Birds Feeding at Syzygium sp Flowers at Myola

While staying in the guest house at Myola (Oro Province), from 22-27 December 1990, we noted the synchronous mass-flowering of Syzygium sp (Myrtaceae) trees. The trees were all tall, 30+ m. They occured in clumps of 6-10 trees, all of similar height and trunk diameter, on the flatter ground around the edge of the so-called Myola Lake at c. 2100 m. No flowering Syzygium sp trees were noted on steeper slopes above Myola. The inflorescences were ramiflorous, i.e. produced on branches, behind or below the leaves. The flowers had numerous stamens around the edge of the "cup" (calyx tube) which presumably contained nectar. The petals were shed as a cap when the flower opened.

Nine species (5 Honeyeaters and 4 Lorikeets) were noted feeding at the Syzygium flowers. Each clump of flowering trees seemed to have its own "resident" flock of birds. Similar numbers of each species of birds were noted on each visit to a clump of trees (although individuals could not be recognised). All nine species were recorded at a clump of trees which had the most easy to view crown and hence was the one we visted most regularly.

Although on one occasion there were more than 70 birds, of 6 species, present in one flowering tree, no interspecific aggression was noted.

Red-collared Myzomela Myzomela rosenbergii was the most numerous species to visit the flowering trees at all the clumps, although at times it might have been out-numbered by Goldie's Lorikeet Trichoglossus goldiei. It was difficult to obtain exact counts of the number of individuals of this species present due to their small size and rapid movements. However, on one occasion we estimated there were 40 birds, approximately even numbers of males and female-plumaged birds, in one tree. We noted some intraspecific aggression but was mostly males chasing female-plumaged birds and may not have been in defence of a feeding site.

Belford's Melidectes is one of the more noticeable species at Myola. It is a large Honeyeater with a loud raucous call. It would not be easy to overlook this species. Although regularly recorded visiting the flowering trees it was only in groups of 2-3 birds. We could not tell whether it was the same individuals repeatedly visiting the Syzygium trees or if many birds were involved.

Two Black-throated Honeyeaters Lichenostomus subfrenatus regularly visited the most-watched clump of trees. They were assumed to be a pair as they were always recorded together in this one clump of trees. Rufous-backed Honeyeaters Ptiloprora guisei were less frequently recorded on this trip than on previous visits to Myola. We only noted a few visits by single birds to the most-watched clump of flowering trees. We only had one record of Common Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes fumigatus throughout our stay and that was of a single bird visiting the most-watched clump of trees.

Goldie's Lorikeet was the most numerous lorikeet with flocks of c. 20 at each clump of flowering trees. As with the Red-collared Myzomelas it was difficult to obtain exact counts of the birds in the trees as they were continually moving. However, as they generally left the tree in noisy flocks, reasonable counts could be obtained then.

Yellow-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis bathing in dew

At 06:30 on 21 September 1990, at Matirogo Point, Port Moresby (National Capital District), a female Yellow-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis was observed bathing in the dew that had collected along the outer edge of a banana leaf. When first seen she was perched on the rib in the centre of the leaf. After a short while she slid, with wings spread but drooping at the tips, towards the edge of the leaf. The posture of the sunbird was similar to that adopted by some birds, e.g., Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius when anting. When the sunbird reached the dew at the edge of the leaf, she tried to maintain her position by scrabbling with her feet and flapping with her wings. This also splashed the drops of water, but was only successful for a few seconds. She then dropped off the banana leaf and flew to another where she landed for a brief preen of her body and wing feathers. The whole process was repeated three times before she flew off. By 07:20 all the dew had evaporated.

Originally published in MURUK 5(2):93.

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Fishing?

Since January 1990 I have regularly recorded an adult and immature Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus on my Town Bird Survey site at Matirogo Point, Port Moresby (National Capital District). Over this time the immature has been slowly attaining its adult plumage and now only has some flecks of white in the rufous of the upper wing. North of Matirogo Point, a stream flows into a small, unnamed bay and at low tide flows across the exposed mudflats. At 11:05 on 17 September 1990, when the tide was half out, these two Brahminy Kites were seen bathing in the stream. They stood within two feet of each other, in water that was almost belly-deep. After about 5 minutes, the immature flew c. 10 m to a rock, on which it perched. The adult remained in the water and began, apparently, to fish. It waded c. 30 m through the shallows of the stream, stopping frequently. During the stops it occasionally stabbed at something on or in the water. It made a total six stabs in seven minutes. Each stab seemed to be successful, although the distance from my vantage point to the bird, c. 150 m, was too great for the prey to be discernible. The stabbing action it used for "fishing" was of too short a duration for the bird to have been drinking. After seven minutes wading the adult Brahminy Kite flew and landed near the immature. The immature took off immediately, circled the bay and then was joined by the adult.

