Corella,2002, 26(4): 89-105

STATUSoFB|RDS|NTHER|CHMoNDRIVERD|STR|GT'NEwsoUTH WALES,1973-2000

DENNIS GOSPERTand GLENN HOLMES'? '1309Nirnbin Road Lismore, Ncw South wales 2480 :33Twetfth Ave, Atherton, 4883

Received:l2 JulY2001

was analysed lor the bird species in the district' ' Ths status ol selected Chough' zebra severat species cteart l"J|'"ui"J ot 0""'""""d numerically The white-winged period 1973 2000. coxen's Fig-Parrotare swa ow *" rocalty;the Eastem Bristlebird and Finch and white_backed iai"oiv-""ti*i Egret and Bell Miner have to be critically Endangeredt lni'"t"i; JfrL ritiie coretta' Galah' cattle conlirmed seve€l rainforestpigeons greatly in abundance *n,r.t pop'iution" of the Osprey' Magpie Goose and Increased periods ot decline Recont arrivals' the (in oarticular Wompoo Frurt-Dove)"pp5ii-to';" L""""|.ing io;'"u'lidt dorirnon r"rvnuan; Long-billedcorella, aro likely to become established' have significant (dry) forests in the Eungawalbincreek catchment in the souihern part ol the district Open avifaunathat is becoming potentialicr conservaron purposes' t", ti"v "tiril-,ppdtt " diverce temperatewoodland tn coastaltocations, ihe etfe6tiupon both resident and,.migratorv th"tgbl'1" ih-r;;;;"t nailonatty. thatgovern occurrenc€-1!:. i-"]:!:"ll In i."rr, o"ipit" continuinghuman setflement. certain soasonal and climatic influences ineoistriciot both aquaiic and terrestrial species are gnumerated

avifaunal inventory INTRODUCTION The most significant aspect of this is its long-term nature. In particular, it improves greatly the the The annotatedaccount presentedhere documents monitoring of nomadic species, for which numbers in the authors' personal records of selected species fluctuate considerably in response to environmenlal 28 years. Gosper Richmond River district over the last conditions prevailing locally and elsewhere Trends over tbr 333 species (1986) summarizeddistributional information two to three decadesmay also be identified in the status period of eleven years recorded in the district for the and abundanceof resident species. commencing in 1973. By December2000 the fieldwork of both authorshad expandedthrs specieslist to 384. STUDYAREA

Crireriafor selectionof speciesin this accountwere the The Richmond River district is located in north-eastern New Souft fbllowing: Wales, east of the . It is defined her€ as the the Richmond River and its contiSuouscoaslline, including SouthWales catchment of l. Specieslisted in the Schedulesof the New nearshore waters to 500 metres from land. lt also includes the minor Threatened Species Consenation Act 1995 (1999 coastal drainages of the Evans River and Jcrusalem Creek (see Gosper update) and thr€e additional taxa iisted by Garnett 1983, 1986). The catchm€nt area ( ? 000 sq. km) is bounded in the north 'Threatened' 'Near and Crowley (2000) as being or by fte Nightcap, Tweed and McPherson Ranges and in the wcst and the distdct Threatened'nationally. south by the Richmond Range. More than three-quartersof is less than 200 metres above sea level, with higher elevations (>800 2. Speciescategorized as uncommonon a Statebasis (i.e. m) confined !o small sections of the Dorthem watershcd.The entire area estimatedmaximum statepopulation in any given year lies within 100 kilom€res ol the coasl. <10 000)by Monis et al. (1981). A useful overview of thc study area. in particular the location of systems and public lands (national parks and considereduncommon in the RichmondRiver catchment ranges, drainage 3. Species slate forests) can be obtaired from the Forestry Cornmission N€w South districtby one or more of the following criteria: wales. (Casino State Forests l:125 000 rnap 1985, update due 2001). . fewer than 50 recordsfrom 1973to 20OO: A more detailed description, including landform, rainfall, major habitat lypes and environmental changes that followed settlement beginning in . estimateddistrict populationof lessthan 50 individuals the 1840s, was given by Cosper (1986) and Holmes (1987). rt any glven hme; The district was mostly forested before Europeal settlement. Most .localized distributionwithin the district(i.e. recorded of the present day pastorai and agricultural lands, particularly the from one or two 10' squaresonly); floodplain and Alstonville plateau (including the Big Scrub), were . speciesnear limit of geographicrange. cleared before 1900 and dairying became the main land use. Curreot major land uses include cattle grazin8 and cropping, sugar cane and 4. Specieswith altered abundancein the district during the tea-tree on the lower floodplaiD, and tropical fruit and macadamia reportingperiod (thosedeclining and now uncommon, production on tbe Alstonville plateau. Uncleared lands are concenfated or increasingand now more common). about the periphery of the catchment, mainly on public lands. Significant minforests and wet sclerophyll forests occur along the For lesscommon speciesthis accountaims to document norlhem and westem watershed ranges, and dry sclerophyll foresls in numbers,residency status, local distribution and use of the Bungawalbin Creek catchment south of Casino. Major tracts of coastal heath occur near Evans H€ad, Wetland remnants are scattered habitat.It also reports changesin the local statusof species along the floodplain in mainly cleared country from about to and provides a measureto assessfuture changes. Woodburn and Broadwater

89 Gospet and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond River disirict Corella26(4)

Alteration of habilai since 1970 has been less langible lhan in Procedure preceding periods. Clearing has been limited and has mainly involved both relatively small areas in thc lorver reaches of the catchmenl inciuding Compilation of the avifaunal inventory for lhe dislrict involved programme of systematic the Bungawalbin Crcek and North Creek calchments for tea lree systematic and opporlunislic methods. A by plantationsand sugar cane. However lhe communities most afiecied surveys of birds inhabiting specific habitat types was commenced (see Gosp€r 1992 for have bccD lhc remnant swamp sclerophyll forest associations rnd lower the s;nior author in 1973 and has continued 'rlc\ umpl(\ floodplain wetlands that were already depleted severely by clearing and Dubli'hedIesull\l Sutve) $ere \clecled as I(p'e\entrlr\e ronstrrint' rhe 'elcctrono[ \ilcs w3' drlinage for sugrr cane earlier in the ccntury' Pressure on liltoral and bf m"]o' types. Becduseuf time places of residencc (Casino l9?3-92, esluarine habitats contioues from urban expansion and human acllvlty influenced by proximity to Censuses wcre conducted along the coaslal zone. particularly around the Richmond esluary at Goolmangar neir Lisrnore 1992-2000) years Each involved transecl counB Ilallin:l and lhe adjic€ni coasthne. monthly for periods averaging 2 5 gen€railyof two to four hours duraiion(e.g Gosper l98la' 1992) Tenurc of extcnsiv€ areas of public lands changed during lhc reporriog period, particularly former stale forests of the catchment Survey programme: ranges.With the lransfer of such areasto the nalional parks syst€m lhe pasl lwo decades all remaining large tracls of rainforest and during 1973:estuarine wetlands (Cosper l98la) most coastal heath communities in the district have been etfeclively 1973-7?: floodplain wettands (Gosper l98la) (Cosper l98lb) ThL'se lenure changes have allered land managemenl pracllces A 1976-79: beaches (patrols for beach-washedseabitds) mor€ restrictive access policy and lhe cessation of logging have seen l9?7-79: coastline (littoral habitats) (Gosper 1983) the overgrowlh of many roads and former logging tracks This has resulted in thc recov€ry of some sensitive plant communttles' an 1977 82. dry sclerophyll forest: dry rainforesti subtropical rainioren example bcing gallcry rainforesl (characlerizedby Palm (Cosper 1992) Archintophoenir /,.'l.ningha||iand) along Terania Creek in Nighlcap urban streets Narional Park. Fire regimes hav€ also been affecled. mosl rmportanuy 1983-84r in some areas The ultimale combincd (rcmnani/ by a r€duclion in fire frequency 1985-91: wel sclerophyll forest: floodplain swamp woodland is but in some areas sclerophyll .ie..t upon vegetation speculative regrowth)i estuarine swamp sclerophyll foresl (mixed mangrove/ by rainforests associationsare cl€arly being subsumed m;laleuca./casuarina,/littoraliainforest); floodplain swamp sclerophyll forest (remnan/regrowth mclaleuca./casuarintmixed sclerophyll/dry Wilh ihc decline of d^irying (once the majo. agncullural land use) rainforest complex) over the last 40 years, some previously cleared lands are reluming 10 grazing and weed uee cover in several forrns ln ihe absenceof inlensive 1993-95: coastal heathland; wet sclerophyll forcstdry rainforesl control, pa(icularly in the higher rainfall north_easlof the district, (regrowlh) $ood) specre\ rnoubly Cirmphor LaUJel Cinnanontwn .ampltuIt fid (diumal raptor counts) Large-le;ved Piver LiSt!"ttru l&.idirrr) have grown largely unchecked 1996-99: roads dense stands on marginal lands especially on steeper They row form 1997-99: rural road comdorsi farmlands slopes where control is di{Iicult Many trees have reach€d maturity and contributc significant fruit supplies for frugivorcs Some regeDeration The junior author conducted several commissioned surveys matnly of rainforesl communities (padcularly dry rainforest) is occurflng rn while residingin the distnct ('Glen Isle', Kilgra near Kyogle 1980- conjunction. but regrowlh tends to b€ retarded by comPetition from 84, Wardell 1984-89), and to a much lesser extent after changing the expansive subtropical haveencompassed Easlem exotic planls. In the area formerly covered by 'Brirtlebrrdoermrocnlresidence lo QueenslandSludles rainforesl of the Big Scrub, extensive plantations have been established. Dd\)rfatr braehlpterus Coren 5 Frg Parror 'v'lop\rrla These ioclude macadamia and tropical fruit trees with eucalypl diophthalma. estuarine birds, and forest birds of Big Scrub remnants windbreaks: with the rtlendant uncontrolled weed proliferation, the and Moore PaIk Nature Reserve (e S Holmes 1981b' 1987. 1989' 1990' landscape has bcen transformed from one of open improved pastures. 199?). Postgraduate studies of seabirds conductcd from 19'14 to \9'7 7 to one dominated by trees and shrubs again, albeit mainly non- (e.g. Holmes 1977, l98la) extended nortb to Evans Head in the exteme indigenousspccies. south of lhe area.

Drought can have a profound influence on the occunence of inlafld Both authors have obtained extensive observations of a less birds in coastal districts. Wood (1994) used agricultural drought lo systematic nature throughout the district Certain sites were visited (hc measurepossible effects upon bird movements Accordingly, information rigularly (e.g. Casino wetlands). The junior author searched available for 1917 to 199'l is presenled here to help analyse movements district and recorded all observations oo a 5'grid basis thal ensured within rhc Richmond River district. l1 was obtained from records of the comprehenslve coverage, New South wales Department of Agricullure in the form of monthly of d.rought in any of the 5? Rural Lands Protection Board declarations RESULTS (RLPB) pastorrl disticis.

