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Lyrebird Tales
Volume 27 Number 2 June 2018
Birding Memories by Alan Spellman
G’day to the good folk of the Yarra Valley Bird Club. I’ve just
spent three months in your catchment area from mid October
2017 to mid January 2018. I had the pleasure of meeting you
(again) in January when I was invited to talk to you about
the birds and wildlife of my home; The Isle of Mull, a small
Island of 2000 souls off the west coast of Scotland.
Let me tell you about my visit to your country. Well for a
start it’s 1941 times larger than my small island and holds
many more bird species, all new to me, so I was like a little
boy in a candy store. Even at 80 years old I get excited when
I find a new bird.
Scarlet Honeyeater Photo © Alan Spellman
The Scarlet Honeyeaters caused a great deal of local
excitement and I was lucky enough to get some half decent
photographs of them. A stunning bird indeed; as were the
new Holland and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters.
Rufous Fantail photo © Alan Spellman
I visited Cardinia aqueduct trail many times as it was close to
Emerald where I was staying. Here I saw many different and
new to me species. It’s a great spot I think and would make
for a great day out for the club; being on the flat and easy
walking. I found Satin Flycatcher, Rufous and Grey Fantail,
Golden and Rufous Whistlers, Red-browed Finches, Scarlet
and Eastern Yellow Robins, Peregrine Falcon and Sacred
Kingfisher to name a few. I also met some lovely people who
were friendly and freely offered guidance to this visitor from
Scotland.
Continued on page2
Contents 1. -2. Birding Memories by Alan Spellman
2. The Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group by Jan Incol
2018 Dawn Survey Dates
3. A-Grebe-able by Valerie Fowler
4. Birdlife Yarra Valley AGM
5. Interesting sightings. What bird is that?
5 – 11. Reports of Meetings and Outings
12. Calendar of Events
Lyrebird Tales
2 Lyrebird Tales
Spotted Crake photo © Alan Spellman
My visit to the WTP was kindly hosted by a Victorian birder
and guide for the day. Well I was blown away by the
numbers and varieties of birds on offer; so many of them
new to me. We saw eighty species for the day including
Spotted Crake, Buff-banded and Baillon’s Crakes, all on the
same pond. Swamp Harrier, almost the same as our Marsh
Harrier back home and a first for my guide was a Spotted
Harrier. It was just a splendid day out and only enhanced by
my friendly guide Mike Honeywell who I only met that day,
now there’s Aussie hospitality for you.
Edithvale Wetlands was also a place I visited a couple of
times; here I saw Chestnut Teal, Black Duck, Freckled Duck
and others including the Pink-eared Duck. A Wood Sandpiper
was present plus White-faced Heron and a Magpie Goose.
On Mull we only have one oystercatcher, which just happens
to be the Isle of Mull bird club logo, because it’s the most
numerous wader we have. So imagine my surprise when a
black one shows up!!
I found the three gulls. You have, Pacific, Kelp and Silver
Gulls Plus those amazing masters of the air, Whiskered and
Crested Fairy Terns.
You will laugh at me when I tell you I got excited about
seeing a Black-shouldered Kite for the first time and a Black
Kite, these were at the WTP.
I think the highlight of my ‘holiday’ was seeing a Tawny
Frogmouth one evening when driving along the road to our
house. I’ve always been interested in camouflage and
deception evolution in the wildlife that surrounds us; from
the eye on a butterfly wing to the shape of a leaf bug and the
deceptive look of an orchid mantis. All evolved to aid
survival, either to catch prey or to avoid being caught.
Looking for the Tawny Frogmouth I photographed so many
pieces of wood until one of them winked at me, then ‘click
click’ and yes, I’ve photographed yet another piece of wood.
At Emerald we had regular visitors to the garden, King
Parrots, Crimson Rosella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo,
Kookaburra, Magpies of course, Common Bronzewing and
Spotted Dove and once, a White-headed Pigeon. I know I’ve
not covered everything but you’ve got a flavour of my holiday
in your beautiful state.
I’m home now on the Isle of Mull in January where it’s -3c,
but today it’s quite warm it’s risen to 10c by lunch time, only
to freeze again by tea time. But we’re hard, us Scots, after
all we eat haggis and drink whiskey for breakfast. Have a
good 2018, it was so nice to meet you all.
Mull where I live and on my way home in January
Alan Spellman. www.mullbirds.com
The Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group
Here is an excerpt from their 2017 Annual Report
This is the 60th year for SLSG - what a wonderful
achievement!! The group was constituted on September 11th
1958 with 11 foundation members. We plan to celebrate the
occasion on 13 October this year.
2017 was a very successful breeding/banding year for the
Sherbrooke lyrebirds with an increase from 20 to 31 chicks
banded. Eleven unbanded chicks have been seen already. We
arrived too late to band the FTGNP chick, but it fledged
successfully.
During 2017 there were 2,223 sightings of lyrebirds,
including 626 sightings of identified banded lyrebirds.
The three 2017 Dawn Surveys were very well attended with a
total of 525 volunteer hours recorded. Again we were lucky
with favourable weather conditions. The 2017 Dawn Survey
results are still being processed.
Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey 2018 Dates
• Saturday 23rd June
• Saturday 7 July
• Saturday 21 July
Meet at Grant's Picnic Ground shelter (Melway map 75 K4)
at 6am. Parks Victoria staff will provide a delicious
breakfast after the survey.
Be sure to dress warmly and bring a compass, watch,
pencil and torch.
Lyrebird Tales
June 2018 3
A-Grebe-able by Valerie Fowler
Australasian Grebe photo © Peter Fowler
It was a cool foggy morning in May 2018 when we went to
Lillydale Lake to do our regular bird survey. Whilst
circumnavigating the lake we had two separate sightings of
Australasian Grebes, one was seen from the dam wall and
the second on the opposite side of the lake to the rotunda.
