This Photo by JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 4.0

The Wonga pigeon has been sited in the Mitta Valley along Lees Lane, Mitta north Road, up Scrubby creek and along Wombat Gully Road. 

DESCRIPTION

The Wonga Pigeon is a large plump, ground-dwelling pigeon with a small head, pale face, short broad wings, and a long tail. When seen from above the plumage of the Wonga pigeon is a drab grey. However, front on the bird appears to be wearing a white scarf wrapped around its neck and when viewed from below, its white underparts are attractively patterned with row upon row of dozens of tiny crescent shaped markings. The eyes are dark red brown with a pink eye ring and the feet and legs are deep pink to red. There is little difference between the male and the female birds.

This Photo by ebird.org

PREFERRED HABITAT

The Wonga pigeon is found from southeast Queensland all the way down to Gippsland in Victoria. They are a ground dwelling pigeon that frequents dense forests and gullies, clearings such as picnic areas, walking tracks, carparks, and roadsides. These gorgeous pigeons are often observed foraging on the ground for seeds, fallen fruits, plant matter and the occasional insects.

BEHAVIOUR

These birds are sedentary in nature in that don’t move far beyond their territory. Wonga pigeons will develop life-long monogamous relationships and will defend their nest sites with a series of threatening displays, including clicking, bowing, and charging towards potential intruders!

Nests are built in large trees, usually high off the ground and are saucer-shaped platforms of twigs and sticks, lined with small twigs, vine tendrils and other soft plant materials. Both sexes incubate and feed the young. They use a special posture when sitting on the nest, keeping their patterned tail raised high and facing observers, whilst peering over their tail to keep an eye on potential threats. Adults feed their young by regurgitation and young birds will remain with the adults for some time after fledging but are fed less and less often.

The pigeon’s call is a long series of notes, quite high and rapid, ‘whoik, whoik’ and this is repeated at a constant pitch becoming quite monotonous. The pigeon is more often heard than seen but it produces explosive wing claps when disturbed and when it takes off.  On landing it may lift its tail showing black flecked undertail -coverts. Its flight is short, straight, and fast.

Unfortunately, the Wonga pigeon is preyed upon by feral cats and foxes. Like many pigeon species during the 1900s they were also hunted for their meat and for sport. Today, they are a protected species and one of least concern. Although not endangered they are not common in our area.

This Photo by JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 4.0

The Flame robin has been sighted in the MacDonald’s ‘Witches Garden’ on Watchingora/Callaghan’s creek road, around Tallandoon and up Scrubby Creek near Hodgkin’s property.

DESCRIPTION

The Flame robin is the largest of the red robins. Male Flame robins have a brilliant red-orange breast and throat and a white patch on the forehead above the bill. Its upper parts are iron grey with white bars and its tail is black with white tips. The bill is black, and the legs are dark brown The female coloration is a muted grey-brown with pale buff wing stripe and mostly white outer tail feather. When calling Flame robins emit a cheery, clear, sharp piping trill.

The male Flame robin may be confused with the male Scarlet robin but this species is black above and on the head extending to the throat with a scarlet breast and upper belly.

This Photo by JJ Harrison is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

PREFERRED HABITAT

The Flame robin is found in temperate regions of south-eastern Australia and all over Tasmania. They are winter visitors to the lowlands in south-eastern Australia. In the warmer months they breed in upland forests laying their eggs in finely woven nests decorated with lichen. As Autumn approaches most move to lower elevations where they are often conspicuous in open habitats such as farmland especially pasture and recently ploughed paddocks. They also occur in other grassy areas such as golf courses, ovals, or parkland in built up areas. They usually return to breeding areas in the mountains in August or September.

BREEDING

The Flame robin is a perch and pounce hunter mainly eating insects and often returning to a favourite low perch several times to stand erect and motionless, scanning the leaf litter for more prey. They often forage in scattered flocks in winter but are otherwise seen alone or in pairs.

The Flame robin may lay up to two clutches of 3 or 4 eggs during the breeding season which is between August and January. The eggs lay pale green or blue eggs with spotted marks. The nest is built by the female and is normally placed in a tree or rock face or other similar area up to 20 m above the ground. The female incubates the eggs while the male supplies her with food. Both sexes feed the young chicks. Flame robins are generally monogamous and remain together unless one bird perishes.

CONSERVATION STATUS

The Flame robins have a secure conservation status in Victoria.

This Photo by Wikkimedia Commons

The Eastern crested shrike-tit was sighted by me on a walk around Wonga Wetlands in Albury but has also been seen at the MacDonald ‘Witches Garden’ on the Watchingora /Callighans Creek Road in the Mitta Valley.

DESCRIPTION

The crested eastern shrike-tit is a distinctive medium-small bird with a black and white striped head and neck with an outlandish mohawk hairstyle, black throat and strong beak. It has striking yellow underparts with olive green back and rump. The female bird resembles the male but the throat is green and the crest smaller. They usually eat insects but will sometimes eat fruits and seeds. They’re active noisy birds when searching for insects and stripping bark. They forage in trees, rarely on or near the ground and usually in pairs or family parties. They have a high piping strong call and when flying they have short sharp flights interspersed with glides.

This Photo by JJ Harrison is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

PREFERRED HABITAT

The eastern shrike-tit is as its name suggests is found along the coast of eastern Australia in eucalypt forests, woodlands and occasionally in rainforests. It is also found in parks and gardens and on farms with scattered trees. Despite their conspicuous colors, they’re difficult to spot while feeding on insects in the tree canopy.

The crested shrike-tit are confined to mainland Australia. They are separated into 3 geographically isolated subspecies that all look rather similar.

