cont) After the rain began in earnest, we raining heavily. The trip was single White-faced Heron and six beat a hasty retreat to Ashbourne abandoned but we had managed to Straw-necked Ibis. Oval where we had lunch in the make a complete circuit of the park. Three species of raptor were shelter shed and made the bird count. Birds were few and far between. observed with a juvenile Collared A total of 36 species was recorded Only a few were seen while a few Sparrowhawk perching close to the for the day. others were only heard. Highlights lunch area just after the formal count Ali Ben Kahn were Crescent and New Holland had concluded. Honeyeaters, a single male Scarlet The most abundant species observed Porter Scrub Conservation Park Robin and a single female Golden was Tree Martin (50), with 7 species 12 July Whistler. We also saw small groups of parrot, including 10 Elegant Seven members set out on a cold, but of Brown, Striated and Buff-rumped Parrots. All members had good views sunny, 4° morning. The park is in Thornbills. In all only 16 species of White-throated Treecreeper. very good condition and has were counted. Unable to have lunch Three species of Thornbill were obviously received a fair amount of at the park without getting wet, we recorded: Buff-rumped, Yellow- rain. There were pools of water adjourned to Williamstown and had rumped and Striated. We saw six throughout and some parts of the lunch at the bakery — nice and species of honeyeaters, included two track resembled mini creeks. warm! Eastern Spinebills. Twenty-nine species were observed, Martyn Price Brian Walker plus two heard only. There were good sightings of Scarlet Cox Scrub Conservation Robins, both male and female, Park — 9 August and the most abundant species A mild, but overcast morning were Crimson Rosella, saw 9 members gather for a Silvereye, Superb Fairy- wren survey of Cox Scrub and White-throated Conservation Park. Treecreeper. We disturbed a The meeting area held much pair of Australian Shelducks promise for bird numbers, but that appeared to be nesting occasional winds and a scarcity high up in a hollow in a tall of birds in burnt areas provided dead tree; and they circled the challenging conditions for area until we had moved on. some areas of the park. There was some regrowth of In all 155 birds were seen. vegetation in burnt areas, but There was one particular hot insufficient in heavily burnt spot where there was a great areas to entice much birdlife. deal of activity but just too far Thirty-five species were away for species and numbers recorded for the trip, with Double-banded Plovers in Breeding and Non- to be clearly seen and recorded. Golden Whistlers (15) only The walk finished at about breeding Plumage. Photographed by Peter Mckenzie at Black Point SA on 27/7/14 being outnumbered by New 11.30am by which time we had Holland Honeyeaters (50) and picked up a straggler. As we Scott Conservation Park Galahs (20). A detour by Bill Alcock approached the cars, the clouds that 27 July resulted in the sighting of a Brush had been gathering for the past hour A cool and overcast morning saw 13 Bronzewing on a nest with young. opened up and we decided to head members assemble for a survey of Six species of parrot were recorded for the shelter of Bushland Park Scott Conservation Park. The cool with Elegant Parrot (12) being the where the now enlarged group of weather presented an ideal second most common. eight had lunch and made the bird opportunity to do a complete Everyone achieved good sightings of call. A couple of members then circumnavigation of the park, whilst two Fan-tailed Cuckoos, and a decided to have a quick look around giving everyone a good morning’s Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo was Bushland Park after lunch. exercise. heard calling. Both Spotted and Rod Tetlow Forty-three species were recorded for Striated Pardalotes were observed. the morning, with a good variety of Only five species of honeyeaters Jenkins Scrub species. Wet conditions prior to the were recorded, with Brown-headed 17 July visit meant that the record included and Crescent Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebird and Eastern Spinebill in Six dedicated members arrived for 3 species of duck (Australian addition to the New Holland this outing but the weather was Shelduck, Australian Wood Duck Honeyeaters. appalling. It was cold, foggy and and Pacific Black Duck) along with a Brian Walker although initially dry, by 10am it was

