MIXED-SPECIES FORAGING FLOCKS IN WINTER AT DRYANDRA STATE FOREST, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
| Posted: |
20/07/2021 |
| Author(s): |
Harry F. Recher, William E. Davis JR |
Point counts (n = 100) were used to assess the pattern of bird distribution during winter in Dryandra
Woodland near Narrogin, Western Australia. Ninety-two birds were recorded with the majority of individuals
(68%) occurring in mixed-species foraging flocks. From mid-July to early August, mixed-species foraging flocks
were followed to identify the species present and estimate numbers of individuals of each species. Including
birds recorded during point counts, 779 individuals of 41 species were observed in 133 mixed foraging flocks.
An Index of Association for species present in three-or-more-species flocks revealed two major groupings of
species; a group dominated by Rufous Treecreepers
Climacteris rufa and Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters
Lichenostomus ornatus, which was associated with Wandoo Eucalyptus wandoo woodlands, and another
associated with woodlands where treecreepers and Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters were scarce or absent. Both
groups usually contained species from at least three foraging guilds suggesting a partitioning of resources
within mixed !locks.
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