BREEDING

The Eastern male Shrike-tit selects a nest-site in a high fork of an eucalypt tree away from predators, attracting the female to him with quivering and waving wings. The female builds the deep cone-shaped nest from dry grass and bark strips, covering the outside with spider web, moss and lichen. The male helps collect materials and both sexes incubate the eggs and feed the young. They usually lay 2 to 3 white eggs spotted dark olive and pale grey. Two broods may be raised in a season and the young birds may remain with the parents until the beginning of the next breeding season. Pallid, Brush and Fan-tailed cuckoos sometimes parasitise the nest (lay their eggs in the nest too).

This Photo by JJ Harrison is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

CONSERVATION STATUS

The Eastern crested Shrike-tit have a secure conservation status in Victoria but some bird life monitoring across the Sustainable Farms Project Area suggests their numbers are in decline due to fire and urban expansion

This Photo by Discoverducks.org.au

There have been several sightings of these birds in the northeast. I was with some other U3A  birdos a week ago when we saw two pairs at the sandy creek reserve. Leonie Smith -Jackson also saw a pair of them at Marks Smiths property along Yabba Road a couple of weeks ago.

DESCRIPTION

The Australian Shelducks are usually unmistakeable, with their upright stance and dark head contrasting with the white neck ring. It’s a large rusty brown and black duck with extensive white in wings, with a small head and bill more the size of a goose than a duck. The females have a distinct white ring around the eye and base of its bill, while the male has an all-black head and neck slightly tinged green. This species is also known as the chestnut breasted Shelduck, Mountain Duck and Sheldrake. The shelduck is an extremely wary bird.

STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION

The Australian shelduck mainly breeds in southern Australia and Tasmania but some records show it has flown farther north as far as the Kimberley in Western Australia. After breeding some migrate long distances to large wetlands such as Lake George in the Australian Capital Territory and the Coorong in South Australia to moult flight and tail feathers. They are protected under the national parks and wildlife act. The total population is unknown, but scientist believe there are at least 10,000 mature individuals.

PREFERRED HABITAT

The Australian Shelduck’s primary habitat is lakes in open country.  It also likes freshwater swamps, farm dams and enjoys gathering on large, deep wetlands. They will also venture into habitats with salt water, the Australian Shelduck prefers to be always within easy reach of fresh water where it finds its preferred food source.

The duck likes to graze on green grass, insects and seeds on land or near shallow water. They will occasionally feed on algae and molluscs. The nest of the shelduck is usually in a large tree hollow, well lined with down. They have also been known to breed in rabbit burrows and in large hollows on cliff faces or similar locations.

LIFE HISTORY

Breeding season is between July and December. Only the female incubates the eggs while the male defends the broad territory. It lays eight to fifteen eggs, and these are incubated between thirty and thirty-three days. This group is monogamous, and some birds are known to create permanent pairs bonds. Within days of hatching the young are led to their nursery water by both parents or other adults. This could be 2 or 3 km away. These young are with several young from other parents and are under the care of one or more adults. The nursery group varies in size (20-40 individuals) and age range. Scientists believe the nursery supervisors are failed breeders or non-breeders. 

This Photo by JJ Harrison is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

CALL / FLIGHT

They communicate with honks, grunts, or whistles. A loud honking deeper and more grunted sound from the male and a higher more resonant sound from the female ‘ong ank,ong,ank’ Australian Shelduck flocks fly in long lines or in ‘V’ formations. Shelducks are not diving birds, but they are able to dive if necessary, such as if they are wounded or frightened.

This Photo by JJ Harrison is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

A group of Mitta Valley Land Carers had the pleasure of seeing the Diamond Firetail on a bird walk on Greg Hayes property at Talgarno recently. The walk was lead by David Watson from Charles Sturt University and was organised by Wise Creel Talgarno Landcare Group.

DESCRIPTION

Diamond Firetails are part of the finch family. Their bright scarlet tail feathers and white diamond shaped spotty sides make them very distinctive and easy to recognise. In a rare departure from most female birds, female firetails are not the usual dull brown – they have the same colouring as the males. These small birds measure about 12-13cm in length. Seeds and fruits are on the menu for Firetails- ripe or partially unripe. They also have the occasional meal of insects and insect larvae. Firetails feed on the ground and will hop around rather than fly in search of food.

STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION

The conservation status of the Diamond Firetail differs from state to state as their preferred habitat is under threat in some and to a lesser threat in others. They tend to stay in the same place and do not migrate although when they do travel, it is in flocks. Populations have been shrinking for decades as native predators like the Pied Currawong are increasing in numbers, and their habitat is cleared for agriculture and urban development. However, the scientific world list its existence as vulnerable.

PREFERRED HABITAT

They live in open grassy woodland, heath, and farmland across south-eastern Australia, and they make a bottle shaped nest amongst prickly shrubs and bushes to protect their eggs and chicks from predators. The nest is built from grass and stems and lined with feathers and soft grass. Firetails will sometimes build a nest at the bottom of a bird of prey like a falcon or eagle to provide its new family with a round-the-clock-bodyguard. They are mostly seen in pairs or groups of 4 or 5, feeding together. Although Diamonds Firetails prefer open habitat, they have been seen in urban areas.

LIFE HISTORY

Firetails mate for life. The male Firetail doesn’t sing- he makes a low-pitched buzzing especially during the courtship ritual. He catches the attention of the female by bobbing up and down with dried grass in his beak until she notices him then opens his mouth as if he is a chick begging for food. They breed from 9 months old, and the timing depends on the temperature – they won’t breed if it is very hot or very cold. The nest is built from grass and stems and lined with feathers and soft grass. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs which hatch 2 weeks later. 

CALL / FLIGHT

The usual contact call is a rather plaintive, drawn out, whistled ‘tioo-whieer’ and slightly higher for the female. The bird’s flight is low with only slight undulations

Submitted by Marie Condon