We hadn’t seen Australasian Grebes on the lake for some
time but had observed them more recently at the Hull Road
Wetlands nearby.
Near the end of our survey whilst walking along the Olinda
Creek we stopped in our tracks by the sight of two Grebes
together. To our surprise, one was an Australasian Grebe and
the second a Hoary-headed Grebe. It had been some years
since we had seen a Hoary-headed Grebe at Lillydale Lake,
so in order to make a photographic record of this sighting my
husband rushed home to fetch a camera whilst I followed it
until he returned. It was hard to keep track of both birds as
they separated with the Hoary-headed Grebe moving further
up the creek using the vegetation at the edges and branches
fallen over the creek for cover whilst diving continually.
Hoary-headed Grebe photo © Peter Fowler
After photographing the Hoary-headed Grebe we were
surprised when not one but two Australasian Grebes
appeared nearby. We waited patiently for the three birds to
move closer to each other, they then swam together.
Hoary-headed Grebe & 2 Australasian Grebes
photo © Peter Fowler
2 Australasian Grebes photo © Valerie Fowler
We continued to observe these grebes going downstream and
the Hoary-headed Grebe disappeared. The two Australasian
Grebes then started flapping and flying in short bursts just
above the water before landing, they then swam back and
repeated the process. We thought perhaps it was a mating
ritual or in response to our presence. After this happened a
couple of times we became aware that there was a Water Rat
in hot pursuit and in fact the grebes were trying to get away.
Water Rat photo © Peter Fowler
Lyrebird Tales
4 Lyrebird Tales
Birdlife Yarra Valley Annual General Meeting
Minutes of Annual General Meeting
Held on Tuesday 8 May, 2018, at 8.12 p.m.
in the Badger Creek Hall Meeting Room, Badger Creek Road, Badger Creek.
The Convener took the chair and welcomed the eleven members present.
Apologies: Kevin Mason, Peter & Valerie Fowler
It was Moved Jim McMinn Seconded Michael Feller “that the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 9 May, 2017, be
accepted” Carried.
1. The Treasurer’s Report for the financial year ending 31/12/2017 was presented on the screen and explained by Glenn
Mawson the Acting Treasurer. It was Moved
Glenn Mawson Seconded Michael Feller “that the Treasurer’s Report be accepted” Carried
2. The Convener gave an overall report of the year’s activities and said that it had been a struggle to get members to
attend meetings and outings. The highlight for the year was the outing to the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee.
He said we have had top speakers at meetings. Glenn thanked the Executive and Committee and in particular the
Secretary for their work. He also gave a special thank you to Michael, Manfred and Jim for organising outings and
Valerie for the newsletter. Special thanks to Maggie Smith who resigned as Treasurer due to family commitments.
Glenn said he would be moving away from Healesville but will continue to come to outings and also assist Valerie
with the newsletter.
Glenn then stepped down after having announced his resignation and asked the Deputy-Convener to take the chair and
conduct the rest of the meeting.Glenn was thanked for his dedication to Birdlife Yarra Valley and the enormous amount of
work he has done for the Branch over a number of years.
3. Election of Office-bearers and members of the committee for 2018/2019.
Office-bearers:
Convener. As there were no nominations for the position of Convener the position was declared vacant.
It was Moved Michael Feller Seconded Jan Llewelyn that Manfred Hennig be elected As Deputy-Convener. As there were no
other nominations Manfred Hennig was elected Deputy-Convener. Carried
It was Moved Jim McMinn Seconded Lin Bullen that Alma Mitchell be elected as Secretary. As there were no other
nominations Alma Mitchell was elected Secretary. Carried
It was Moved Margaret O’Connell Seconded Manfred Hennig that Michael Feller be elected as Treasurer. As there were no
other nominations Michael Feller was elected as Treasurer. Carried.
Committee:
Linda Bullen Nominated by Manfred Hennig Seconded by Michael Feller
Jan Llewelyn Nominated by Michael Feller Seconded by Lin Bullen
As there were no other nominations Linda Bullen and Jan Llewlyn were elected as members of the committee. Carried
4. It was Moved Margaret O’Connell Seconded Jim McMinn “that the following members of The Committee be appointed
as signatories for the Bank Accounts – Manfred Hennig, Michael Feller, Alma Mitchell and Linda Bullen” Carried
As there was no other business the meeting closed at 8.43 p.m.
Lyrebird Tales
June 2018 5
Interesting Sightings
Powerful Owls photo © Lyn Abreu
8/1/18.Australian Coots (100+) - Victoria Rd, Coldstream,
Manfred Hennig
15/1/18 Buff-banded Rail & 2 chicks – Hull Rd Wetlands,
Lilydale, V & P Fowler
9/2/18 White-necked Heron - Yarra Flats, Healesville.
Jim McMinn
February 2018 Painted Button Quail – St Andrews,
Dace Fitton
11/2/18 Wedge-tailed Eagle - Warburton Hwy, Lilydale.
Jim McMinn
13/3/18 White-faced Heron (2), one was carrying a stick –
Hull Rd Wetlands, Lilydale. V & P Fowler
27/3/18 Spotless Crake - Lillydale Lake, V & P Fowler
10/4/18 Superb Lyrebird calling - Mt. Evelyn. Lin Bullen
4/4/18 First Bassian Thrush calling - Badger Creek.
Graeme George
6/4/18 Black-shouldered Kite - McIntyre Lane, Yering.
