Birds returning to forests

Sacred Kingfisher

Brief surveys in burnt areas of forest on two Flowerdale properties recently revealed a good range of bird species.  As part of the Focus on Fauna project, standard 20-minute, 2-hectare bird surveys are being conducted at each site at the time of setting up remote cameras.
At one site, a block under a Trust for Nature covenant, 16 species were recorded in 20 minutes, a feature being quite a large flock of Dusky Woodswallows.

At the other site, a very extensive bush block backing onto State Forest, which was completely burnt out in 2009, the survey netted 13 species, with the highlight being a pair of Sacred Kingfishers. Earlier, Scarlet Robins were seen on the edge of a cleared house site on the block.

Species lists:

Site 1 –

Wedge-tailed Eagle; Galah; Crimson Rosella; White-throated Treecreeper; Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Rufous Whistler; Dusky Woodswallow; Australian Magpie; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Scarlet Robin; Red-browed Finch

[outside survey area/time: Nankeen Kestrel; Common Myna]

Site 2 –

Australian Wood Duck; Brown Goshawk; Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo; Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher; Brown Thornbill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-naped Honeyeater; Golden Whistler; Dusky Woodswallow; Pied Currawong; Grey Fantail; Welcome Swallow

[outside survey area/time: Grey Shrike-thrush; Scarlet Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin]