RESULTS OF A PRELIMINARY HIGHLAND BIRD BANDING STUDY AT TARI GAP, SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
| Posted: |
11/08/2021 |
| Author(s): |
Clifford B. Frith, Dawn W. Frith |
Bird banding was performed in lower montane rainforest of Tari Gap, Southern Highlands, Papua
New Guinea, during eight weeks of each of three consecutive years, at seven netting sites. A total of
1 174 captures of 50 species were made, involving 895 individual birds. Of 279 recaptures, 228 were
birds we banded and 51 were birds banded during previous studies. Of the 201 individual birds
involved in recaptures, only seven of six species were not retrapped at their orginal capture point. The
furthest movement of an individual was 2.7 km by a Papuan Scrubwren Sericornis papuensis.
Morphometric, moult and brood patch data are presented and discussed.
We caught 50 (54%) of a potential c. 93 species in our study area. The mean capture rate was
0.56 birds per hour by 13 m of mist net, and this is compared with other New Guinea mist-netting
results. Longevity records of more than a year are reported for 1 7 species, the longest being of 61
months. Several species are recorded at new upper altitudinal limits at Tari Gap. Breeding activity
increased during September-November, and the percentage of birds moulting increased during
September (38%) to January (70%). Moult was noted in 48 species, and seasonal data is presented
for 30.
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