Graeme George
6/4/18 Wonga Pigeon - Badger Creek. Graeme George
6/4/18 Satin Bower Birds (6-7 Females 2 Males eating
Dogwood), - Toolangi. Manfred Hennig
Late March Grey Goshawk (white morph) – Healesville
Lin Bullen (as told by Bruce McTavish)
6/5/18 Night Heron – Croydon, V & P Fowler
7/5/18 Night Heron – Lillydale Lake, V. Fowler
15/5/18 Powerful Owls - Shepherds Bush. Lyn Abreu
Out of the Yarra Valley
20/3/18 Yellow-billed Spoonbills - Lake Boort. Jim McMinn
22/3/18 Azure Kingfishers (4) - Gunbower Island. Jim
McMinn
25/3/18 Major Mitchell Cockatoos (20) – Walpeup. Jim
McMinn
Late March Scarlet Honeyeater – Wedderburn. Doug
Pocock
Late March Cattle Egrets (5 seen flying) - Between the
Falklands & Sth Georgia. Doug Pocock
What Bird is that?
Photo © Manfred Hennig
Answer on page 11
Reports of Meetings and Outings
Tuesday January 9 – Meeting – Speaker Alan Spellman
Subject: Spring in Mull.
We were introduced to Alan’s presentation ‘Springtime in
Mull’ by a lovely photo of a meadow of flowers accompanied
by the calls of a Skylark. Alan, a keen birdwatcher, lives on
the Island of Mull off the West coast of Scotland and this is
his second visit to Australia.
Skylark photo © Alan Spellman
The male Wheatear is usually the first spring migrant from
Africa to arrive on Mull followed by the Chiffchaff, Willow
Warbler, Wood Warbler, and Garden Warbler. These
warblers are very similar in appearance and the easiest way
to identify them is by their calls which were demonstrated
by Alan. These warblers are ground nesting usually under
bracken. The most numerous and the noisiest warbler is the
Willow Warbler.
Lyrebird Tales
6 Lyrebird Tales
Wheatear photo © Alan Spellman
Barn Swallows arrive in their thousands, then Sand Martins
which nest in colonies in sand. House Martins arrive and
build nests under the house eaves. The Common Swift
mates and sleeps on the wing and rarely perches.
Common Cuckoo and Pipit Photo Bob McMillan
Many of us became nostalgic with Alan’s photograph of
bluebells in a woodland of spruce and oak complimented
with background sounds of spring migratory bird calls which
included that of the Common Cuckoo. Mull has only one
Cuckoo which lays its egg in the nest of the much smaller
bird, the Meadow Pipit which arrives in April and departs in
August. Alan showed how similar the appearance of the
Common Cuckoo’s egg was to the Meadow Pipit egg with
only the difference being in size. He explained that the
cuckoo egg hatches first and the juvenile kicks out the
pipit’s young as they hatch. We saw a great photo of a
juvenile Common Cuckoo being fed by a much smaller
Meadow Pipit.
Other spring migrants arriving from Africa were the
Whinchat, Stonechat, Whitethroat and Blackcap which are
much easier to identify. The female Blackcap has a brown
cap unlike the black one of the male.
Alan then showed us some of the resident birds on Mull:
Common Starlings, Tree and House Sparrows (including a
strange looking Leucistic House Sparrow), Bullfinch, Song
Thrush, Grey Heron and the rarely seen European
Kingfisher. Alan explained how the Crossbill extracts seeds
from pine cones.
There are 4 different Wagtails on Mull: the common Pied
Wagtail, the White Wagtail which is a sub-species of the
Pied Wagtail and are less in number, Yellow Wagtail which is
rare on Mull perhaps 1-2 birds a year and the Grey Wagtail
which is often mistaken for the Yellow Wagtail because of
the yellow on its breast. Other birds were: the Dipper and
the Ring Ouzel which is from the Blackbird family having
similar eggs and appearance to the Blackbird except for a
white bib.
Yellowhammer photo © Alan Spellman
Most visitors to Mull come to see the resident Golden Eagles
and White-tailed Eagles. The White-tailed Eagle has a
wingspan of around 9ft. The juveniles have chocolaty-brown
heads which lighten to white in adulthood. The mountain
hare is brown in summer but turns grey in winter and it is
the main food for the White-tailed Eagle. White-tailed Eagles
usually produce 1 or 2 juveniles; the first pair arriving on
Mull produced 36 young over the years. Other raptors were
the Hen Harrier which has a stronghold of 24 pairs on Mull
(they are illegally shot elsewhere) and the Marsh Harrier of
which only 1-2 pass through. Alan drew our attention to
their facial mask which helps them to pick up sounds of
their food source rats, mice, voles and small birds.
Alan introduced us to the Long-eared Owl and Short-eared
Owls which fly in daylight on Mull with stunning photos of
them. We saw images of waders: Oystercatcher (the black
and white emblem of the Mull Bird Club), Greenshank (over
winters on Mull), Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Common
Sandpiper, Dunlin, Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits
which stop for 2-3 days on their migration south from
Iceland and again on their return, and Bar-tailed Godwits
which are resident on Mull. We also saw the unusual looking
duck; the Goosander.
Birdwatchers visiting Mull are keen to see the Corncrake
which is secretive and hard to see let alone be
photographed. Alan apologised for not being able to show us
this bird but perhaps by the time he visits next he will have
been successful.
Thank you Alan for yet another wonderful presentation with
stunning photographs, knowledgeable information, insights
and good humour; we hope you will visit us again in the not
too distant future.