14 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Future Excursions Contact: Lynton Huxley Meet at 8.30am just inside the gate, km turn right towards Cherry Field Program Co-ordinator approximately 35km east of Truro. Gardens, turning left into Dorset Phone: 0498 466 092 The entrance is 2km past ‘8 mile Vale Road approx. 2km before or 08 7009 5038 corner’ at a gentle left bend on an reaching Cherry Gardens. Email: otherwise straight road. [email protected] Thursday 16 October: OCTOBER CAMPOUT Onkaparinga Wetlands (MLR) Note: Friday – Monday, 3 – 6 October (32km) Lists of the species recorded at field 2014 Meet at 8.30am at Port Noarlunga trip locations can be reviewed at Nature Foundation SA, Hiltaba Oval Car Park off Britain Drive. www.birdpedia.com Nature Reserve The October Long Weekend Sunday 2 November: Clements To assist the Field Trip Coordinator Campout will be held at the Gap Conservation Park (MN) (FTC) with updating our extensive Shearers’ Quarters, Hiltaba Nature (185km) records of past excursions, and for Reserve at the western end of the Meet at 8.30am. Head north through Port Wakefield to Redhill. Make a the convenience of members Gawler Ranges. Limited left hand turn onto a dirt road about attending future field trips, it would accommodation is available as well be appreciated if prior notification of 3km north of Redhill and drive as a fully equipped kitchen, showers about 8km turn left onto Bitumen your interest in leading one or more and toilets. of the trip/s listed could be provided for 3km. The Park camping area is From Port Augusta two routes are on the right and opposite a Church. to the FTC prior to the date/s of those available — via Eyre Highway to trip/s. On some occasions, it may be Camping is permissible in the open Wirrulla (c. 440 km) (Google Maps necessary for members attending a area behind the pine fence. Toilets http://goo.gl/maps/Wka0h) or field trip to appoint a leader to guide are available, but no water. You can through the Gawler Ranges (c. 310 the group and a scribe. The scribe arrive any time on the Saturday if will provide a brief report to the FTC km) (Google Maps you plan to camp. including the number of attendees, http://goo.gl/maps/dHB15). Note birds seen or heard, the weather and that there is no fuel available until Mt Saturday 15 November: Browns any other interesting events on the Ive Station on the shorter route. Road, Monarto (MM) (60km) day. Both leadership and scribe The main aim of the weekend will be Meet at 8.30am at Browns Road, duties can be shared. An SAOA Bird to locate populations of the Short- Monarto, just off the old Murray Record Form available from the billed Grasswren. Bridge Road. Leave the SE Freeway FTC, or from the Birds SA website, There will be a charge of $50.00 per at the Callington exit. Drive through should also be completed for each person for the weekend, which will Callington and turn right onto the old trip and accompany the trip report. support the great work Nature Murray Bridge road. The junction is Trip Reports need to be forwarded to Foundation SA has been doing to on the left at the top of the hill. the FTC as soon as possible for the restore the buildings and the information of all Birds SA environment at Hiltaba. Thursday 20 November: Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park (MLR) members. More information can be found about (60km) Hiltaba at Saturday 13 September: Meet at 8.30am at the Tanunda Creek http://www.naturefoundation.org.a Road CP gate. The Park is located Laratinga Wetlands Mt. Barker u/our-work/hiltaba/ 12Km southeast of Tanunda in the (MLR) (34km) Should you require any further Barossa Valley. From Tanunda take Meet at 8.30am in the dirt car park information please contact me via the main Tanunda to Angaston Road on Bald Hills Road, Mt. Barker. email: [email protected] or (Mengler Hill Road) for 8km to the phone H: 83703349, M: 0448822374 southerly turn off onto Tanunda Thursday 18 September: Brian Blaylock Creek Road. The Park is Charleston Conservation Park approximately 4km along this road. (MLR) (38km) Saturday 11 October: Scott Creek Meet at 8.30am by the tennis courts Conservation Park (MLR) Sunday 30 November: Horsnell in Newman Road, Charleston. We (28km) Gully Conservation Park (MLR) will move on to the CP from the Meet at 8.30am at the Almanda (12km) meeting point. Mine Site car park area on Dorset Meet at 8.30am. Travel up the Old Vale Road. Take the SE Freeway Norton Summit Road and turn right Sunday 28 September: Brookfield and leave it at the Stirling exit. At into Horsnell Gully Road this leads Conservation Park (MM) the roundabout, turn right to to a quarry gate just prior to which, (123km) Longwood. After approx. 2.5 to 3 on the right, is a track leading into the park.

Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 15

Bird Records Collated by Graham Carpenter Australasian Shoveler Up to 100 seen each winter near Records included here are of species 3, 12/6/2014, Port Augusta, Lake Mount Compass up until the 1980s, listed as rarely observed or Dempsey, NW. With 100 Hardhead, but no recent records. unrecorded in the regions listed in 20 Musk Duck, 110 Black Swan, 20 the Field List of the Birds of South Blue-billed Duck and 500 Eurasian White-necked Heron Australia. Also included are Coot. Many reports near Adelaide during interesting breeding or ecological Langdon, P. winter including: notes, new records for a well-known 2, 20/7/2014. Onkaparinga Wetlands, locality or first of the season reports Musk Duck MLR. of migratory species. 34, 27/6/2014. Kingston boat ramp, Brooker, W. Please send all reports to the Bird SE. In sea. 1, 22/7/2014, White Rd wetlands, Records Secretary at Miller, R. [email protected] or AP. phone 8297 5463. Tetlow, R. Note that the list includes reports of Pink-eared Duck 1, July/2014. Macclesfield, MLR. rare or vagrant species to South Heard, 3 & 10/7/2014. Fullarton, AP. Gould, L.& T. Australia that may yet to have been Identified by call while flying over 1, 1/8/2014, Apoinga Lagoon, LN. submitted or formally accepted by during evening. Smyth, J. the Birds SA Rarities Committee Horton, P. (SARC). Members are encouraged to Nankeen Night Heron submit records of rare and vagrant Blue-billed Duck 23, 25/6/2014. Prince Alfred College, species in SA to the Committee (refer 2 pairs, 2/7/2014. Clare, Lake Adelaide, AP. Seen on oval in car to list of species and information on Inchiquin, LN. headlights. the website). Sparks, K. Sparks, K.

Ostrich Freckled Duck Letter-winged Kite 1, 12/7/2014, Clayton Stn, NE. 25, 3/7/2014. Mount Barker, 2, 31/7/2014. 3 km NE Port McMahon, K. & Gleeson, J. Laratinga Wetlands, MLR. Wakefield, LN. 1, 28/7/2014, Dulkaninna Stn, Williams, K. Riglin, B. Birdsville Track, NE. Tame bird 90, 2/8/2014. Duck Lagoon, Cygnet Reported from the same site last (probably the same as above), River, KI. year. presumed domestic escapee. Baxter, C. Young, R. et al. 2, 24/7/2014. Modbury, AP. White-bellied Sea-Eagle Zanker, R. Several reports away from usual Brown Quail breeding areas, including: 30-40, 17/5/2014, Granite Island, Sooty Albatross 1, 10/5/2014. Port Augusta West, MLR. 2, 25/5/2014. Off Port Macdonnell, NW. Zanker, R. MO. Langdon, P. 6, 20/5/2014, Cobbler Creek RP, Rogers, C. et al. 1, 17/6/2014. Whyalla, EP. MLR. Smith, E. Zanker, R. Great Egret 1, 2/7/2014. Poltalloch, MM. 82, 18/7/2014. Thompson Beach, Chinta, S. 3, 30/6/2014, Black Point, YP. AP. Lush, F. & West, J. Dafoe, J. Eastern Osprey A large group, although no breeding 1, 17/6/2014. Price, YP. Grey Teal colonies are known near Adelaide. Dennis, T. 2000, 20/7/2014, Robertstown Lagoon, LN. Cattle Egret Black Falcon Smyth, J. 2, 30/5/2014. 3 km SE Finniss, MM. 2, 4/6/2014, Encounter Bay, MLR. In Edey, D. Norfolk Island Pines along foreshore. Tawny Frogmouth 1, 7/7/2014, 2 km S Milang, MM. Cheshire, N. 1, 12/7/2014. Campbelltown, Torrens Bainbridge, T. Linear Park, AP. 2, 21/7/2014. Hindmarsh Island, Donkin, K. Mundoo Rd, MM. Syson, W.

