Bird migration

Q: Why do birds fly north in winter? A: Because it’s too far to walk!

There were some strange early myths (Audubon.org) about where birds went in winter: they buried themselves in mud; they turned into other species (when no one was looking); or like today’s Artemis II crew, they went to the moon!

Early aviculturists noticed that some caged bird species would get restless in autumn and even all fly to one end of their enclosure. In 1822, some German villagers shot down a White Stork that had a spear made from an African wood impaled in it – some early physical evidence that birds flew between continents.

Much more is known these days about where birds go, thanks to bird-banding, mist-netting, satellite telemetry tracking, and sound monitoring.

The term migration describes periodic, large-scale movements of populations of animals. Movements of a smaller scale are often referred to as dispersal, nomadism, or vagrancy. Bird movements at all levels are a response to seasonal changes, weather patterns, food availability, day length, even genetic makeup – usually a combination of several factors.

Australia is the destination of some of the world’s longest bird migrations. Many of our shorebird species fly thousands of kilometres annually to spend summer here and when autumn/winter arrives, they fly north as far as Alaska and Siberia. A Bar-tailed Godwit holds the record for the longest non-stop flight of any bird, with a 13,560km continuous flight from Alaska to Tasmania (ABC News).

L: Eastern Curlew, Port Albert (Russia/East China)
R: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Hollands Landing (Siberia)

Most of Australia’s migratory shorebird species use the ‘East Asian – Australasian Flyway’ (EAAFP explanatory YouTube video - 6min).

While we do not get long-distance shorebirds in West Gippsland, we do get Latham’s Snipe that spend our winter in Japan – they will have left here by now. Other things are happening right now in our district too: the Pied Currawongs, Scarlet Robins, and Flame Robins are beginning to arrive from their summer lodgings up in the high country; Rufous Whistlers and Australian Reed Warblers have gone north; Silvereyes and Pardalotes have dispersed; etc.

Birds on the move. Top row: Scarlet Robin, Australian Reed Warbler, Rufous Whistler
Bottom row: Silvereye, Spotted Pardalote, Flame Robin

Here today, gone, back tomorrow (notwithstanding climate change).

 

Nature needs a hand

The loss of biodiversity is a global phenomenon (The Guardian). Around the world, climate change, loss of habitat, unsustainable use of resources, pollution, and invasive species are impacting the health of a broad range of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.  Much of Australia’s unique natural environment is in decline. A committed and cooperative approach is needed to repair fragmented ecosystems, protect habitat, and to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Toorongo River Noojee

We need nature’s natural resources. Nature provides us with clean air and water. Nature provides industries like fisheries, forestry, agriculture, manufacture, and tourism with the resources for economic sustainability. Our own health and wellbeing are enhanced by spending time in nature.

The Gurdies NCR Grantville

There is an obligation by all of us – federal, state and local governments, volunteer groups, and individuals – to sustainably manage our natural places. We have to all work together to enrich our towns with nature and to inform and educate the community on the values of conserving and protecting our precious natural ecosystems.

Gang-gang Cockatoo (now 'threatened'), Thornell's Reserve Drouin

And somehow, we must convince the biophobes (British Ecological Society) in our community to become biophiliacs (Earth Day).

 

Big bolete beats birds!

During a recent bird survey at McNeilly Park in Drouin, we came across a classic example of a member of the boletus family of fungi. The boletus genus has at least 100 species. The fertile underside of boletes consists of a fleshy-pore surface rather than gills. We think this one is the Salmon Gum Mushroom, Phlebopus marginatus, however the correct identification of many fungi is a minefield for the untrained amateur.

Bolete sp at McNeilly Park 24th March

Most references suggest this species can grow to have cap diameters up to 1m. Apparently, Victoria’s largest recorded mushroom is/was a 29kg bolete.

Same mushroom 4 days later

Note: Largest ‘mushroom’ is not the same as the largest ‘fungus’. The ‘mushroom’ is just the fruiting body of the ‘fungus’ whose main part consists of the mycelium network under the ground (or in the rotten log, etc.). The one fungus can have many mushrooms. The largest ‘fungus’ in the world is believed to be an armillaria species in Oregan, USA, and it covers an area of more than 9km²!

The soft fleshy cap of Phlebopus marginatus is a popular habitat for fungus gnats in which to lay their eggs. After hatching, the maggot larvae dine on the mushroom’s rotting flesh.

Gnat/fly larvae in rotting bolete flesh

Another, smaller yet more striking member of the bolete family is the Rhubarb Bolete, Boletellus obscurecoccineus. Like marginatus, obscurecoccineus, grows in ground litter in eucalypt woodlands.

Rhubarb Bolete at Edward Hunter Reserve, Moe

BTW, the bird survey yielded 33 native species – and yet no herons, cormorants or raptors.