Lyrebird Tales
June 2018 7
Saturday January 13 - Breakfast with the Birds on the
property of Julie and Paul Bailey,Badger Creek area
Sandwiched between rains on Friday night and Saturday
afternoon was a very pleasant morning of bird-watching on
a beautiful Nature Trust – covenanted property set in the
foothills above Healesville. Advertised as a “breakfast with
the birds” those having breakfast were certainly having it
with the birds as a large flock of about 30 Red Wattlebirds
were extracting their breakfasts from the red and orange
flowers of nearby flowering gums. A number of Willie
Wagtails, Eastern Rosellas, and Crimson Rosellas, and a
dead young Spotted Pardalote (not to mention an Alpaca
and wool-shedding sheep) completed the breakfast scene.
Grey Fantail photo © Valerie Fowler
Walking from the house down through the nearby forest, we
encountered Brown Thornbills, more Crimson Rosellas and
Red Wattlebirds, several White-throated Treecreepers,
Superb Fairy-Wrens, and Eastern Yellow Robins, but the
highlight was a Grey Fantail incubating her eggs on a nest
right beside the main driveway through the forest.
Lower down near the creek through the property, we spent
some time admiring the Golden Whistlers but photographers
were frustrated by their lack of desire to strike a good pose
when cameras came out. Silvereyes, Yellow-faced
Honeyeaters, Red-browed Finches, White-browed
Scrubwrens, and the ubiquitous Crimson Rosellas were also
active. Above all this flew a Square-tailed Kite. A walk along
a track beside the creek resulted in Australian King Parrots
being added to our bird list. An Eastern Whipbird continually
called us onwards, moving up the valley at about the same
pace as us, always out of sight. Finally, having lead us to
near the end of the track, he stopped calling – another
frustrating bird!
We returned up to the house for lunch. While there, a small
flock of Rainbow Lorikeets descended onto a peach tree,
ignoring the moving glittering tinsel that had been put there
to deter them. Just before the bird-call, several people
guessed the number of species we had seen. Peter’s guess
of 32 turned out to be spot-on! His wife was determined not
to let this go to his head so she started searching for more
birds. Manfred soon came to her rescue with a Satin
Bowerbird. Lunch was abandoned as the Bowerbird was
tracked to a nest in a nearby tree, before flying away. Thus
ended a most enjoyable trip. Thank you Julie and Paul for
your hospitality. Michael Feller
Wednesday January 24 – Outing to Mount Donna Buang
Scarlet Robin photo © Alan Spellman
Nine of us met at the top car park. It was a nice morning, a
little overcast but very pleasant. We decided to go down the
track which starts at the end of the car park – it was quite
steep with a lot of rocks, but lined with magnificent myrtle
beech trees (Nothofagus Cunninghamii).
Unlike the last outing when we were here it was eerily quiet,
there were no White-browed Scrub Wrens. We heard a
Golden Whistler, but it wasn’t sighted. Further down the
track we heard a couple of Superb Lyrebirds calling in the
distance.
We went along the service road and Geoff identified a
female Robin. Then an adult Grey Currawong with an
immature Grey Currawong were sighted. Crimson Rosellas
were making a lot of noise up in the treetops as we
backtracked towards the lower car parks. There we spotted
a male Scarlet Robin, accompanied by the female.
Suddenly there were birds & noises everywhere – a swarm
of Silvereyes, Brown Thornbills, a couple of Scrub Wrens.
Back in the top car park we had a quiet lunch. Bird Call
count was only 14 species but it was a beautiful day to be
out with the birds and friends. Manfred Hennig
Saturday February 10 – Outing – Mason’s Falls, Kinglake
National Park
Although there were a few patches of misty drizzle, the
weather was fine but windy – so we had to listen hard to
hear bird calls.
Nine of us walked the Lyrebird Circuit first. We heard
Lyrebirds calling but they were some distance away, and not
sighted. A few Crimson Rosellas made an appearance, and
then a family of Fairy Wrens skittered across the path. Up
high, a loud piping towhee-towhee call drew our attention to
a male Satin Flycatcher perched above – a good sighting.
Towards the end of the Circuit on the way to the Falls we
came across White – browed Scrub Wrens, one on the path
the other sitting on a post. We heard a few Brown Thornbills
Lyrebird Tales
8 Lyrebird Tales
with their typical harsh tchirt tchirt call finishing with a
trilling to-weet-et-wrrtt .*
Two Yellow Faced Honeyeaters were noted flying across the
Falls. On the way back we first heard the clear repetitive call
of an Eastern Yellow Robin and then saw it deep in the
shrub thicket. As we arrived at the picnic shelter, a Lyrebird
scuttled off into the bush. Over lunch a family of boisterous
Australian Magpies made a nuisance of themselves stealing
food at the picnic tables, while a Grey Currawong watched
attentively. A White-browed Scrub Wren zipped in and out
underneath the shelter wall to the picnic bench making a
dash for crumbs on the ground.
After lunch we went for a short walk up the hill to a much
drier part of the Park and found a White-throated
Treecreeper, heard the territorial tchee-tchee-tchee-tuwhit
call of the Golden Whistler and saw Grey Fantails flitting
around. Doug spotted a White-naped Honeyeater high up in
a white flowering Eucalypt. Returning to the car park we
noticed a Grey Shrike Thrush and a Magpie Lark.
Some of us drove up to Mount Sugarloaf and witnessed the
departure of a solitary LBB. Just before he left for home
Doug saw a soaring Wedge- tailed Eagle, which explains the
absence of feathered friends. Geoff would call it a ‘quality
not quantity’ day.
*Call descriptions from ‘The Australian Birdguide’ 2017 pp
352, 454 & 478 Manfred
Tuesday February 13 – Meeting – Speaker Caroline Wilson
from Birdlife
Topic: The Threatened Bird Network: the importance of
volunteers in conserving threatened birds.
Speaker: Project Officer in charge of Woodland Birds for the
Threatened Bird Network (TBN) of Birdlife Australia.
