The Grand Golf Course Bird Banding 22 January 2016

The Grand Golf Course Bird Banding: 22 January 2016

Licenced Banders: Rainer Ebel

Guests/Assistants: Matthew Ebel

Location: The Grand Golf Course, 346 Gilson Road, Gilston QLD 4211: 28°0’54” S 153°18’2”E,  “Tipster site”.  Temperature: 25-32°C; Cloud Cover: 45-90% cirrus to strato-cirrus ; Net Operation: 06:30 to 11:30= 5.0 hrs. Number of nets:  7 (2m tall by 12m long, 32mm mesh) Number of net-hrs: 35.0 net-hrs. Birds/net-hrs (Effort): 0.03. Number of birds: 1 representing 1 species.

Peaceful Dove 1.

Comment:  The effort to capture one bird was considerable but the upside to the Peaceful Dove was that every waiting minute spend sitting in the shade of some unknown deciduous tree was worth a lifetime of doves. Not only was the location one of the best banding sites ever, it was the opportunity to chat with a great friend, my son.

There were other species present such as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (12), White-throated Treecreeper (2), Eastern Robin (1), Spangled Drongo (2), Dollarbird (2), Variegated Fairy-wren (5) and one or two I have yet to learn. Of course it was the cicadas that dominated the forest and from my limited bush experience in Queensland the hot summer months are dominated by these insects, leaving little room for song birds to compete.

What I found interesting with this single capture is the timing. As with other banding efforts at The Grand (and elsewhere) it appears that birds tend to become a little more active after 09:00 hrs when the cicada clammer appears to subside.  The anecdotal observation could easily be tested if so desired by using various decibel metres and a number of nets in a forest. Anyways, that becomes another story for another time.

The Peaceful Dove is one of 25 doves/pigeons that occur in Australia. The number, one would expect in Queensland is 17 depending on the season, location, rainfall, and fruiting vegetation.

For many of the dove species found here and elsewhere, little is known of their breeding requirements  and behaviour.  The prime breeding period for the Peaceful Dove is September to February but it can also causally breed in any given month in response to unseasonable rainfall.  Once when I was banding in Costa Rica I happen upon a nesting dove at the edge of the rainforest. Like other nests constructed by doves elsewhere it was a loosely structured stick nest or platform in a shrubby tree fork. It is amazing that the one or two eggs in such an aerated structure can sustain a population.

Ageing and sexing the Peaceful Dove and its brethren is also poorly understood. For our single capture we could not determine its sex. Simply there are known or obvious indicators such as cloacal protuberance or brood patch. Bare skin areas such as around the eye were not suggestive of breeding condition, whether male or female. 

Aging this bird  is a bit more interesting because it is possible to separate an immature from an adult. The illustration to the left suggests an adult. If one looks at the primary coverts (the small  feathers over lapping the longer feathers where my thumb is located) they do not display a brown terminal edge distally. Immature birds do. So, be cause the 5th primary is relatively new the bird is undergoing a moult. The primary flight feathers distally are worn and the others medially are new and fresh looking.  Age 2+ (older than 2 years old) sex unknown.

Until next time …keep a ring nearby and Peace bro!

The Grand Bird Banding 8 January 2016

The Grand Golf Course Bird Banding: 8 January 2016

Licenced Banders:  Stephen Macdonald, and Rainer Ebel

Guests: No Guests

Location: The Grand Golf Course, 346 Gilson Road, Gilston QLD 4211: 28°0’54” S 153°18’2”E,  “Tipster site”.  Temperature: 25 -30°C; Cloud Cover: 2-10%; Net Operation: 07:00 to 10:30= 3.5 hrs.

Number of nets:  9 (2m tall by 12m long, 32mm mesh) Number of net-hrs: 31.5 net-hrs. Birds/net-hrs (Effort): 0.13. Number of birds: 4 representing 3 species.

Brown Honeyeater 1; White-throated Honeyeater 2; White-throated Treecreeper 1.

White-throated Honeyeater; Age/Sex 2-/U

White-throated Treecreeper, common  Note the claws  

Brown Honeyeater (2+/U), one of our smaller  honeyeaters, The Scarlet
Honeyeater is the smallest in size. Interestingly enough through
DNA analysis the Scarlet is considered by some to be within a Corvid
super family; in other words, related to a Common Raven. Go figure

COMMENT

We had to close the nets early due to a personal commitment. The nets would also have been closer a little later as it was becoming hotter by the half hour, especially for  some of our nets that where located in direct sunshine.

Weather conditions were relatively hot and humid (80%).   Forest floor litter abundant and the forest undergrowth is sparse and not much different from our previous visit. In the dry scherophyll forest where the "Tipster "banding site is located, it was "dead" quiet except for the CICADAS -almost deafening . Their  incessant noise may be responsible for keeping perhaps the majority of the passerines at bay and from the nets. It is only a thought but some banders do agree the noise may be responsible for low capture rates but, as far as I know there are no studies to say one way other another. 

