Vol. 7 June, 1978 No.6 Annotated List of Birds Observed at Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, during October, 1974. By Joseph M. Forshaw, Research Associate, Department of Ornithology, Australian Museum, Sydney, N.S.W. and Kerry A. Muller, Curator of Birds, Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney, N.S.W. SUMMARY Birds observed at Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula, Queens­ land during October 1974, are listed and brief field notes given for each species. The authors visited the district to study two species of parrots so their observations were confined mainly to a stand of riverine rainforest where the parrots occurred. The records complement a comprehensive list of observations made by members of the Bird Observers' Club during a campout at Iron Range in early August 1970. The authors point out that in October 1974 some species were nesting and some summer migrants were arriving despite abnormally dry conditions, which appeared to have brought about unusual habitat associations on the part of some birds. INTRODUCTION In October 1974, we visited Iron Range, eastern Cape York Peninsula, to observe patterns of daily activity in the Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi and Marshall's Fig Parrot Psittaculi­ rostris diophthalma, and to capture living specimens of these species for further study at Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney. Results of this work will be published elsewhere. Iron Range refers to a district encompassing the Claudie River drainage on eastern Cape York Peninsula and centred on Iron Range Airfield at l2°47'S 143 a19'E (see Figure I). To the north of the airfield is a ridge of high grade iron ore, the actual Iron Range, which gives the district its name. Johnson and Hooper (1973) describe the district and refer to watercourses, roads, seaboard localities and the airfield, so that information is not repeated here. Suffice to emphasize that the Claudie River, in­ cluding the West and Middle Claudie Rivers and Scrubby Creek, and the Portland Roads-Airfield road are important topographical 172 FORSHAW & MULLER [ B1rd Watcher features; the river system supports tracts of rainforest and the road passes through this forest thereby producing forest-edge habitat. Stanton (1976) draws attention to the extremely important conservation significance of the Iron Range district by pointing out th2,t it contains the largest remaining tract of lowland tropical rainforest to be found in Australia, and occurring there are a large number of plants and animals not recorded elsewhere in Australia. He comments that apart from its scientific interest the district is aesthetically pleasing with its colourful forests and wildlife, its abundant freshwater streams, and its wild and beautiful coastline. Faunal affinities with New Guinea are evidenced by the presence of such spectacular species as the Green Python Chondro­ python viridis, Bare-backed Fruit Bat Dnbsonia moluccense, two species of Cuscus, Phalanger maculatus and P. orienta/is, the Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus, and the Magnificent Rifle­ bird Ptiloris magnificus. A similar theme is followed by Kikkawa ( 197 6) when he comments that Iron Range, with its surrounding rainforest areas, has become one of the best known birding sites on Cape York Peninsula, attracting both Australian and overseas ornithologists. The most recent comprehensive bird list from the district is that compiled by Johnson and Hooper (loc.cit.) from records made by members of the Bird Observers Club during a campout at Iron Range between August 2 and 19, 1970. Supplementary records are listed by Roberts ( 197 5). Our records were made in October, when nesting and migration had commenced, so they complement the records compiled by Johnson and Hooper. Furthermore our activities were centred on a particular area of rainforest with its adjoining open woodland, thus affording us the opportunity for consistent and close observation on resident birds, especially parrots. Few opportunities for observation outside our study area are almost certainly responsible for the lack of records of species known to occur widely in the district, e.g. swamp birds and the Fawnbreasted Bowerbird Chlamydera cerviniventris. CLIMATE The markedly differentiated wet and dry seasons are well demonstrated by rainfall figures listed in Table I. The wet season extends from December through to April, with March being the month of highest rainfall and number of raindays. The dry season is from May to November, with September being the month of lowest rainfall though it averages significantly more raindays than does August or October. Table II shows that 1974 was a dry year with all months registering below average rainfall. The 1974 dry season was particularly dry with total rainfall for April to November being 404 mm, compared with an average total of 617 mm for these months. Dry conditions were most evident during our stay and were, we suspect, responsible for some unusual habitat associations, e.g. habitat preferences of the two Philemon species. Table I. Mean daily temperatures (degrees Celsius) and mean monthly rainfall ( millimetres) recorded at Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula, for the period January 1956 to December 1974. Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Mean daily maximum temperature 31.3 30.8 30.1 29.3 28.3 27.2 26.7 27.8 28.7 30.0 31.6 32.0 Mean daily minimum temperature 23.4 23.2 23.4 22.0 21.5 19.8 18.4 19.0 19.6 20.2 22.0 23.1 Mean monthly rainfall 374 386 466 289 113 67 39 18 14 17 60 206 Mean number of raindays 22 22 27 22 17 17 13 8 13 8 17 16 Table II. Daily temperatures (degrees Celcius) and monthly rainfall (millimetres) recorded at Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula, during 1974. ,. Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. ' 1974 1974 1974 1974· 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1975 Mean daily maximum temperature 31.6 30.9 30.9 29.7 28.9 26.8 27.6 29.6 30.3 32.9 31.6 31.8 Highest daily temperature 33.7 33.6 33.9 31.0 30.0 28.1 29.7 30.2 35.2 31.7 38.6 34.4 34.8 M.e~n daily mmtmum temperature 23.6 23.1 23.3 22.3 21.2 17.8 19.5 22.0 22.3 22.3 21.8 22.7 Lowest daily temperature 22.6 21.4 21.3 18.7 16.0 11.3 13.2 13.5 17.5 16.5 19.4 19.0 18.9 Total rainfall for month 298 335 403 198 81 20 7 9 20 13 56 ; 180 201 Number of raindays 30 21 27 18 24 9 4 6 8 7 10 7 18 June Birds listed for Iron Range, Qld. 175 1978 ] In contrast to the seasonal change in rainfall, temperatures vary little throughout the year. The mean daily maximum tem­ perature ranges from 26.7oC in July to 32.0oc in December, while the mean daily minimum range from 18.4°C in July to 23.4oC in January. VEGETATION COMMUNITIES As pointed out by Brass (1953), Iron Range is essentially a rainforest locality and its zoological importance lies in the extent of riverine rainforest on the Claudie and Lockhart Rivers flood­ plain. This is a high canopy rainforest with spectacularly tall trees, some with enormously developed buttresses and their higher branches festooned with orchids and epiphytes. Prominent canopy trees are Nauclea, Castanospermum, Terminalia and giant Ficus. Common lesser canopy trees include Panax, Arythera, Myristica insipida, Garcinia, Ganophyllum falcatum, Bletharocarya involu­ crigera and Ficus. Undergrowth is generally sparse, but along the edges of clearings or where a tall forest tree has fallen there is a scrubby growth of tall shrubs and thin treelets such as Lunasia amara, Croton, Rhyticaryum and Ficus. In some low-lying, wetter areas the undergrowth comprises dense thickets of palms Gulubia costata or bamboo Arundinaria cobonii, with a few Pandanus trees and almost impenetrable entanglements of lawyer vine Calamus spp. There appear to be some tree species, notably Ficus hispida, which are confined to the edge zone and, as already noted by earlier observers, the ecotone between rainforest and open woodland is extremely rich in birdlife, contrasting strikingly with the interior of the rainforest where few birds occur. On higher ground rainforests occur in gullies and on sheltered slopes of ridges. These rainforests exhibit a good diversity of tree species, but are marked by the virtual absence of tall canopy trees with epiphyte-covered higher branches. There is little herba­ ceous undergrowth, and open woodland species, such as Acacia aulacocarpa and Eucalyptus spp., often penetrate well in as lower storey trees. In more sheltered gullies and on swampy flats Pan­ danus is widespread, sometimes forming extensive pure stands which are visited regularly by Palm Cockatoos in search of ripe­ ning fruits. Gallery rainforest, often only a few trees in width, borders seasonal watercourses traversing open woodland and these are important flyways for rainforest birds, including megapodes. Here also the forest edge is rich in l;>irdlife and there are some important food trees, especially Parinarium nonda and Ficus opposita. Second-growth rainforest occurs along roadsides or where primary forest has been disturbed, and is characterized by a predominance of quick-growing small trees, including species of Commersonia, Macaranga and Breynia, as well as wild bananas Musa banksii and stinging trees Laportea sp. Open woodland is, in total area, the dominant vegetation community in the Iron Range district. There are several types of 176 FORSHAW & MULLER Bird [ Watcher open woodland, nearly all characterised by a dense ground cover of tall blady grass Imperata cylindrica and by the predominance of Eucalyptus or Melaleuca trees.