Th€ eastem part of the Richmond River district lies within the Tweed- Recordsare summarizedas an annotatedlist. Species Lismore RLPB distric! and experiencesrelalively high and reliable excluded are the petrels (Procellariformes), other seabirds rainfall (mean annual rainfall Ballina I 752 rnm. Mt Nardi 2 822 rnm), found only as beach-washed specimens, and those (i.e. drought declarcd for a lotal of only and is rarely droughl affected consideredto be aYiaryescapes (mainly Cacatuidaeand months over the 2l years). By contrast, the lower rainfall westem l0 yet establishedas viable local scclions (Casino I l13 mm) that are includ€d in the Casino RLPB Psittacidae)that are not distnct are prone to more frequent dry spells. Part or all of the Casino populations. Species listed in square brackets [ ] refer to RLPB area was drought declared for a total of 58 months, the most ieiords not submitted to state or national records appraisal prolonged periods of total declaration being May 1986 to March 1987, committees. In all instances the observations were made to January1992 and August 1994 to March 1995 April l99l by at least two experiencedobservers. ycars 1997, New South wales experienced In the 2l from 1977 to (<10 eighr protracled droughls (>50% of Srate by area drought declared for For species recorded on a few occasionsonly a minimum of five consecutive months). The most severeoccurred from records in total), records are enumeratedtogether with March 1980to August 1981,Augusl 1982to May 1983(>87% of State details of breeding if recorded. Where a specieswas l99l and drough! declared September-April), April l99l lo December encounteredless than 30 times during the reporting Period 1994 to November 1995 (>907o drought-declared octob€r August occurrences is always given. Estimates of February). Slightly shoner or less widespreaddroughts were expetienced the number of in 1978. 1986, 1992 and 1996. abundanceare given for those speciesconsidered to occur December,2002 Gosper and Holmes: Birds in the RichmondRiver district

o_ccur * Magpie GooseAnseranus semipalmata regularly in the district, including those few -that (west Great miinly du.ing drought periods inland of the Scarce(increasing); visitor; up to 28 Casino wetlands of Dividing Range). Terms used to indicate the magnitude 419O.six 2l9l (on river), twelve 9/96 (K Kind)' up to districtpopulations in any given year are: eleven 3-12199,9-12100 and 5-6101, one Lennox Head l0/91; bredCasino 1999fledging one young;not recorded Scarce<10 during intensivesurveys of district wetlandsduring 1970s Uncommon 10-50 (Gosplr l98la) and regularmonitoring of sitesat Casino in 1980s;floodplain wetlands. Moderatelycommon 50-250 Plumed Whistling'Duck Dendroc! gna eytoni Common 250-2500 Uncommon; irregularvisitor (1975' 77' 78-:79'8l-84, Abundant>2500 S'l, 92, gg-Ol), mainly Mar-May; mostly small flocks Marked fluctuationsin populationswithin or between (<25) but in 99-00 up to ll5 in Casino area;floodplain 'scilrce yearsare indicillede.g. to moderatelycommon' wetlands and dams. ih" t"r- visitor meansspecies that were not considered * Wandering Whistting-Duck D. arcuata to breed within the district Existenceof local breeding recordsis indicatedby an asteriskbefore the English name Uncommon; irregular visitor (19'74, 76"1 8, 89, 92' 94' Details of breeding are given for species classed as 96,97,99-{0); 32 iecords(1-76); recordedall monthsand (ie 2-6 uncommon or scarce.Where the disftict status of species tsnding to remain at sites for extendedperiods has been reviewed recenlly.only additional recordsare months); adult with six downy young 2-3 weeks old enumeratedhere. Records from other sources'in particular Casino 29/2192; fl oodplain wetlands. Annual Bird Reports 1973-98 the New South Wales s Blu€-bill€d Duck Oxyura australis (NSWBRs) published by the New South Wales Field Treatment OrnithologistsClub, are incorporatedwhere these assist in Scarce;visitor; up to five Casino Sewerage site l5/6/91, clarifyingthe local statusof species Works (STW) L2l6-291'7189,singles same 21/l/921tp to I I adultson Casinowetlands at leastfrom by Localitiesare identifiedby place name as depicted 4lgg'3,o} and four 5-6101; eight newly hatched downy (Central the State l:25 000 Topographic Map Series voune Richmond Park 2515199,also 3 young about half Mapping Authority, DePt of Lands New South Wales 1975 g.ow-n nound Swamp ll/3/00; extends documented are et seq.). For accuracy, locations within large reserves breeding range on east coast (see Marchant and Higgins (in Border refened to by geographic rame e g Brindle Ck 1990):STWs. floodplainwetlands. RangesNP) or CambridgePlateau (in Richmond Range 'Casino NP). The term wetlands' refers collectively to Musk Duck Biziura lobata swamps within the former Casino Municipality and Uncommon:visitor (?); small numbers(l-9), numerous includes Richmond Park (also known as Golf Course records:few birds in district most times and continuously Swamp and Jabiru-GeneebeingaWetland), Barling's presentsome sites over many years but no evidenceof Swamp and Round Swamp.Sewerage trealment works is 6reeding;sem!permanent floodplain wetlands,occasionally abbreviatedto STW. STWs. Duck Stictonetta naevosa ANNOTATED LIST Freckled Uncommon; inegular visitor; up to 6 Casino STW + Ernu Dromaius novaehollandiae 9ll-1512/81. also 616-22/8/81(max. 38); small numbers Scarce(declining?); resident; small populationsouth of (1-4) several sites Casino-Lismorc area 2218/82-13/2183 Evans and Richmond Riversl l0 records (l-3 birds) and 2719-l5llll85; up to 7 Casino STW 2515-1616192; Bundjalung National Park (NP) 1977-93; in adjacent three Stratheden 2515199 and one Tatham 2'll'7199\ noL BungawalbinCreek (Ck) catchmentsingles Bungawalbin recordedduring intensivesurveys of wetlandsin 1970s; 'Warringah'near StateForest (SF) l98l and CartersBridge s I ws and oodDlarnwe anos. 1985;up to I I birds (includingyoung) Ellangowan 1970s- Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides early 1980sbut not since (J. Fleming); periodically reported by general public and forestry staff mainly along the Vagrant(?); two (pair) Swan Bay l9l9/99. Summerland Way and areas east (see also McGrath and Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus Bass 1999); l-2 Bentley-Spring Grove area 1997-99 outside previously known local range; heathlands, Vagrant;one Swan Bay 1975 (Gosper1976b). forests, semi-clearedcountry and tea-tree sclerophyll ifrfallar d A nas p laty rhy nc ho s plantations. Scarce:visitor (?);24 records(Mallards or hybrid types) King Coturnix chinensis '79, Quail 1973-7'7, 81, 94, 97' singles or pairs; floodplain Uncommon to moderately common (?); resident (?); wetlands. apparently fluctuating; 32 records (mostly l-10), numbers Ch€stnut Teal A. caslanea all seasonsbut mainly summer; coastalheathlands, wet grasslandsand croplandslat times locally abundantin crops Uncommon; visitor(?)i recorded all months, mostly low (e.g. 35+ in 2-3 ha cultivated areaCodrington l2ll2l82). numbers (l-12, many records); occasionally larger Gosper and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond River diskict Co.ella26(4) aggregationsin estuarineareas e.9.22 Ballina STW 4/79, * Czttle Egret Ardea ibis l3 7/86; floodplainand €stuarinewetlands, S'lWs. Commonto abundant(increasing)i partial nomad; mostly x Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus flocks (<100) throughoutdistrict, congregatingin larger numbers(up to 1000) at roostsaround wetlandsoutside Scarce(or absent)to locally moderatelycornmon; visitor; breeding season; populations become concentratedin many records,appears to inupt into district irregularly, proximity of heronrieswhile nesting;heronries recorded remainingfor extendedperiods; not recordedbetbre 3/75, 'll81 at Newrybar (aboveEmigrant Creek Dam) on farm thereafterpresent continuously 1975-92 but no records dam (15 nestsin two deadtrees), in mangrovesadjoining 1993 98, reappearingI999; highestnumbers Casino STW Ballina STW l2182 (500+ nests), in paperbacks where 20-36 birds continuously present 1978 8l; Gundurimba.south of Lismore, 2/84 (c. 300 nests)and new unsuccessfulbreeding attempt on seasonalfresh swamp colony (I00+ nests)commenced Casino l/00 (in exotic Casino (three nests/eggs7/,1/87); mainly STWs, sometimes ChineseTallow Celtis sinensis):of older colonies only floodplainwetlands. Ballina site still in use in 1990s;foraging mainly pastoral lands {pastures, improved pastures and wetlands)' Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus sometimesother open habitatswhere cattle absent(e.g Vagrant;one Round Swamp,Casino,2712/00; only one playingfields, freshly ploughedlands, heathlands) previous personal North Coast record, single bird Clarence Note: nesting sites at Newrybar, Gundurimba and just River at SouthgateMay 1966(D. Gosper). outsidestudy luea at Vallance'sSwamp, (c. 600 nes|sJanuary l98l) were not identifiedby Baxter (1994)who Red-taited Tropicbird Phaethon rubicauda underestimatedthe expansionof Cattle Egret heronrieson the Vagrant ('l); one East Ballina, 41318'7:,a further three far north coastof New SouthWales in the early 1980s. reportsNSWBRs (Jan-Apr)including one at Casinoduring * Striated lIero'r Bdordes striatus tropicalstorm 24-26/4/89. Uncommonl restdent;numerous records; estuaries lnd "fropicbird P. lepturus White-tailed upstream on tidal reaches of Richmond River and Irregular transientvisitor; recordedduring strong onshore BungawalbinCreek, and occasionallybillabongs and gullies winds only, East Ballina 41318'7(8),2614/89 (E), Patches immediatelyadjacent; also recordedregularly (l-2' all months Beach 5i3i87 (l); one beach-washedPatches Beach 1976 over many years)on freshwatersections of river in Casino. recordsNSWBRS with (Gosper I98lb); a further seven * Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus maximum 18 birdsBallina 14 16/2/95:all recordsJan-Apr exceptfour beach-washedJul 73. Scarce(?), irregular(?) visitor; singlesBallina 1973and Coraki 1976 (Gosper l98la); two Casino STW l/82, Masked Booby Sula dactylntra singlessame site l/99, 10/99,at nearbyRichmond Park young calling CasinoSTW One EastBallina,2ll5/851 also two SouthBallina Apr 1/00and Lismore STW I l/00; just Park 2/00; probably 99 (perA. Monis). l/82, young fledged Richmond occurs more regularly than records suggest; STWs, Brown Booby S. leucoguster floodplain and estuarinewetlands with rank sedgesor rushes,especially l1,pla. Scarce;irregular visitor; singles East Ballina 10-l li4l84, ll5186, 412187,26llll88, Robin's Beach 22/6/E5; one * Black Bittern I. flavicollis beach-washedPatches Beach 1978 (Cosper i98lb); a 'Glen Very uncommon (scarce?);resident; regular at furtherseven records NSWBRs (Jan-May). Isle', Kilgra 1980 84; also recordedat five other siteson lGreat Frigat€bird Fregata minor south arm of Richmond River and tributariesbetween Casino and Old Grevillia; at three sites on tributaries of Vagrant;ten East Ballina during ffopical storm 24-26/4/89, north arm betweenTuncester and Goolmangar;Bungawalbin accompaniedby LesserFrigatebirds (G. Holmes, J.Izzard); Ck catchment upstreamto edge of Main Camp (Blackbutt t'urtherfour reports(singles) NSWBRs (Feb-May).1 also a Lagoon) and seven sites on lower Richmond (downstream 'Glen Lesser Frigatebird I ari€, from Bungawalbin Ck); singles or pairsi nests Isle' 1982,83, BungawalbinCk 89 andBallina 9l; rivers,creeks, lrregulartransient visitor; recorded mainly during strong mangroves, swamp sclerophyll (paperbark) forests, onshore winds, East Ballina 1976 (2, Gosper l98la), occasionallysmall wetlands with fringing trees. 25ll/88 (l),2514/89 (2),26/4/89 (83); a furthersix reports NSWBRs (Jan-May),mostly singles/pairsbut 12 Ballina Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus 34/5/96 (Izzafi 1997). Scarce;inegular visitor (?); one Stratheden1976 (Gosper NP 4/l0l'16, l8ll2l94, Eastern Reef Egrea Egretta sacra 1981a); singles also Broadwater 5/7/95; frequently heard calling ihis site in 1970s (M. Scarce(increasing?); visitor; recorded all months;singles Goddard);wet heaths,semi-permanent swamps. or pairs (grey morph only) in Broken Head-Flat Rock area, Glossy Ibis Plegadis occasionally Evans Head; no records before l98l despite Jalcinellus frequent visits to coastal sites but becoming fairly regular Uncommon (moderately common some years); regular late 1990s;coastal rock platforms and estuaries. visito.; presentCasino wetlands all yearsexcept 1984, 91, December,2002 Gospet and Holmes:Birds in the RichmondRiver district

km north-east; possibly regular at 95: recordedall months but arriving mainly Mar-Jul with of Bungawalbin SF, lO also rerorded 1972 (W Watson) numbers peaking Apr-Sep (also l2182); mostly small Myrtle-Braemar SFs where dry sclerophyllforests numbers(<25) but largerflocks (5G-80) 1978'E2' 87' 88, and 1987(Debus 1992)l 92, 961tloodplain wetlands. Black Kite Milvus migrans Yellow-billed SpoonbiU Pbtalea fiavipes Scarce;inegular visitor (mainly autumn?);influx Casino- arca 3-9178 with maximum 35 at Casino Uncommoni regular visitorl numerous records (all Kvosle-Lismore Apr-May: singles Casino 4/80, 10/89, and near months);recorded most years usually appearingApr-Jul ruib]sh tip Apr 82-83,85; open country'towns and remaining3-10 months);sometimes absent for longer Kyogle Feb-mid periods (e.g. 217441'75, a wet period across inland * Brahminy Kite Haliastur intlus );mostly singlesor small groups(l-3) but larger singles or pairs, occasionallyup to parties(up to 12) in spring-earlysummer 1978, 80-82, 94 Uncommon; resident; 4 adults in close proximity, but presentin low numbers iperiodsof inland drought);no local breedingbut coastal on estuaries,coastline and lower nesting recorded near Grafton 1962 (D Gosper); widely (numerous records) periodically (all months) upstreamto distributed, tending to appear simultaneouslyat sltes reachesof river; also where occasionallyover paddocks throughout district following a period of absence; Casino and Lismore from river. floodolainwetlands. severalkilometres * Haliteetus leucogaster * Black-necked Stork Ep hipp io rhy nchus asiatic us White-bellied Sea-Eagle resident (?); present in low numbers (numerous Scarce; resident; numerous records of one to five birds Uncommon; accompaniedby to (family group of 2 adults and 3 juveniles) (cl Gosper records),singles or pain, sometimes -up nests recorded South Ballina' near Woodburn, lgEla) but total numberslow; sevennesting sites recorded 2 iuveniles: and Stratheden,also suspected(coutship on floodplain between Coraki and Kyogle; estimated Swan Bay, Clovass non-coastallocations near semi'permanenl breeding population 3 4 pairs (pairs nestedin 2000 at displayslat olher estuariesand away from coast on rivers, Coraki, Mongogarie and south of Cedar Point); incomplete waier: coastline, wetlandsthroughout district. record of breeding years includes l9'l l' 1 3-'74''7 6-'77, 82, creeks,dams and mid- 86-91,96-{0; adultsattending nests from as early as Spotted Harrier Citcus assimilis Mar, in most years young tledging late Sep Octi small to greater than 45 records (mostly largewetlands throughout district Uncommon; visitor; singles),recorded all months but mainly Apr-Aug; breeding * Osprey Pandion haliaetus suslpectedTatham (2-3 juveniles 1994, 98); croplands, grasslandsand heathlands. Uncommon(increasing); resident; many records(singles pastures,rank or pairs, all months);tbrmerly scarce(cf Gosper l98la, + Swamp Harrier C. aP?roximans 1983, unpubl. data) but recordingrate increasedsteadily commoni visitor and breeding during laiter half of reporting period consistent with that Uncommon to moderately pain Mar-Oct {numerousrecords' occuring in coastalNew South Wales generally (cf Monis resident1?1: singles or some yearsi nestedBroadwaler 2000); now breedingannually (e.g. central Ballina) using all years),few ovet summer (D. 1994) and South Ballina 1998; artificial nest platforms provided by NSW NPWS recovery NP 1994 Gosper coastal heathlandsand programme;regularly presenton estuariesand coastline floodplain and estuarine wetlands, and in recent years along river upstreamto Casino and wet grasslands. (5 1990). aboveLismore recordssince * Grey Goshawk A ccipiter novaehollandiae * Pacific Baza Avicedo subcristata Moderately common; resident; many records (recorded (all grey morphexcept Uncommonto moderatelycommon; migrantor resident from c. 30 5'grids); singlesor Pai$ nests Boomerang but locally nomadic; numerousrecords (all years 1975-00), Toonumbar SF 2/81 and Casino 4/83); forests in singles or pairs, occasionallysmall groups (up to 8) in Falls, Sawpit Ck; rainforests and wet sclerophyll Blackwall Ra spring; all months but more recordslate winter-summer catchmentranges in north and west, and (Jul-JanMar) than other timesi appearedannually in spring (Mar-Jun only); also recorded in mainly cleared country (1993-00)at Goolmangarwith nestingconfirmed in 1993, in wetter pa s of district, especially along streams, (e.9. 99 (suspectedin the other years); also nests Leeville, sometimesover a period of several months urban Casino.Namoona. Alstonvale, Meerchaum Vale, Eltham, Casino 1978,83, 87; Goolmangar95-98). Kyogle, often in semi-clearedpastoral RepentanceCk and Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus and urban habitats(sometimes in exotic trees);young fledge Dec Jan; widespreadin forestedand open habitatsincluding Scarce;resident (?); singles BoatharbourNR l5/2/84, towns (Casino, Kyogle, Lismore, Ballina) where cont-tding Coolgardie near Wardell 17l10/86, Sawpit Creek L4ll0l94;' (e.g. perching on clothes lines, fences,powerlines). subtropical and dry rainforests and semi-clearedfarmlands, Squar€-tailed Kiae Lophoic tinia isu ra. * Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax Scarce;visitor; singlesMy le Ck 3l'1183,Bora Ridge 2/ Uncommon (?), difficult to estimate population because 8/86, pair Esk R. (BundjalungNP) l7-18/10/87 (nest?), of large territoriesi resident; numerous records; mainly one Myrtle SF 7/8/99, later same morning 4 birds (moving singles or pairs, occasionally trios; Harder (2000) reports as two pairs and at times interacting) over western edge ten nesting territories in the Richmond Valley; present Gospet and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond River district Corella26(4) throughoutdistrict (recordedalmost all 5'grids) but least Australian Spotted Cr^ke P. flumineq in former Big Scrub;all habitats. often Scarce(?); resident(?); recordedByrnes Point 13/8/86, + Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 2918187,2214189, Tuckean Swamp l419/87,Casino STW 7ll2/91 andNamoona'7ll1l99' saltmarshes and wetlands' Scarce; visitor (?); greater than 50 records (mostly particularly with Typha. singles), all months but mainly Mar-Aug; throughout district but pafticularly near coast; nest in pastoral lands Spotless Crake P tabuensis north of Kyogle 9-10/79l. all habitats except rainlbrests. Scarce(?); resident(?); recordedCedar Point 18-20/2/83' Aus(raf ian Hobby Folco longipennis Lennox Head STW 11/10/87,Chickiba Estate (Ballina) 21218'7,Casiro 29ll|l9l, Casino STW 211187,l9ll2l9l, Uncommon; resident (?); many records (all months); Blrnes Pt 23l10/88,Evans Head 4/11/89,Namoona l5l10/99' mostly singles but up to three together; presentthroughout LismoreSTW 2lllO-2lll2lOO; wetlands,dams, STWs with district in open country including towns,and particularly Typha beds. aroundwetlands when waterbirdpopulations high. Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis Black Falcon F. subniger Vagrant;one Backmede-CedarPoint (betwe€nCasino and Scarcetirregular visitor; singlesCasino l219/76,Byrnes Kyogle) 6-7193(S. Kennedy,P Carlill; see also Monis and Point (hunting shorebirds)20/8/86, Coolgardie ll2/8'7; Burton 1995); remained for at least a month; single bird mainly wetlands? same areaon a previous occasion(P Carlill); pastoralland. * Peregrin€ Falcon ,R pereginus Red-backed Button-quail Turnix maculosa Uncommon; resident (?); many records (singles, all Scarce (?); resident (?); many records Wardell 1987-89; months);recording latio about l:5 that of Australian Hobby 'Glen records:Kyogle 91317728lIll82, l4l12/82; lsle' rGosper.unpubl. dataJi mostly aboutsteep areas (nest sites other , (northof Kyogle) 2919182,8/12182 Codnn$on l2ll?82 (with Sep Apr) or coastallowlands (Apr-Aug); nestedMinyon quail species);Casino 29llll82, l4ll2l82, 3ll ll83:. Falls l98l-O0 (annually?);probably nests Bar Mountain, numerous 29/12/84 Macauley'sLead (Bundjalung The Pinnacleand Koonyum Rge; all habitats. deadfemale Ballina NP) l6110/88;heathlands, croplands and wet grasslands * Brolga Grrs rubicundt Little Button-quail T. velox Uncommoni resident (?); greater than 60 records (all (?); 1/12182;cropland. months);mainly pairs but occasionallylarger groups (e.g. Vagrant one dead,Kilgra, up to 20 Coraki 5/88 in harvestedmaize crop); nests Red-ch€sted Button-quail T. pynhothorat Tuckean Swamp 4/87, north of Lennox Head 919'7(.J. (?); irregular visitor; apparent Morante), near Emigrant Ck 9/99 and suspected Scarce to uncommon district when BroadwaterNP 9/94; mainly coastal,especially heathlands influx 11i82-ll83 to croplandsthroughout quail (max 35+ Broadwater and Bundjalung NP, periodically lower locally abundant with other spp. (road floodplainwetlands and croplandswest to Casino. Codrington l2ll2l82): male kill) Goolmangar 4/11/84,Wardell 8 and 15/10/86,Evans Head l6111/97; Lewin's Rail Rallus pectorqlis croplandsand heathlands. Uncommon(?);resident; most recordsHuonbrook and Black-breasted Button-quail T. mebnogaster Coolgardie;other records Upper Wilson's Creek l2183, Toonumbar SF near fire tower 6/84, Little Brindle Ck Probable record Sandy Hill Rd below Mt Glennie 800 10/84,Tuckean Swamp l2184,Lennox Head STW 5-6185, metres S of border fence 30/3/80 (G. Holmes); lantana in Blakebrook5/85, Little Pimlico Is.8/85, NightcapTrack sclerophyll forest adjoining subtropical rainforest;recorded 4/87. Esk R. l2187,Jerusalem Ck1/85, l2l8'7,9/89; rank just north of state border in contiguous Pallen Creek shrubberiesnear water, rncl]udingInntarn. catchment(G. Holmes). Bush-hen Arnorrornis olivaceus Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii Uncommon (?); residentor partial nomad (?); district Moderately common; visitor; annually in small to population concentratedin high rainfall north-castern moderatenumbers (mostly <20, but occasionallyloose catchmentof RichmondRiver (Stewartand Stewart1994; aggregationsup to 55) mid-Aug-early Apr; small to large Muranyi and Baverstock 1996); records additional to fresh and brackish wetlands throughout district, especially Muranyi and Baverstock (1996): one Cox's Rd near where rank yegetation provides cover. ToonumbarSF l/88; up to three on GoolmangarCk l/98 Black-tailedGodwit Limosa limosa and ll-12198 (only records this site during 8 years residence);rank vegetationincluding grass, weeds and Scarce;visitor (mainly southwardpassage?); less than 40 Lantana, with varying density of tree cover, fringing records(l-6), mostly during 1980s;all months Sep-Apr, streamsand seml-permanentwater. once Jun; usually remaining less than three weeks; floodplain and estuarine wetlands, beaches. Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla Littfe Curlew Numenius minulus Uncommon; irregular (?) spring-summervisitor (1974J7 , 80,82, 86, 91,94,99,00); 29 records(l-7) mid-Aug-early Scarce;irregular visitor; five Casino 6/11/76 (Gosper Apr, once Jul (Gosper 1981a);floodplain wetlands,STWs. 1981a), singles Casino 25l10-6/ll/81, East Ballina December,2002 Gospet and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond River district

