G'day,
I live in Farmborough Heights, Wollongong.
For the last week or two, basically all of our small birds have disappeared; Fairy Wrens, Red Browed Finches, Silvereyes, etc., even the ubiquitous House Sparrow.
We do have the occasional visit from a local Goshawk, but over the years the smaller birds lay low when he's around, and then re-emerge when he's gone. However, I've seen no sign of him lately, either.
The Lorikeets are few and far between, even the Cockies have thinned out, and I haven't seen a King Parrot for goodness knows how long.
We've lived here for over 30 years, and I don't recall this happening before.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Al.
The weather at the moment is very unusual, usually there would be cooler weather and more rain. Putting a birdbath in your garden might help the birds hang around, they also like to wash under a garden sprinkler. A garden with lots of shade and shelter will attract the birds in this sort of hot unseasonal weather.
Thanks, Greg,
I have a water bowl, and lots of trees and shrubs, which the small birds liked.
You're right about it being hot and dry, we need rain badly.
Thanks again,
Al.
AussieAl
AussieAl, here on the s.e. slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges in SA we've had several long, dry spells punctuated by around 15 - 20 mm of rain. During the second dry spell there were hardly any New Holland Honeyeaters around in spite of plenty of shade & water. As soon as the dry spell was broken the New Holland Honeyeaters were back in force, especially now that the SA Blue Gums Eucalyptus leucoxylon are flowering. So I'd be looking to the lack of rain for an explanation in relation to most of the birds you've listed.
As far as House Sparrows are concerned there are reports of a world-wide decline in populations with several explanations for it. A significant decline has been the case where I live but I've tentatively attributed the decline to less suitable habitat for them as our revegetation & bush care efforts bear fruit (so to speak) & the presence of raptors. Whether this is the case I'm not sure.
It's interesting to note that since the Sparrow population markedly declined (I counted a maximum of two last week whereas 29 years ago I used to have weekly maximum counts of hundreds at times) there has been a decline in raptor numbers. Whether there's a connection between the two events I'm also not sure.
Hi there,
I live in North Turramurra, and have been here for just on 50 years. This area is a peninsula of suburban housing, mainly with traditional quarter acre blocks and larger. Our house is surrounded on three sides by bushland - about 150 metres away to the north and east, and 300 metres distant on the west, all this bushland being contiguous with Kuringai Chase National Park. Consequently we have had a plentiful supply of native birds, or used to have. About 10 years ago, quite suddenly, Noisy Miners arrived in our surroundings, and seemingly overnight, most of our birds disappeared, even the pesky Indian Mynahs, except for a few of the larger species - Magpies, White cockatoos, Crested pigeons etc.. I have listed below, most of the birds that used to be regularly seen hereabouts, but no longer. Am I correct in attributing this problem to the wretched noisy Miners, and if so, what can be done about it?
Cheers, Tony.
Eastern Spinebill, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Little Wattlebird, BrownThornbill, Sacred Kingfisher, Cicada bird, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-throated Treecreeper, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, Blue Wren, Red-browed Finch, Spotted Turtledove, House Sparrow, Grey Shrike-thrush, Silvereye.
G'day Tony,
We have alwys had the birds in your list to varying degrees, but now they are noticeable by their absence.
However, we don't have Noisy Miners (or Indian) at all, so that's not the cause of my mystery.
Perhaps it's just a cycle, I don't know.
Like you, I have bushland relatively close, the Illawarra escarpment.
Al.
AussieAl
Agspar, Noisy Miners seem to be advantaged by open woodland with little understorey. This is the typical landscape produced by many Australians in their parks & gardens. Generally, we love our trees but forget about the understorey plants, including terrestrial species. Many revegetation projects in rural areas focus heavily on trees but forget about understorey. If this is the picture in your neck of the woods then it might help explain why you have an invasion of Noisy Miners & the answer might be to plant or encourage regeneration of more indigenous understorey which would offer suitable protection to smaller birds.
Generally, Australia's woodland birds are in decline & there are numerous reasons for this, some of which might apply to your location. Habitat destruction & disturbance, the presence of cats & other non-native predators & invasive species such as Indian Mynahs & Common Blackbirds are some of these reasons. If it's not already your local council might be interested in helping residents to bring back the birds which once used to grace your environment. If it is, I suggest they act quickly because, as you've seen, declines in bird species populations are occuring rapidly.