Talk: The TBN is basically a community engagement
project, established in 1996, aiming to encourage people to
participate in urgent conservation tasks to help threatened
birds. It has >13,000 volunteers in Australia with approx.
30-40 new members per month. It has many government
and NGO partners and has projects across Australia,
although more in Victoria than in any other state.
It promotes bird conservation at stalls at various events,
through education at schools, and by running workshops on
different issues. It participates in threatened bird recovery
teams and manages several projects, such as those
associated with Powerful Owls, Painted Snipes, and Plains
Wanderers.
A survey of its members indicated approx. 70% were older
than 55 years, 51% were male, 52% were retired, and most
were from SE Australia. About 1/3 of members actively
volunteer and prefer field work over indoor work. Most
continue to volunteer because they a) enjoy and are
interested in nature and the outdoors, b) like the
organisation and its efficacy, c) contribute to conservation
and science, d) benefit personally and socially, and e)
contribute to local communities.
Several major projects were discussed. These were –
1. Glossy Black Cockatoo (Kangaroo Island, SA)
2. Australasian Bittern (SE and SW Australia)
3. Western Ground Parrot (WA)
4. Malleefowl (southern Australia)
5. Orange-bellied Parrot (SE Australia, including
Tasmania)
Projects in the Yarra Valley are –
1. Helmeted Honeyeater
2. Birds on Farms (encouraging birds in many areas,
including Yarra valley)
3. Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (bird
monitoring focussing on climate change)
4. Powerful Owl
5. Bird Atlas project.
Members were encouraged to get involved to assist
conservation of birds and threatened birds, in particular.
Wednesday February 28 – Outing to Spadonis Reserve
Ten participants spent a warm, blustery morning being
overwhelmed with birds near the banks of the Yarra in
Yering. Although only 34 species were seen or heard,
numbers of some were rather high. More than 30 individuals
were seen for each of – Little Ravens, Welcome Swallows,
and Silvereyes. There was much debate about the number
of Silvereyes – one estimate was 99+ but it was uncertain
whether or not there were fewer Silvereyes flitting
backwards and forwards or just more overall. The consensus
(not unanimous) was for a conservative estimate. The noise
resulting from strong winds blowing through the trees (one
tree was actually blown down across the access road –
Victoria Rd. – while we were in the reserve, but fortunately
covered only half of it) might have obscured some bird calls,
but our tally was still respectable.
Some flowering eucalypts seemed to have attracted a few
honeyeaters – a couple of New Holland Honeyeaters, as well
as 6 Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and quite a few Red
Wattlebirds, were sighted. Numerous insects, including
some biting mosquitoes, kept the insectivores happy, with a
dozen or more Grey Fantails, either inquisitive or attracted
to the mosquitoes buzzing around us, making numerous
forays over and around and between us, coming very close,
eliminating the need for high magnification telephoto lenses
as they posed in the sunlight. Red-browed Finches and
Brown Thornbills were also quite common as, surprisingly,
were also White-faced Herons, with about 10 being seen. At
one point Manfred and Doug disappeared, to resurface 15
minutes later, having seen a Masked Lapwing and a
Nankeen Night Heron, amongst others. Unfortunately
Blackbirds, Common Mynas, and a Common Starling were
also present. No birds were seen in the rushes, as occurred
on a previous trip to this area.
Lyrebird Tales
June 2018 9
Above all this soared a Wedge-tailed Eagle being harassed
by a Little Raven while the raven’s mates kicked up a racket
below.
The Yarra Ranges Council and Melbourne Water deserve
credit for putting a significant effort into protecting the
banks of the Yarra, allowing more water to flow into the
billabong present in the reserve (perhaps this may increase
the bird population in the rushes), and revegetating the
reserve, including increasing the numbers of trees present,
particularly the rare and endangered Buxton Gum
(Eucalyptus crenulata), which naturally now grows only in 2
areas – near Buxton and in Spadonis reserve. Michael Feller
Saturday March 10 – Warramate Hills Conservation
Reserve, Gruyere
On a fine sunny morning, 7 birdwatchers gathered in the
parking area and were greeted by a flock of 25 – 30 Gang
Gang Cockatoos. Also present were a few Eastern Rosellas
and some raucous Crimson Rosellas flying around. Walking
along the track we were surprised to see so many Grey
Fantails; they were so common that we started to observe
their plumage more closely trying to guess each individual’s
age by the colour of their feathers.
The area was so dry that species such as the Rufous Fantail,
Cuckoos and Flycatchers were missing. There were several
trees in flower and halfway along our walk near the river on
a branch extending over the track was a Silvereye on a
nest. We were astonished to see only a lone Varied Sittella
instead of the usual flock. Other birds seen included White-
throated Treecreeper, Brown and Striated Thornbills, Rufous
and Golden Whistler, Superb fairy-wren, Grey Shrike-thrush
and Yellow-faced Honeyeater; none of these species were
common.
Returning to the car park after cutting the walk short due to
the increasing heat, we found a gang of Noisy Miners
chasing off all the other birds. Total species for the day was
37. Thanks Glenn for leading the walk.
Tuesday March 13 – Meeting – Speaker Christine Connolly
– Subject: Effects of Melbourne's urbanisation on Eastern
Yellow Robins
Christine was a PHD student at Deakin University and came
to talk to us about her study of Eastern Yellow Robins. Her
research was to understand the impacts of urbanisation and
climate change on the species. She said that with a
predicted 6.3 billion people to be living in urban areas in the
world by 2050 the changes to bird habitat will be enormous
with many species becoming extinct.
