Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater Update from May 2016 surveys

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1 Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater Update from May 2016 surveys Dean Ingwersen, Mick Roderick & Caroline Wilson This newsletter provides an update on the May 2016 Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater surveys, carried out on the weekend of May 14 th & 15 th (with some observers getting out a week either side of this weekend). You can also read about how to get involved with the upcoming August 2016 surveys (6 th & 7 th ). We had a great turn out by volunteers in May, with Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater surveys carried out across Victoria, NSW, ACT and Queensland. Having so many people help out allows us to cover more ground, and be confident that we are recording as many individuals (of both species) as possible, as well as any potential important foraging areas. We also trialled a regional coordinator program (with 15 volunteers putting their hand up to be a coordinator) during the May surveys, which was a success! Regional coordinators helped recruit and coordinate volunteers within their local assigned region and followed up any sighting information. Thank-you to all the coordinators who helped out, your input and local knowledge was greatly appreciated; you helped the surveys run smoothly and attributed to increased volunteer participation. If you are interested in being a regional coordinator, please let us know (woodlandbirds@birdlife.org.au). Swift Parrot Overall Swift Parrot numbers were low compared to previous May surveys, but we are hoping to see more birds during the August 2016 survey, as the birds make their way back to Tasmania. We really appreciate the efforts of survey volunteers; even when Swift Parrots numbers are low the information collected is extremely valuable for determining the presence or absence of birds at a particular time; and data on habitat (i.e. flowering trees) helps to predict the distribution of Swift Parrots for future surveys. Victoria During the survey weekend (including a week either side) there were 18 positive Swift Parrot sightings throughout Victoria. Despite the large amount of ground covered by volunteers across all of Victoria (particularly hotspots and known Swift Parrot feeding territories), 16 of the 18 positive sightings (88%) of Swift Parrots were in central and western Victoria (Simson, Deep Lead, Castlemaine, Myrtle Creek, Talbot, Betley). The greater number of sightings in central and western Victoria may be attributed to food availability; we had more reports of flowering trees (especially Yellow Gum) within these areas, compared to other survey locations. Other locations where Swift Parrots were recorded during the survey weekend were Sunbury (40km north of Melbourne) and Altona (an inner-west suburb of Melbourne).

2 There were a greater number of sightings (incidental sightings) outside of the survey weekend, particularly during March and April. The earliest Swift Parrots were spotted on the mainland was late February near Mandurang, south of Bendigo in central Victoria. The greater number of earlier sightings may be due to food availability (e.g. it is thought that Yellow Gum flowering may have peaked early this year) and birds moving further north earlier in the season. Compared to the survey weekend, Swift Parrots were more spread out during March and April, with scattered groups recorded throughout central Victoria (Rushworth, Havelock, Newstead), western Victoria (St Arnaud, Yendon, Deep Lead), far west Victoria (Warrnambool to the south and Douglas to the north), Gippsland (Cowes, Leongatha, Raymond Island), north-east Victoria (Warby-Ovens National Park near Killawarra, Chiltern, Carboor), southern Victoria along the coast (Ocean Grove and Indented Head) and Greater Melbourne (Bundoora, Greensborough, Parkville, Newport). Sightings to note: a small group (8 birds) in Douglas in north-west Victoria, west of the Grampians, Swift Parrots have not been sighted in this area for a number of years, but it was reported that conditions are currently good (Yellow Gum in moderate flower) after two very dry years. Another interesting sighting was on Raymond Island, where a small group (8 birds) were sighted in the exact location almost exactly (less two weeks) one year prior. Swift Parrots having a drink from a pond in a residential garden in the Victorian coastal town of Ocean Grove (taken by Chris Tsernjavski). There were fewer reports of Swift Parrots in Melbourne (survey weekend and incidental sightings) compared to previous years; and positive sightings were mostly restricted to the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne around Greensborough, Plenty, Eltham and Bundoora, where there are also reports of flowering pockets of Yellow Box.

3 Yellow Box blossom was the main food source for Victorian Swift Parrots; though it is thought that the flowering of Yellow Box had peaked early this year in many Victorian regions. There were also a few reports of Swift Parrots feeding on flowering Ironbark (north-east Victoria) and Grey Box (central and north-east Victoria), as well as lerp. Interestingly, there were a few known Swift Parrot hotspots that had an abundance of flowering trees, but very little Swift parrot activity compared to previous years. During the survey weekend (and including incidental sightings), group sizes of Swift Parrots ranged from 1 50, with an average of 8 birds, which is similar to previous years across Victoria ( ; though large groups of were sometimes recorded). The largest group of 50 individuals was in Warby-Ovens National Park in north-east Victoria. NSW, ACT & QLD During the May survey period in NSW, Swift Parrots were recorded mainly in the two key Spotted Gum regions of the Far South Coast and the Lower Hunter Valley. Spotted Gums have been flowering in both of these regions, and when this happens (which may only occur every 3 or 4 years), there is potential for large concentrations of Swift Parrots. Birds were recorded in both of these locations across the survey period, with approximately 150 birds counted from both sites. The first big count on the Far South Coast came from Berrambool on the 9 th May, when 50 birds were recorded flying over a property, presumably en-route to some nearby flowering Spotted Gum trees. Counts on the Far South Coast continued through the survey period, with counts of between 10 and 30 birds made at several sites. In the Lower Hunter, things kicked off with a sighting of 10 birds on the 7 th May from a property just north of the Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ) near Kurri Kurri. The same observer found a single bird within HEZ a week later, whilst reports of small numbers of Swift Parrots trickled through from HEZ during the survey period. However, the largest concentrations of Swift Parrots in the Hunter were once again on the Singleton Training Area, where about 60 birds were found on the 16 th and 17 th May. Elsewhere, reports of <10 birds (generally <5) were reported in western Sydney, the lower Blue Mountains, the Illawarra escarpment, eastern Lake Macquarie and near Paterson. No birds were reported from the ACT to BirdLife Australia during the survey period, though the very first report (incidental sighting) of Swift Parrots in the NSW/ACT for 2016 came on the 31 st March when 3 birds were reported from Mount Majura (where birds had been present in 2015). No Swift Parrots have been reported from Queensland in 2016 (in fact, the furthest north that birds have been reported this year has been the Singleton Training Area). Since the survey period, the Spotted Gum blossom appears to have waned on the Far South Coast and indications from apiarists in the area have been that the nectar-flows in this Spotted Gum flowering event have not been as strong as in previous years (one can conjecture about why this may be so). In the Lower Hunter Valley it has been noted that there is far less blossom than during the last big event in Notwithstanding, 40 birds were reported from near Little Lagoon (Mimosa Rocks NP) on the 5 th July and 133 birds were found on the Singleton Training Area on the 30 th June.

