Official Newsletter of Illawarra Birders Inc. No. 031 April 2015

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1 Official Newsletter of Illawarra Birders Inc. No. 031 April 2015 How good are you at relational-matching tasks? Could you keep up with a crow? Swift Parrot decline accelerating Wanted: Swamphen body parts Plus news, trip reports, sightings and more Illawarra Birding April

2 PRESIDENT S REPORT What a great start to 2015 with birds like White-rumped Sandpiper, Little Bittern, Black Bittern, Blue-billed Duck and Freckled Ducks being observed by our members in our local area. No wonder the Illawarra is a mecca for Birders we are so lucky to be able to bird in such a beautiful environment. From the coast to the rainforest, all around us we can find birds. Our club has also started the year with some great outings Budderoo Fire Trail, Tallawarrra Ash Ponds, Spotlighting at Darkes Forest and a weekend in the Hawkesbury just to name a few. Our meetings so far this year have been well attended with great talks and excellent photos given by our members. This is only the start, however your committee has planned more great activities and speakers in the coming months. At our April meeting Rowena Morris will be talking about the work that National Parks are doing on Five Islands. Then on the weekend of the 18/19 April Stephen Debus one of the leading authorities on Australian birds of prey will be giving a two day seminar and field trip on raptors and their identification. There will be a small charge for this so that the club can recover the cost of hall hire, accommodation and transport, but believe me this will be a weekend not to be missed. The club is continuing the birdlife surveys of several sites around the Illawarra for our local Councils and for the Wollongong Botanic Garden. Michelle Rower has been working hard on conservation issues both Local and State and if you go to our webpage you can view all of the letters that have been sent out on behalf of our club. We have donated one hundred dollars money that has been raised from our monthly raffles to the Friends of Tumblebee, a group fighting to protect Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater habitat in the Hunter region. I hope that all of our members are enjoying our walks and meetings. I would love your feedback on how the club is performing; you can me or catch up with me at our next meeting I m looking forward to hearing from you. Happy Birding, Terrill Cover Photo: Emerald Dove by Paul Lynch. This bird was sighted by Paul on 22nd March 2015 at Tallawarra Lands on the south side of Yallah Bay Road. The Emerald Dove is rarely observed in the Illawarra. Whereas prior to 1970 it was regarded as moderately common in the area, since then it has declined markedly. Cape York Trip 2016 The Cape York trip has been confirmed with the dates set as October The price is currently $4,800 but will drop slightly if further participants join up. This will be a wilderness tour visiting and camping in spectacular and remote locations but including many of the key birding spots. The initial rough itinerary includes a visit to Split Rock to view Aboriginal rock art, Lakefield National Park, Iron Range National Park, a possible trip to Weipa, travel to the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) crossing the Jardine River and a visit to the top of Australia. The last day will include a boat trip to Thursday Island followed by a ferry to Horn Island for a flight back to Cairns. Target Birds: Star Finch, Black-backed Butcherbird, Golden-shouldered Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Frilled Monarch, Green-backed Honeyeater, Tawny- breasted Honeyeater, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Black-winged Monarch, Trumpet Manucode, Yellow-legged Flycatcher, Tropical Scrubwren, Magnificent Riflebird, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Marbled Frogmouth, White-faced Robin, Palm Cockatoo, White-streaked Honeyeater, Spotted Whistling Ducks. For more information please contact Penny Potter: penny@southernphone.com.au, mobile Illawarra Birding April

3 A swift flight into oblivion? The new data was combined with a previous study which showed that Swift Parrots are preyed on heavily by sugar gliders, especially in deforested areas. Sugar Gliders are believed to have been introduced to Tasmania during the last century. They were considered to be primarily nectar/insect feeders, but it has now been revealed that they are also opportunistic bird predators. Using motion activated camera traps at Swift Parrot nests, researchers recorded unexpectedly high rates of parrot deaths. The cameras revealed that sugar gliders visit the nests of Swift Parrots at night where they kill and eat the adult female bird and her eggs. Researchers found that there is a link between glider predation and forest cover. Where there was less logging, mature forest cover was higher and there was less predation from gliders. In contrast, at regions where mature forest cover had been reduced (by agriculture, logging, urban development, wildfire etc), Swift Parrot nests suffered predation rates as high as 100%. The study predicted that the population of the birds will halve every four years, with a possible decline of 94.7 per cent over 16 years. Coresearcher Dr Dejan Stojanovic has called for a moratorium on logging in Swift Parrot habitat until new plans for their protection can be drawn up. Peter Tonelli/Parks TAS Sources: ANU; sciencedaily.com; theconversation.com Martin Potter The Swift Parrot is a rare winter visitor to the Illawarra, and it is set to become even rarer according to a new study. Alarming findings show that the parrot is facing a population collapse and could become extinct within 16 years. The researchers have called on the Federal Government to list the birds as critically endangered. Lead author Professor Robert Heinsohn from The Australian National University (ANU) believes that Swift Parrots are in far worse trouble than anybody previously thought". Swift Parrots are major pollinators of blue and black gum trees which are crucial to the forestry industry, which controversially continues to log Swift arrot habitat. The five-year study discovered that Swift Parrots move between different areas of Tasmania each year to breed, depending on where food is available. Sugar Glider - cute furry animal or evil bird-killer?! Public consultation on national parks establishment The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is seeking comment on the proposed directions, socio-economic considerations and community involvement in creating new national parks and reserves in NSW. NPWS acquires land for the establishment of new national parks through various means such as the transfer of other public land, the voluntary sale or transfer of private land, bequests and donations, or through biodiversity offsets, in order to achieve the objectives of the National Parks and Wildlife Act NPWS is considering whether opportunities exist to improve the national parks establishment process. Two documents, a directions statement and a socio-economic report on land acquisition, have been prepared to form the basis of a consultation with the community. This consultation is occurring in response to a Parliamentary Inquiry into Management of Public Land Management in NSW. For more details click here. Illawarra Birding April

