Woodland Bird Identification and Survey Methods Workshop · 2016-01-08 · Woodland Bird Monitoring...

transcript

Woodland Bird Identification

and Survey Methods Workshop

Welcome!Welcome!

W dl d Bi d Id tifi ti d S M th d W k hWoodland Bird Identification and Survey Methods Workshop

BirdLife Australia’s Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project

The aim of WBfB is to: Enhance the conservation of threatened and declining woodland birds in the temperate region of south-eastern Australia

This project funded by:

Also doing bird surveys at the tree-planting sites, including some that wereplanted in 1994

Workshop SummaryWorkshop Summary

1. Getting to know woodland birds and their habitat 1. Getting to know woodland birds and their habitat - what are temperate woodlands and ‘woodland birds’?

2. Survey techniques for birds in temperate woodlands 2. Survey techniques for birds in temperate woodlands - getting started- woodland bird monitoring – the why’s and how’s- Regent Honeyeater habitat and search methodsRegent Honeyeater habitat and search methods

3. Identification tips for birds in south-eastern Australia’s temperate woodlandswoodlands- sight recognitioncall recognition- useful “clues”useful clues- some tricky speciessome important species

Feel free to ask questions / initiate discussion as we go

1. What are temperate woodlands

d and ‘woodland birds’? woodland birds ?

What are temperate woodlands?What are temperate woodlands?

• Woodlands are ecosystems with widely spaced trees (that seldom exceed 30m in height) whose crowns do not overlap

• Open forests are often considered woodlands in Australia – and we do for the purposes of categorising “woodland birds”

• Characterised by open understorey and sparse ground layer

• Mainly on inland slopes of Great Divide / adjacent plains (e.g. Liverpool Plains) and drier, flatter areas in coastal catchments (e g areas in coastal catchments (e.g. Capertee / Hunter Valleys)

• Almost all of temperate woodlands in south-east Australia are dominated by eucalypts, occasionally interspersed with native cypress pine, sheoak or buloke

Woodlands ain’t woodlands!Woodlands ain t woodlands!

• Numerous different types of woodlands exist• Most have a dominant species (e.g. ironbark) but also comprise a range of co-

existent species (e.g. stringybark, box etc)• Even within a box-ironbark woodland, there are various sub-communities each

identified by their overstorey and main understorey components

Temperate woodlands = dry open forestsTemperate woodlands = dry open forests

A precious and diverse but exploited ecosystemA precious and diverse but exploited ecosystem

• Once possible to walk from Melbourne to Sydney through almost continuous woodland of amazing diversity

• Today, most of these woodlands have gone, especially those on fertile lowlands, and much of what remains is highly modifiedmuch of what remains is highly modified

• Temperate woodlands are now among the most threatened ecosystems in Australia (over 85% has been cleared)

Birds of temperate woodlandsBirds of temperate woodlands

• ~ 250-300 species of birds use the temperate woodlands and over a third of 250 300 species of birds use the temperate woodlands and over a third of Australia’s land birds are woodland dependant

• Woodlands are one of the most diverse habitats for fauna in southern Australia (they are often floristically diverse as well)

• Woodlands have undergone significant change and modification over past couple of centuries (esp. in SE Aust where losses have been most significant)

• Considerable regional species loss/decline• At least one in five woodland bird species listed as threatened or shown to be

declining (more likely one in four)

Key message:Key message:Temperate Woodlands are both biodiverse andare both biodiverse and highly threatened

Seasonal changes to bird communities are a characteristic part of temperate woodlands• Dynamic fluctuations in the bird fauna are driven by climatic changes which in turn

influence food availabilityinfluence food availability• Different types of movement are exemplified by different species – some are migratory,

others are nomadic while others again display irregular and localised movements

Autumn-winter migrantsAutumn-winter migrants• Arrive March-April and depart around October. • Typically from cooler climates (altitudinal migrants, e.g. Flame Robin)• Migratory nectar feeders are a distinctive component of this group attracted • Migratory nectar-feeders are a distinctive component of this group, attracted

by flowering eucalypts (e.g. Swift Parrot)

Spring-summer migrants• Arrive around September-October, depart around March-April• Typically from warmer northern regionsTypically from warmer northern regions• Most are breeding migrants (e.g. Pallid Cuckoo, White-browed Woodswallow,

Rufous Whistler, Sacred Kingfisher)