For her study, Christine used mapping sites showing tree
density, greenness of landscape, topographical, land use,
presence of rivers and Birdlife survey results to work out
suitable habitat sites where there were Yellow Robins. She
discounted urban areas which were unlikely to support the
species. We saw maps showing vegetation removal,
settlement and agriculture.
Christine’s study covered 60 sites in urban forest habitat,
140 sites in urban areas and also 25 sites where she did
intensive work including capture, banding, measurement,
DNA and breeding records. The main sites studied were in
the Dandenong Ranges, Dandenong Creek, Wilson Reserve
and Shepherds Bush. Christine discussed the habitat and
requirements for Yellow Robins to survive such as size of the
habitat area, tree cover (to protect them from aerial
predation), ground cover for foraging and corridors of
vegetation. Her studies looked at what each site had to offer
and whether the habitat or lack of ideal conditions affected
the size or reproduction of the species.
Yellow Robin photo © Valerie Fowler
Christine looked at the impacts of land use. In the urban
areas she found fragmentation of habitat and what was left
was degraded. Whilst the species was able to somewhat
adapt, it changed the resources for Yellow Robins with more
competition for food, increased predators and loss of
movement of breeding individuals resulting in a lack of gene
flow with more or all birds related.
We were told about the most ideal habitats for Yellow
Robins and how degraded areas can be improved which
included a high canopy cover to give shade and help
retention of moisture, an understory of less than half a
metre and groundcover of 20-30% to attract invertebrates.
Also needed are corridors of vegetation for birds to pass
from one area to the next to allow birds to breed. Christine
monitored nest sites and the study of the Yellow Robins
reproduction and found that in urban areas more nests were
abandoned whilst more young fledged in the forest.
Thank you Christine for an informative and interesting talk
delivered with great enthusiasm, your knowledge of Eastern
Yellow Robins and their habitat needs are extensive.
Wednesday March 28 – Outing Pound Bend
It was a sunny but windy 24°c day at Pound Bend. The
group of 8 birdwatchers was led by Manfred and Geoff.
Along the Yarra River banks only a Dusky Moorhen was
seen. There were several honeyeaters: Yellow-faced, White-
naped and White-eared Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebird,
Eastern Spinebill and the most numerous were (30) Noisy
Miners. Parrot species were: Galah, Long-billed Corellas,
King Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet,
Crimson and Eastern Rosellas.
Other birds included: Grey Fantails (20), Grey Shrike
Thrush, Golden Whistler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and
White-winged Choughs. The highlight was seeing a flock of
Lyrebird Tales
10 Lyrebird Tales
White-throated Needletails (estimated 50+) flying overhead
and a single Peaceful Dove. Total bird species was 31
Tuesday April 10 - Meeting – Speaker Bruce Quin,
Subject: The Helmeted Honeyeater program 2018
Bruce has been the Ornithologist for the Helmeted
Honeyeater Recovery Program for almost 25 years and
oversees the monitoring, protection and rehabilitation of the
Helmeted Honeyeater in the wild.
Bruce firstly paid tribute to the Bird Observers Club of
Australia, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union and
Victorian Ornithological Research Group for Helmeted
Honeyeater surveying and associated lobbying of the
Victorian Government that led to the proclamation of the
Yellingbo State Faunal Reserve, now called Yellingbo Nature
Conservation Reserve (Yellingbo NCR).
Bruce said there are 4 sub-species of Yellow-tufted
Honeyeaters and explained how the Helmeted Honeyeater
Lichenostomus melanops cassidix differed in appearance,
having the brightest plumage, a more-pronounced crest of
forehead feathers and a distinct line on the back of its head
(the nape region), where the gold colour of the head meets
the greyish colour also present on the neck and back. In
adult Helmeted Honeyeaters, the nape line is distinct
because of a sudden change from one colour to the other,
where-as in adults of the other subspecies the colours
merge, forming an indistinct nape line. In juvenile
Helmeted Honeyeaters the nape line is indistinct, their
plumage is not as bright as that of the adult, their legs are a
pink-grey colour and their eyes are chocolate brown
(compared to red-brown in adult birds). Juvenile Helmeted
Honeyeaters also have yellow or brown on their beaks.
Bruce showed us a historic map showing where Helmeted
Honeyeaters used to occur but now they are almost
exclusively recorded in Yellingbo Nature Conservation
Reserve. In a bid to save the critically endangered Helmeted
Honeyeater from extinction, a captive breeding program
was set up at Healesville Sanctuary in 1989, the year the
intensive Recovery Program began. The raised fledglings
have been mainly released into Yellingbo, but also Bunyip
State Park (Bunyip SP) between 2001 and 2011. However,
no breeding pairs have been found in Bunyip SP in recent
years and the last time a Helmeted Honeyeater was
recorded there was in August 2017 and it was with a
gippslandicus individual. Unfortunately, much of the
Helmeted Honeyeater reintroduction program at Bunyip SP
occurred during the Millennium drought. Unexpectedly,
some of the Helmeted Honeyeaters dispersed to habitat
burnt on Black Saturday within 10 months of that day.
He said that studies showed that Helmeted Honeyeaters
prefer a dense mid-storey of shrubs (Paperbark and Teatree
species and Prickly Currant-bush are particularly important)
in swamp and riparian habitat with a canopy dominated by
Mountain Swamp Gum, Swamp Gum and Manna Gum.
Water flow in Cockatoo Swamp within one location was
altered prior to it being part of Yellingbo NCR, causing
pooling of water and dieback of the Myrtaceae species from
1992 onwards. Earlier this year, Melbourne Water
commenced a four-year trial that pumps water out of this
area of Cockatoo Swamp to restore optimal hydrological
conditions for vegetation condition/regeneration (after
several years of data collection).
