Chifley Chronicle #14

Crimson Rosella at one of my feeders
August 2008

Not a lot happening this month. Several species of parrot have been visiting whenever I put out sufficient seed for them in the feeders! There is always a bunch of Sulphur-crested Cockatoo that spot a free feed almost immediately. Uncanny! They are dominant bullies by virtue of their bulk but otherwise I have a group of Crimson Rosella with splendid coloured adults and a group of young in transition plumage between the green of the immature and the full red and blue of the adult. Maybe these are a family party with late young from last season still associating with parents.

Crimson Rosella in transition plumage

A small band of about half a dozen Gang-gang call in some days, usually late in the afternoon. A pair of Eastern Rosella in spectacular plumage zip through hastily now and again. Their stay at the feeder is short. They rarely seem to hang about for long and appear to be more nervous than the Crimsons. Also regular at the feeders are several King Parrot - maybe up to a 8-10 individuals. Again, their plumage at this time is immaculate. A few Galah occasionally visit the feeders, although like most of the species mentioned so far they do visit other neighbouring gardens and Galah, especially, can be abundant at times ( I mean up to 50+!)only a couple of blocks away from my place.

Male Gang-gang

Female Gang-gang

Two Crested Pigeon seem to be nesting somewhere close by but I haven't discovered exactly where. I take it they are nesting because a bird is often calling from an elevated spot in my garden; usually high up in my Tulip Tree. Much the same could be said about Magpies; they are now chortling away before dawn which is a sure sign that breeding is underway but I have not yet spotted them nest building. I may have missed it and if so then I am not aware of where they have their nest. Mention of spotting, it seems that the Spotted Pardalote that was often so noisy last month has gone. At least I have not heard it of late. By the end of the month at least one White-eared Honeyeater was seen in the garden on several days. Passing through no doubt. As was the occasional Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. Pied Currawong do not now seem to have a territory that includes my plot but on several days the typical wandering mob of noisy birds has been in the area or passing through the garden constantly calling "see-you" along with other typical flock calls. Red Wattlebirds must be nest building or about to do so because they are becoming more aggressive, calling a lot - including loud duetting and giving regular pre-dawn calls at least during this last week or so. Other notable species include the regular occurrence of some Weebills in the front garden area and a party of Superb Fairy-wrens that visit often. Laughing Kookaburra call nearby most mornings early in the day but have not visited for a while. That just about sums it up.
No Magpie-larks, Eastern Spinebills, Silvereyes or whistlers this month that I can recall and the Australian Ravens never put in appearances these days. It's a long time since I saw a Blackbird in the garden and none are singing at present. My last observation must have been back in June or possibly in early July. House Sparrow were often in the garden last month but again this species seems to have passed on. They often occurred in numbers up to 15-20 on some days, particularly in the back garden, but have apparently abandoned my place of late. It is a long time since I last saw White-winged Chough in the garden and Noisy Miner have not been seen of late despite being regular visitors a month or so ago whenever they did their rounds of the district. They would seem to relish a wash in the bird-bath whenever they came into D'Arcy Place. Indian Myna are now infrequently seen in the garden - no doubt because their numbers have been reduced locally by the concerted efforts of a Canberra based group dedicated to their eradication. The local anti-Myna brigade work under the title of CIMAG - Canberra Indian Myna Action Group and I believe they have removed more than 20 000 birds over the last two years! They have been trapping them in the belief that they can be eradicated from the city. The Indian Myna is viewed as an unwanted introduced species and therefore a pest. It is supposed to compete for nest holes with other less able native hole nesting species. In the bigger picture I am unsure of this claim and I am not sure their persecution has any useful ecological value in the long term. About as useful as trying to eradicate Common Starling by the same method. Starlings also use holes! All too late to have any real chance of success anyway and without doubt recolonization will follow any down turn in the local population. Indian Mynas are not being targeted nationally and are now so widespread that this approach is obviously doomed. It seems about as pointless as trying to eradicate European Rabbits also by trapping.

Some of the gang of thieves! Cocky Sulphur-crested Cockatoos