l8-28/l l/83; two Strathedenl0 13/2183.floodplain and Wandering Tattl€r H. incanus estuarinewetlands. Scarce; visitor; recorded all months except Jul, rnainly Rock-Skennar'sHead 1974-:18, Whimbrel N. phaeopus late Aug-Feb; 1-2 birds Flat 82 83, 87-91, 99; may occur annuatly(c/. Gosper1983); presentall Uncommon to moderatelycommon; visitor; coastal rock platforms. months, mainly Sep-Apr; population 35-45 birds A renari4 ir.terpres Richmond estuary (up to l0 ove.wintering), usually fewer Ruddy Tirrnstone on Evans estuary (but 45 present 7/3/98)i estuarine Moderately common (decreasing?); visitor; present all wetlands, adjacent beachesand rock platforms. months, mainly Aug-Mar; populationRichmond estuary 100+ (up to 20 overwintering) Bastern Curlew N. malagascariensis and adjacent coastline 1977-7-9(Gosper 1983), tbwer in 1980s(max. 50 I 2/88 Moderately commoni visitor; present all months see Holmes 1988) but no recent counts: coastal rock Richmond estuary,mainly Sep-Apr; population 70-80 birds platforms, beachesand estuarinetidal flats. (up to 30 overwinteing) 1972J4 counts, similar numbers Knot Calidris tenuirostris 1999,maximum 3l Evansestuary 1/84; estuarine wetlands Gr€at and adjacent beaches. Uncommon; visitor; recordedall months, mainly Oct- incomplete record of years presentincludes 1971-75, Marsh Sandpip€r Tringq stagnatqlis Mar, 81-90,93,98; only on Richmondestuary where probably Uncommon (increasing); visitor; formerly scarce regular population lO-30 birds (highest counts 33 2184'32 (recorded only twice 1973-80 despite intensive surveying l/93.24 4189):estuarine tidal flats and adjacentbeaches of wetlandsand linoral habitats(cf Gosper1981a, 1983); Red Knot C. canutus since198 I recordedalmost annually ( l8 of 20 years)' Aug- May, mainly Sep-Jan;mostly small flocks (1-15) but at Uncommon; visitor; presertt Aug-Jun' mainly Sep-Dec least 22 birds in district l2l9lt floodplain wetlands, (apparentlyin passage);annual in small numbers(1-18) estuarinemanhes. on Richmond estuary; one Stratheden10/81; estuanne wetlands, beachesand rock platforms. Common GreenshankT. nebular t C. a/Da Uncommon; visitor; annually in small numbers: all Sanderling months,mainly lateAug-Apr; maximumcounts Richmond Uncommon (increasing?);visitor; presentAug-Jun, mainly estuary48 1-2188(Holmes 1988) and 38 l/99; estuarine Sep-Apr; regular on beaches south of Richmond River wetlands,nearby flooded paddocks;occasionally (eight mouth where recorded annually (Gosper 1983); counts up records, l-4) floodplain wetlands; once on river at Casino. to 27 birds 1976-81but may be increasing(e.9.63 12184' 2198)t beaches, estuarine sand islets (roosting), Wood Sandpiper Z g/arer,/4 7O occasionallyrcck platforms, tidal flats and salt marshes. Scarcelvisitor; recorded 1975,76, 81,82,83, 85, 87, 99, C. subminutQ Aug-Apr, mainly Sep-Dec; l-2 birds only, individuals [Long-toed Slint tendingto remain at sites for severalmonths; floodplain Vagrant(?); singlesByrnes Pt 22l|Ol8.l_.ls13l8l,23llO' wetlands. 27112188(G. Holmes, J. Izzard, D. Gosper and others); estuarinemarsh.l Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus PectoralSandpiper C. melqnotos Moderatelycommoni visitor; recorded Aug-May, mainly Oct Apr; regular Richmond estuary,population 65-80 birds Scarce; visitor; recorded Sep-Apr; one Emigrant Ck (1972-74 counts, Gosper l98la), maximum 60 during 1975, up to three Stratheden1978 (Gosper l98la); two 1985-87;recent counts (seeHanis 1997)consistent with Stratheden3lllO-29112/81, one 2611-2613/83;singles earlier periods; estuarine tidal flats, mangroves, Tatham l3l2:/83, Caslno 3019-2U10/85, V4181, 3U910110194, occasionallyadjacent coastline. l0/ L0-l2l 12199. Corcki'7 l2l 83, 412/85, Tatham 5l2l 83, Byrnes Pt 13--2114187',floodplain wetlands,occasionally Common Sandpiper Acfi/rs hypoleucos estuarinemarshes. Scarce;visitor; presentin low numberslate Aug-Apr; Icine lI u s population estimated4-8 birds Richmond estuary, l-2 Broad-billed Sandpiper,Ldzrco la fa Evans estuary; four records (singles) on rocky sections of Scarce; visitorl recorded Nov-Mar; singles Chickiba Ck, river (above tidal influence) at Casino, once Casino STW; East Ballina l8l lll83-113184,221 1185, 201 ).0186,'7 111193, mainly upper reachesof estuaries(e.g. to Pimlico); steep two l2l lll84. 2/2/92: estuarine wetlands. unvegetatedshores, either rocky or eroded, even in narrow Ruff Philomachus p ug nax mangrove channels. Scarce;irregular visitor; two Casino I l-14112182:singles Grey-tailed Taltler Heteroscelus brevipes Tatham 3Lll-1312/83, Chickiba Ck 2613/84;floodplain and Moderatelycommon; visitor;present all months,mainly estuarinewetlands. Sep-Apr;population Richmond estuary 100-130 birds (up Painted Rastratula to 45 ove.wintering)in 1972-74,77 79 (Gosper l98la, Snipe benghalensis 1983); maximum counts 157 3173, 160 2/88 (Holmes Scarce;visitor; up to three Coraki 1976 and Tatham 1977 1988);no recentco[nts; 30 Evansestuary l/84; estuarine (Gosper 1981a); 1-2 Casino I5llI4lI2l87l. one Casino tidal flats, mangroves,coastal rock platforms. 5lIl99; one Namoona 12/12199;floodplain wetlands. Gospet and Hohe6: Birds in the Richmond Biler district Corella26(4)

* Comb-crested lacana Irediparra gallinacea Grey Plover P squatarolq Moderately common to common (declining'l); partial Vagrant(?); two EastBallina 13-11/12/91,one 22/12/92: nomad;district numberst'luctuate apparently in response estuarinewetlands and adlacentgrassy areas. e g. to habitatconditions both locally and beyondthe area * Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus abundantearly mid 1970swhen greaterthan 100birds on (declining?);resident someseasonal wetlands at Casinoover severalyears (max. Moderatelycommon to uncommon late 270+ Richmond Park 6/76, Gosper l98la), but declining and visitor; pairs, small parties(usually <10, mainly l98la' 1983); larger thereatier (drying out of seasonalwetlands in 1980s summer to winter, see Gosper 1970sand early 1980se.g. 28 droughts?)with countson samewetlands not exceeding30 aggregationsrecorded in Salty Lakes (BroadwaterNP) during last two decades;further monitoring required to Striwi eay (Ballina) 2/73, 52 from previously used sites assesspopulation changes in responserefilling of district 2/84; no recent breedingrecords presumably resulting fiom human wetlandsin late 1990s;mainly tloodplain wetlands,also such as Flat Rock, and coastallakes' damswith floating vegetation. disturbance;beaches, adjacent estuaries rarelyfloodplain wetlands. * Pied Oystercatcher Hqematopus longirostris Double-banded Plover C. bicinctus Uncommon;resident; pairs, parties (mostly <15 birds); visitor; presentFeb-Sep, mainly Apr-Jun; tendsto form largerroosting assemblages in late summer- Uncommon; (mostly 1-16) on coastline,but autumn;in 1970sand early 1980ssuch groupsto 25 birds resularin small numbers (max.32 4/73,46 6/78 on South (Gosperl98la, 1983)but in late 1990sassemblages up to laiger countssome years bexchesand estuaries ?0 recordedbetween South Ballina and BroadwaterBeach; Blllrna PatchesBeach); beachessouth of EvansHead not investigatedbut note 9l Lesser Sand Plover C mongolus adultsand l0juveniles countedduring surveysfrom Shark to uncolrurlon (declining'l); visitor; Bay north to South Ballina Nov 9E (R Moffatt in Morris Moderately common mainly Oct-Aprwith few (l-16) May- 2001);recent poor local breedingsuccess caused primarily recordedall months, estuary80 110 bircls1972'74, by Red Fox predationhas been reversedin a programme Sepl populationRichmond early 1990swhen maximum counts conductedby NPWS; long open beachesbacked by low but fewer late 1980sand (18 se€Holmes liontal dunes (mainly south of Richmond estuary) and less than 25 birds l-2l88, 23 3190,2/92' (Harris 1997,1999) continue to adjacentestuaries. 1988,1992); recent counts be low; not recolded lrom Ev ns estuary:estuarine sand South Island Pied Oystercatcher H. finschi tlats, roosting adjacentsalt marshesand coastline (or Scarce;vagrant or recentcolonist (?); one more) tn Greater Sand Plover C. Ieschenaultii area from I l/98 (Totterman et ol. 1999) to at least .l l/00; all recorded periodically from South Ballina-Broadwater Uncommon to moderately common; visitor; recorded (l-10) Beachto Flat Rock, in companyof Pied or alone;beaches months, mainly Sep-Mar with few Apr-Aug; and rock platforms. populationRichmond estuary 35-50 birds during 1970s; maximum counts57 ll/77 (Gosper1983) and 69 11188 Sooty Oystercatcher H- fuliginosus (Holmes 1988)i recentcounts (Hanis 1997, 1999)consistent Scarce(increasing ?); visitor;recorded all monthsexcept with earlier periods; one Evans estuary 1/84; estuarinesand Oct (highestnumbers Jan-Mar); singles, pairs, small parties flats, roosting adjacentsalt marshesand coastline. (l 8); more frequent in recent years and apparently * Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus increasing(e.g. average group size 1.6 recorded1973 89, comparedwith 3.6 for I99G-98); coastalrock platforms, Uncommon to moderately common; irregular visitor; also roostingon breakwatersand estuarinesand islets at numerous records, all months but more frequent Jul-Dec high tide. on drying swamps;birds sometimescontinuously present in district for up to eight months, at other times absentfor Red-necked Avocet Recumirostro novaehollandiae periods of more than two years; some birds visited the Vagrant (?); four flying south over ocean off Jerusalem district in 20 out of 28 years covered by this reporti mostly ck, t5t5/'75. small numbers(l-10) but larger influxes in 1975,80, 82, 83, 86,92,94 when up to 25 birds on some wetlands; Pacific Plowr Pluvialis Golden fulva nestedCasino 80,86,97 and Byrnes Pt 87; mainly Moderately common; visitori present all months, mainly floodplainwetlands, occasionally coastal lakes. Oct-Apr; on Richmond estuarymaximum countsat high tide Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor roost Chickiba Ck 158 3/90, 140 2198, 165 12198;Evans estuary-SaltyLakes maximum count 48 l/84; also fairly Scarce(declining?); irregular visitor; in Casino-Fairy regular in lesser numbers on drying wetlands Sep-Apr, Hill-Strathedenarea two 17-25/7175,up to twelve 3/8- mainly Oct-Jan(27 records,usually l-12, but up to 4l 5/9/'16 and lle 15/8/77t also three Edenville 1'7/9182;note Strathedenl0-l l/89); floodplain and estuarinewetlands. lack of recent records; overgrazed paddocks and fallow cultivationareas. [American Golden Plover P dominica Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella Vagrant; single birds Chickiba Ck, Ballina l9lll/83, 22lll/85 (G. Holmes and I.lzzard), also reportedat nearby Vagrant (?); two Cedar Point l9l9-5l10/80; one Casino Nov 84 and Nov 94 (NSWBRS)1. l312/83;margins of drying swamps. December,2002 Cosper and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond River district