4 Conservation Roundup - Michelle Rower In March the club sent a letter to state politicians and Shoalhaven Council asking them to take steps to protect Lake Wollumboola permanently. We requested they either include the lake as a part of Jervis Bay National Park or push for it to get RAMSAR listing. Tallawarra was very much in our minds as we heard a rumour that the sale of the land had fallen through. The club has written several letters to groups in NSW that purchase land for conservation purposes and we will also write to Wollongong Council to ask that they consider purchasing the Lakeside Precinct area of the lands for conservation purposes. The development plans for this land have already been passed by the State Government but the club is hoping that when and if development goes ahead we can have an input into protection of the main Ash Pond at the very least. The proceeds of the March club meeting raffle money will be donated to Tumblebee to assist them with their legal costs as they fight alongside the EDO against the Cessnock Shire Council and the State Government. They are fighting for the Hunter Economic Zone (known as the HEZ) to be relocated to land that does not include rare flora and fauna. We have been asked through BIGnet to keep a close watch on this one as this is an area known for Swift Parrots and where breeding events for the Regent Honeyeater have been recorded. The club have previously written letters to each of the Cessnock Shire Councillors and to the State Government in protest of the HEZ development. Copies of letters sent by the club as part of our conservation campaigns can now be viewed on our web site. Farewell Shorebirds Birdlife Australia s Farewell Shorebirds Challenge kicked off on 21st March. If you haven t registered yet there is still time you will go into the running to win some great prizes including 2 nights accommodation at Thala Beach Nature Reserve in Port Douglas! So what is the challenge? Well at this time of year over 5 million shorebirds migrate from Australia to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. For some birds that means a 30,000km return journey and Birdlife Australia is challenging Australians everywhere to match their efforts. Do we as a nation have what it takes to walk, jog, cycle or swim as far as these incredible birds? Head to the Farewell Shorebirds website and log the distance you travel each day to help reach the national target and go into the prize draw. Another part of the Farewell Shorebirds campaign is the invitation to take a Selfie With A Shorebird! Download your own Great Knot cut-out here and get your selfie on Facebook or Twitter don t forget to use the #FarewellShorebirds. As you can see, some big names have joined the campaign (Editor s note this article was prepared on April 1st ) Ibtimes.co.uk Huffington Post Illawarra Birding April

5 Greg Andrews was appointed as Australia s first Threatened Species Commissioner (TSC) in July He has just released a report on his first six months in office. He points out in the introduction to his report that Australia s extinction history is unacceptable. Australia has lost 29 mammals since European settlement. According to the Action Plan for Australian Mammals, another 56 land-based mammals are at risk of extinction, and 11 of these are critically endangered. The total list of threatened species has grown to over 1750 plants and animals. He claims to have succeeded in working to secure more resources, build new, innovative and strategic approaches, encourage better coordination of conservation efforts, share information and promote action. Key Findings The key findings of the report are listed as: channeling efforts into tackling threats is critically important and will in some cases help to recover more than one threatened species. For example, the Action Plan for Australian Mammals makes clear that feral cats are the single largest threat to Australia s mammals. empowered local communities are critical to sustainable outcomes for threatened species. there is a need for a clear policy on threatened species prioritisation. developments in science and technology can be utilised to arrest species Australia s species decline. Future directions The TSC has identified the following actions requiring immediate attention: focusing on threats, including clear and measurable targets on feral cats. commencing a process for prioritisation and the development of a threatened species strategy. a Threatened Species Summit will be taking place later this year. To see the full report, click here. The focus on feral cat eradication is timely. The birding community was recently sent into a frenzy following comments by John Young to the effect that a Night Parrot was recently found to have been killed by a feral cat. The TSC was bombarded with demands to take action, and he responded to letters confirming he had elevated the problen of feral cats to one of national importance. Ecologist Steve Murphy has been researching the parrots with John Young at the secret location in Queensland. Steve is a little less quick to point the finger of blame, stating With respect to the feathers, the conclusion is that no-one can say with any certainty what happened to result in a Night Parrot losing 31 feathers. It may have been a cat, or it may have been an owl or goanna, or some other predator, or even two Night Parrots fighting. I m not even sure if whatever it was actually caused the death of a Night Parrot, given the calling that I m still detecting at the site." For more details about the Night Parrot studies, go to Body of evidence - killed by a cat? nt-news-regarding-night-parrots.html Did You Know Many of the funding grants mentioned in the TSC s report were directed mainly to six particular national parks. Why is this? Because they belong to the Commonwealth! These parks are the only land-based national national parks - they are run not by states but by Parks Australia on behalf of the Commonwealth. Administered under the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1975, the six Commonwealth national parks are: Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Booderee (at Jervis Bay), Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and Pulu Keeling (part of the Cocos group). Parks Australia is also responsible for the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra and Australia's network of Commonwealth marine reserves. Illawarra Birding April Keith Schengili-Roberts AAP

