Birds Survey 2008

Dawn Muir (left) leading the bird survey group at
Kalinga Park on 13 January

Background

Birding activities were carried out this year as part of a comprehensive series of surveys of birdlife to be conducted along the Brook this year. Such recorded surveys conducted over time allow evaluation of the health and biodiversity of wildlife throughout the catchment.

Although we have a number of network members that are experienced birders, the leadership of Dawn Muir, Birds Queensland, has added valuable experience in the conduct of these surveys and particularly in their recording. Valuable contributions by Leanne Bowden & Greg Miller, WPSQ Brisbane Branch with reports of their walks within the catchment are gratefully acknowledged.

Program for 2008

Program details for this year are given in an attached small pdf file.

Surveys

Dawn Muir led a small group of keen birders on 13 January from Kalinga Park down the northern side of the Brook to wetlands about 1.5 Km east of the Motorway crossing. Sixty species of birds were observed, similar to that observed by Greg Miller in November 2006 over the same area.

The second survey on 20 January, along Cedar Creek, in Ferny Hills, recorded forty one species, with the anticipated absence of salt- and fresh-water birds from the first survey. The tall trees and open Eucalypt forest atmosphere was most pleasingeven at the early hour of 6:30 am!

A third survey was conducted, by Dawn Muir, Charles and Jenny Ivin, on 2 February starting at Coble Park, Cnr Archdale St and Lantina Steet. It followed up Lanita street until opposite the Scouts Den on the northern side of the Brook off the Samford Road. A track lead from here up to the Tennis courts just short of entering the Maureen Lawrence Park. Rain at this point caused a hasty retreat but not until twenty three bird species were identified along the track. Twenty two species were noted around Wahminda Park alone though a majority had been observed from along the starting point up to the Park.

A fourth survey was carried out, by Leanne Bowden & Greg Miller, WPSQ Brisbane Branch, on 14 May am, starting from Kalinga Park and ending up at the Cressey Street Wetlands, at Wavell Heights. Thirty nine species of birds were noted over the two sites.

A fifth survey was carried out in generally open parkland, by Dawn Muir and Charles and Jenny Ivin, on 8 June am at Tomsett Park and Bob Cassimaty Picnic Ground Park, Ferny Grove. A sixth survey followed of the nearby Arbor Road Park (locally signposted as Ferny Grove Parkland). These results were separated from the fifth survey because of the size and diversity of vegetation at this important forest remnant. Recent periods of general rain produced good flows in Cedar Creek and the Brook.

On 9 June at 7:30 am, Dawn Muir, Rob Robbie, Robert Standish-White, Charles and Jenny Ivin covered the generally open parkland of Grinstead Park as the seventh survey. From there, they continued into the substantial forest remnant of the Sparkes Hill Reserve on the eighth bird survey. Recent rain and pleasant winter sunshine made these recent surveys most enjoyable with good birding.

On 14 July at 7:30 am, Dawn Muir, Helen Moriarty, Margaret Zalewski and Charles Ivin followed the Brook along the general line of the Greenway from Lansvale Street, Mitchelton, past the Pony Club and the Osborne Road Habitat Group area through to near Burwood Road, Everton Park. The Bridge was still restricted from access so cars were used to shift around to Osborne Road. (The Brook was both too wide and deep near the bridge for convenient crossing). The overcast conditions at 7:30 am eventually changed to a light shower around 10 am. It was noticeable how areas of lantana suited the small birds and the seed of the Japanese Sunflowers attracted some galahs but the huge areas of lush glycine, morning glory and madiera vine near the Pony Club did not appear as suitable a habitat.

On 3 August at 7:00 am, Dawn Muir, Mick Wilson, Charles and Jenny Ivin surveyed Benelong Park and then the Cressy Park Conservation Wetlands system. It was a wintery but sunny morning that continued to the end of this part of the survey about 8:45 am. Our group was privileged to be able to watch a pair of striated pardalotes preparing a nest within a hole within an earth wall beide the Greenway path. Clear views were obtained of these colourful birds as they relayed back and forth with pieces of dry grass from a sunlit tree across the path to their nest. After this, the group, minus Mick, went over to Grange Forest Park from near the corner of Mornington Street and Alcester Street. We followed an eastern path beside the small rivulet that runs towards the Brook from the start. There is a huge Fig near the beginning. We then returned via a forest path on the western side of the rivulet. The sun was rather warm and may have affected the bird count.

A repeat survey was conducted by Charles and Jenny Ivin along identical paths in Grange Forest Park section (a bushwalk with the grandchildren) a week later. The results are reported together with the Grange results from the 3 August survey. A feature of this walk was the large number of small birds flitting around in the tall grasses near the Greenway path.

On 7 September at 6:30 am, Dawn Muir, Esther Townsend, Charles and Jenny Ivin surveyed Bellbird Grove, in Brisbane Forest Park. This includes a significant headwater source of Cedar Creek, a main tributary of Kedron Brook. The habitat covers both thick Eucalypt forest and open parkland. Hence there is a good mix of both common urban and forest birds. The forest area along Cedar Creek was particularly rewarding. There was a nesting Spotted Pardalote pair, a Large-billed Scrubwren, a Red-browed Finch, a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, a Rufous Fantail, and the opportunity to watch a Whipbird feeding a young one near the parkland path. A Grey Shrike-Thrush was heard imitating the "clack clack" call of the Eastern Yellow Robin. The latter colourful was most friendly and was thought to be feeding its young though this act was not directly sighted.

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The following table provides links to the results of completed surveys .

Detailed results

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Wet  Tawny Frogmouth  near

Everton Park during  February

Rains       (Photo: Neil Fordyce)

General impressions

These surveys need to be carried out in small groups to reduce disturbance of, often, quiet elusive birds. It takes members of reasonable experience to be able to observe and identify birds correctly. Factors such as weather and availability of leadership mean that the initial surveys were sometimes conducted at rather short notice. However, there is opportunity for new keen birders to join and learn the ropes in our future surveys.

Contact

Please contact Charles Ivin on phone 3851 0160 or email news@kedronbrook.org.au for further
information.

CI 12092008