I though I had a quality sample of their racket but it turned out it was rather blah and weak. Next time.    

Other Observations

An additional 15 birds recorded while at our station and on the fairways. 

Ciacadas at The Spit

My first Netted Cicada at The Spit, Main Beach Qld: January 4, 2016  

G. R. A. Ebel, Sanctuary Cove Qld

I know nothing of cicadas but I am fascinated by their summer presences and the noise they admit screaming, rattling or drumming, for what I suspect is, display of power, wealth and ultimately, sex.   Power could be equated with the clear loud persistent drumming; wealth perhaps territory or at least the spot where the drumming occurs, and (not knowing the cicada's sex act) if female cicada is attracted to male cicada there will be a release of genetic material. And so life goes on.

What I thought was a Razor Grinder Cicada (you gotta love that name) might well turn out to be a White Drummer (Arunda perulata). The one in the video is in all likelihood a male since the large white tymbals covers are visible and very obvious. The single drum beat is evident; just imagine the single beat repeated several hundred times a second; its one deafening sound to be sure but carries a long way. Apparently, the females do not have the drum or tymbal.

This species is found along coastal south east Queensland and apparently quite common in Banksias and Casuarinas on the Spit and appear in December and January. Female cicadas lay eggs exclusively on live branches. Thanks to David B for introducing me to this rather charming insect.

There will be future updates as more information becomes available. 

Banding at the Spit

The Spit Bird Banding: January 4, 2016. 

Licenced Banders: David Braithwaite, Stephen Macdonald, and Rainer Ebel

Location: The Spit Site, Seaworld Dr Main Beach  QLD : .56J 542050 E 6909186N

Temperature: 22-27°C; Cloud Cover: 100%; Net Operation: 05:00 to 9:30 = 4.5 hrs.

Number of nets:  7  (2.5 m tall by 12m long, 32mm mesh) Number of net-hrs: 49.5 net-hrs. Birds/net-hrs (Effort): 0.14. Number of birds: 31birds  representing, 2 species

3

Silvereye 28 [4: 3 were initially banded on the 28/11/2015, and 1 on the 4/12/2015]                         Tawny Grassbird 3.

Comment

Weather conditions were relatively hot, dry with a slight on shore  south easterly wind; the quiet before the anticipated storm scheduled for the coming day

Other Observations

An additional 30 birds recorded while at the station.  Brown Honeyeater is finally returning from wherever they nest during the spring/flowering period.

Location of The Spit. To the right the beaches and Pacific Ocean, to the left The Broadwater. The Banding station is located  approximately 1-200 m south of the "square" near the tip.

View north of the beaches south of our banding station

View south of the kilometres of beaches and the sky scarpers of Surfers Paradise (Not!)

Tawny Grassbird

Silvereye ( resident and migrant population exists

Habitat at the banding site

author in a very happy place

Eagleby January 3, 2016

Eagleby Bird Banding  January 3, 2016

Banders: David Braithwaite, Stephen Macdonald,  Dave, Edwards, Rainer Ebel, Lucy Coleman, Jon Colman, Miriam Braithwaite, Patrick Webster,  Tz-Yu Liau (Jean), Keith Rigby, Brenda and Graham Smith, Dale(?)

Location: Eagleby Welands. 56J522788 E 6935269N

Temperature: 22-24°C; Cloud Cover: 100%; Light Rain. Net Operation: 05:30:30 to 09:30 = 4. hrs.

Number of nets:  21  (293 metres of netting) Number of net-hrs: 64 net-hrs. Birds/net-hrs (Effort): 0.45. Number of birds: 29 representing, 12 species.

Tawny Grassbird 1 [R], Red-browed Finch 5 [R] Brown Honeyeater 2, Rufous Fantail 3 [2R], Lewin's Honeyeater 2, Double-barred Finch 1 (Photo), Azure Kingfisher 2 (Photo), Silvereye 8 [6R]; Variegated Fairy-wren 1, Mangrove Gerygone 1, Little Shrike-Thrush 1, Eastern Yellow Robin 2

           

Definitions: [R] : generic recapture

When  I discuss recaptures the terms repeat and returns are often used.  A bird banded at a site and is recaptured at the same site after 90 days is considered a return. A repeat is a recaptured bird banded at a site and, is recaptured at the same site within 90 days.  A foreign re-trap or recapture is a banded bird from an unknown location.

Eagleby Band Site: melqleucca scrub from rubber boots to shorts

Total Head measurement for Azure Kingfisher

Azure Kingfisher

Double-barred Finch

Little Shrike-Thrush

Yellow Eastern Robin

Fabulous gum trees

Comment

29 birds is considered a good day. The Rufous Fantails are beginning to reappear late summer to start their over wintering in the lowlands.

And my walk to the site produced two Black-necked Storks or if you dare, Jabiru. A wing span of 2 m and 1.4 m tall.

