Birds of Coal Point

Threatened Species Last Stand (TSLS) Update

Birds of Coal Point

Tom Clarke -TIN Bush Regenerator

In January the first of several seasonal bird surveys for the TSLS project were carried out by birding experts Colin Byrnes and Tom Clarke over seven survey sites within the reserves of Coal Point. 

A list of species put together by the local Progress Association several years ago was used as a basis and no additions were made during the first survey. A sneak preview of the sites done two day’s prior to the survey and a quick list generated on the run did result in some species seen that day being added to the list for each site. 

While the CPPA list contains 60 species many of these represent various water bird families which are unlikely to occur in the bush sites that were focused on for this survey. The Threlkeld site will produce some of these, however, they will be recorded as species seen outside the survey area. 

The greatest diversity of birdlife was found at Carey Bay Wetlands (22 species) with all other sites consistently recording around 66% of that mark. Note that four well-proportioned sites (Burnage, West Ridge Central, Stansfield & Thelkeld) did show higher bird family diversity than the two thinner and poorer sites (Norumba & West Ridge South).

Highlights of this survey included the sighting of two noisy Channel-billed Cuckoos being harassed by the Stansfield resident birds, a possible young Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in a hollow at Threlkeld, Whipbirds calling at Burnage & West Ridge Central and the late sighting of Satin Bowerbird and Yellow Thornbill at Carey Bay Wetlands. 

The bushland appears to be dominated by Noisy Miner, Rainbow Lorikeet and other large, loud types and a serious lack of small bush birds (passerines) such as wrens, honeyeaters and thornbills. This paucity of smaller species may be seasonal but the condition of the understory within much of the forested sections gives little cover from the more aggressive types. 

Knowing what wildlife is present is key to the way the Threatened Species Last Stand on The Coal Point Peninsula will progress. In undertaking the bush regeneration work it will be critical to keep what good habitat there is whilst transitioning the weedy enclaves back to biodiverse beautifulness.

As mentioned in the report above the lack of smaller species is something that can be addressed over time with planting plants that offer protection and the right food.  The Habitat Network has a great article on the decline of small birds and what can be done to stop the loss.

  

Site	Species	Families
CPPA list	60	34
Carey Bay Wetlands	22	15
Norumba Reserve	14	8
Burnage Reserve	14	12
West Ridge Central	15	11
West Ridge South	13	7
Stansfield Reserve	15	11
Threlkeld reserve	16	12