Rand & Gilliard (1967) recorded one Brahminy Kite that had eaten many small fish, but considered they may have been carrion. Coates (1985) reports that Brahminy Kites are expert at snatching fish from just below the surface, but there are no PNG records of Brahminy Kites fishing in the manner described above.

Coates, B.J. 1985. The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Vol 1. Dove Publications.
Rand, A.L. & E.T. Gilliard. 1967. The Handbook of New Guinea Birds. Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

PNGBS OUTING TO LEA LEA AND IARAGUMA - 9th SEPTEMBER 1990

Six cars containing eleven PNGBS members and friends gathered at the Baruni turn-off for a run out to Lake Iaraguma and Lea Lea, some 60 km north-west of Port Moresby. While waiting for late-comers a Large-tailed Nightjar was heard calling. Our first stop at a patch of gallery forest by the road produced about 20 species including good views of White-throated Gerygone and a pair of amorous White-winged Trillers. We then continued across the Fairfax Grasslands, seeing Cattle Egrets, all in non-breeding plumage, Singing Bushlarks and a female-plumaged Australian Kestrel. This is the first record of the latter for more than two years.

Our next stop was Lake Iaraguma. Last time I visited the Lake (Jan '90) it was heavily overgrown with Salvinia, an introduced weed, but this appeared to be dying out as more than half the lake was open water. There were not many waterbirds or waders, either here or at Lake Bunu. Of interest were a pair of Brown-backed Honeyeaters which were nest building in a bush on the shore of the lake. Both these birds had neat plum-coloured throats, a feature not mentioned in any guides. The site was revisited a week later, when both birds appeared to have "normal" plumage. It is now assumed the colouring was some type of staining, either from the eucalypts where the birds had been seen collecting bark for their nest building or from some unidentified food source.

From Lake Iaraguma we headed for the end of the road at Lea Lea, en route stopping at Papa where there is a high-tide wader roost amongst the mangroves. This early in the season there were relatively few birds - c. 25 Grey-tailed Tattlers, 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Masked Lapwing. We did have good views of a Glossy-mantled Manucode as it perched in the top of a mangrove tree and a pair of Yellow-bellied Sunbirds were nest building. Our normal wader-watching site at Lea Lea was inaccessible as the village of Lea Lea has moved to the south side of the mouth of Rea Rea Creek because the village site north of the mouth is being eroded. It was also high tide, about two hours earlier than that advertised for Port Moresby. So we headed home having recorded 63 species.

Australasian Grebe/ Great Frigatebird/ Lesser Frigatebird/ Little Black Cormorant/ Little Pied Cormorant/ Darter/ Great Egret/ Pied Heron/ Intermediate Egret/ Cattle Egret/ Little Egret/ Whistling Kite/ Brahminy Kite/ Collared Sparrowhawk/ Australian Kestrel/ Pacific Black Duck/ Common Scrubfowl (h)/ Dusky Moorhen/ Purple Swamphen/ Comb-crested Jacana/ Masked Lapwing/ Whimbrel/ Grey-tailed Tattler/ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper/ Gull-billed Tern/ Peaceful Dove/ Bar-shouldered Dove/ Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove/ Pied Imperial Pigeon/ Rainbow Lorikeet/ Red-cheeked Parrot/ Brush Cuckoo (h)/ Pheasant Coucal/ Large-tailed Nightjar (h)/ Blue-winged Kookaburra/ Sacred Kingfisher/ Rainbow Bee-eater/ Singing Bushlark/ Pacific Swallow/ Tree Martin/ White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike/ Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike/ White-winged Triller/ Golden-headed Cisticola/ White-throated Gerygone/ Willie Wagtail/ Jacky Winter/ Lemon-bellied Flycatcher/ Grey Shrike-Thrush/ Papuan Flowerpecker/ Yellow-bellied Sunbird/ Graceful Meliphaga/ Yellow-tinted Honeyeater/ White-throated Honeyeater/ Helmeted Friarbird/ Brown-backed Honeyeater/ Rufous-banded Honeyeater/ Grey-headed Mannikin/ Figbird/ White-breasted Wood-Swallow/ Black-backed Butcherbird/ Fawn-breasted Bowerbird/ Glossy-mantled Manucode/ Torresian Crow : 63 Species

Originally published in PNGBS Newsletter 261: 2-3.

