Sector 6; Final survey, although still new suprises

FINAL survey for the season (although I might need to do a couple of fill-ins for those places throughout the forest that have not been surveyed; will assess that tomorrow). The majority of the first part of the survey was VERY mesic (moist); almost rainforest like. There were a lot of Rainbow Lorikeets, and a sighting of what I am 90% sure was a pair of Little Lorikeet: based on their size and higher-pitched call. There was also a large number of White-throated Needletail; peppering the sky above the survey site! Even though it was the last survey, there are still surprises such as the sighting of a small family of Superb Fairy-wren. They are notoriously hard to identify from the Variegated Fairy-wren, although the call of the fairy-wrens I saw was different, and the feathers around the eye of the females was lighter. If I had seen the male better, I would have been able to identify the absence of chestnut on the shoulder and a darker eye-stripe that is distinctive from other fairy-wrens. The sighting of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo was also a nice surprise. I can quite confidently predict that 60 – 75% of people would have heard these cuckoos, although they are rarely seen; usually calling from the top of exposed trees in the early morning or late evening. This pattern of activity is often referred to as crepuscular, and is characteristic of animals such as kangaroos. Whether this term can be used for birds… I don’t know…

Anyway, in the next week or so (once work settles down a bit), I will provide a summary of the whole survey season. In the meantime, I have many habitat surveys and site inspections (GPS coordinates and photos) to perform from throughout the greater Brisbane area, so I will write about that and other things soon. Watch this space!!

Date: 30th December 2008
Time: 0530 - 0800
Sector: 6
Number of species seen: 22
Number of birds seen: 169

Australian Brush-Turkey (2)
Australian Magpie (4)
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (3)
Fan-tailed Cuckoo (1)
Grey Butcherbird (2)
Laughing Kookaburra (2)
Little Lorikeet (2)
Noisy Friarbird (5)
Noisy Miner (16)
Olive-backed Oriole (1)
Pied Butcherbird (1)
Pied Currawong (1)
Rainbow Lorikeet (52)
Sacred Kingfisher (2)
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (8)
Silvereye (8)
Spotted Turtle-dove (2)
Superb Fairy-wren (6)
Torresian Crow (5)
White-throated Honeyeater (2)
White-throated Needletail (40)
Yellow-faced Honeyeater (4)