16 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Bird Records (cont) Grey Currawong Terek Sandpiper Pied Honeyeater 1, 22/7/2014. Malvern, AP. 1, 30/5/2014. Black Point, YP. 1, 15/6/2014. Cariewerloo Woolshed, Nairn, V. Tiller, M. NW. 2, 31/7/2014. Hyde Park, AP. Few winter records of this species. Langdon, P. et al. Riglin, B. See comments in recent Newsletters Brown Skua Black-chinned Honeyeater regarding the colonisation of 2, 29/6/2014. The Bluff, Encounter 4, 13/7/2014. Clayton Bay caravan currawongs in the suburbs. Bay, MLR. park, MM. Bush Stone-curlew Carpenter, G. Tiller, M. et al. 1, 2/8/2014. Prince Alfred College 3, 2/8/2014. Newland Head CP, 1, 22/7/2014. Willaston oval, AP. oval, AP. Presumed escapee from MLR. Lone bird attacking reflection in car Adelaide Zoo. Allen, J. mirror. Fahey-Sparks, D. Flying offshore during south- Dennis, T. westerly blows, along with small Sooty Oystercatcher numbers of albatrosses and giant- White-browed Babbler 1, 24/5/2014. Breakout Creek mouth, petrels. 1, 23/5/2014. Macclesfield, MLR. Henley Beach South, AP. Lone bird in township. Edey, D. Little Corella Gitsham, J. 1000, 12/5/2014, Urrbrae, AP. Red-necked Avocet Carpenter, G White-winged Triller Several southerly reports of this 2000, 3/7/2014. Fullarton, AP. Male, 2/8/2014. Newland Head CP, species, including some of large Flying south. MLR. numbers. Horton, P. Allen, J. 356, 1/6/2014, Port Augusta, Pink This seems to be the first winter that An unusual southerly winter record. Lake, NW. Little Corellas have remained Langdon, P. around Adelaide. Red-lored Whistler 15, 12/6/2014, Port Augusta, Lake 1, 3/7/2014. 3 km SE Ashbourne, Dempsey, NW. Elegant Parrot MLR. Uncoloured immature bird Langdon, P. 50, 18/5/2014. Horseshoe Range, feeding on ground and in low shrubs 200, 1/7/2014, 11 km E Langhorne LN. (revegetation area) adjacent patch of Creek, MM. Langdon, P. Pink Gum woodland. Edey, D. Carpenter, G. 900, 1/7/2014, 20 km E Langhorne Regent Parrot John Gould collected this species Creek, Flagstaff Rd, MM. 3, 14/7/2014. 4 km S Bower, MM. near Adelaide in June-July 1839, Edey, D. Doecke, N. noting in his Handbook of Australian 1 dead, 20/7/2014. Adelaide Birds (1865) that ‘it was usually met University, Kintore Ave, AP. Rainbow Lorikeet with only one at a time, hopping Gackle, A. 3, 25/4/2014. Whyalla, EP. about on the ground in the thinly- 100, 29/7/2014. Sarnia Swamp, 4km Smith, E. timbered forest which surrounds the W Naracoorte, SE. Rarely reported from Whyalla. city of Adelaide.’ It has subsequently Miller, R. proven to be a rare winter visitor to Laughing Kookaburra the districts nearer Adelaide away Black-fronted Dotterel 1, 16/7/2014. Lockleys, Mellor Park, from its breeding areas in the 36, 2/8/2014. Grassdale Lagoon, AP. First time recorded in this area. Murray Mallee (see Parker (1984) Kelly Hill CP, KI. Edey, D. SA Ornithologist 29: 109-112). Baxter, C. A large number for this species, Superb Fairy-wren Grey Fantail which is usually in pairs or small 1, 26/5/2014. Henley Beach, Apex 1, 11/5/2014. Henley Beach, Apex groups. Park wetlands, AP. Park wetlands, AP. Edey, D. Edey, D. Black-tailed Godwit Previously reported at this location Few recent reports from the Adelaide 3, 1/7/2014. 20 km E Langhorne in February. suburbs, mostly in winter and near Creek, Flagstaff Rd, MM. the coast. Edey, D.

Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 17

Bird Records (cont) Restless Flycatcher Scarlet Robin There have been reports of many 1, 13/7/2014. 3 km E Salters Springs, Male, 23/7/2014. Unley, Edmond species breeding this autumn, LN. First report in area for over 20 Ave, AP. presumably due to warmer than years. Abbot, J. usual conditions. Smyth, R. Formerly a regular non-breeding winter visitor to the Adelaide Plains, Bassian Thrush Jacky Winter now very rarely reported. 1, 3/8/2014. Mount Crawford Forest, 1, 5/6/2014. 6 km NW Finniss, MLR. Simmonds Hill, MLR. Gathering In open Pink Gum woodland. Rufous Songlark worms from floor of pine forest. Carpenter, G. 1, 1/6/2014. 5 km N Laura, LN, Smith, A. 1, 3/7/2014. 1 km W Ashbourne, Bosch, S. MLR. In scattered Red and Manna 1, 2/6/2014. Port Augusta West, NW. Beautiful Firetail Gums along roadside. Langdon, P. 1, 30/5/2014. Cox Scrub CP, south Carpenter, G. Unusual southerly winter records. part, MLR. Few recent reports of this species in Edey, D. the hills, formerly common in Little Grassbird Few reports from this location in woodlands. Adult + juvenile, 6/6/2014. Port recent years, with probably the only Augusta, Lake Dempsey, NW. reasonable population remaining in Langdon, P. the hills now at Deep Creek CP.

I did enjoy my bath!

New Holland Honeyeater, photographed by Greg Blackman at Ingle Farm in May 2014

18 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 From the Library 598 BIR Birkhead, Tim The wisdom of birds London: Bloomsbury, 2008. ISBN 978074759263

In The Wisdom of Birds, Birkhead takes the reader on a journey that not only tells us about the extraordinary lives of birds: from conception and egg, through territory and song, to migration and fully fledged breeder, but also shows how, over centuries, we have overcome superstition and untested 'truths' to know what we know, and how recent some of that knowledge is.

598.0994 CLI Climate change adaptation plan for Australian birds /edited by Stephen Garnett and Donald Franklin Collingwood, Vic: CSIRO Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9780643108028

This is the first climate change adaptation plan produced for a national faunal group anywhere in the world. It outlines the nature of threats related to climate change for the Australian bird taxa most likely to be affected by climate change, and provides recommendations on what might be done to assist them and an approximate cost of doing so. It also features an analysis of how climate change will affect all Australian birds, explains why some species are likely to be more exposed or sensitive to it than others, and explores the theory and practice of conservation management under the realities of a changing climate.

598.2994 DOL Dolby, Tim Finding Australian birds: a field guide to birding in Australia Collingwood, Vic: CSIRO Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9780643097667

This book covers over 400 Australian bird-watching sites conveniently grouped into the best birding areas, from one end of the country to the other. Each chapter begins with a brief description of the location, followed by a section on where to find the birds, which describes specific bird-watching sites within the location's boundaries, and information on accommodation and facilities.