6 Researchers at Massey University, Palmerston NZ are seeking help from birders with their study of the Purple Swamphen. Steve Trewick and Juan Carlos Garcia-Ramirez are seeking feathers or tissue samples from birds that are alive or newly-killed (eg roadkill). If you can help, please contact Steve Trewick at For more information and details of how to preserve the samples, go to The Purple Swamphen is widely distributed across southern Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. At least 13 subspecies have been described. It is occasionally recorded as an escapee from captivity in Britain and elsewhere. It was introduced to Florida, USA in the late 1990s following escapes from private collections. State wildlife biologists attempted to eradicate the birds, but they have multiplied and can now be found in many areas of southern Florida. Ornithological authorities consider it likely that the swamphen will become established there - it was added to the American Birding Association checklist in February While the species as a whole is not threatened, some subspecies have declined. In New Zealand and Australia it has expanded due to the creation of new artificial lakes and ponds. The nominate race in the Mediterranean, however has declined due to habitat loss, hunting and pesticide use, and requires strict protection. In Portugal the species declined greatly in the 19th and 20th centuries, but has increased more recently thanks to protection and some reintroduction schemes, although it remains rare and has a fragmented distribution. Did you know that the Romans kept Purple Swamphens as decorative birds at large villas and expensive houses? They were regarded as noble birds and were among the few birds that Romans did not eat. A purple swamphen is depicted at the bottom of the famous garden fresco from Pompeii. The Purple Swamphen s common name in New Zealand is the Maori word pūkeko. The bird was held in high regard as a high status pet in New Zealand and in Samoa. Red was the preferred color of Polynesian aristocracy and birds with a red plumage such as the Red-tailed Tropicbird and some Hawaiian honeycreepers were highly prized. The swamphen was unique in deriving its prestige not from its plumage but from its reddish face, beak, and legs. In old Samoa only chiefs could keep such birds, and early European sailors noticed tethered and/or caged swamphens treated by Samoan chiefs as tamed pets. There is no tradition of swamphens being taken as game or poultry food, except perhaps in time of necessity. Sources: Birdforum; Wikipedia note the Swamphen photograph on the Wikipedia web page was taken at Wollongong Botanic Garden! (as were these photos). Taxonomy Update Version 5.2 of the IOC World Bird List has just been released in draft form. Two new species are proposed for Australia the Naretha Blue Bonnet Northiella narethae (previously the Nullarbor race of the Blue Bonnet) and the Copperback Quail-thrush Cinclosoma clarum (previously a western race of the Chestnut Quail-thrush). If you have any interest in how birds are related and how they evolved, then you really must read Where Song Began by Tim Low. This groundbreaking book draws on the recent development of DNA analysis techniques that have revealed that not only did many Australian bird families not have their origins in the northern hemisphere but some of the world s major bird groups including parrots, pigeons and songbirds actually evolved in Australia and radiated outwards in successive waves of emigration. Illawarra Birding April Martin Potter

7 Michelle Rower Several years ago David introduced me to Eaglecam. I enthusiastically watched B1 and B2 the baby Sea Eagles at Newington in Sydney live 24/7 as they hatched and were tended by their parents at the nest. It was fascinating to tune in and see what they were up to. Not long after this we bumped into Judy Harrington while bird watching at Homebush bay and she invited us to the Birding NSW headquarters and showed us where Eaglecam was set up. She said the enthusiasm from people world-wide was absolutely amazing and they had received cards and gifts even birthday cards- for the sea eagles.this started me looking at Ustream and the nature section there is also sport, politics and other sections of the program I don t ever look at. You access Ustream at: and it is free. You can also get the app. for your phone, tablet and I am sure for other devices too although this is the limit of where I look at it. A bit of history courtesy of the internet Ustream began in 2006 and Wikipedia. Some of my favourites to look at are Djuma waterhole cam live from Botswana, Pete s Pond on Mashatu (also in Botswana) where there are a variety of birds (kingfishers, Herons and stacks more) plus warthogs my absolute favourites as they roll in the mud, elephants, ostrich, big goanna-like lizards, monkeys giraffes the list goes on, The Critter Window (1 And 2) from America by day there are ducks and a huge variety of American Birds by night there are racoons, muskrats and all sorts of strange mammals to watch, Sabal Palm Sanctuary has a camera on the feeder set up by the Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Field Naturalists The Blue-Jays and Cardinals on this feeder are gorgeous. There are heaps of Hummingbird cams set up all over the world and I have enjoyed watching a huge variety of hummingbirds nesting, raising young and feeding. There are outback cams in Australia and ones that watch migrating birds, birds at nests try Decorah Eagles, Owl cams I have loved some of these. It is great to watch a channel while cooking dinner and I often have one on my phone to look at while working on my computer. It s fun and I watched so much of Pete s Pond and Djuma that I bought two South African and one US field guide to identify the wildlife I was looking at. You can also interact and chat online with the people watching the same channel you are, but I have never done this. I have, however, read the text of what was being said and those chatting have identified what the camera was focused on. You can also take screen shots of the things you are Illawarra Birding April