Prominent guilds of birds in woodlandso e gu ds o ds ood a dsNectar-feeders (~20% of the woodland bird fauna)• Over 30 species of ‘honeyeaters’, including wattlebirds and friarbirds• Five species of nectar-feeding parrots (lorikeets and the Swift Parrot)Five species of nectar feeding parrots (lorikeets and the Swift Parrot)

Ground-foragers and ground-nesters• Form around half of the woodland bird fauna• Dependant on features of the ground-layer such as Dependant on features of the ground layer such as sparse grass cover, patchy understorey, woody / leafy debris• Many of the most iconic woodland birds are ground-foragers

Hollow-dependant species • Form around 15% of the woodland bird fauna• Hollow-bearing trees play an important role in providing habitat in woodlands• Tiny holes and crevices used by small species such as Striated Pardalote and

Owlet Nightjar, and large hollows are important for birds such as owls.

Insectivorous foliage-gleaners• Represent a significant proportion of the woodland bird fauna• Species include whistlers, cuckoo-shrikes, cuckoos, gerygones, pardalotes, thornbills• These birds are specially adapted to forage on eucalypt and acacia foliage in search of

small invertebrates• Often assemble in mixed-species foraging flocks

Woodland habitat for birds Woodland habitat for birds

Different vegetation communities attract different birds• Birds associate with particular communities, driven either by floristic or structural

attributes• Floristics refers to plant species composition (birds attracted to resources provided by

different species of plants)

Woodland habitat for birds Woodland habitat for birds

Structure refers to the physical form of the habitat • Woodlands provide a number of critical structural resources for birds, more so

than other habitat types, for example:Di f i b t t ( li b t k l )– Diverse foraging substrates (canopy, limbs, trunks, logs)

– Large spreading tree crowns– Numerous tree-hollows of a range of sizes and shapes

G f d f fl i– Greater frequency and amount of tree flowering– Ground litter accumulation

Examples of habitat use by birds Examples of habitat use by birds

Dry open forests (e.g. Grey Box, Buloke)• Low sparse understorey with scattered debris:

- Buff-rumped Thornbill- Scarlet Robin- Grey Fantail

• Low trunks/branches with rough bark:- Varied Sittella

Grassy woodlands (e g White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum)Grassy woodlands (e.g. White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely s Red Gum)• Open grassy ground layer, fallen limbs:

- Restless FlycatcherBrown Treecreeper- Brown Treecreeper

• Widely spaced mature trees, peeling bark, spreading crowns- Crested Shrike-tit

Dry coastal belt forests (e g Spotted Gum Ironbark spp Grey Gum)Dry coastal belt forests (e.g. Spotted Gum, Ironbark spp., Grey Gum)• Ground debris, shrub cover:

- Painted Button-quail• Widely spaced trees patches of open ground:• Widely spaced trees, patches of open ground:

- Dusky Woodswallow• Upper and lower branches

Y ll t ft d H t - Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

2. Survey techniques for

birds in

temperate woodlandstemperate woodlands

Woodland Bird Monitoring Woodland Bird Monitoring

Birds are excellent indicators of the condition and change to the natural environment:

• Broad-scale(e.g. impacts of climate change)

• Medium-scale(e.g. landscape processes such as vegetation connectivity and dsvegetation connectivity and configuration)

• Fine-scalePatch Size

• Fine scale(e.g. habitat management at site scale)

Monitoring methodsMost appropriate method depends on objectives of the monitoring Diff t t f it i i l dDifferent types of monitoring include:• Habitat-based (e.g. woodland types or surveys of an

area)• Threat based (e g fire grazing)• Threat-based (e.g. fire, grazing)• Species-based (e.g. Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot)

Monitoring methods• 20 minute / 2 hectare surveys are the most important and promoted survey type:

- standardised across the countrystandardised across the country- best suited for targeted surveys at specific sites- provide the most “robust” data (e.g. can stand up to scrutiny)

• 500m area searches with added flexibility may be required to detect threatened or • 500m area searches, with added flexibility, may be required to detect threatened or cryptic species

• Regardless of survey area size, it is important to maintain consistency

Site selection• Choose sites which are representative of a particular habitat• Use a degree of randomness in site selection and include sites

with different attributes, such as: - regeneration- mature trees- grazed sites- ungrazed sites

What to record?• Survey and geographic data (date, time, coordinates etc.)• Habitat data – very important for tracking changes (even basic descriptions are of

)use)• Presence/absence data for birds will tell us something• Count data will tell us more (count minimum number of individuals seen on all

surveys)surveys)

Frequency and duration of monitoringFrequency and duration of monitoring• Conduct seasonally at the very least to detect bird movements:

- autumn-winter movementsspring summer movementsspring-summer movements

• Best monitoring results come from sites that have been intensively surveyed in a consistent manner

• Long-term monitoring delivers best results• Long-term monitoring delivers best results

Who should monitor?• Anyone and everyone!! • Those with expertise combined with others keen to learn (!!)Those with expertise combined with others keen to learn (!!)• Good idea to initiate a network of group monitoring sites where repeat visits

are made by various observers (experienced and less experienced)• Group monitoring allows standardised monitoring by multiple observersp g g y p• Establishing group monitoring sites requires:

- GPS location- Map of siteap o s te- Access arrangements

How to get involved• BirdLife Australia monitoring programs • Atlas of Australian Birds• Local/regional monitoring programs (e.g. Bird Clubs, CMAs, Landcare, Field Nats etc.)• Threatened species programs • Important Bird Area monitoring

What to do with the data?a o do e da a• Atlas of Australian Birds database (managed by BirdLife Australia)• Approved methodology and different monitoring options• Allows data to be used more broadlyAllows data to be used more broadly• Observers able to house and access their data• Data-sharing agreements with other databases

Applications of woodland bird data• Data used by a wide range of researchers• Informs publications such as State of Australia’s Birds • Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project• Swift Parrot & Regent Honeyeater monitoring programs• Also ecological consultants and regulators

So Getting StartedSo….Getting Started

BinocularsBinoculars

Possibly the most important “birder’s tool”birder s tool …

Various options with different sizes, zooms etczooms etc

As always, what ever suits the Individual’s needsIndividual’s needs….

…but for woodland birding (where there is good light), 10x are ideal (8x are also popular) ideal (8x are also popular).

Getting StartedGetting Started

Nikon 10x42 Swarovski 10x42Nikon 10x42 Swarovski 10x42

Field Guides

The “Big 4”…and/or new The Big 4 …and/or new “apps”

Notebook and penNotebook and pen

Spiral-bound works well

“Optional Extras”

+ of course, all of the common sense stuff!!

Some things you may be wondering…

Do I record birds flying over?

What about birds just off site, or ones I can’t tell where they are?j , y

Do I record numbers of birds? If so, what about ones I only hear?, y

What does 2ha look like? Or 500m from a point – how big is that?What does 2ha look like? Or 500m from a point how big is that?

What does 2ha look like?

20,000sq m = ~140mx140m OR 100mx200m or 400mx50m…

500m from a point = 7.85ha

Dean’s visual of 2ha method??????200mDean s visual of 2ha method??????200m

100100m

Regent Honeyeater habitat and search methodsRegent Honeyeater habitat and search methods

Probably the most important ‘woodland bird’ to search for is the Regent Honeyeater

ll lk b d f lWe will talk about identification later…

…but here we will talk about habitat and some tips on searching for thisrare and highly endangered species

Regent Honeyeater habitat and search methods

Regent Honeyeaters rely on flowering Eucalypts for nectar

‘Local’ trees important for the Regent Honeyeater include:• Mugga Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) Mugga Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) • White Box (E. albens)• Yellow Box (E. melliodora)• Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata)• Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata)• Swamp Mahogany (E. robusta)

+ various other Eucalypts+ various other Eucalypts

But also important, are mistletoes:

Mistletoes important for the species include:• Needle-leaf Mistletoe, Amyema cambagei on River She-oak, Needle leaf Mistletoe, Amyema cambagei on River She oak,

Casuarina cunninghamiana• Box Mistletoe, A. miquelii• Long-flower Mistletoe, Dendropthoe vitellinao g o e st etoe, e d opt oe te a

• Will also eat lerp / other insects

• Other plant flowers

But they have theirBut they have their

favourite habitat types….

Where their favourite trees occur….

And these include (broadly)…

Grassy White Box woodlandsGrassy White Box woodlands

Box Ironbark woodlandsBox Ironbark woodlands

River She-oak forestsRiver She oak forests

Spotted Gum Ironbark forestsSpotted Gum Ironbark forests

Swamp Mahogany forestsSwamp Mahogany forests

Key species – Mugga Ironbark E sideroxylonKey species Mugga Ironbark E. sideroxylon