598.880994 FOR Forshaw, Joseph M. Grassfinches in Australia Collingwood, Vic: CSIRO Publishing, 2012 ISBN 9780643096349

The only up-to-date, fully illustrated book on all Australian species of grassfinches. The combination of superb artwork and scientifically accurate text ensures that this volume will become the standard reference work on Australian grassfinches.

Birds SA Newsletter, August, 2014 19 From the Library (cont) 598.138 PIC Pickrell, John Flying dinosaurs : how fearsome reptiles became birds Sydney, NSW: NewSouth Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781742233666

The discovery of the first feathered dinosaur in China in 1996 sent shockwaves through the palaeontological world. Were the feathers part of a complex mating ritual, or a stepping stone in the evolution of flight? And just how closely related is T. Rex to a chicken? Journalist John Pickrell reveals how dinosaurs developed flight and became the birds in our backyards. He delves into the latest discoveries in China, the US and Europe.

598.910994 OLSj Olsen, Jerry Australian high country raptors Collingwood, Vic: CSIRO Publishing, 2014 ISBN 9780643109162

Australian High Country Raptors covers raptor species that regularly breed in the high country above 600 metres from Goulburn in New South Wales down to the hills outside Melbourne, Victoria. Author Jerry Olsen explores the nature of these striking animals that are classified as Accipitriformes (diurnal hawks, falcons, kites and eagles), Falconiformes and Strigiformes (nocturnal owls). The book begins with a description of habitats and vegetation types in the high country, and which raptors are likely to be seen in each habitat type. It continues with sections on finding and watching raptors, raptor identification, hunting styles, food breeding and behaviour and conservation.

758.3092 OLS Olsen, Penny An eye for nature: the life and art of William T. Cooper Canberra, ACT: National Library of Australia, 2014. ISBN 9780642278463

In this biography, Penny Olsen traces the path of Cooper's life and art-from his childhood spent in the bush, to his teenage years as an apprentice taxidermist at Carey Bay Zoo and, later, to his work as a window dresser and landscape artist. The intricate bird portraits reveal Cooper's close observation not only of his subjects' appearance, but their habits, poses and behaviour.

20 Birds SA Newsletter, August 2014 Members’ Photographs Details of the Photographs on Pages 21 to 24 No: Species Photographer Location Date 1 White-fronted Chat Kay Parkin Winninowie July 2014 2 Owlet-nightjar Jeff Groves Brown’s Rd. Monarto 3/7/14 3 Painted Button-quail Trevor Cox Stokes EP 10/6/14 4 Stubble Quail Teresa Jack Minlaton, YP 16/3/14 5 Brown Quail Kay Parkin Victor Harbor June 2014 6 White-fronted Honeyeater Trevor Cox Muyaroo CP, EP 24/04/14 7 Scarlet Honeyeater Peter Mckenzie Gladstone, Qld. 10/6/14 8 Brown-headed Honeyeater Trevor Cox Stokes, EP 26/6/14 9 Yellow-throated Honeyeater Merilyn Browne Tasmania 10 Crescent Honeyeater Kay Parkin Kyeema CP July 2014 11 Singing Honeyeater Peter Mckenzie Pine Point, SA 26/7/`4 12 Yellow-throated Miner Teresa Jack Port Augusta Arid Lands Garden 21/4/14 13 Rufous Whistler Trevor Cox Stoked EP 3/6/14 14 Orange-bellied Parrot Merilyn Browne Tasmania 15 Giant Pitta Bird (F) Bev Harman Sabah, Borneo 24/7/14 16 Golden Whistler Trevor Cox Stokes, EP 26/6/14/ 17 Eastern Yellow Robin Teresa Jack Princess Margaret Rose Cave, Vic. 23/4/14 18 Red-capped Robin Kay Parkin Gluepot MM July 2014 19 Spotted Pardalote Trevor Cox Muyaroo CP, EP 26/4/14. 1