Other Observations

Summary of Birds Ringed on The Grand from February to early April 2014

In February 2014, the author met with Rod Cook and Michael Bowers to discuss the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (AICSP).  It was agreed that I would undertake the site assessment. Because out reach activities are important and a part of the requirements for the AICSP it was suggested that piloting bird banding in 2014/15 would not only serve as a long term activity but a valuable tool for developing avian baseline information on the property. As a result, several station sites on the property were selected but the area identified as the dumpsite for the golf course became most productive. Other sites will be assessed in the near future.

The objectives for avian population monitoring through capturing and ringing birds in a highly managed and modified habitat such as The Grand GC are:

• ·      To gather avian baseline information by using a constant mist-netting effort (i.e. constant number of nets in permanent location for a constant time period)

• ·      To determine the presence and seasonal occurrence of resident, and migrating birds

• ·      To determine avian population changes over time

• ·      To determine robustness or health of species in a managed environment and compare with similar populations elsewhere within south east Queensland

For each species captured and ringed, we collected the following morphometric and associated data (e.g. age, sex, wing chord, tail, total head, exposed culmen, bill to skull, tarsus, radius, weight fat, skull pneumaticitization, muscle, primary moult/wear, photos, time, date) during our visits to the GC (Table 3 ).  Five 12-metre long by 31-mm mesh mist nets were operated in permanent locations for approximately 6 hours each visit beginning at 0700 hrs.  A daily site census was obtained when possible.  However, if there was a chance of a unacceptable risk to captured birds or birds in the nets, collecting sight observations were forgone.

Stephen Macdonald and Rainer Ebel, both licenced bird ringers in Queensland, are supporters of the Southeastern Queensland Bird Banding Group.  This group is composed of a dozen or so other licenced ringers and interested supporters and is organized by Jonathan Coleman, who is the master permit holder.  The group does not purport to a structured format or organization.  Most banding is done on weekends by the group and at predestinated locations in specific habitats outside of the Grand GC

Five banding days in 2014 (Feb 25, March 5, March 22, March 31, April 04) at The Grand were devoted to capturing, handling, and processing 64 birds representing 12 species (Table 1). White-throated Honeyeater was most abundant followed by Golden Whistler and Red-browed Finch.

The large number of White-throated Honeyeaters may represent local family groups or post breeding dispersal movements while the other abundant species may be more sedentary.

 Table 1.  List of captured species with their banding codes, numbers banded, and their relative abundance during late February to early April 2014.

Species	Banding Code	Number Captured	Relative Abundance (%)
White-throated Honeyeater	WTHO	15	23.4
Golden Whistler	GOWH	12	18.8
Red-browed Finch	RBFI	10	15.6
Eastern Yellow Robin	EYRO	6	9.4
White-browed Scrubwren	WBSC	6	9.4
Rufous Fantail	RUFA	4	6.3
Laughing Kookaburra	LAKO	3	4.7
Superb Fairy-wren	SFWR	3	4.7
Grey Fantail	GRFA	2	3.1
Long-billed Scrubwren	LBSC	1	1.6
Lewin’s Honeyeater	LEHO	1	1.6
White-throated Treecreeper	WTTR	1	1.6
Total		64	100.2
Species		12

 Table 1.  List of captured species with their banding codes, numbers banded, and their relative abundance during late February to early April 2014.

 The daily banding effort at two station sites on The Grand is presented in Table 2.  A total of 26 birds were captured on March 22 and 17 birds on April 4 representing an effort of 0.8 and 0.6 birds per net hour, respectively.  The capture rate (less that one bird per hour) appears insignificant but may in fact be normal for dry sclerophyll forest habitat from late February to early April found at the dump or in southeast Queensland.  Species occurrence and bird numbers are locally dependent on floral presence (honeyeaters) and prey availability.  Regional climatic conditions often regulate the occurrence and distribution of avian species at a local level. Post breeding dispersal, migration, and seasonal occurrence and altitudinal movements are important factors that define the presences and absence of a number of species in the southeast region of Queensland.

Date: 2014	Hours Banding	No. of Birds Captured	No. of Nets	Net- hours	Effort (Birds/net-hour	Site	Coordinates
25 Feb	5.0	0	5	25.0	0	W of the large turf nursery	28° 1’ 12”S    153° 18’ 16”E
5 Mar	5.30	8	5	26.5	0.3	Dump area	28° 0’ 54”S   153° 18’ 2”E
22 Mar	6.75	26	5	33.75	0.8	Dump area	28° 0’ 54”S   153° 18’ 2”E
31 Mar	5.15	12	5	25.75	0.5	Dump area	28° 0’ 54”S   153° 18’ 2”E
4 Apr	6.0	17	5	30.0	0.6	Dump area	28° 0’ 54”S   153° 18’ 2”E
Total	28.2	63	5	141	2.2

Table 2.  Banding effort on the Grand expressed in birds/net-hour