Key species – White Box E albensKey species White Box E. albens

Key species – Yellow Box E melliodoraKey species Yellow Box E. melliodora

Key species – Spotted Gum C maculataKey species Spotted Gum C. maculata

Key species – Swamp Mahogany E robustaKey species Swamp Mahogany E. robusta

Key species – MistletoesKey species MistletoesAmyema miquelli

Key species – MistletoesKey species Mistletoes

Key species – MistletoesKey species MistletoesDendropthoe vittelina

Key species – MistletoesKey species MistletoesAmyema cambagei

Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters

1. Find blossoming trees, preferably one of their ‘faves’

2 Look / listen for associated bird species – especially Noisy 2. Look / listen for associated bird species especially Noisy (and Little) Friarbirds, but also Little / Musk Lorikeets, Red Wattlebirds, White-naped HE etc

3. Once in a “good position”, get your eye in to which birds are “controlling” different parts of a flowering tree. Regents will g p g goften be guarding an area, even standing up to larger HE’s. They are also likely to be near the tops of the trees.

4. Keep an eye on any dead trees and farm dams, as Regents like to use both, especially mid-late afternoon.

Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters Tips on finding Regent Honeyeaters

5. Get your eye in on friarbirds and smaller HE’s, then be alert y y ,for anything mid-sized flying about.

6 Whil t ll f thi i i LISTEN INTENTLY!!!6. Whilst all of this is going on…LISTEN INTENTLY!!!

7. Be patient, stick with an area until you think you’ve worked it, 7. Be patient, stick with an area until you think you ve worked it, then move on, preferably on foot, to inspect other trees. You’d be surprised how often a tree full of birds can be neighboured by another tree with a Regent or two lurking neighboured by another tree with a Regent or two lurking within.

If you think it is worthwhile, play a call. Be mindful of the situation if you choose to do this (i.e. NEVER do if nesting is suspected or if you’re on a busy road) suspected or if you re on a busy road).

3. Identification tips for birdsp

in south eastern Australia’s in south-eastern Australia s

temperate woodlands

In the field tipsIn the field tips

There are 2 ways of getting the best views of a birdThere are 2 ways of getting the best views of a bird

1. High magnification / better quality binoculars

Remember the trade-offs we spoke about earlier?

It’s all about what you are most comfortable with ( d ff d!)It s all about what you are most comfortable with (and can afford!)

In the field tipsIn the field tips

There are 2 ways of getting the best views of a birdThere are 2 ways of getting the best views of a bird

2. Getting closer to the bird (or the bird closer to you)

Sometimes it is tempting to walk towards a bird, but mostoften it is best to observe and decide if this can be done

Some birds are more (and less) approachable than others.

A lot of the time the best thing to do is be quiet andA lot of the time, the best thing to do is be quiet andinconspicuous and let the bird(s) come to you

Thi l k h ‘ hi ’ f bi d (bi d fid llThis also works when ‘searching’ for birds (birds confide, callsheard more easily)

Sight RecognitionSight Recognition

Seeing is believing and obviously recognising a bird when you see one is very important…but remember…

…the important term here is “recognition”.

Over time you will learn to recognise birds – i.e. you won’t y g yreally be “identifying” them any more.

You don’t need to know a bird’sfeatures intimately to be able torecognise it.

The basics to start with “identification”…

Shapep

Colour / Tones/

Behavioure a ou

SizeSometimes a good idea to think relative to a familiar species.E.g. sparrow for smaller birds, magpie-lark for medium, crow/raven for larger. / g

Can be the most important feature on separating p gdifficult species (e.g. Brown Goshawk vs Collared Sparrowhawk) vs Collared Sparrowhawk)

Shape – Often can be brokeninto binomials.

E.g. long-tailed/short-tailed, g g / ,big-headed/small-headed, broad-winged/narrow-winged, long billed/short billed, g / ,long legs/short legs etc

Whereas some are defining Whereas some are defining features, e.g. presence of a crest, cocked tail, forked tail etc.

Colour / Tones – Note colours on all parts of the bird, including:• feathers

- look for key features in the feathersy- mottled appearance / pale patches could mean a juv.

• bare parts (bill, legs) • eye coloury

But perhaps more importantly, things like wing-bars, markings But perhaps more importantly, things like wing bars, markings around the area behind the eye, bars on the tail, white edges to tail….any features that are obvious that may help you distinguishthe bird from others. the bird from others.

But, be careful…e.g. with too much emphasis on colour and sizeBut, be careful…e.g. with too much emphasis on colour and size

When first encountering a new bird, that colour and sizenew bird, that colour and sizecan often be your enemy.