Helmeted Honeyeater nests are quite often built in the
above-mentioned shrubs, but also other species such as
Blackwood and Sweet Bursaria and the female incubates the
eggs (generally two, but occasionally one or three) for 14
days. Nestlings are fed by both parents and helpers related
to the male can also participate in raising the young, which
leave the nest after 13 days. There are many predators of
nest contents; Laughing Kookaburras, Pied Currawongs,
Brush-tailed Possums and in Bunyip State Park, Tiger
Snakes. Additionally, predation of one brood of two
nestlings and one female with two eggs was almost certainly
by Fox, judging by the presence of this species’ fur on the
shrubs containing these nests.
Two bouts of nest protecting have occurred at Yellingbo
NCR, where mesh cages were put around nests. In both
instances, there was a tendency for the nest success rate to
increase considerably for a season or two, but then fall to
the level of unprotected nests. It is thought that predators
worked out what they were and became attracted to them
so this practice was abandoned. However, Bruce said that
in the last breeding season six Currawongs were seen
hanging around one Helmeted Honeyeater nest, forcing him
to re-think whether a ‘short stint’ (two breeding seasons) of
nest protecting should be re-instated at carefully selected
sites. Perspex protectors wrapped around the trunks of
shrubs containing nests were also used in an attempt to
stop snakes from accessing them in Bunyip SP. The success
of this work will be looked at soon using a subtle form of
analysis to determine if it is worth using in areas containing
Tiger Snakes that Helmeted Honeyeaters are re-introduced
to.
A small number of captive-bred eggs or nestlings were
introduced into nests in Bunyip SP with good success rates,
but the main form of reintroduction has been the release of
adults or immatures from aviaries at both Yellingbo NCR and
Bunyip SP. In last year’s September release, one male
disappeared on the release day and the other three
individuals survived for three months before disappearing. It
is hoped that the missing birds have moved to a different
area not yet surveyed.
One of the factors that is believed to have aided the
Helmeted Honeyeater’s recovery at Yellingbo NCR is
expanding the supplementary feeding program. Sue Tardif
of Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater coordinates the
program which has a regime of providing 50% of the diet of
five colonies of Helmeted Honeyeaters year-round while
habitat conditions improve (note that there are also two
small, self-sustaining colonies). It was found that
combining the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 breeding seasons,
92% of fledglings survived to 12 months of age compared
with 56% between 1984 to 1997 when no supplementary
feeding occurred.
Lyrebird Tales
June 2018 11
Geneticists from Monash University have analysed the
genetics of the Helmeted Honeyeaters at Yellingbo NCR and
Bunyip SP; a small sample of blood was taken from the
brachial vein under the wing of each individual for this
purpose. The results showed that Helmeted Honeyeaters are
losing genetic diversity (they are less gippslandicus
influenced) and those individuals with reduced genetic
variation are producing fewer fledglings. A program with
deliberate cross breeding is not expected to produce
adverse effects. A genetic rescue trial in captivity that
ultimately aims to reinvigorate the Helmeted Honeyeater
gene pool and improve individuals' fitness has been
established. Hybrids will be back-crossed with Helmeted
Honeyeaters and the resulting offspring released into
Yellingbo NCR to make the Helmeted Honeyeater population
more genetically diverse. Positively, in Yellingbo NCR
Helmeted Honeyeaters are choosing partners which are
least related to them.
Bruce said the inland meltoni subspecies of the Yellow-
tufted Honeyeater were more nomadic than the
gippslandicus subspecies and have been seen in parts of the
historical range of Helmeted Honeyeaters during the
Recovery Program, including Yellingbo, Alma Mitchell’s
Healesville home, Coranderrk Bushland, Upper Beaconsfield
and Bunyip SP, usually in the autumn and winter and
occasionally in spring. This means that they mostly
disappear before the Helmeted Honeyeaters start breeding.
In the last breeding season there were 36 breeding pairs
consisting of 73 individuals (one bird switched partners);
they produced 61 fledglings. It is estimated that there are
approximately 200 Helmeted Honeyeaters in the wild. The
longest lived Helmeted Honeyeater in the wild was 16 years
of age when he disappeared, though he had not bred for
several seasons. But several others successfully bred at 15
years of age, before disappearing.
Bruce talked of the ongoing revegetation, weed control,
fencing of revegetation plots to protect plants from
browsers, deer control, fox baiting and Bell Miner control.
This work is done by Parks Victoria and Friends of the
Helmeted Honeyeater and their contractors; Melbourne
Water and the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment
Management Authority are active in the reserve too.
Volunteer feeders also assist in monitoring the health of
individual Helmeted Honeyeaters and Veterinary staff at
Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre
(AWHC) successfully re-habilitate most sick or injured
honeyeaters. Injuries have occurred to eyes and legs and
twelve months ago a female lost all but one of her
secondary feathers on her right wing (due to a suspected
predator attack). A small number of wild Helmeted
Honeyeaters have succumbed to Aspergillosis, a respiratory
disease caused by the fungus Aspergillus that is found in
most places in the environment.
Bruce said 15 birds had needed medical attention since July
2017 and during the last few months gout has become a
serious concern with several Helmeted Honeyeaters
requiring euthanasia. AWHC Veterinary staff will work with a
Wildlife Nutritionist and the Recovery Team to identify a
cause.
What are some major achievements for the Helmeted
Honeyeater project over the last 5 years?
- increasing the wild population of Helmeted Honeyeaters
from 60 individuals to approximately 200 individuals.
- increasing the number of breeding pairs in the wild to 36
for the 2017/2018 breeding season (a record number for
the lifetime of the Recovery Program).
- increasing the number of fledglings in the wild to 68 during
the 2015/2016 breeding season (a record number for the
lifetime of the Recovery Program).
