On 1 April 2002, we observed a close encounter between a Western Tiger Snake Notechis scutatus and a Black Swan Cygnus atratus in the water at Herdsman Lake, Perth, Western Australia. Both species responded aggressively during the brief encounter. First, we surmise that the aggression displayed by both species was deliberate posturing rather than actual […]
Author(s): Edward McNabb, James McNabb and Kevin Barker
A female mainland Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae novaehollandiae nested in a dead tree which was standing in pasture and was supporting two recently fledged young when radio-tagged on 17 December 1999. She was tracked until the tag became detached four weeks later. Her home range was estimated to be 1 125-1310 hectares. Foraging activity was […]
Author(s): Clarke, Schipper, Boulton, Ewen and Clarke
Morphometric data on 99 adult and 13 juvenile Yellow-faced Honeyeaters Lichenostomus chrysops that were independently sexed using molecular techniques were analysed to investigate size dimorphism between the sexes. Our results support previous studies that have demonstrated Yellow-faced Honeyeaters are sexually dimorphic in size, with males being the larger sex. Discriminant analyses of morphometric data were […]
Collecting reliable field data on breeding populations of booby species on Raine Island for temporal comparison is challenging. This trial’s aim was to establish baseline data on nest census estimates in December 1998 to serve as the foundation for continued monitoring. Based on censuses, estimates of numbers of 3 700 Brown, [Sula leucogaster] 700 Masked […]
The general dispersal of Crested Terns Sterna bergii, banded as chicks at breeding colonies in South Australia between 1955 and 1995 is described. There was a considerable movement of breeding birds between nearby colonies, and even movement between more distant colonies. Most recoveries (78%) were immature one-year and two-year birds, and both immature and mature […]
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos and Darter Anhinga melanogaster nested at Lake Clarendon, south-eastern Queensland for four years after the lake filled until it fell below 12 per cent capacity. In contrast to some other parts of Australia there was a distinct seasonality in their nesting […]