Nesting Brown-backed Honeyeater Ramsayornis modestus with strange plumage

On 9 September 1990 we were bird-wataching at Lake Iaraguma at about 08:30 under overcast conditions. Jeff Chemnick observed a pair of honeyeater-myzomela tupe birds with brown backs, white vertical ear markings and plum-red facial markings (throat and possibly forehead). The birds were actively foraging in the crown and braches of a Eucalyptus tree. They were seen to collect bark and make repeated trips to another nearby site, presumably nest building. Wahlberg and Hicks identified the birds as Brown-backed Honetyeaters Ramsayornis modestus but were surprised by the facial colouration – a feature previously unrecorded. We feel that this colouration was a natural feature of the bird, as it did not look staining. No source of staining could be found in the immediate vicinity, e.g. flowers or fruit. The extent and intensity of the colouration was similar to that of a female Mountain Red-headed Myzomela Myzomela adolphinae. The nest under construction by this pair of birds was subsequently located and photographed. It was typical of the Brown-backed Honeyeater; a metre off the ground located close to the water’s edge. It was penduline in shape and was composed mostly of Eucalyptus bark.

First published in Muruk 6(1): 45 co-authored with J.Chemnick and N.Wahlberg

Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus attacking birds caught in a mist net.

On 17 July 1990 we visited the Pacific Adventist College (PAC), National Capital District, in the hope of catching some Mannikins Lonchura spp. We set a 20 m, 4-panel mist net at a site where mannikins had been observed feeding on the ground. We then left the net for an hour. On our return we had caught 12 birds (10 Grey-headed Mannikins L.caniceps and 2 Chestnut-breasted Mannikins L.castaneothorax). Two Pheasant Coucals Centropus phasianinus had been attracted to the net, presumably by the flutterings of the trapped mannikins. One of the coucals was actually in the net but escaped as we approached. It had attacked and killed two juvenile Grey-headed Mannikins by pecking at the head and neck, but had not been able to get the mannikins out of the net. After extracting the birds, we again left the net. RR returned after about half-an-hour. We had caught no more birds, but a Pheasant Coucal was sitting close by the net where it was apparently visible to the mannikins as these were now flying higher than they had earlier and so missed the net.

Previously, RH had noted Pheasant Coucals sitting under mist nets set in his garden on Matirogo Point, Port Moresby, but no birds had been found dead in the nets.

(Originally published in Muruk, co-authored with Robin Restall)

Feeding Behaviour of Sacred Kingfisher Halcyon sancta

On 1 July 1990, at Jais Aben Resort, Madang Province, I watched two Sacred Kingfishers Halcyon sancta, feeding. One of the birds had a more prominent white supercilium which allowed me to keep track of each bird, as they were not in view the whole time. My observations lasted from 11:35 - 12:49 (74 minutes) and only ended when both birds were disturbed by a party of people sitting under the tree from which they were hunting.

Both Sacred Kingfishers employed a "sit and wait" approach. They perched on the lower branches of a large rain-tree, c. 8 - 10 m above the ground. They always perched in the shade, although they did not always use the same perch. At times they were within 3 m of each other although there appeared to be no intraspecific aggression. From their perch they dropped at an angle of between 30o and 45o from the vertical. Six forays were to the ground, which was the short grass of the hotel grounds. Two forays, both by the same kingfisher were into the foliage of a bush on the shoreline. Seven forays, out of nine observed, resulted in prey being caught.