8 seeing to look at later and I have been known to (although I strenuously WI LL deny it) take photos of my phone and computer screen of the wildlife I was looking at AND save them in My Photos. I highly recommend exploring Ustream BUT two words of warning HIGHLY ADDICTIVE If you are busy and have lots of stuff to do it is addictive AND it uses up the data you have available through your internet. Have fun and let me know what great things you have found on it!! MDBA Calling for Twitchers The Murray Darling Basin Authority needs you! If you happen to find yourself west of the Divide, the MDBA is asking you to let them know about any interesting bird species, feeding events or breeding events. Information about the number of birds, range of species, and spread and success of breeding events particularly for waterbirds provides some of the best indicators of environmental health and responses to environmental watering. Since 2007, the Murray Darling Basin Authority has collaborated with the University of New South Wales to annually survey important sites around the basin. Funding has been secured to conduct annual surveys for another four years, but clearly an annual survey has its limitations. The MDBA is eager to tap into the knowledge of birders who are out recording observations across the Basin at all times of the year. No doubt you ve heard a lot about the Basin, but do you know exactly where it is? Well it s not hard to find as it covers over a million square kilometres, or over 14% of Australia s land mass. From East to West it extends 1250km, and 1365km from North to South. It includes around 30,000 wetlands and is home to 98 species of waterbirds and over 60 species of fish. If you are out somewhere in the basin and see an unusual species, or observe some interesting bird behaviour, then please the MDBA here. Find more fascinating facts about the Basin here. Illawarra Birding April

9 In early March I attended the Eremaea ebird Conference in Brisbane - a unique opportunity to meet other enthusiastic ebird users, Eremaea-eBird reviewers, the web committee, researchers, and other stakeholders. The first day started with an introduction by Richard Alcorn (the original founder of Eremaea), then Prof. Hugh Possingham of the University of Qld spoke on "The value and future of ebird in Australia". The guest of honour was the ebird Project Leader Brian Sullivan (pictured) from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in New York State. He is a writer and researcher of US birds; he is also a member of Team Sapsucker the US s big day twitching champions. He spoke on ebird s current major projects: Media upload: simplifying the process of uploading media such as photos, sounds etc and removing the need to use a 3rd party host such as Flickr. Birdlog: ebird have purchased this app and have brought it in-house where they can modify and develop it to more easily integrate data entry to ebird. Breeding Bird Atlas: ebird are developing an atlas to be compiled from breeding record entries. This highlights the importance of entering the Breeding Code on your sightings list where applicable, rather than just writing "2 adults and 3 chicks" in the notes. Following Morning Tea various speakers made short presentations on "Applications of bird atlas data for research and conservation with lessons for ebirders. I presented a summary of the work Illawarra Birders are doing in conducting targeted surveys for various Local Government bodies, and had available copies of a report we had prepared for Kiama Council. Saturday afternoon was devoted to a Strategic Planning session. Important, but not of great interest to on-theground birders at this stage. On the Sunday Eremaea ebird Reviewers and Editors held workshops on "Observation Review Issue" and "Hotspot Review Issues." There are several interesting outcomes from this. 1. Reporting Areas. Unlike the US, Australia does not have Counties. When exploring ebird data we are currently restricted to the whole country, whole states or Hotspots. It was agreed to investigate the use of Local Government areas as "Reporting" areas. This would enable us to generate, for example, Bar Charts or Line Graphs for Kiama Council or Sutherland Shire. 2. Filters Data quality filters are important for making you think twice before reporting, say, a Cassowary at Killalea. At present the ebird filters for Australia are based on the 89 Biogeographical Regions of Australia (IBRAs) these are much too large for the filters to be effective. For example the Sydney Basin IBRA (see map) extends from Newcastle and Scone in the north, west of Blackheath and south to Durras. The new proposal would use the 419 Australian IBRA subregions, the Sydney Basin being divided into 13 subregions. More accurate filters would mean that fewer records would be queried where a species is common in one part of a bioregion, but the filter had to be set low to catch "out of range" observations in another part of the region. 3. New Reports ebird Central have promised several new report options that have been requested, such as a selectable start and finish date (Trip Report) in addition to the current Week, Month or Year options. (If you are interested in species distribution by bioregion take a look at the Atlas of Living Australia Spatial Portal at You can add the IBRA 7 layers and select which species you want to display.) Roger Giller Illawarra Birding April

10 Upcoming Activities for April - May 2015 Activities April - May 2015 Thursday 2 April, Lunch Time Walk in Botanic Gardens pm, Leader: Martin Potter, Mobile Lunch time bird walk. Meet at the Discovery Centre. We have permission to use the nearby car park on Madoline Street (off Irvine Street) as long as a car park pass is obtained from the Discovery Centre on arrival and displayed on your dashboard. Sunday 5 April, Wader Count, Windang 8.30am, Leader: Martin Cocker, Mobile Meet under the pines by Windang Surf Club for the wader survey. A count that is part of the national Shorebirds 2020 programme that will include: Windang Estuary, Why Juck Bay, Purry Burry Point. Bring morning tea. Tuesday 7 April, Evening Meeting Coniston Community Centre 7.30pm, Speaker: Rowena Morris, Big Island seabird nesting restoration project With the aid of helicopters, boats and volunteers the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is working on restoring the seabird breeding and nesting habitat at Five Islands Nature Reserve, just off the coast at Port Kembla. Dr Rowena Morris (Five Islands Ranger) will share information about the project triumphs and challenges. Come hear about the volunteer program, revegetation techniques, bird surveys and unique field work conditions. Please bring a plate to share. Saturday 11 April, Blackbutt Forest 8.30am, Leader Paul Nesbitt, Mobile Meet in the car park at Blackbutt Forest, which is accessed via Woodlands Drive. This will be a half day walk. Bring morning tea. Wednesday 15 April, Myimbarr Wetlands, Shellharbour 8.30am, Leaders: David and Michelle Rower, Mobile This survey of Myimbarr Wetlands takes approximately 2 hours. Park in Ocean Beach Drive Shellharbour opposite the intersection with Parklands Drive. We will meet on the Myimbarr side of Parklands Drive and walk in behind the houses at the access point here. Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, Raptor Workshop and Field Day with Stephen Debus The workshop will take place from 9.00am-1.00pm on Saturday 18 April at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, and will be followed by the Field Day on Sunday 19 April. Cost $25 per day for members, $30 per day for non-members. Contact: Penny Potter, Mobile Saturday 25 April, Budderoo Fire Trail 8.30am pm Leader: Michelle Rower Mobile Meet at the car park for Budderoo Fire Trail approx. 2.6km past the turn-off to Barren Grounds along Jamberoo Mountain Road. Please bring refreshments for the day. Sunday 26 April, Atlassing at Puckey s Estate 8.30am, Leader: Martin Cocker. Mobile An atlas survey of this IB adopted site, about 2 hrs duration. Meet in the car park by the Surf Life Club at the end of Elliot s Road, Fairy Meadow. Saturday 2 May, Barren Grounds 8.30am, Leaders: Michelle Rower, Mobile and Nerida Hudspith, Mobile Follow Jamberoo Mountain Road approximately 9km towards Robertson. On the left hand side of the road you will see a Concealed Driveway sign. Very shortly after this turn left into the driveway for the reserve. Follow the dirt road approximately 500 metres to the car park/ picnic area. This is where we will meet for the walk. Please bring refreshments for half a day. Illawarra Birding April