to 140 birds Flat Rock, Great Skua Cdlharacta skua resulat summer assemblages comprising all or mainly non-brceding Asian populatiort; Ballina,9/8i86,2l18/87 Vagrant('l)i singlesEast nesting (j pairs with young) mouth of JerusalemCk formerly nestedRichmond estuary [South Polar Skua C. mQccormicki 12/82, site not revisited; (Campion 1963);coastline, estuaries' occasionally uprtver Vagrant(?)l singlesEast Ballina, 2/12186,5l12186 (G. to Swan Bay and adjacentfloodplain wetlands' Holmes,J. tzzard).1 Sooty Tern S. fuscata Pomarinc Jxeger Sterrcrarius pomainus Scarce(?); transientvisitor; nearshorewaten late Nov- Scarce;visitor; recordedAug-Jun, mainly Nov-April; late Apr; recorded almost annually, mainly small numbers usually singly, East Ballina, but total 20+ recordedby coastlineduring rough weather(Gosper 1983)' when extendedwatch 2/12186(southward passage?); nearshore on beach-wasbed (Gosper 1981b); occasionally waters,kleptoparasitising shearwaters, terns and gulls often exceptional aggregations(e g. 550 East Ballir'a 2614189) Arctic Jaeger S. parasilicus White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Uncommon; visitor; recordedAug-Jun, mainly Nov-Mayi (l-8 birds) Oct-May; usually small numbers,East Ballina, Evans Head (i.e. Scarce;iregular visitor; 2l records adjoining estuarieswhere terns more numerous),but totals coastline, estuariesand floodplain wetlands. (15), (2O+), 2Ual89 (>lOO) recorded 4/ll/87 41218'7 Common Noddy Anous stolidus indicate passage; nearshore waters, kleptoparasitising shearwaters,terns and gulls. Scarce; irregular visitor; ten records (singles) Dec-Apr: 1973 (Gosper 1981a),75 (Gosper 1983), 82' 84' 85' 89; S. langicaudus Long-tailed Jaeger also reported81, 95 (NSWBRs); mostly Flat Rock-East Scarce;inegular visitor (?); singlesEast Ballina 9/2/85' Ballinal coastline. 2412185, four 4/3/87. 22/2/85, Black Noddy A. min&rrs Kelp Gull larus dominicanus Scarce;iregular visitor; eight records (singles) Jan-May: Vagrant; two South Ballina-PatchesBeach 19'77,one 1977(Gosper 1983), 82, 83, 84, 85; alsoreported 87 (Jul), 1978(Gosper 1983). 95 (NSWBRs)lFlat Rock-EastBallina; coastline. Gull-billed Terrr Sternu nilotica Grey Ternlet Procelsternu cerulea Uncommonto moderatelycommon; Yisitor; recorded all Vagrant(?); singlesEast Ballina 25ll/85, SouthBallina months with some birds presentmost times but periodically Beach ll/2/85; 59 Ballina 4-813/95during tropicalstorm absent(cf Gosper l98la, 1983);generally small numbers (1. lzzard,NSWBRs). with some larger aggregations(e.g. 37 following tractor ploughingcanefields Woodburn 9/80); beaches,estuaries; White Tern Gygis alba occasionallyfloodplain wetlands and cultivatedareas. Vagrant(?); singlesEast Ballina, 8/3/85,2l/5l85, three Caspian Tern S. caspi, 2614189;a further three reports NSWBRs (Feb-Mar). Scarce;visitor; recordsall monthsexcept Jun; occursin Diamond Dove Geopelit cuneats (usually years (cf low numbers singles) most Gosper Vagranti two Bundjalung NP, south of JerusalemCreek, l98Ia); estuariesand adjacentcoastline. 21/6/94, feeding on ground in area of burnt heathland. Roseate Tern S. dougallii * Wompoo Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus magnijicus Vagrant;only rocordedFlat Rock 1976(Gosper el al. 1978). Moderately common (becoming common?)i resident; White-front€d Tern S. s/riata recorded regularly (cf Gosper 1992) in larger tracts of Scarceto uncommon;irregular (?) winter visitor; small forest associatedwith the northern and western wate$hed numbers (1-5) late May-early Sep all years 1975 80, ranges;mostly in small aggregationsdispersed through 83-87; minor influx 6/75 when up to 50 briefly about suitable habitat; present all months at least to 800 metres Richmond River entrance(Gosper 1983); absenceof recent above sealevel (10O0 m in summer); apparentlyincreasing recordsmay result from inadequatewinter coverageof this in abundance,now present consistently at many locations habitat; nearshorewatsrs and beachgs. (notably in the Nightcap Rge) where found infrequently in early years of study; mainly subtropical rainforests and to Common Tern S, hirundo a lesserextent contiguous wet sclerophyll forests; recorded Moderately common to common; visitor; recordedall increasingly in more isolated remnants, solitary figs and months, mainly Oct-Apr, once Jun-Jul; regular summer regrowth in open country. assemblagesgreater than 175 birds Flat Rock, larger Superb Fruit-DoYe P. superbus aggregationsinclude 700+ 1l/79, 500 318O,730 2199; coastline,estuaries, rarely floodplainwetlands. Scarce (increasing?); visitor; recorded Noy-Feb only, at few sites: Coolgardie (Toonumbar * Little Tern S. albifrons 2012186,Mvrcy Scrub NP) 23lt/88 (2-3 birds); Terania Ck I4-I5lU95 (2+), Moderatelycommon; visitor and migrant; mainly Oct, 10/ll/96 (3), 1611/9'1(3+),2811?,197 (3+) and Wanganui Apr but few May-Sep some years(Gosper l98la, 1983); (Upper Coopers Ck) 712198(4+); also Nullum SF (ust Gospet and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond River district Corella26(4) north of study ajea) 2lll97 (2); absenceof records in appearingin Ballina by Dec; senior author commutedtwice earlier yearsfrom sites such as TeraniaCreek (visited since daily betweenCasino and Kyogle during 197't-79without in 1990s 1980)suggests species increasing; subtropical rainforests, recordingcorellas, their advent at Cedar Point pair attendinghole usually gallery forests typified by abundantBangalow confirmed by resident farmer P Carlill; (whereremnant stand Palm, between ridges covered by sclerophyll forest. in treein TSR at Bilraimal ll/10/97 of Forest Red Gums a favoured flock roost site); croplands * Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove P regilc (especiallybarley crops), pastoral lands and urbanareas' resident or partial Moderately common to common; Cockatiel Nynpft i cus hollandicus migrant/nomad;recorded regularly in summer,mainly Oct- Stratheden812174:, two Mar/Apr, when distributed widely in larger tracts ol Scarce; irregular visitor; two same location 1ll12l97 (B' subtrooicalrainforest at elevationsto 500 metres, less Cedar Point 21lIOt97, one pastorallands frequent to 900 metres (e.g Forest Tops, Border Ranges Reineker);croplands and this period, not NP): absentfrom these forests outside Musk Lorikeet Glossopsilta concinna recordedabove 250 metresMry-Sep: presentthroughout two Doubleduke yerr rmrinly below l50 ml in remnant patchesof Scarce to uncommon; irregular visitor; SF l/4/80. several subtropicalrainforest and coastalwet sclerophyllforest of SF 2ql5/81, one Cherry Tree North Braemar SFs 9/8/98 the foimer Big Scrub (e.g. Booyong NR, Victoria Park NR, parties up to 6 birds Myrtle and from upperClarence Johnston'sScrub); also regrowthdominated by Camphor ,ueeertingminor influx tpossibly G Holmesunpubl' Laurel-Privet in mainly cleared country (c/ C. Gosper .uic-hm"ni*h"te moderatelycommon. t994) e.g. recorded calling all months except Nov data);sclerophyll lbrests Feb (l), April (1), May (2) and Sep (1) Goolmangar;nests Double-eyed Fig'Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma at Booyong NR and Goolmangar. Near extinct; one record only, CambridgePlateau'7lll/81 * krthsmi Glossy Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus (see historical and ecological reviews for district and Huonbrook Apr 92 Moderately common (perhapsuncommon?); residenti beyond by Holmes 1990); also reported pairs,family groups,sometimes aggregations to ten birds, (D. Secomb.NSWBRs). total numbers probably less than numerousrecords but Pale-headed R.osellaPlat! cercus adscilus 100; distributedwidely in sclerophyll forests, including remnantswith casuarinasin mainly clearedpastoral lands Scarce; irregular visitor (?); few records northem edges (traditional localities? e.g. ridges in the Blakebrook- of district: several (hybrids) Sawpit Ck 2ll2l8o' one Tuncester-Koonoriganarea near Lismore). (hybrid) l5l3/81; one Cougal l7ll/83 (with femaleEastem Rosella P einrius), up to three Grady's Ck 26-21 /3185: * Cacatua roseicapilla Gal^h one (hybrid) edge Mt Lindesay SF 214/97,farmlands with Common;resident; numbels increasing throughout study sclerophyll forests adjacent period; initially uncommon (presentin low numbersbut Swift Parrot Ialft amus discolor well distributed),then steadily increasingin abundancee.g maximum flock sizes recorded 1973-75 (6 birds)' 1976-85 Scarce;irregular visitor (?); one EllangowanSF 3/7/83 (46), 1986-93 (90); currently widespreadwith flocks of T\rrquoise P^rrot N eophemapulche lla 20-40 birds common, larger assemblagesencountered periodicallyin townsof Casino,Lismore and Ballina; now Scarce;irregular visitor (?); pair Myrtle SF 6/6/94' male breeding regularly; flock of 43 foraging for several days Broadwater NP 2719-l0ll0l94: dry sclerophyll forests and in grounds of Goolmangar School 4/96 contained 30 coastalheathlands. juveniles; pattern of expansion repeatedthroughout North Ground Parmt Pezoporus wallicus Coast since appearanceof first birds in early 1960s (unpubl.data); rural and other modifiedhabitats. Uncommon to (?) moderatelycommon; resident:lecorded in low numbers (typically l-4 birds birds flushed per km) Long-biffedCorella C lenuirostri\ duing transects, sometimes aggregated,probably at food Potentialcolonist (?)i two Goolmangar-Jiggiarea 28l8- sources (e.g. up to 12 birds along a 1 kilomere transect, n/1019:', 15/5199;two Ballina 2/12100 in tlock of see Gosper 1995); populations mainly within or near C. sanguineat farmlands, urban areas. Bundjalung and Broadwater NPs; also recordedjust NW of Wardell on temporaryairstrip clearing 2614/87-l/3/89;moist C, sanguinea Littl€ Corella coastalheathlands. but increasing; visitor (now resident Uncommon Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus Casino?); recorded all months, numbers increasingly rapidly in recent years; one Mt Lion l614/83, two Scarce;visitor;21 recordsDec-Apr 1979-81,83-85'87- Alstonville 2517/85,tlrst recordedCasino 4/90 with another 88, 90-91,99; mostly singles but sometimesseveral in l3 records(l-2 birds) 1990-95, mainly Casino-Lismorei loose associationi mainly swamp sclerophyll forests and in 1996 an apparentinflux occurredround Cedar Point woodlands, or edges of wet sclerophyll forests and (Casino-Kyogle) where flocks of 100-200 presentannually rainforests; also dry sclerophyll forests and gardens. Sep-Jan over three consecutive years, declining to about Black-eared Cuckoo C. osculans 40 in 1999 (B. Reineker); in 2000 numbers concentrated 'Glen east of Casino in Tomki-Tatham area, flock subsequently Vagrant(?); one Isle', Kilgra, l8/l l/80. December,2002 Gospet and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond Ri\€r district

+ Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus section of the interstaterailway line; includes records additionalto Debuset al. (1998); swampytall grasslands, records (mostly singles, Uncommoni visitor; many heathlandsand croplands. occasionallytwo together);late Sep to mid-Feb; not readily detectedunless calling, apparently regular to at least some Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus and Kyogle; observed carrying an egg sites near Casino Scarce;resident; l-5 recorded periodically at Brindle Ck country in the Clovass 3/10/85; mainly semi-cleared (Border RangesNP) and Terania Ck (Nightcap NP) 1980- of water (i.e. swamp sclerophyllwoodland and vicinity 98; also Leycester Ck (Tweed Rge) 1/83' Quandong Falls creeks),also sclerophyllforests (including forestremnants, and Boomerang Falls (Whian Whian SF) 12186,Richmond NPs). BorderRanges, Bundjalung Rge (Dome Mt area) 10/92; a single bird in Wilson NR of Lismore) * Channel-billed Cuckoo Scylftrops novaehollandiae (an isolated dry rainforest remnant on edge 1985,still present(same bird?) 1999:subtropical and dry widely Sep-early Moderately common; visitor; distributed rainforests,especially near watercourseswith Bangalow hilly, less intensively settled Mar, most numerous in Palms. western half of district; woodlands and farmlands, often foraging at fruiting figs and aggregatingin their vicinity. Fork-tailed Svift APus Pacillcus Powerful Owl Ninox strenua Scarce; transient visitor; recorded in flocks to 35+, late Nov-mid-Apr, associatedtypically with westerly winds; (?); resident; recorded Sheepstation Ck 616/82, Scarce recordedusually once per season19'76,77,82' 85' 86' 87' Gorge 1?-18/3/83,Sawpit Creek (BorderRanges Grevillia 90. 9l: all records from coastal stdP excePt once Casino Mt Belmore sF 29-30/8/83, Mt Lindesav sF NP) 9/4/83, 2/90. l8/4/89, Terania Creek (Nightcap NP) 28/3/98 and RichmondRange SF 24ll/99; sclerophyllforests. * Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleatii Barking Owl N. connivens Uncommon to (?) moderately common; resident or partial nomad/ migrant (Gosper and Gosper 1996); swamp Uncommon(?); resident;pair on Myall Ck' Gibberagee iclerophyll forests and woodlands, adjacent open areas, periodically l98l-99, singleson Sandy Ck nearYorklea mareins of wetlands in semi-clearedcountry, also edgesof 3014183,2815183, edge Bundjalung NP south of Evans moiit forests on creeks in foothills of high rainfall nonh- River 23110/83,'serendipity'near Tabbimobile 1-8112/87 ; east of district; open wetlands in winter. pairs Sandy Ck Royal Camp SF 512192(C Gosper,J. Izzard),Busby's Flat 13112314198 and BlackbuttLagoon, Red-backed Kingfisher T. pynhopygia edgeEllangowan SF 20i5l00; all additional to recordslisted Scarce;irregular winter visitor; one Pimlico l713/85only by Debus(1997)l denseriparian vegetation with emergent record additional to Gosper and Gosper (1996); pastoral eucalypts,in semi-clearedwoodlands. lands and croplands. Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa * Noisy Pitta Pitta versicolor Uncommoniresident; occurs in arc from RichmondRge partial migrantor (Cambridge Plateau) east to Koonyum Rge, including Moderatetycommon lo common: months throughoutcontinuous Dome Mt, Murray Scrub, Sawpit Ck, Lever's Plateau, nomad (?); is presentall (most remaining habitat situated above Tweed Rge, Nightcap Rge and Huonbrook; recorded tracts of rainforest north and west of periodicallyover manyyears (1981-98) at regularlyvisited 200 metres on catchment ranges in possibly fewer at higher sitessuch as Brindle Ck and TeraniaCk; singlesor pairs; district, c/. Gosper 1986); searchesin 1998 rainforests and contiguous wet sclerophyll forests. elevations in winter, but during specific some birds were found at high altitude sites through winter Masked Owl T. novaehollnndiae (Bar Mountain 1 100 m, Mt Nardi 800 m) but not at others regularly at Scarce;resident; singles Mt PikapeneSF l-79l83, 8/4/85, (Brindle Ck 750 m); breeding probably occurs Boundary Unumgar SF 25llol92, Mt Lindesay SF 5/10/93; least down to 150 metres (e.g. Terania Ck and woodlandsand sclerophlll forests. Ck where adults and juveniles noted through summer); observation of two adults at Moore Park NR (gallery Grass Owl T- capensis rainforest remnant, IOO m) 10179and a juvenile in l/84 Uncommon(?);resident (?); one BroadwaterNP 10/10/76 suggestsbreeding at this site, as does an adult recorded at and feathers found on occasionsthis area in 1990s; three the same elevation in Victoria Park NR l4l11/86; has nearpresent site of BallinaAirport l0/l/83; singlesBallina nestedBoatharbour NR (50 m) (R. Brown); regular Post- STW I/5/86, l0/l l/88; two Wardell (BagotvilleRd) l8/7- breeding movement also occurs into pockets of dense, 2118186,161818'7l' five road kills Pacific Hwy at Uralba and moist habitat in mainly cleared lowlands (c/ Totterman lower Emigrant Ck 12-2019186-,since about 1995 flushed 1999), where birds occur regularly Mar-Sep (e.9. extreme regularly during barley harvestingon RunnymedeFlats dates Blackwall F.ge 1313-2319,Goolmangar 18131919); nearCedar Point by P Carlill who hasbeen growing these during this period pittas inhabit isolated .ainforest crops there for about 25 years; when disturbed by remnants, weedy regrowth (including lantana, Camphot machinery the owls flush and fly low for a short distance Laurel), riparian vegetation in otherwise cleared farmlands before taking refuge in the windrows leti by the header; and shelteredpatches and gullies in wet and dry sclerophyll during the 2000 harvest (late Sep-mid-Oct) an estimated forests; appearance of birds in homestead gardens and 7 owls were flushed in fields adiacent to a 4 kilometre injury from collisions with fences on farms, especially 100 Gospetand Holmes:Birds in the RichmondRi\er diskict Corella26(4)

Mar-Apr, indicates that dispersal across open country during earlier years (c/. Gosper 1992) but recording rates includeslargely treeless pastoral and croplands. have risen since mid-1980s suggesting increased abundance;dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands. Albert's Lyrebird Menura ulberti * Mangrove Gerygone G. levigaster Uncommon (moderatelycomrnon?); resident; recorded liequently Nightcap, Tweed and McPherson Ranges; also Uncommon (perhapsmoderately common?); resident; recordedRichmond Rge in Dome Mt area and Murray localized populations associated with mangrove Scrub (ToonumbarNP), along McKellar Rge south to communitieson Richmond (upstreamto Woodburn)and Boundary Ck (1983) and an isolatedpopulation in the Evansestuaries. Blackwall Rge from Uralba NR to Bagotville; rainforests Gerygone Gerygone and wet sclerophyllforests. Western fusca 'Glen l0/4/80; remnant trees in Rufous Scrub-bird Atichornis rufescens Vagrant; one Isle', tarmland. Uncommon; resident; many records aJongTweed Ra tiom Brindle Ck (e.g.regularly 1982-98)and ForestTops Red Wattlebird Anthochaera caruncuktla southto Bar Mountain, above750 metresltemperate and Uncommon;inegular (?) winter visitor;23 records(1- wei sclerophyll subtropical rainforests and contiguous 6 birds), extreme dates2715 8/9, recorded1980 81, 83- liSht gaps in lbrests, where groundcoverdense beneath 85, 89, 95, 98, 00; south-westernparts of districtnorth to broken tree canopies. Bentley, east to Wardell and Bundjalung NP; sclerophyll * Red-browed Treecreeper Climacteris erythrops forests, woodlands and heathlands. Uncommon; resident; pairs, small parties (up to 5): * Regent Honeyeater Xanthomlza phrygia distributedsparsely along watershedranges from Whian Scarce; irregular (?) winter visitor; one Royal Camp SF Whian SF (NightcapRge) to upperMyrtle Ck (Richmond 316178,three Gibberagee l217/81, one Ellangowan 2ll4192' Rge); feeding young Cherry Tree SF l2l90, Richmond up to three Myfile SF 617-ll9/94; two attending nest this Range NP l0/ 97; mainly wet sclerophyll fbrestsabove 200 site on last date disappearedby 3019/94;dry sclerophyll metles. forests. * Brown Tteecreeper C. picumnus * Bell Miner Mcn orina melanophrys Moderatelycommon (common?);resident; pairs or small Common (increasing);resident; catchment ranges and panies,encountered regularly and distributedwidely south foothills, until early 1980s restricted to north-west and west of Richmond River. (cl Gosper 1986,1992),north headwatersof Richmond River on north end Richmond to Dairy Flat and east to Tabbimoble (east of Pacific Range (south to Mt Brown ?) and McPherson Range east Highway); dry sclerophyll forests including remnants, upper Terrace Creek; apparent expansion south along particularly where Spotted Gums Corynbia henryi lC. to Rge suggestedby small populations found v.? i€glrrli dominant. Richmond CherryTree SF 1983,Gibberagee SF 1992,Mt Marsh SF Eastern Bristlebird Dastornis brschypterus 1998; expansion east along McPherson Range and to evidenced by subsequentappearance of Uncommon (but declining rapidly); resident;formerly colonies at severalsites visited pedodically over many west to Bald Knob and Long Creek (Findon Creek years, including areas north of Cougal, at Razorback Mt catchment),east to Mt Burrell (Nightcap Rge); decline (1993) and north of Barkers Vale at Tweed/McKellar noted during last decadeand now.estricted to few sites Rangesjunction (1996)l wet sclerophyllforests. in or near Border RangesNP (betweenRichmond Gap near Cougal and The Pinnacle); mainly grassy sclerophyll Mangrove Honeyeater Lichenostomusfasciogularis forests or woodlands,adjacent to rainforests (see historical and ecologicalreviews by Holmes 1989,1997). Scarce (?); resident; localized population Richmond estuary only, first loaated 5/83 on North Creek upstream + Speckled Warbler Chthonicoh s{rgiltatq from Old North Creek Road; mangroves (with Bruguiera Uncommon; resident; distributed sparselysouth and west gymnofthiza patches). of Richmond River, north to Unumgar SF, east to * Yellow-tufted Honey€ater t meLanops Bundock's Crossing and easternedge of Ellangowan SF (c/ Gosper 1986); recorded from 2l locations only; 37 records Uncommon; resident; two apparently isolated colonies in total (includes 14 from one site, see Gosper 1992); located,Box Spur north of Grevillia(1982) and Mt Marsh mostly pairs,rarely parties(up to 4)i building nestRoyal SF (1983-98); one bird Mongogane fl/41831'sclerophyll Camp SF l0/79; dry sclerophyll forestsincluding remnants forests. in semi-clearedcounfy, particularly where shrubby thickets * Black-chinned Honeyeater Melilhreplus gularis and logs present. * Weebilf Smicrornis brevirostris Moderately common; resident; mostly small groups, encountered regularly and distributed widely south and Moderately common (increasing?);resident; mostly pain west of Richmond River (Gosper 1986, 1992); dry or small parties (many records);widespread south and west sclerophyll forests, particularly areasdominated by Large- of Richmond River eastto New Italv: considereduncommon leavedSpotted Gum Corymbiahenryi. Decomber,2002 Gospet and Holmes: Birds in the RichmondRiver district 101

