Another Bird Survey in the Byron Hinterland

Back to the area that was surveyed two weeks ago and there was more raptor action at the site, with six species of diurnal raptor seen. In addition there were nest boxes containing mating pairs of Barn Owls for the evening shift. Analysis of the owl scats (pellets) show that they are mainly eating Black Rats and mice.

Photographs of this Shining Bronze-Cuckoo taken by other surveyors showed it had a green crown, indicative of the New Zealand sub-species. Closer examination showed other features that also pointed to this bird being the New Zealand Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites lucidis lucidis) which winters in the Solomon Islands and New Britain then migrates south to breed in the New Zealand summer. Some of these birds take a route down the Australian east coast during August to November and the bird photographed appears to be one of them. The Australian subspecies does not show this migratory behaviour.

Always an impressive sight, the Wedge-tailed Eagle.

The Grey Goshawk. It looks like this is a young bird although it could possibly be the white version of the Grey Goshawk (the White Morph)? Both Grey and White morphs of this bird are seen in this area. It is believed that the white version has developed so that the Goshawks can hunt undetected within a flock of white cockatoos.

Bush Regeneration in the Byron Hinterland

The Big Scrub of the Byron Hinterland was cleared in one of man’s more thoughtless agricultural developments. Sadly the land was not as suitable for dairy farming as first thought and many farms were abandoned, to be later overrun by the introduced Camphor Laurel tree. If only eighty or ninety percent of the Big Scrub had been cleared we would have a magnificent sub-tropical rainforest of immense scientific and tourist value. But on went the clearing, stopping after 99 per cent had gone, and then only because of strident protests. Now, dedicated owners are working to restore the original rainforest.

The regeneration site we survey last week was an amalgamation of several farms in an ambitious project to restore the bush, and use regenerative farming techniques, while researching novel pest control techniques.

The site includes several grassy hillsides with an active raptor population. Seven diurnal raptor species were sighted including the Collared Sparrowhawk seen here. The interaction of owls breeding on the property with these raptors to achieve rodent control is one of the areas under study.

The same Collared Sparrowhawk.

This nest box has been commandeered by a pair of Galahs. This bird was patiently “sweeping, disinfecting and making fragrant” inside the box with a sprig of eucalypt leaves.

A pretty bird in a rural scene, hopefully not the next pest to be dealt with.