Bye Bye Birdies
October was not a good month for our bird buddies. The local Powerful Owl chick was struck by a car, started to recover and then died as a result of its injuries. Additionally the CPPA was advised that the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is actively continuing its investigation into the deaths of magpies at Coal Point and possible misuse of pesticides.
“The EPA examined the magpies from Coal Point and tests show that the magpies were poisoned with a pesticide containing the chemical Fenthion.
Fenthion is a banned pesticide in NSW and its use is an offence under the Pesticide Act 1999.
The high concentration of chemical in the magpies suggests that the birds were deliberately poisoned.
The EPA are calling for more information from people living in the area who might have seen or heard something. If anyone has any information that may assist the EPA please contact the Environment Line on 131555.”
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| Image David Cook-Southern Boobook |
Boobook’s are back
Have you been serenaded off to sleep lately with the meditative calls of the Southern Boobook, also known as the Mopoke, one of the smallest most common owls in Australia?
The repetitive call is distinctive and prolonged and a feature of our local bushland. The Southern Boobook is a nocturnal feeder on insects, small birds and mammals (like mice).
These owls like to perch on open branches and tree tops to get a good view of what’s going on and then either pounce upon the ground dwelling prey or take flight to catch their flying food on the wing.
The plumage of Southern Boobook is dark chocolate above and rufous-brown below, heavily streaked and spotted with white. The bill is grey and the feet are grey or white.
These little owls need tree hollows to make a nest.
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| Image Rod Mackay |
Pollinators
Local bird enthusiast Rod Mackay has recently spotted some nomadic Musk Lorikeets feeding on gum blossoms. These medium sized, sturdy birds move about in flocks following the flowering gums of tall open forests and woodlands, like we have along the West Ridge and in many backyards. These pretty birds eat mainly pollen and nectar from eucalypts with their brush-tipped tongues but also enjoy seeds, fruits and insects. In the process of eating they are also pollinating.
The Muskies also need hollow branches and holes in living gum trees to lay and incubate their eggs as well as roost in at night.
Wild Pollinator Count is on 13-20 November
Australia has lots of wild pollinator insects that are often overlooked. European honey bees get a lot of attention because they are an adaptable, generalist forager, however many native insects also contribute to pollination in crops and gardens all around the country.
Australia has around 2,000 native bee species, all of which are important pollinators, there are also couple of thousand butterfly, wasp, fly, moth, beetle, thrips and ant species, some of which are documented pollinators. Unfortunately, there isn’t lot of information on the ecology of many of these insects, what flowers they pollinate, or where they are found.
You can contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia by counting wild pollinators in your backyard and help to build a database on wild pollinator activity.
Watch any flowering plant for just ten minutes sometime in the count week.
You don’t need to be an insect expert. You don’t need fancy gear.You may be surprised by what you see!
Find out how to count pollinators, identify the insects you see and submit your observations through the links at https://wildpollinatorcount.com/.
Native Bees of Lake Macquarie – Free Workshop
Thursday 24 November, 9.15am – 12.30pm
Join us for an informative morning learning about this diverse group of pollinators, how to protect them and encourage more into your own backyard.
Location: Landcare Resource Centre, 80 Toronto Rd, Teralba
Hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council. Bookings essential to Council by phone 4921 0333 or Eventbrite.
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