The sight of 22 eastern curlew – the biggest of all the birds termed waders – on the Pittwater mudflats carried with it a tinge of sadness. As I watched these dramatic birds, notable for their long down-curved bills, probing for marine worms and molluscs the thought occurred to me that it might be the last time I’d see this species in such great numbers in Tasmania. It might even be the last time I saw an eastern curlew. Numbers of the curlew have been in freefall in recent … [Read more...] about Curlews bring sadness on their wings
Citizen science aids birds
The biggest citizen science project to hit Australian shores, the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, is taking place from October 20-26 and Tasmanians are being urged to join in. Thousands of people from across the country are heading into their backyards, local parks or their favourite open spaces to conduct a census of our birds. The event is the first of its kind in the country and it draws its inspiration from the Big Garden Birdwatch in Britain, which each year has about … [Read more...] about Citizen science aids birds
Lewin’s rail brings birthday surprise
MY birthday this year coincided with the two-monthly meeting of BirdLife Tasmania and I was faced with a dilemma: enjoy a celebratory evening with my family or hear a talk on endangered species. I chose the latter. As I explained to my wife and son, I’ve reached the age when birthdays are not a time for celebration and, anyway, BirdLife Tasmania meetings always turn up something interesting, a sort of celebration in themselves. This year it looked like the meeting might … [Read more...] about Lewin’s rail brings birthday surprise
Rare pardalotes in need of help
A new generation of 40-spotted pardalotes has been roaming the white gum woodlands of Bruny Island scouting nesting sites for the breeding season. The young pardalotes are the product of an ambitious program last year to supply 200 nest boxes to help halt the staggering decline in the numbers of these tiny birds, which are only found in Tasmania. The program is being run over four years by bird researcher Amanda Edworthy, with the aim of not only giving the pardalotes … [Read more...] about Rare pardalotes in need of help
Birds fly back in time
New Holland honeyeaters squabbling with brush wattlebirds over the nectar and pollen of a winter-flowering grevillea, forest ravens crossing the sky and the distant “clink, clink” of the clinking currawong. Not much had changed in 177 years, from the time that Captain Andrew Haig built an elegant home, Narryna, on Hampden Rd in Battery Point. I must have passed the house built in the Greek Revival style a hundred times over the years and never ventured in but that … [Read more...] about Birds fly back in time