11 Upcoming Activities April - May 2015 Cont d Sunday 3 May, Wader Count, Windang 8.30am, Leader: Martin Cocker, Mobile Meet under the pines by Windang Surf Club. A count that is part of the national Shorebirds 2020 programme that will include: Windang Estuary, Why Juck Bay, Purry Burry Point. Bring morning tea. Tuesday 5 May, Evening Meeting - Coniston Community Centre 7.30pm, Speaker: Walter Boles, The Fossil History of Australian Birds Although the avian fossil record of Australia starts in the Early Cretaceous (110 million years ago), it is patchy, both in the times represented and the taxonomic groups thus far recovered. There are very limited, but quite important, finds before the Late Oligocene (25 mya). After this time, the record improves markedly and provides intriguing information on the development of the modern Australian bird fauna. New finds in the past few years extend the history of several previously unrepresented groups. Most lineages known from the record thus far still exist today, although the giant flightless mihirungs are a notable exception. Please bring a plate to share. Thursday 7 May, Lunch Time Walk in Botanic Gardens pm, Leader: Martin Potter, Mobile Lunch time bird walk. Meet at the Discovery Centre. We have permission to use the nearby car park on Madoline Street (off Irvine Street) as long as a car park pass is obtained from the Discovery Centre on arrival and displayed on your dashboard. Saturday 9 May, Wattle Forest, Royal National Park 8.30am, Leader: Nerida Hudspith, Mobile Wattle Forest picnic area is in the Audley precinct of the Royal National Park. To get there turn off the Princes Highway at Farnell Avenue. Continue down the hill and drive across Audley Weir. Take a right turn after Weir Café. Head over Varneys Bridge, turn left and follow to the end. Please bring refreshments for the day and a chair to sit on. Sunday 10 May, Atlassing at Bellambi Lagoon 8.30am, Leader: Martin Cocker, Mobile An atlas survey of this IB adopted site, about 2 hrs duration. Meet in the car park at the end of Bott Drive, off Rothery Street, Wednesday 20 May, Jerrara Creek Dam 8.30am, Leaders: David and Michelle Rower, Mobile Meet at the car park in the picnic area off Jerrara Road, Jamberoo. This will be a 2 hour walk. Sunday 24 May, Boxvale Track 8.30am, Leaders: Martin Cocker, Mobile and Nerida Hudspith, Mobile From Mittagong town centre continue along the old Hume Highway towards Berrima and Goulburn. At the F5 overpass stay on the right hand side of the road as if heading for Wombeyan Caves. Turn Right into Box Vale Road, 50 metres after bridge, then turn left into sign posted track and follow the signs to the picnic area car park. Please bring refreshments for a full day s walk. Saturday 30 May, Tallawarra Ashponds 8.30am, Leader: Martin Cocker, Mobile and Michelle Rower, Mobile Meet on Yallah Bay Road which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. This is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Park on the left-hand-side about 300 metres from the turn-off opposite gate 37. Bring food and drink for the day. Illawarra Birding April

