Western Banders Association

Preamble

Net opening times varied, determined by wind conditions which did reduce effectiveness of the nets and so interfered with operating times. We tried to have the nets open by 0630-0700hrs and closed at about 1530-1600hrs. Times of operating were not consistent. When not in use the nets were furled and tied to render them safe overnight.

Our standard practice of checking the nets every 20 to 30 minutes was applied, with more frequent checks made as temperatures rose. The well-being of captive birds is always our prime concern

The processing routine began with identifying the bird, applying a band of the appropriate size and measured to a set procedure determined by my project requirements. As well as measuring the bird I checked it for signs of body moult, examined the wings to evaluate feather wear and tabulate wing moult if present, and checking the belly and cloaca to see if there were signs of breeding activity. Brooding females (and males in some species) have a distinct incubation patch, and all birds in breeding condition can be sexed by the difference in the shape of the cloaca. This is especially valuable in species where the plumage of the sexes is similar.

The final part of processing was to weigh the bird on an electronic balance. The bird was then released, often by volunteers and interested onlookers. Birds were also held for photographing when required.

In 2004 we held eight banding sessions between 14 June and 2 July, eight in 2005 from

6 to 17 July, nine in 2006 between 23 July and 2 August and 12 between 4 to 16 July 2007

Table 3. Lapsed time and distance of recoveries between sites.

Once again we were able to identify sub-adult birds among those banded. In 2004 we found young of 8 species: Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo, White-winged Triller, Masked Woodswallow, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Rufous–throated Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater and Grey-headed Honeyeater. Immature birds comprised 71.7% of all birds banded.

In 2005 there were sub-adults of seven species: Diamond Dove, Rufous Whistler, Black-chinned Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater and Grey-headed Honeyeater. Immature birds comprised 26.5% of all birds banded.

In 2006 there were sub-adults of ten species. Rufous Whistler, White-winged Triller, Masked Woodswallow, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Banded Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Rufous–throated Honeyeater, Pied Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater and Grey-headed Honeyeater. Immature birds comprised 42.1% of all birds banded.

In 2007 there were sub-adults of six species. Diamond Dove, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Pied Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater, Grey-headed Honeyeater and Zebra Finch. Immature birds comprised 12.6% of all birds banded.

In 2004 we received valuable assistance from David and Barbara Travis, Graham Young, Graham Kent and Bob Lasseter. In 2005 our helpers were Alex and June Morrison, Win and Ruth Bailey. In 2006 Gwen and Graham Goodreid, Rita and George Watkins, and Kerry and Bruce Goodreid provided support. Our helpers in 2007 were Mary Molloy, Arpad Mencshelyi, Zac Mencshely-Molloy, John and Bev O’Brien. We extend sincere thanks to all for their generous and cheerful assistance.

We thank Pete de Long of Dampier Downs for allowing us access to the station roads.

On two previous trips to Robert Bore we had spent time bird watching at a crossing of the De Grey River on a road from Newman to the abandoned Goldsworthy mine site. Although the site is on Yarrie Station, it is named Muccan after an adjacent property managed by the Coppin family, owners of Yarrie.

We recorded good numbers of Black-tailed Treecreepers at this site and decided to spend time trying to band some of these individuals, the subspecies Climacteris melaneura wellsi. We spent two days here on the northward journey and three more days on our return south, banding eleven of this species. Another species new to our list of banded birds were twenty-six Painted Finches. It is our firm resolution to return here in 2008.