- 59 captive-bred Helmeted Honeyeaters released into the
wild during 2013-2017
- approximately 150 people regularly volunteering their time
to the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater associated
activities - native plant nursery days; re-vegetation days;
supplementary feeding of wild Helmeted Honeyeaters.
Thank you Bruce for your update on the status of the
Helmeted Honeyeater; your work for this threatened species
is phenomenal and appreciated by all birdwatchers. This
dedication was illustrated by your informative and enjoyable
presentation.
Saturday April 14 – Outing to Murrindindi Scenic Reserve
Outing to Murrindindi Scenic Reserve, Saturday 14 April
2018
Doug, Bob and I met at the Scenic Reserve Picnic Ground at
9.30. There was a slight drizzle of rain and Doug saw a flock
of between forty and fifty Red Wattle Birds flying overhead.
We went for a short walk on the other side of the
suspension bridge and heard a White-throated Tree Creeper,
one distant Lyrebird, and Brown Thornbills.
The rain increased and it became unpleasant so we decided
to come in. At the picnic shelter we noticed some Magpies,
Little Ravens, and high above about a dozen Yellow Tailed
Black Cockatoos noisily flew overhead.
In all we saw fifteen species and because of the weather we
decided to call it a day.
On the way back Bob and I stopped at the Forest Discovery
Centre in Toolangi and after a hot coffee looked at their
interesting display about the discovery and ongoing
protection of the Leadbeater Possum. We also saw a short
film on the life of a Mountain Ash from top to bottom, and
the history of logging in and around Toolangi and
Healesville. The Forest Discovery Centre is open on the
weekends and is worth a visit.
Answer to What Bird is that?
Black-fronted Dotterel
Lyrebird Tales
12 Lyrebird Tales
BirdLife Yarra Valley
email: [email protected]
Postal address: Birdlife Australia, Yarra Valley Branch, P.O.
Box 1172, Healesville, Vic. 3777.
Meetings are held in the Badger Creek Hall Meeting Room at
7.45 p.m. Badger Creek Rd. Badger Creek (next to
CFA). Melway Edn 39 278 F8.
Meetings and Outings automatically cancelled on days
of Total Fire Ban in the Central and North-central Fire
Districts. (Central unless notified otherwise)
Calendar July to September
July
Tuesday 10 - No Meeting – winter recess
Saturday 14 – Outing to Heritage Wetlands, Chirnside Park
at 9.30 a.m. Directions: Meet at car park end of Lower
Homestead Rd. Melways Edn 39 279 B4
Wednesday 25 - Outing to Lillydale Lake, Lilydale at 9.30
a.m. Directions: Meet at car park near toilet block.
Melway Edn 39 38 G7.
August
Saturday 11 – Outing to The Hundred Acres, Park Orchards
9.30 a.m. Directions: Meet at Domeney Reserve Car Park
Knees Rd, Park Orchards. Melway Edn 39 35 E9.
Tuesday 14 – Meeting – Speaker Peter Fowler, Subject:
Hummingbird Encounters
Wednesday 22 – Outing the Yellingbo Nature Conservation
Reserve, Yellingbo at 9.30 a.m. The ground could be very
wet so bring suitable footwear. Directions: From
Macclesfield Rd turn into Shield Rd. Meet at picnic area.
Melway Edn. 39 305 F12
September
Saturday 8 - Outing to Kurth Kiln Regional Park Gembrook
at 9.30 a.m. Directions: Melway Edn 39 page 14 R10. If
coming from Lilydale on the Warburton Highway turn right
just before Woori Yallock on to the Healesville-Koo-Wee Rup
Rd. After approx. 10 kms turn left into Beenak Rd and
follow to Kurth Kiln Picnic and camping area.
Tuesday 11 – Meeting – Speaker TBA
Wednesday 26 – Outing to Botanic Gardens Cranbourne at
9.30 a.m. Directions: Entry from Ballarto Rd and follow to
Visitor Centre car park. Melway Edn 39 133 K10.
Calendar October to December 2018
Basic Dates only. Check September newsletter for
further details
October
Tuesday 9 - Meeting - Speaker Marian Weaving, Subject:
Tawny Frogmouths in the urban environment.
Saturday 13 – Outing Yea Wetland. Meet at 9.30am at Yea
Wetlands picnic area Melway Edn. 39 X910 Q8 North-east
Fire District ( this outing may continue to Ghin Ghin Bridge
Cathkin Reserve, Cathkin)
Wednesday 24- Outing Mount St Leonard at 9.30 am.
Directions: Take the Mt Leonard/Myers Creek Rd from
Healesville. Look for the Mt St Leonard Lookout Tower sign
& turn right into Monda Track. Meet at the large gate
Melway Edn 39 X912 RI. Central and North Central Fire
Districts. There will also be an opportunity to continue on to
the Seismic Station in Toolangi.
November
Saturday 10 - Survey in Coranderrk Bushland 9.30 a.m.
Directions: meet at Gate 1 Badger Ave, Badger Creek
opposite Fleay Rd. Melway Edn 39 278 F10 Gate will close
at 9.30 sharp
Tuesday 13 – Meeting – Speaker Manfred Hennig Subject:
Queensland/ Atherton Tablelands
Wednesday 28 Outing to RACV Healesville Country Club at
9.30 a.m. Directions: Healesville-Kinglake Road, Healesville
Melway Edn 39 269 J12. Meet at 1st car park just inside the
entrance on the right.
December
Saturday 8 – Christmas Break-up at Badger Weir Park 9.30
a.m. Directions: Melway Edn 39 278 K9 or Page 10 Q5
Follow Badger Weir road to park. Meet at picnic spot near
toilets. (check in the September newsletter to verify
this outing).