New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (3 including juvenile); dry sclerophyll forests, especially with sandstoneoutcrops. Uncommoniresident; small populationsin north-westof district above 250 metres at Border Ranges NP (Mt White-eared Monarch Monarcha leucotis Glennie,upper Findon Ck, Bald Knob); wet sclerophyll Moderately common (locally common?); resident or forests with Banksia patches. partial nomad (?); presentall months,most conspicuous * Tawny-crowned Honeyeater P melanops Oct-Jan; suspectedmovements (altitudinal ?) in winter e.g. l3 records Coolgardie, mainly Jul-Aug, but recorded common; resident; local Uncommon to moderately Lennox Head STW Jun and summer; singles or pairs, to Bundjalung NP, Evans distribution restricted usually probably most numerous in northern parts of Richmond NP; only records north of Head area and Broadwater Range (e.g. Simpkin's/Ryan's Creeks, recorded5 sites 25- Lake Ainsworth l'716186(J.Izzard) and RichmondRiver at 21llol94), extending in an arc east to Nightcap Rge, then fires in Broadwater NP; also Wardell 21110/86 after south to Blackwall Rge; mainly lowlands (<200 m)' in 1960s(Benham 1965); reportedLake Ainsworth area particularly foothills of catchment ranges, with few low coastalheathlands. locations up to 600 metres; subtropical and dry rainforests' Scarlel Robin Petroica mu icolor also isolatedremnants and regrowth dominatedby lantanai near coast in littoral rainforests and adjoining communities Scarce;irregular visitor (?); single males Dyraaba Creek (wet and swamp sclerophyll forests, mangroves). 6/71E0,Wiangaree Range (eastof Kilgra) 15/7/80;also two sites Mt Marsh SF 6/4/85, Ettrick 2716189and Braemar SF Satin Flycatcher Myingra cyanoleuca 6l'7194;birds singing at Mt Marsh SF indicate possible singles Myrtle SF l'3110179, nesting (upland habitat east of Mt Neville similar to Scarce;transient visitor; 1612/80and Rummery Park (Whian breeding areason Great Dividing Range farther west); dry Cherry Tree North SF forests. sclerophylllorests and woodlands. Whian SF) l3/4/86; sclerophyll Red-capped Robin P. goodenovii * Barred Cuckoo-shrike Coracina lineata Vagrant(?); one immaturenear Gay's Hill (Casino)l9- Uncommon; summer migrant; singles, pairs or small 27l'1186,ga'den and adjacent paddocks around abandoned flocks (usually<10 birds);mainly Oct-Mar (exreme dates farmhouse. l2llc.5l4); greater than 50 records, distributed widely in northern half of district; apparently visiting some locations Flame Robin P phoenicea annually e.g. Cherry Tree North SF (c/. Gosper 1992)' Scarce;irregular winter visitor; 8 brown-plumagedbirds Moore Park NR (regularly Jan-Apr, up to 30 birds 'Daalkool', at Myall Creekeast of Whiporie 13/5/80,single including juveniles); feeding dependentyoung Mallanganee males Casino 26/6 271'1186,616-10/1/8'71' paddocks in NR and Moore Park suggests breeding at or near these semi-clearedcountry and parklands. sites; dry and subtropical rainforests (also isolated fruiting wet sclerophyll * Ilooded Rabilr Melanodryas cucullata trees in cleared country), occasionally forests. Very uncommon;resident; mostly pairs,farnily groups * (ta) Gf Gosper 1992); localized within Bungawalbin White-winged Triller Lqlltge sueurii Creek catchmentwhere recordedmainly Myrtle SF (22 Scarce (or absent) to moderately common; irregular records 1977-2000); also GibberageeSF (twice), whiporie, summer migrant; occurs Sep-early Feb (one l715/80 Camira,Carwong and BraemarSFs (once);building nest Bundjalung NP only winter record), but mainly Oct-Nov Myrtle SF 9/79, 82 dry sclerophyllforests. suggestingmost birds in passageonly; many records some * Grey-crowned Babbler Pomqtostomustemporalis years(e.g. 1980-82,94) when widespreadin district,but none in others;breeding recorded 1976, 82, 87,9l Moderatelycommon (common?);resident; encountered few or in swamp woodland remnants (especially Melaleuca) near regularly and distibuted widely (cl Gosper 1986, 1992) in (semi-cleared farmlands, BungawalbinCreek catchmentand mid and lower Richmond water; open habitats country, forests and River floodplain, north to Iron Pot Creek (upstream fiom urban areas), heathlands,dry sclerophyll woodlands. Toonumbar Dam) and east to coast (Lennox Head STW Broadwater NP); swamp and dry sclerophyll forests and Masked Woodswallow Aftam us penonatus woodland (especially lowJying arcas) and remnant MeLaleucathickets in mainly cieared country. Vagrant; small parties (<14) associatedwith influx White-browed Woodswallow 9-10/94. * SpottedQuail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum White-browed Woodswallow A. superciliosus Uncommon; resident;occurs mainly along Richmond Range and adjacentstony ridges, south from Mummulgum- Uncommon; inegular transientvisitor; small numbers Hogarth Range area in an arc to Doubleduke SF; singles l2l82 south of Casino (also Cape Byron just beyond or pairs Royal Camp SF 2l/7179, west of Mummulgum district limits); major influx 9-10/94 when widespread in l217/80, Flogarth Range 15/8/98, near Mt Pikapene4/1/83, district; thousandsin areas south of Casino (8. Reineker): Doubleduke SF 2915/83, 1216/83, Mt Belmore SF mainly dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands and semi-cleared 29-3018/83 (4 sites), l317/00, Mt Marsh SF 7-814/85, pastoral lands but foraging over all habitats and reaching l417/98, Fuller SF l4l7/87, Tabbimoble SF 18/1/97 coastline. RichmondRiver district Corella26(4) 102 Gosper and Holmes: Birds in the

juveniles noted regularly from Feb; Casino and Little Woodswallow A. minor bidwilftr; Lismore urban areasand fringes, particularlyriverbanks top Vagrant (?); up to six Toonumbar SF 1214-716/80; and other rank grassy sltes, of piecipitous woodland slope with tall dead trees, European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis surroundedby wet sclerophyllforest. Vagrant(?); four, edge Moore Park NR, Old Grevillia Paradise Riflebird Ptiloris psrsdiseus 1l'//'.'19- one Doubtful Creek 6/?/80; weedy areas in Uncommonto moderatelycommon; resident; distributed farmlands. along the watershedranges widelv in larger tracts of forest cq leucosternus recorded White-backed Swallow Cheramoe lmosi remaiiing habitat is above 200 m) and records1972- iegularly (cf Gosper 1992); rainforests, occasionally Extinct(?); periodicresident or visitor;33 small isJlated-remnants (e g. 2 Moore Park NR l/7/79) and 87 (some ieiorcls most years) but none since; and Feb;.local contiguouswet or dry sclerophylllorests' numiers (l-5), all months except Dec breedins.not confirmed bul coastalnesting recorded near Raven Corvus coronodes Australian Graftonin lale 1g5Os-errlyl9?0s tD Cosper'E Wheeler); in mainly cleared Uneommonlresident {.')i recordedall monlhs:conlinuous uruutfu uUout creek and river banks but sparse (recorded about 15 sites) along the Richmond pastoril lands in western parts of district' Rance at headwatersof western tributaries of Richmond Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi Rivei from Sawpit Ck and Mt Lindesay SF south to Mount common Marsh SF; sclerophyll forests and woodlands Scarce1or absent,generillly lo moderalely (conspicuous)for briei periods in some years; irregular White-winged Chough Corcorax mektnorhamphos ium-"r .igtant and/or visitor; extreme dates 1418-5/2 Extinct (?); parties up to sevenCoombell lllOll1 ' Myrtle (mostly lati Sep-Dec)i singles or pairs, apparently 'Camira' 82' 94' SF 4/9/78. Amarina (near Leeville) l8/2/79, widespreadin districtin spring-earlysummer 1980' 25/9/82and Whrporie SF 2li l0/83:Iack of recentrecord" also recordedlg'7'7, 1 8, 81, 9 I (45+ records);sclerophyll suggestsspecies has disappeared from district(still present forests (edges), woodlands and farmlands' udfu-."ntupp., Clarencecatchment); dry sclerophyll forests Brown Songlark C. cruralis and woodlands. Scarce (or absent)to moderately common; fairly regular * Bushlark Miralra javanica Singing misrant (summer)or partialnomad. occurring mainly Sep- for Uncommon;irregular(?) summer visitor; recorded1980 Jan"butrecorded all months and occasionallypresent (one), but locally numerousand breeding 1982' 94' 98; oeriodsuD to l6 months (Gosperl98la); presenttn more early Oct-earlyFeb; croplands,rarely grazingpaddocks' iiran halfihe years covered by this study and widespread in district in someyears (e.g. 1975' 80' 82, 9l' 94) when Zebra Finch TaenioqJgiaguttata it probablybred; singles,pairs or looseaggregatlons up to- Extinct ('l)i recordedtbr a one year period Dobies Bight, 6 tirds; pastures,croplands' wet meadowsand edgesof ll5l'76(8),5/9176 (2), ll5l11 (15); also Namoona2317/79 seasonalswamps. (15+); absenceof recordssince 1970ssuggests specles has Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulnts disappearedfrom district;croplands. Moderately common (?); resident: recorded all months * Plum-head€d Finch Neochmia modesta at higher elevations on Nightcap, Tweed and Rrch-mond Scarce: visitor (?)l three Tatham 12/12/82; up to thre€ Rangls from 550 metresto I 100 metres(Holmes 1984); Casino STW 27/1413192, pait 16/12192;nest located mai;ly temperate and subtropical rainforests and 15/2/92,fledging young earllnMari rank grasslandsnear contiguouswet sclerophyllforests wetlanos. 'lhrush Russ€t-tailed Z. heinei * Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura Suttsta Moderately common (?); partial nomad (?); recorded Very uncommon;resident; present in low numbers(18 from intermediate and lower altitudes in Nightcap' records 1977-2000, l-7 birds) in Bungawalbin Creek McPhersonand Richmond Rangesbetween 250 and 750 catchment;recorded from Myrtle (Gosper 1992), Braenar' metres(mostly below 600 m, seeHolmes 1984);in winter Carwong, Ellangowanand BungawalbinSFs; immatures some birds appear in lowland rainforest remnants(c/' Braemar SF 6/7194, Carwong SF 4/6/00; dry sclerophyll Totterman 1999) and occasionally other moist pockets of forestsand woodlands. vegetationin mainly cleared country (e.g. one remainedfor in backyardon riverbankin Casino); * Nutmeg Mannikin I'onchura punctuhta 6 weeks7-8186 mainly subtropical and dry rainforests; both thrush species Uncommon (declining?);resident; small flocks (mostly recorded together regularly at Cambridge Plateau (550 m) <15, but up to 39) often in associationwith Chestnut- and Brindle Creek (750 m) in summer. breastedMannikin L. cast.tneothoraxand occasionally Common Myna A crdotheres tristis other finch species; numbers and local distribution documentedby Gosper (1976a); unchangedat least to 1990 Recent colonist (?); one Fairy }{rll2ll2l9'7 (B Reineker)' but not monitored subsequently;could not be located two south of Cedar Point 24-'27/1019'7 where carrying nest during searchesin 1999-00; nest building Nov-Apr in material to hole in dead tlee: also one same area l0-l l/00; urban parkland, especially in Bunya Pine Araucaria roadsidesand farmlands. 103 Dscember,2002 GosDetand Holmes:Birds in the Richmond River district