4 Perhaps, as has occurred in previous years, the largest counts will be made towards the end of the 2016 mainland Swifty season? These two photos are taken by Mick Roderick and show a Swift Parrot from the Singleton Army Base in the Hunter Valley NSW feeding on a Spotted Gum blossom (left) and then pulling the cap off the blossom to access more nectar (right). Regent Honeyeater This year is proving to be quite tough for Regent Honeyeater spotters, with the number of birds sighted so far in 2016 frustratingly low. At the time of writing fewer than 50 birds have been found across the range, leaving us to hope a decent number of Regent Honeyeaters are lurking in the woodlands waiting to be found. Early in the year (2016) there were several small flocks of birds found around the Capertee Valley in NSW, most likely dispersing birds from the spring-summer breeding event which happened there in late Birds were found across several sites including the Capertee NP, Coorongooba campground and private property. Most of these reports were of birds feeding in flowering Grey Gum. Since then there have been no sightings in the Capertee Valley, and only in recent weeks has there been any notable flowering, with patchy White Box blossom across central and southern parts of the valley. Given the ability of Regents to breed on flowering mistletoe in the River Oaks in the valley, we are still optimistic about the chances of good breeding in 2016.

5 A significant sighting early in the year was of a bird drinking from a sprinkler at the Narrandera Caravan Park NW of Wagga Wagga in NSW (see image below). From a quick check of the national sightings database there hadn t been a Regent sighted around Narrandera since the early 1900 s, and the 2016 record was over 100km from the nearest record in the past decade. It was an amazing find by regular volunteers Laurie and Heather Bingham! Adult Regent Honeyeater drinking from sprinkler in Narrandera, January 2016 (taken by Heather Bingham). A pair of birds was found along the Gwydir River in northern NSW in early 2016, with one of the birds present being a male banded 4km away last spring. Around Easter a small flock was also found at Yerranderie in the dividing range by PhD Ross Crates and a crew of observers, again in flowering Grey Gum. As readers will recall from the 2015 update there were a pair of Regents present at Lake Cathie on the north coast of NSW for a few months, with the male of the pair banded at the time. In May this year an unbanded bird returned to the same spot, and photographs and observations since then indicate that it is the unbanded female from last year. She has been providing excellent views for observers since then, with many people obtaining lovely photographs at eye level (see image below). The most notable sighting from the May surveys was that of a single bird in the Durakai State Forest in southern Qld. Although the encounter was brief, importantly it was of a bird feeding in flowering Mugga Ironbark, to it s good to know that this forest is still able to support Regents. Further searches failed to relocate the bird though. Not long after that, a pair of birds were heard calling on the Far South Coast of NSW in flowering Spotted Gum, at a location also harbouring Swift Parrots. Unfortunately subsequent searches have failed to relocate those birds too. Of great importance has been the resighting of 2015 captive release birds (from Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP in Victoria). In total there has been seven of last year s release cohort resighted, with two of these birds found on the May survey weekend. All but one have been found back within the Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP or surrounds, with the exception being a bird photographed west of Albury (a movement of around 30 km from the 2015 release site!). Of particular note is the fact that several of these sightings have included ex-captive birds in association with wild, unbanded Regents. This is

6 important as it once again shows that the released birds are able to assimilate with the wild population. A single unbanded bird has also been visiting gardens in Allan s Flat in north-east Victoria for several months, and there have been several unconfirmed sightings from both north-east Victoria and the Melbourne region. Most of these sightings have sounded very probable but follow up searches have unfortunately been in vain. Regent Honeyeater at Lake Cathie taken by Allan Richardson (left) and volunteers reading colour bands on released birds found in Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP, May 2016, taken by Glen Johnson (right). August 2016 Survey The challenge is on again to locate Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters, wherever they may be lurking, over the upcoming August survey period. Given the nomadic nature and wide range of both species, we need to cover as much ground as possible, especially focusing on areas which contain flowering eucalypts for foraging or areas of heavy lerp and insect loads. Help us find more Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters during the August 2016 survey weekend (6 th and 7 th ), and also contribute to critical long-term data of these two species. We are looking for volunteers to help survey Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters across Victoria, ACT, NSW and Queensland. We are also happy for people to get out a week either side of this August survey weekend. Please note, if you are submitting records to Birdline and/or birding Facebook pages, please also send any sighting information to us. For more information (including suggested survey locations) about the surveys see: or contact Dean Ingwersen (Regent Honeyeaters), Mick Roderick (Swift Parrots NSW, ACT and Qld) or Caroline Wilson (Swift Parrots VIC) at woodlandbirds@birdlife.org.au Please let us know your address if you would prefer to receive electronic copies of this report.