The distribution of colour The distribution of colour and markings, overallshape and comparative size and habitat are more and habitat are more important than exact colour or size matching to a field guidematching to a field guide

Light can have a huge impact on colours and even impression of i d h size and shape

Behaviour – can be critical information, especially for difficult to identify / see birds.

Where was the bird? In a tree? If so, where in the tree?,

On ground? On briefly, or for an extended period? Did the bird ‘travel’ on the ground?g

Was it creeping up or down a branch?

Flight pattern – how was it flying? How did it hold its wings?

Jacky Winter is an example of a non-descript bird that can be‘recognised’ by behaviour recognised by behaviour.

Also important is habitat and rangeAlso important is…habitat and range

Although a bird should be identified for what it is, not what it should be, habitat and range are often very useful in narrowing down an identification.g

E.g. although a Brown Gerygone looks a lot like a Western Gerygone which looks a lot like a Mangrove Gerygone – their Gerygone which looks a lot like a Mangrove Gerygone their habitats and ranges do not overlap.

Other examples might be:Other examples might be:White-throated vs Red-browed TreecreeperSonglarks and pipitsTh bill ( ill t t thi !)Thornbills (we will get to this!)Leaden vs Satin Flycatcher (but be very careful!)Even Fairy-wrens

Useful “Clues”Useful Clues

But remember…. a bird should be identified for what it is, not what it should be

So…noting the size, shape, colour and behaviour will takeyou a long way towards identifying a bird.

Habitat and range are relevant, remember that birds have wings!

For a good, succinct read, have a look at the “How to observe ag , ,bird” section in the opening pages of the Simpson and Day Field Guide

You can take notes, photographs, ask other observers etc, but…

…the main point is that over time, this will lead from

an ‘exercise in identification’ to ‘quick recognition’q g

Watch birds closely and they will teach you what they look like.

Thing is, you actually do this every day…think about looking for a friend or a family member in a crowd of people…

You don’t need to identify them because you recognise the way they walk, their shape, size etc – just like birds

Even just a quick look at these line drawings is enough to know what the bird is

“JIZZ” (GISS) – General Impression of Shape and Size

The best thing to do is to learn the ‘jizz’ of familiar birds. g jA good example is the Noisy Miner

- very familiary- rather square-tailed- distinctive flight / gliding pattern- ‘busy’ busy - rarely perches motionless- almost unique in size for a bird with its behaviour patterns

Sight Recognition

Othe familia bi ds to lea n the “ji ” on a e

Sight Recognition

Other familiar birds to learn the “jizz” on are:

Grey Fantail – “busy”, cocked tail, dipping flight

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike – distinctive flight, elongated shape, wing-shuffle, habitsp g

Eastern Yellow Robin – classic “thickhead” to use a yardstick for other robins or whistlers, distinctive feeding behaviourfor other robins or whistlers, distinctive feeding behaviour

Yellow-faced Honeyeater – possibly the most familiar ‘small Honeyeater’ against which impressions of size shape etc can be Honeyeater against which impressions of size, shape etc can be judged on other Honeyeaters

Call RecognitionCall Recognition

Call recognition

Once learnt, the calls of woodland birds will be the

dominant way you will record birds in a given area.

Call RecognitionCall Recognition

Call recognition

It also enables efficient surveyingy g(you may be able to do surveys eventually without binoculars!)

Call recognitionCall recognition

Unfortunately, there is no easy way other than to go birding and learn the calls (some people might be able tolisten to recordings)

Calls are useful not just for building a list of what’sabout, but also for when looking for rare, cryptic or ‘important’ species

Some very useful calls to learn are:

Weebill (but all thornbills really)

Pardalotes

White-plumed Honeyeater

Honeyeater flight calls (e.g. White-naped)y g ( g p )

All cuckoos

Corvids – can be the only reliable way to separate these species

There are often clues to the presence of birds in a woodland

E.g. Painted Button-quail ‘platelets’

G t Y t b d Go to Youtube and type in “Painted Button-quail”

Other “clues” might be:

- ‘Whitewash’ from roosting birds - Pellets from owls- Diggings, scratched leaf litter (large ground-dwellers)- Nests (many are distinct, e.g. the mud-nesters, finches)

Plus, it’s always a good idea to look for leads…things likeblossoming trees, seeding grasses, water-points (and maybeeven if there is water on the ground near a puddle?)g p )

Some tricky species – “LBJs” – Little Brown JobsSome tricky species – LBJs – Little Brown Jobs

Thornbills, Gerygones

A quick guide to some useful A quick guide to some useful pointers in identifying these birds.

