NORFOLK ISLAND BIRDWATCHING EXPERIENCE

Keen birdwatchers Eric and Margaret Wheeler enjoyed a birdwatching experience in Norfolk Island last November.

Last November Margaret and I attended Norfolk Island Week which was hosted by local identity Margaret Christian, author of "Norfolk Island - the Birds ", and Derek Ball, CEO of conservation organisation "Wildmob".

The Birdwatchers                              Photo: E Wheeler

During the week the 50 birdwatchers roamed the tracks in the rainforest, attended talks on the island's wildlife, visited seabird colonies, went on bus tours and boat excursions and enjoyed social occasions.

Norfolk Island, like most islands, has a sorry history of bird extinctions but much work is being done now to prevent further losses. The many sightings we had of Norfolk Parakeets were a sign of a conservation success. This once common parrot was reduced to fewer than 15 pairs in the 1980s but now there are about 250 birds. This is mainly due to protection of nesting hollows from cats, rats and introduced Crimson Rosellas.  During this year it is planned to establish another population of Norfolk Parakeets on nearby Phillip Island on which a massive re-vegetation program has occurred.  Another bird coming back from near extinction is the Norfolk Island Morepork (Boobook) which is now up to 32 birds.

Norfolk Parakeet           Photo: E Wheeler

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific Robin    Photo: E Wheeler

 

In the forest we saw Norfolk Island species and sub-species such as Norfolk Parakeet, Norfolk Island Gerygone, Pacific Robin, Slender-billed White-eye, Emerald Dove, Sacred Kingfisher, Grey Fantail and Golden Whistler in which the male and female are brown but with golden underparts.

Golden Whistler     Photo: E Wheeler

Seabirds included Great Frigatebird, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy and Grey Ternlet. Nesting in the grounds of Margaret Christian's house were numbers of Masked Booby, Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Black-winged Petrel.  For this to occur, she and her neighbours are diligent in rat and cat eradication.

Black Noddy          Photo: E Wheeler

Black-winged Petrel        Photo: E Wheeler

We stayed in the very comfortable Endeavour Lodge where, besides lovely ocean views, we overlooked a breeding colony of White Tern and Black Noddy in the Norfolk Pines.

Postscript-

Further information on the plan to re-locate 30 fledgling Tasman Parakeets (Norfolk Is. Green Parrots) to Phillip Island to establish another population of this endangered bird:   A crowd-funding appeal has raised $86259 from 699 donors in 3 weeks to finance this ambitious project. We will up to date on the progress of the re-location.

                    - Eric and Margaret Wheeler

THE WHEELERS' BIRDS

Eric and Margaret Wheeler are keen bird watchers and travel extensively in Australia looking for new bird species.  A trip to Tasmania earlier in the year gave them the opportunity to see and photograph some of the local species as well as some birds which can be seen in other parts of Australia.

 Birds Photographed during the Tasmanian Trip - A Selection

Yellow-throated Honeyeater

Tasmanian Native Hen

Scarlet Robin

Orange-bellied Parrot

Blue-winged Parrot

Striated Field-wren

Freckled Duck, Chestnut Teal, Gould's Lag

White-chinned Petrel, Shy Albatross

MAUREEN'S BIRD PHOTOS

For a selection of photos taken by keen Clarence birdwatcher Maureen O'Shea see  the photo page on this blog.

NSW 2015 TWITCHATHON - CLARENCE VALLEY'S BLACK-NECKED STALKERS' REPORT

There were 32 teams (104 participants) from around the state participating. The Clarence Valley Twitchathon team, the Black-necked Stalkers, began their bird quest at Warialda west of  Inverell and finished on the Clarence Valley coastline. 

For general information on the Twitchathon see our earlier post: 2015 Twitchathon

The local Twitchathon team, the Black-necked Stalkers, supported by the Clarence Valley Birdos, once again competed in the NSW Twitchathon.  The aim of the Twitchathon is for teams to see or hear as many bird species as they can in a twenty four hour period.  Teams also gather sponsorship money to assist with bird research and conservation.  The funds raised this year will be going towards the Powerful Owl project in the Sydney area.

