Ten members/guests joined me on a surprisingly still, crisp and frosty morning, considering the wind and rain of the previous late evening, to watch the early morning movement of birds, in particular the dispersal habits of the Satin Bowerbirds which roost among the gardens on Chauvel Circle. Due to the clear conditions birds seemed to wake up about 10 minutes earlier than during the week, and by the start time of 7 am the (surprisingly few) pied currawongs had mostly already moved through on their usual early morning flight from the Mt Stromlo/Narrabundah Hill pine forests in the direction of Mount Taylor. The Satin Bowerbirds were also active early, with calls heard from before 6.50 am, but few were seen moving with their typical flap-glide undulating flight above the tree tops. However, all had good views of between 10-15 green birds in the vicinity of my neighbour’s feeding table as well as lower down in the tree above it, where as usual they competed with several Magpies, Common Mynahs and Pied Currawongs for the best pickings, before dispersing to feed elsewhere. For reasons unclear this year, numbers of this species have consistently been 50-75% lower than last winter, and the roost site also seems to be much more dispersed. Later all participants had excellent views of the mature male with his resplendent purple-black sheened plumage as he tried to entice a couple of green birds to his bower.
Good views were also obtained of several Common Bronzewing Pigeons, either on a neighbour’s roof where they commonly gather before moving to their preferred early morning feeding area, or flying through swift and straight, with in one case one bird nearly bowling over the early participants. Again numbers were well down on the peak of 12-13 birds seen earlier in the month. Also moving through were Crimson Rosellas and Australian King Parrots, which too make regular early morning flights from the Mt Stromlo/Narrabundah Hill pine forests in the Mount Taylor direction. Lots of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos were also seen moving overhead from the Murrumbidgee to the Woden direction, in contrast to the Galahs which come from the opposite direction. Good views were also had of up to four Fuscous Honeyeaters gleaning busily through the foliage of a neighbour’s argyle apple Eucalyptus cinerea. This species, which is often overlooked, particularly if not calling, has been the most numerous honeyeater in my garden this winter. By contrast, the Crescent Honeyeater, which is also a regular winter visitor, was quiet but was typically in full voice shortly after the participants left.
Jack Holland