Paramount are habitat Paramount are habitat, colour of features and calls(shape and size not really useful)

These are birds that are both small and often difficult to get good views of.

Many thanks to Allan Richardson for assistance here.

“LBJs” – Brown ThornbillLBJs – Brown Thornbill

“LBJs” – Inland ThornbillLBJs – Inland Thornbill

“LBJs” – Striated ThornbillLBJs – Striated Thornbill

“LBJs” – Yellow ThornbillLBJs – Yellow Thornbill

“LBJs” – Buff-rumped ThornbillLBJs – Buff-rumped Thornbill

“LBJs” – Yellow-rumped ThornbillLBJs – Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Some tricky species – WeebillSome tricky species – Weebill

“LBJs” – White-throated GerygoneLBJs – White-throated Gerygone

“LBJs” – Western GerygoneLBJs – Western Gerygone

“LBJs” – Southern WhitefaceLBJs – Southern Whiteface

Some tricky speciesSome tricky species

Striated Pardalotes

In the broader Sydney area thereIn the broader Sydney area thereare up to 3 different subspecies (but not all at the same time)

Yellow-tipped Pardalote Pardalotus striatus striatus

Western Striated Pardalote P. s. substriatus

Eastern Striated Pardalote P. s. ornatus

Striated Pardalotes

Eastern Striated PardaloteEastern Striated Pardalote Pardalotus s. ornatus

R id b di bi dResident, breeding birdin SE Coastal Australia

The “bread and butter Striated Pardalote” in our area

Striated Pardalotes

Western Striated PardaloteWestern Striated Pardalote P. s. substriatus

R id b di bi dResident, breeding birdin Australia – mostly W of Great Divide

Occurs in Hunter Valley,

Perhaps Capertee too?

Striated Pardalotes

Yellow tipped PardaloteYellow-tipped Pardalote P. striatus striatus

B d l i T i Breeds only in Tassie, migrates to SE mainlandAustralia in autumn / winter(much like Swifties)

Striated Pardalotes – quick reference guide

Some ‘important’ species – recognising Swift Parrots Some important species – recognising Swift Parrots

Little Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

Musk Lorikeet Swift Parrot 113

Some ‘important’ species recognising Swift Parrots

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Some important species – recognising Swift Parrots

Plumage differences include:

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Little Lorikeet

Plumage differences include:- Red under wings and tail

Musk Lorikeet

Rainbow LorikeetScaly-breasted Lorikeet

Some ‘important’ species – recognising Swift Parrots

Blue edges to wingsS ll

Some important species – recognising Swift Parrots

Yellow fringe

Blue edges to wingsSmall amount of

blue on f h dforehead

Red ‘mask’Red

above beak

Some ‘important’ species – recognising Swift Parrots Some important species recognising Swift Parrots

Maroon pointy tail

But as with most forest birds learning the call is perhaps the But, as with most forest birds, learning the call is perhaps the most important thing.

Contact calls

Flight call

Some ‘important’ species - recognising Regent HEs Some important species - recognising Regent HEs

• Striking bird• Black head with bare facial patch• Black head with bare facial patch• Bold scaly plumage pattern• Yellow patches in wing and tail

Some ‘important’ species - recognising Regent HEs

Other ‘yellow-winged’ honeyeaters:

Some important species - recognising Regent HEs

• New Holland HE have white on face, streaked, white eye

• White-cheeked HE smaller and have big white cheek on face, streaked

• Painted HE plain white underparts and pink bill

C t HE h di ti ti h t • Crescent HE has distinctive chest marking (‘saddle’)

• White-fronted HE very unlikely in y your area

Note that field guides incorrectlyillustrate a pink or red faceillustrate a pink or red face

Some ‘important’ species - recognising Regent HEs Some important species - recognising Regent HEs

New Holland Honeyeater Painted Honeyeater

Regent HoneyeaterCrescent Honeyeater White-cheeked Honeyeater

Some ‘important’ species - recognising Regent HEs Some important species recognising Regent HEs

Enough theory….time for some fieldwork!!

Thanks for making it this farThanks for making it this far

OOur contacts

Freecall 1800 621 056 / dean.ingwersen@birdlife.org.au or0421 761237 / mick.roderick@birdlife.org.au

National RH/SP survey weekends for 2014:May 17-18August 2-3

(always the 3rd weekend in May and 1st weekend in August)

But happy for people to be looking any time!

Woodland Bird Identification and Survey Methods Workshop · 2016-01-08 · Woodland Bird Monitoring...

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