The Black-necked Stalkers (Greg Clancy, Gary Eggins and Russell Jago) started their 2015 attempt at Warialda, as they have done in the past two years.   Unlike the past two years the weather was cooler and cloudy.  Before leaving Warialda the team had notched up 60 species, including such gems as the Plum-headed Finch, Spotted Bowerbird and Pale-headed Rosella.  By the time the team reached the Gibraltar Range and had a four hour break the tally was 107 including the nocturnal Barking Owl, Sooty Owl, Barn Owl, Southern Boobook and Tawny Frogmouth.

The next morning the rainforest and granite country species were searched for and most were found, including the Superb Lyrebird, Paradise Riflebird, Green Catbird and Southern Emu-wren making the tally 148 by the time the team reached the bottom of the Gibraltar Range, where a Grey Goshawk flew across the road and perched in a roadside tree.  The team moved on to Grafton where they saw the recently fledged Brahminy Kite and then headed out to Coutts Crossing.  The Marsh Sandpipers were still present and a number of other waterbirds were ticked off.  Driving through Southgate and down to Lawrence interesting species such as the Azure Kingfisher, Eastern Osprey and Brolga were added.  The expected Freckled Ducks at Lawrence were nowhere to be seen and the terns on the local sandbar were also absent.  After all is was a Twitchathon day when species regularly occurring in an area play hard to get.

The coastal areas at Brooms Head and Sandon provided sightings of migratory shorebirds and the rainforest at Iluka was expected to add a number of species.  The rainforest was disappointing only allowing the Regent Bowerbird and Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove to be ticked while other regular species were sheltering from the wind and heat. 

The Twitchathon ended at 4 pm on Sunday at which time the team had recorded 218 different species, 4 more than in 2014 and 3 less than in 2013.  The team members all agreed that it was a very enjoyable 24 hours and that they had observed a great array of beautiful and in some cases, rare birds.

Eighteen threatened species were recorded (Black-necked Stork, Eastern Osprey, Brolga, Comb-crested Jacana, Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher, Greater Sand Plover, Little Tern, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Little Lorikeet, Barking Owl, Sooty Owl, Rufous Scrub-bird, Brown Treecreeper, Hooded Robin, Grey-crowned Babbler, Paradise Riflebird).  

- Greg Clancy

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2015 TWITCHATHON

Birdlife Australia’s NSW and ACT annual Twitchathon will be held over the weekend of 31 October and 1 November to raise funds for the organisation.

Teams of birdwatchers competing in the Twitchathon have 24 hours to find as many species as possible. They have obtained sponsorships from friends, families and colleagues.  The Twitchathon has become  very competitive with teams not just competing for the highest score, but for the most dollars raised prizes or even the Lucky Twitcher’s Prize.

The funds raised in the Twitchathon are for projects related to the study of and conservation of native birds and their habitats.  Some of the projects assisted in the past have been:

• ·         Hunter Shorebird Roost Site Protection Project

• ·         Murray Valley Bush Stone-Curlew Captive Release Project

• ·         Greater Sydney Powerful Owl Survey Project

In the last three years approximately $25,000 was raised each year.

This year’s Twitchathon will provide funds to continue the support given in 2011 and 2013 to the Powerful Owl Project.  This will enable the project to be extended for a sixth breeding season.

The Powerful Owl Project uses citizen science and a team of volunteers to monitor the threatened Powerful Owls (Ninox strenua) in Greater Sydney providing detailed information on their breeding success, habitat use, mortality rates and diets.  The information gained is used to determine the species’ conservation status and assist in developing management recommendations for their continued survival in urban areas. 

For more information on this project see:  Powerful Owl Project Report.

The Clarence Valley’s Twitchathon team is the Black-necked Stalkers.

Anyone wishing to sponsor this team can contact Dr Greg Clancy at gclancy@tpg.com.au