are sirnilar DISCUSSION species only) suggest that combined numbers to thoserecorded in the 1970s(Gosper 1981a, 1983) By Avifaunal clrcnge conrast, numbersof the Lesser Sand Plover during the late 1980sand 1990sdiminished to lessthan 30 birdscompared Declines in abundanceand local distribution were with 8G-110birds in the early 1970s.Declining numbers detectedin only a small number of bird species.Four have of this species have been reported for New South Wales during the last decade The White-winged not been located generally (A. Monis NSWBRs). The Ruddy Turnstonemay was not recordedaf'ter 1983 suggestingrt may Chough ilso haue declined slightly. Conversely,numbers of the have disappearedfrom east of the Richmond Range The 'Rare' Sanderlingmay be increasingwith countsof lessthan 30 Lipwing (lastrecorded 1983) was listedas Banded birds in the 1970sincreasing to at least 70 by the late list of the birds of the Richmond Valley on an earlier 1990s,with a report of up to 100 birds at Ballina in the (Anon and may neverhave occurred regularly in the 1973) 1997-98 summer (J. lzzard). district.Two others,the Zebra Finch (last observed1979) and White-backedSwallow ( 1987)may simply havebeen During the reporting period only one specieshas become irrup(ivecolonists during inlanddrought periods However' newly eitablished.The suddenupsurge in Little Corella theii disappearanceshould be noted and may reflect numbersduring the late l99os suggeststhat its arrival.has declineselsewhere. It is noteworthythat the Zebra Finch occurred naturilly and not as a result of gradual breeding and White-backed Swallow were formerly regularly fiom aviary escapes.Expansion by this inland speciesinto recorded and bred around Grafton (in the adjoining coastalareas parallels that by the CrestedPigeon Ocyphaps ClarenceValley) during the late 1950sto the early 1970s lophotes in the Richmond River district, being established (Anon. 196l; D. Gosper,E. Wheeler,pers. comm.) but had by the tote t94os (Frith 1982), and the Galah by the early also disappearedfrom that district by the rnid-1980s(E' l-970s as documented in this study. The Long-billed Wheeler,G. Clancy,pers. comm ). Both specieshave been Corella, recently recorded tbr the first time, also has the identifiedas declining in parts of the NSW sheep-wheat potentialto becomeestablished. belt (Robinson1994; N. Schraderin Reid 1999). Several other species have increased markedly in Local populations of the Eastern Bristlebird have abundancesince the 1970s.Habitat changesare probably declined rapidly and the species is now Critically responsiblein all instances Even so, thesemay be difficult Endangeredin northern New South Wales (see Holmes to quantity. 1997),as is the Double-eyedFig-Panot (racecoxezi see and breeding colonies have Holmes 1990).Both are the subjectof RecoveryPlans Cattle Egret numbers continued to expand throughout the reporting period Further investigation of the state forests of the Although numerous in the district by the early 1970s BungawalbinCreek catchment(particularly Myrtle, Royal (Gosper l98la) no local breeding colonies had been Camp, Carwong, Braemar,Ellangowan, Gibberagee and establishedand its local distributionwas restrictedto the Crmirat may be wananledfor conservalionpurposes. gi\en river floodplain. By the early 1980s local breedinghad the presenceof coastalpopulations of an anay of nationally commenced and it progressivelyexploited other open declining bird species.Observations reported here and habitats.It is now commonto abundant. those of Johnson-Walker(2001) indicate the regular autumn winter occurrence of Regent Honeyeaters in this The reappearanceof the Magpie Goose during the 1990s catchment.Populations of the Hooded Robin, Diamond and successfulnesting at Casino in 1999 suggeststhe Firetail, Speckled Warbler, Black-chinned Honeyeater, speciesis recolonising the district after an absenceof Brown Treecreeperand probably the Emu and Grey- decades.Its recent occunence in the district is apparently crownedBabbler appearto have sustainedtheir numbers part of a broader movement into parts of i1s former range throughout the period covered by this rePort.However, like in New SouthWales (Clancy 1985). woodlands and open forests in southern many birds of The Bell Miner appearsto have extended its range (see and Crowley 2000), they remain at Australia Garnett recently toward the coast in far north-eastemNew South The HoodedRobin and Diamond 'rare' risk of local extinction. Wales. Up to the early 1970s it was regarded as in Firetailappear particr-rlarly susceptible as their populations the Richmond River district (Anon. 1973) and was are the most localizedand none of their known sites is probably confined to the junction of the McPherson and currentlyreserved. The open forestsof this area,a coastal Richmond Ranges, north-west of Grevillia. It has outlier of the temperate woodlands of south-eastern subsequently spread east along the McPherson Range to Australia,would appearto be critical for thesespecies in the headwatersof the Tweed River catchment. the Richmondcatchment and may be significantfor some on a statebasis (c/Traill and Duncan2000). Although not quantified, observationsover the reporting period suggestthat populations of most pigeons associated As in other coastallocations. habitat loss and increased with rainforest are increasing. This is particularly evident human activity on the coastline and estuary have affected from the numbers and local distribution of the Wompoo the breeding successof local populations of the Osprey, Fruit-Dove (and some common species including the Pied Oystercatcher,Litde Tern and Red-cappedPlover. The Wonga lzucosarcia melanoleucaand White-headed first two are the subject of current local Recovery Plans. Pigeon Prgeon Colurnba leucomela).It may apply also to the Although no recent counts were obtained for the total SuperbFruit-Dove and at least to portions of the population numbers of migratory shorebirdsusing the Richmond of the Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove. It is plausible that this estuary, incomplete data (i.e. counts of some less common process is attributable to a significant decline in shooting, 't04 Gosper and Holmes: Birds in the RichmondRi\€r district Corella 26(4) the gradual recovery of habitat disturbed by past logging, Gosperel al. (1983) concludedthat maximum numbers and the increasingavailability and maturationof regrowth of waterbirds, particularly ducks, are present on the coast forest, including that dominated by Camphor Laurel, in the from autumn to late winter, with minimum numbersduing lowlands. Regrowth is especially important to such species spring and summer.This is coincidentwith the period of as the Rose-crownedFruitDove and Noisy Pitta, and is maximum habitatavailability in north-eastemNew South riding the local expansionof somemore common species Wales (see Gosper 1981a).The patternsol occurrence such as the Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathami into reported here for waterbirds that breed primarily in inland places where they have no doubt been absent since these Australiagenerally support those findings. Similar trends areaswere cleared. were also observedfor ulher more common speciessuch as Grey Teal Anas gracilis, Australasian Shoveler A No new introduced specieshas becomeestablished in the rhynchotis, Pink-eared Duck Malalacorhynchus district since 1970 althoughthe Common Myna was first membranaceus,Straw-neckedlbis Threskiornis spiticoLlis recorded in 1997 and is likely to become resident Nutmeg and Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (D. Mannikin numbers may have declined, both in the Gosper, unpubl. data). Richmondand Clarencedistricts (G. Clancy,pers comm.) relation to local rainfall and The specieshas not expanded its range (c/ Gosper 1976a) However,there is not a clear years waterbird numberswere low during the reporting period and has been inftequently noted flooding alone. ln some was extensive in recent years. lt is noteworthy that the European during periods when district wetland habitat waterbirds Goldtinch, recorded only in winter 1979 and 1980, has not It was also apparent that increasednumbers of yea$ following periods become established.Goldfinches were formerly locally appeared locally in one or more breeding common around Grafton in the late 1950s and 1960s, of major flooding (and associatedwaterbird as occurredln 1973-14. dispersing into surroundingfarmland in winter (Anon events)in inland Australia,such larger than 196l; D. Gosper).However, numbers had declinedby the During periods of widespread inland drought local Iate 1970sand the specieslast recordedin the mid-1980s usual numbers of some species appeared and when (G. Clancy,pers. comm.). conditions remainedfavourable (e.g. 1982, 1994),remained in the districtinto springand early summer. inJluences Seasornl and clinatic The fundarnentalvalue of long-termstudies in establishing Occunenceof some land birds in the RichmondRiver local statusis shown quite clearly by recordsof the Freckled district was most likely related to drought conditions, since Duck, Blue-billed Duck and Magpie Goose. All were their appearanceor increasednumbers coincided with unrecordedduring the 1970sdespite intensive surveyingof periods of protracted drought in inland New South Wales. wetlands (Gosper l98la) but subsequentlyappeared Significantinfluxes by a suite of typically inland spring periodically, with the last two also found to breed locally. migrants comprising White-winged Triller, Rufous Songlark,Brown Songlark,Singing Bushlark, and in some ACKNOWLEDGMENTS yearsWhite-browed and MaskedWoodswallows, together Over the yearsmany peoplein the distlict, somementioned in the with higher than usual numbersof more common species text, haveshared their observationswith us. In particularwe wish to suchas PallidCuckoo Caculuspal/idas occurred in spring record the companionshipof John Izzard with whom we shared of 1980, 1982, l99l and 1994.Drought periodsin each numerouslield tnps and spendmany a long hour in lively discussioD. Had it not beenfor his untimclypassing in 1998,JohD would have of these years included the spring months of August- contributedmuch to this paper.Assistance with the preparatiooof the October and affected neighbouring tableland and westem paperwas received from Tony Tadrosof New Soulhwales Agriculture slopespastoral districts. However, in spring and summer who provideddrought declaration informalion, Eric Wheelerand Greg of 1982 local conditionswere relativelyequable and the Clancy who respondedto requestsregarding the statusof birds in the district experiencedan irruption of quail Cota'rer spp. and Grafton area and Carl Gosper who assistedwith referencesand commentedon a draft. We are gralefulto all thesepeople. Turnix spp. as well, perhapsin responseto widespread droughtelsewhere. REFERENCES Several non-migratory(nomadic ?) speciestypical of Anon.(1961). 'Checklist of the Birds of the ClarerceValley.' (Clarence inland northern New South Wales (including the tablelands ValleyField Naturalists'Club: Grafton.) 'Birds and western slopes) were recorded in the district in small Anon. (1973). of the Richmond Valley.' (Richmond Valley Naturalists' numbers during autumn-winter(April-August) of some Club: Lismore-) Baxter,G. S. (1994).The locationand status of egretcolonies in coastal years, notably 1980 and 1994. Occurrences of the New SouthWales. Enu 94t 255262. Turquoise Parrot, Diamond Dove, Western Gerygone and Benham,J. H. (1965).The Lennox HeadCamp, 1964.GouLd l*ague Little Woodswallow coincided with severeand widespread Notes31: 32-34. autumn-winterdrought. The prcsenceof Flame Robin, Red- Campion,C. B. (1963). Bandingthe Little Tem. Bid Bandet 1t 125-132. Clancy,G. P (1985).Recent records of Magpie Ceesein New South cappedRobin and Scarlet Robin at lowland sites corelated Wafes-A!s/. Birds 19l.4145. with dry conditions locally and in adjoining Rural Lands Debus,S. J. S. (1992).A surv€yof diurnal nptors ir trorth-eastNew 'l'7. districts of Tenterfield,Inverell and Glen Innes. SouthWales. 198?-1990. A!rr. Bitdr 25t 6'l Debus,S. J. S. (1997)-The Barking Owl io New SouthWales. A,!rt. The Richmond River floodplain continues to be an Ar,'dr30: 53-80. important refuge for waterbirdsdispersing from inland Debus,S. J. S.,Maciejewski, S. E. andMcAllan, L A. w' (1998).The south-easternAustralia, despite the dramatic reduction in GrassOwl in New SouthWales. Aarl. Bitds 3lt 2945. Fnth, H. J- (1982).'Pigeons and Dovesof Australia.'(Rigby: Adelaide.) the extentof wetlandsduring the 1950sand 1960s,mostly Gamett,S- T. and Crowley.G. (2000).'The Action Plan for AustlaliaD by drainage for flood mitigation (cood ck 1970). Birds 2000.'(Environment Australia: Canbena.) December,2002 Gosper and Holmes: Birds in the Richmond River district '|05

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(1995).1993 New SouthWales Annual Gospcr,D. G. (1992).Forest bird communities of the RichmondRiver Bird Report.Ar.1/. aifds 28: 8l-128. district,New SourhWales. Corclla l6t 18-88. Morrjs,A. K., Mccill, A. R. andHolmes, G. (1981).'Handlist of Birds Gosper,D. G. (1994).Breeding ofthe SwampHarrier on fte NSW no(h in New SouthWales.' (NSW Field OrnithologistsClubi Sydncy.) coasl.Al?.rr. Blrdr 27: l5l. Muranyi,M. and Baverstock.P (1996).Th€ distributionand habila( Gosper,I). C. (1995).Notcs on the activitiesof GroundParrols in preferenceof the Bush-henArndrrrornlr .,llvd.da in north'eastcmNew no(hern NSW Autit.Bitds Zst 5741. SouthWales. En 9C 245-28'l. Gosper,D. G., tsriggs,S. V. and Carpenter,S. M. (1983).Waterbird Reid.J. R. w (1999).'Threatened and declining birds in the New Soulh dynamicsin the RichmondValley. Nelv SouthWales. 19'74-'71. Aurt Walcs ShcepWheat Belt: l. Diagnosis,characteristics and wildl. 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(1997)Report on populalionmonitoring counts 1996 and Ncw SouthWafcs. A&rt. Rnd WatLhetl8t 19-25. t99'7.The Stilt 3lt 5642. Tonenrnn,B., Clancy,G. and Moffatt,R. (1999).First record of a South Harris,K. (1999)Reporl on populationmonitoring counts 1998. Ile hland PiedOystercatcher in Australia.At{{I. Bird worchertE: 153-159. Sri, 34: l-64. Traill, B. J. and Duncan,S. (2000). 'Statusof birdsin the New South Holmes,G. (1977).Ecology of pclrelsin mid-northernNew South Walestemperate woodiands region.' (Consultancy report to the NSW W^les.A./a.\ian Seabiftl Gp NewtiL.St 20-35. NatioralParks & Wildlife Service.Australian WoodlanG Conservancy, Holmes,G. (1981a).Uoequal sex ratios among seabirds.fouod beach, Chillern,Victoria.) washed.ltru 8lr 44--47. Wood,K. A. (1994).Drought-related movements of Whitebrowed 'Management Holmes,G. (l98lb). plan for MoorePark, Richmond Woodswallowsin New SouthWales. Au . Bids 28:42-53. River,New SouthWales.' (Report to NPWS NSW,Sydney.) Holmes.G. (1984).Ecologicai evidence for distinguishingtwo species Th* paper is dedicded to the memott of n! wife Joan Gosper (1917- of groundlhrushesio centraleastern Australia. Arrr. Bid Watcher 2001).Her love,loyalt! afld supportof 32 leas enableilme to purcue l0:164 166. m! pqssion bi s and wild pldces, and 'Avifiuna Jor to share these erpeiences Holmes,G. (1987). of the Big ScrubRegion.' (ANPWS, wilh m! famil!. Ca0berr&/NPWSNSW Sydney.) DennisGosDer Holmes,G. (198E). Shorebirdsof lhe RichmondRiver esruary.'(Clenn Holmesand Associates, Report to Ballina ShireCouncil.) 'Eastem Holmes,C. (1989). Bristlebird:draft speciesmanagement plan for northempopulations.' (NPWS, Brisbane/ NPWS, Sydney.)