Sacred Kingfisher "A" was in view for 53 minutes. During this time it made five forays, all to the ground. All were successful although only three of the prey items were seen for long enough by me to identify them. They were a beetle, a small (c. 3 cm long) lizard and a grasshopper. The kingfisher returned to a perch, not necessarily the one from which it had dropped, to consume its prey. Each of the above prey items was banged against a branch a few times and turned round in the bill before being swallowed. The grasshopper and lizard were swallowed head first. The other two prey items were small and swallowed too quickly for me to see them. On one occasion, when returning to a perch, kingfisher "A" landed near a Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys which chased it to another perch.

Sacred Kingfisher "B" was in view for 36 minutes. During this time it made four forays, two to the ground and two to the foliage of a bush. Only two were successful, one to the ground and one to the bush. On neither occasion could the prey be identified. It handled its prey much as kingfisher "A", returning to a perch, banging the prey against a branch and turning it around in its bill before swallowing.

Originally published in Muruk 5:110

Asian Waterfowl Census : Port Moresby Area, 1990.

The Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC) is co-ordinated by the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB) and Asian Wetlands Bureau (AWB). The aims of the AWC are "to obtain information on waterfowl populations at wetlands in Asia during the mid-winter period (January), as a basis for evaluation of sites and monitoring populations" and "to encourage greater interest in wetlands and waterfowl amongst governmental, non-governmental and private individuals and thereby promote the conservation of wetlands in Asia". In 1989 twenty countries participated, 1319 sites were covered and 6.9 million waterfowl of 222 species were recorded (Scott & Rose 1989).

PNG is not part of Asia, but was included in the Directory of Asian Wetlands (DAW) (Scott 1989). This was presumably because Irian Jaya, the western half of the island of New Guinea is a province of Indonesia which is in Asia, so the eastern half of the island, PNG, was also included. PNG's avifauna is distinctly Australian, with less than 50% of south-eastern Asian waterfowl (as on the AWC form for that region) and if the long distance migrants (waders and terns) are ignored, then only 33% of waterfowl are common to PNG and south-east Asia. However, in 1990 PNGBS members were invited to participate in the AWC for the first time.

January is not the best month to conduct a census of waterfowl in PNG. It is the height of the wet season in most parts of the country. High rainfall causes extensive flooding in the lower reaches of most rivers, greatly increasing the area of wetland. Access to some sites becomes difficult if not impossible. The waterfowl also tend to disperse over a greater area, depressing numbers at accessible sites. Numbers of waterfowl are usually augmented each wet season by migrants from Australia. The late eighties were wet years in Australia, so birds have not moved to find more suitable habitat. Concentrations of waterfowl, in the Port Moresby area, are greatest towards the end of the dry season, October - November, when the wetland is smallest.

Between 11 - 14 January 1990 five members of the PNGBS (Will Glynn, Roger Hicks, Edel & Lex Kraaijo and Niklas Wahlberg) visited seven wetland sites in the Port Moresby area, six of which were included in the DAW. Each of these sites has been regularly visited by PNGBS members over the last five years, at least. Counts have been made regularly at Moitaka Settling Ponds and Hisiu Beach.

Fifty-two species were recorded in the course of the census. Over the previous year only 12 other wetland species were recorded at these sites. These included two vagrants, one passage migrant and two Australian breeding species, leaving only seven species which might have been expected on the census days. No large concentrations of any species were noted, for the reasons outlined above.

The following observations were noteworthy for the Port Moresby area. At a high-tide roost near the village of Lea Lea we saw c. 50 Grey-tailed Tattlers, c. 80 Greenshanks and most unexpectedly six White-headed Shelduck. At Kanosia Lagoon we counted nine Wood Sandpipers and three Oriental Pratincole. There were also eight Red-rumped Swallows hawking over the lagoon. The rarest species recorded, for PNG, was probably the single adult Great Cormorant seen at Moitaka settling ponds where a Little Bittern was heard and a Black bittern seen. Individuals of all egrets recorded, at all sites, were in breeding plumage, although no nest sites were found. Australasian Grebes were noted nesting or with young at most freshwater sites and the behaviour of a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, of the resident race, suggested they were probably breeding at Kanosia Lagoon.

Scott, D.A. (ed). 1989. A Directory of Asian Wetlands. IUCN
Scott, D.A. & P. Rose. 1989. Asian Waterfowl Census 1989. IWRB

Originally published in MURUK 5(1): 8-11