12 SIGHTINGS- A Selection of recent records compiled by Tim Billington Plumed Whistling-Duck Jan-15 Nowra STP pond T.Billington Freckled Duck 8 22-Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds wetland IB Black Swan Jan-15 Culburra Beach estuarine M.Rower Black Swan Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Pink-eared Duck Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds wetland IB Australasian Shoveler 2 22-Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds wetland IB Chestnut Teal Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Blue-billed Duck 2 22-Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds wetland IB White-headed Pigeon 1 19-Jan-15 Wollongong Botanic Garden parkland P Potter White-headed Pigeon 1 05-Feb-15 Jamberoo farmland P.Billington Brown Cuckoo-dove 4 01-Feb-15 Jerrara wood P.Billington Brown Cuckoo-dove 1 14-Feb-15 Jerrara wood T & P Billington Topknot Pigeon Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds pond/bush IB White-throated Needletail 1 24-Jan-15 Bomaderry Creek park mixed M.Rower White-throated Needletail 4 24-Jan-15 Culburra Beach estuarine M.Rower White-throated Needletail Feb-15 Bellambi Lagoon bush IB Fork-tailed Swift 5 24-Jan-15 Bomaderry Creek park mixed M.Rower Australasian Darter 1 14-Jan-15 Integral Energy pk wood IB White-necked Heron 9 20-Mar-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland T.Billington Striated Heron 1 01-Feb-15 Windang, north side estuarine IB Striated Heron 1 08-Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M and P Potter Striated Heron 1 01-Mar-15 Bevan's Island estuarine L Pincus Australian White Ibis 2 24-Jan-15 Orient Point wetland M.Rower Australian White Ibis Feb-15 Jamberoo Rd farmland M.Rower Australian White Ibis Feb-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland T & P Billington Straw-necked Ibis Mar-15 Gerringong farmland T.Billington Royal Spoonbill 1 06-Feb-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland P.Billington Royal Spoonbill 2 24-Feb-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland P.Billington Eastern Osprey 1 22-Mar-15 Tallawarra cycle path estuarine P.Billington Black-shouldered Kite 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Black-shouldered Kite 1 18-Mar-15 Sandon Point estuarine P.Potter Black-shouldered Kite 1 22-Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds pond/bush IB White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1 26-Jan-15 Shoalhaven River river M & P Potter White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1 01-Feb-15 Why Juck bay estuarine IB White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1 22-Feb-15 Bellambi Lagoon bush IB Whistling Kite 1 25-Jan-15 Terragong Swamp wetland M & P Potter Black Kite 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Grey Goshawk 1 22-Feb-15 Woonona urban M. Potter Wedge-tailed Eagle 1 26-Jan-15 Princes Hwy nr Basin View overhead M & P Potter Wedge-tailed Eagle Pair 21-Mar-15 Tallawarra Ashponds paddock M Potter/WEA Little Eagle 1 05-Feb-15 Shoalhaven River river T.Billington Nankeen Kestrel 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Nankeen Kestrel 2 07-Feb-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland P & T Billington Nankeen Kestrel 2 23-Mar-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland T.Billington Australian Hobby 1 01-Feb-15 Bevans Island estuarine M.Rower Peregrine Falcon 1 08-Feb-15 Windang, south side estuarine IB Eurasian Coot Jan-15 Culburra Beach estuarine M.Rower Illawarra Birding April

13 Australian Pied Oystercatcher 9 01-Feb-15 Windang, north side estuarine M.Rower Australian Pied Oystercatcher Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M & P Potter Australian Pied Oystercatcher 9 08-Feb-15 Lake Illawarra estuarine M.Rower Sooty Oystercatcher 3 16-Feb-15 Sandon Point rock platform M & P Potter Pacific Golden Plover Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M & P Potter Double-banded Plover 1 08-Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M & P Potter Double-banded Plover Mar-15 Windang south estuarine M.Cocker Lesser Sand Plover 2 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Red-capped Plover Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Red-capped Plover Feb-15 Windang, south side estuarine IB Red-kneed Dotterel 2 22-Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds wetland IB Latham's Snipe 6 11-Feb-15 Myimbarr Wetlands wetland B and J Zealy Bar-tailed Godwit 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Bar-tailed Godwit Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M & P Potter Eastern Curlew Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M & P Potter Ruddy Turnstone 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Great Knot 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Red Knot 3 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Sanderling 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine IB Red-necked Stint Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M & P Potter Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 6 22-Mar-15 Tallawarra Ash ponds pond/bush IB Curlew Sandpiper 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Broad-billed Sandpiper 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower White-rumped Sandpiper 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Little Tern Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Caspian Tern 2 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Caspian Tern Feb-15 Lake Illawarra estuarine P & T Billington White-winged Black Tern 2 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Common Tern 2 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 2 12-Feb-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland P.Billington Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 1 05-Mar-15 Wollongong Botanic Garden parkland IB Little Corella Feb-15 Albion Park farmland T.Billington Australian King-Parrot 4 14-Feb-15 Jamberoo garden T & P Billington Eastern Rosella 5 02-Feb-15 Jamberoo farmland T.Billington Eastern Koel 1 24-Jan-15 Lake Wollumboola estuarine M.Rower Azure Kingfisher 1 14-Feb-15 Jerrara wood T & P Billington Azure Kingfisher 1 23-Mar-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo riverine T & P Billington Sacred Kingfisher 1 29-Jan-15 University of Wollongong gardens T.Billington Sacred Kingfisher 1 12-Feb-15 Swamp rd Jamberoo farmland P.Billington Sacred Kingfisher 1 18-Mar-15 Jamberoo garden T.Billington Dollarbird 1 24-Jan-15 Bomaderry Creek park mixed M.Rower Yellow-rumped Thornbill Feb-15 Jamberoo farmland T.Billington White-fronted Chat 2 08-Feb-15 Shoalhaven Heads estuarine M & P Potter Rufous Fantail 1 17-Mar-15 Wollongong Botanic Garden gardens P.Potter Black-faced Monarch 2 14-Feb-15 Jerrara wood T & P Billington Red-browed Finch Feb-15 Jamberoo farmland T.Billington Australasian Pipit 1 25-Feb-15 Jamberoo farmland T.Billington European Goldfinch 8 23-Feb-15 Jamberoo farmland P.Billington Superb Lyrebird 7 23-Mar-15 Saddleback Mountain forest T & P Billington Illawarra Birding April

