Drought effecting woodswallows

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Lightuningbird
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Drought effecting woodswallows

Notest a flock of woodswallows today. Pretty normal to see them here near a creek with plenty of trees, a flock of normaly about 10. 

Saw them againe today, the usual 10. But as I looked closer, there where many more. About 30. My bird book, (micheal morcombe feild guide to Australia bird) says that they are normaly most commonly found in NSW/QLD, wher ethe drought currently is taking place. The book also says that the woodswallow don’t stray far from water. I came to conclusion that the drought has pushed them down further, hence the sudden increase in the number. 

They instantly headed to the creek, there should be plenty of insects for them.

Woko
Woko's picture

I think White-backed Woodswallows are often seen near water, as you say. If numbers are increasing in your vicinity then it might be due to the drought in the north. 

Dusky Woodswallow numbers are way down here on the south eastern slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges in SA so unless we receive good rains soon there won’t be too many around this year.

Lightuningbird
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Galahs have been common here this year..seems as if everything is moving.

the pailocans also haven’t left to go to larger waters....

Wimmera mally region, Vic.

Alex Rogers
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Apparently they are seasonally nomadic in the south of their range but sedentary in the far north. Plenty in Darwin and Katherine this week. 

Lightuningbird
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They flew over againe yesterday. Definitely white breasted woodswallows. The count is currently 27.

Wimmera mally region, Vic.

Lightuningbird
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WOOD SWALLOW UPDATE,

I have miss IDed these birds. Got a closer look at them, flying low over trees.

they are white browed wood swallows, and there may be over 100 now. several larg flocks flew over.

notest an increase in blue bonnets, wich are now becoming as common as red dumps parrots. These birds are not usually this common here, I am on the eadge of there range.

white winged trillers are a new bird to the place two, may of these as well. Many people have told me they have seen these birds. I am seeing 2-3 flocks of 5 or more daily.

Wimmera mally region, Vic.

Woko
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That's interesting. Yesterday I saw at least 12 White-browed Woodswallows here on the s.e. slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges. The last time I saw this species was about 8 years ago & certainly not in those numbers. 

Woko
Woko's picture

And today I saw a pair of Masked Woodswallows. The last observation I made of these here was in about 1989. Still lots of White-browed Woodswallows around with 2 juveniles among them. And signs of further breeding with a female holding nesting material in its bill. A short while later I saw 6 Dusky Woodswallows but no break to the drought although we had 4.6 mm 2 days ago & 0.6 mm last night. Boy, did it ever bucket down! 

dwatsonbb
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Good to hear, maybe your hard work regenerating is paying off. It's raining here, but we need heaps more before summer. We're not in drought thankfully, but am thinking of those who are.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

Lightuningbird
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Been storming rom last night to 10:00 in the morning here.

lost the top to the galah nesting tree as well. The nest is ok tho.

Wimmera mally region, Vic.

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