14 The crow and raven family of birds (the corvids) are well-known for showing remarkable examples of intelligence. Even back in the 18th century their intelligence was being studied in the famous case of "counting crows" specifically a crow whose ability to count to five was established in a test set by a farmer (who inadvertently also ended up naming an American rock band). Crows and ravens score very highly on intelligence tests, with certain species topping the avian IQ scale. They make and use tools, demonstrate self-awareness, communicate complicated information in groupspecific dialects, play games with one another, socialize with family and friends, and can distinguish individual humans by recognizing facial features. They have a brain-to-body mass ratio equal to apes and dolphins. One species, the New Caledonian crow, has been intensively studied recently because of its ability to manufacture and use tools in the day-to-day search for food. They pluck, smooth and bend twigs and grass stems American in order Robin to reach food items. They are even capable of meta-tool use, ie using one tool to get another tool. Crows in Queensland have learned how to eat the toxic cane toad by flipping it on its back and attacking the throat where the skin is thinner, allowing it to access the non-toxic innards. Wild Hooded Crows in Israel have learned to use bread crumbs for bait-fishing. And there is the well-documented behaviour of crows who have learned to drop nuts on pedestrian crossings so that they can retrieve the crushed contents in safety (see the video here) Back in 2009 British zoologist Christopher Bird yes, his real name conducted a famous study at Cambridge University inspired by one of Aesop s Fables. (Aesop was a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560BC). The fable tells of a thirsty crow that finds a Martin Potter pitcher of water, but the level is too low for him to reach. The clever crow drops pebbles into the pitcher until the water level rises and he can take a drink. In Bird s experiment, he tempted four Rooks (members of the corvid family) with a worm that floated out of reach on the surface of water in a test tube. Bird videotaped the Rooks as they appeared to assess the situation, circling the tube and considering their options. He then provided a pile of pebbles. The rooks did exactly what Aesop s crow did. They raised the water level by dropping pebbles into the tube, until the worm was within their reach (see picture Australian Raven below). Even more impressive was how the rooks would add a number of stones before attempting to reach the worm. This suggests that they understood that they needed to raise the water level by a certain amount they didn t just try and reach the worm after adding each stone. The only other animal that has shown the same sophisticated understanding of fluid mechanics is the orangutan. Now, however, a newly published study finds that crows also have the brain power to solve high-order, relational-matching tasks, and can do so spontaneously. Illawarra Birding April

15 In an experiment conducted at Moscow State University, two Hooded Crows (pictured) were presented with two beakers, one of which contained food. On top of each beaker was a card; a third card was placed between the two beakers. Each card featured a pair of symbols that were either identical (eg square/square) or different (eg triangle/circle). If the card in the middle had two different symbols, then the card on the beaker with food also featured two different symbols. Importantly, however, no symbols on the two cards would be the same. The crows immediately realized that, for example, if the card in the middle had a square and a triangle, then they would find food under the card with a cross and a circle and not under the card with two squares. The crows were able to work out the relationship between one pair of items and then applied it to a new pair of items to arrive at the correct answer. If you re having trouble following this (and I can think of a few people that might), then you won t want to know that perhaps the most amazing result was that the crows managed to solve this problem at the very first attempt, without ever being trained to do so. This means crows join humans, apes, and monkeys in exhibiting advanced relational thinking. Now read on Sources: Current Biology; Daily Mail; University of Iowa; Wikipedia; Watch the Hooded crows performing on YouTube here So crows are clever, but do they have feelings? The BBC recently published a story about an eight-year-old girl in Seattle who over the last couple of years has been feeding crows in her garden. Feeding garden birds is widespread in the USA; what is unusual about Gabi Mann s crows is that they apparently show their appreciation by giving her gifts. In 2013, Gabi and her mother started offering food to the local crows on a daily basis. Each morning, they fill their backyard birdbath with fresh water and fill the bird-feeder with peanuts. It was after they adopted this routine that the gifts started appearing. The crows would feast on the peanuts, and then sometimes they would leave shiny trinkets on the empty tray. The gifts included earrings, buttons, beads, Lego pieces, paper clips, a hinge, coloured glass - anything shiny and small enough to fit in a crow's mouth. John Marzluff, professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington last year published a study of crows and the people who feed them. They found that crows and people form a very personal relationship with two-way communication. The birds communicate by how they fly, how close they walk, and where they sit. The human learns their language and the crows learn their feeder's patterns and posture. They start to know and trust each other, and sometimes a crow leaves a gift. After the BBC published this story they received many s from others who have been given gifts by crows. From the US, Lynn Witte reported how she rehabilitated an injured crow she named Sheryl. The bird subsequently started to bring her gifts the first gift was presented to me with her wings splayed open and head bowed. I was very ceremoniously handed a yellow foam dart from a toy gun! She refused to take the dart back as she does when we play games. I felt truly honoured. For more examples of this unusual bird behaviour, see Source: BBC.Com Treasure trove - gifts from Gabi s crows to high rise! University of Iowa bbc.com Illawarra Birding April

16 Trip Reports Trip Reports Trip Reports Trip Reports Trip Reports Budderoo Fire Trail 31st January Michelle Rower Illawarra Birders visited Budderoo Fire trail on 31st January. This is a favourite spot of mine and it never disappoints. Even though we did not see a huge number of species we got long close looks at birds that usually prove to be very elusive and shy. The first unusual bird we saw and heard was a Brown Cuckoo Dove feeding in bushes adjacent to the car park. Several people saw the dove fly between bushes as it was disturbed (presumably by us). Next up before we had walked to the bottom of the first hill we had a party of Southern Emu-wrens spotted by Dianne. The Wrens hung about and hopped between cover to the top of bushes to check us out giving all with cameras an excellent photo opportunity. The male s brilliant pale blue chest stood out in the early morning sunshine and his tail was stunning. This was the day of the Southern Emu-wren and we saw many parties of them our conservative estimate was 15 but we did not count any of the ones we saw on the return walk. On the return walk we found a giant fungus that was easily the size of a dinner plate and some beautiful tiny pink twining orchids. The weather prediction for this day was for strong winds and a 20% chance of rain and this may have put some members off as we only had a small group of seven. We all had a great time and for a usually hot time of year we were blessed with a cooler day that made the walk, and the day, pleasant for everyone. We all had a great time and for a usually hot time of year we were blessed with a cooler day that made the walk, and the day, pleasant for everyone. In the dark of the night - Terrill Nordstrom On 21st March after a stormy afternoon, Jill Molan and Graham Barwell met at my place in Wollongong for a night of spotlighting. After loading my car with our gear we headed off to Mount Keira at around seven thirty. Half way up we decided to pull over at the side of the road to await the fall of darkness. Here we heard our first bird of the night, a Southern Boobook calling in the distance. As night fell we drove to Mt Keira Scout camp, and then walked along the road for around ten minutes. Apart from a few flying foxes passing overhead we heard and saw nothing, so we headed back to the car. I then picked out the eye shine of a Ring-tailed Possum in a tree next to the road. We admired this little Possum for a while and then continued on our trip. After reaching the top of Mount Keira we then headed towards Mount Kembla where we were hoping to see a Sooty Owl. Driving along the fire trail we again saw eye shine high in the trees, this time from two Greater Gliders. We had great views of one of the animals sitting on a branch preening itself. Continuing on we found a Tawny Frogmouth sitting on a branch. At first it had its back turned to us, but then it slowly turned around to have a better look at what was shining a light on it. Driving further along the fire trail dodging all the potholes and ruts, the spotlight picked out a white shape in the darkness. Backing the car up we found a white morph Grey Goshawk roosting in a tree about fifty metres away. What a beautiful bird! It gave us great views and took no notice of us, even though it had been woken up by the light it just sat there in its upright stance looking back at us. The only other sighting was of another Ring-tailed Possum on our way back and we dipped out on the Sooty Owl, but we still had a wonderful time in the dark of the night. Illawarra Birding April

17 Narrawallee and ulladulla Feb By Andrew Wood Looking back I now realise I grew up in a privileged position, spending my school holidays in a family holiday house on Mollymook Beach. Just off the highway north of Ulladulla, the beach is about 2km long with the spectacular Bannister Head at its northern end. A little further north again and even more hidden is the smaller town of Narrawallee, whose beach is almost a miniature of Mollymook s, much shorter with a smaller similarly shaped headland at its northern boundary. Narrawallee, however, has an added attraction in a spectacular tidal inlet. At high tide it is covered in about a metre of water which retreats with the Moon s gravitational pull to reveal an extensive sand platform which can be walked on, all the way to an area of mangroves. Having become a birder I thought this may be a place to revisit and investigate from a birders perspective, and at a two hour drive from Wollongong probably within the upper limit for a day s field trip. In November 2013 I took myself to the area, and although the birds were not prolific I did have a few interesting sightings at the inlet, along the beach foreshore forested area and from Bannister Head, where there were hundreds of thousands of shearwaters flying just off the coast, interspersed with Gannets and Whitebrowed Albatross. [An aside: Mollymook was named after these albatrosses, known as Mollymawks to sailors]. So in the spirit of birding somewhere new I approached the committee with a day trip proposal. I was pleased to find a good group of ten club members attending, including life member and now Ulladulla local Chris Brandis. The plan was to arrive on a morning low tide so we could explore Narrawallee Inlet and the nearby mangroves (pictured). I was hoping late summer would provide birds in greater numbers than in November. Although we did see a good number of species, the inlet was not exactly a highbird number sanctuary. Perhaps the recreational human activity at such a Eastern Curlew lovely spot is a factor. Intending then to follow the narrow strip of bush behind Narrawallee Beach, I had been advised by local birders to visit the nearby Garrad Reserve. This large area of bush which I knew nothing about from my youth visiting the area, so it was new to me too provided some very good birding, including a lovely sighting of an Azure Kingfisher sitting on a fallen tree over Narrawallee Creek. From there I planned to go to Bannister Head looking for seabirds. Chris Brandis, however, advised that Hooded Plover were usually to be seen at Racecourse Beach just south of Ulladulla only a short drive away. So we went there instead and indeed were rewarded with a group of half a dozen Hooded Plover (pictured), including an immature individual, on the rock shelf. That was a surprisingly pleasant way to finish off the day s birding. We actually finished the day itself at an Ulladulla cafe overlooking the harbour, watching a flotilla of kayakers finishing off what appeared to have been a long distance event. Looking at Google Earth, on the north side of Narrawallee Creek from Garrad Reserve lies the much more extensive Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve. This can be accessed from the town of Lake Conjola. The Milton-Ulladulla and Lake Conjola areas have a great range of accommodation, making this region only a couple of hours from Wollongong a good prospect for not just for day trips but longer visits. Thanks to everyone who helped make my first field trip as leader a great day. Illawarra Birding April