[Birding-Aus] A chorus line of Albert's [SEQ]

[Laurie Knight]

Peter Shute was up from Melbourne and keen to go birding around Mt
Tambourine. Despite a dismal weather forecast for today, we rocked up
to the Witches Falls area around 9 am. Normally the carpark would be
half full by that time, but there were no cars at all when we
arrived. We set off along the track and within minutes, Peter (who
was in the lead) said there was a bird on the track. I was about to
say it would be one of the ubiquitous turkeys, but no, it was a male
Albert's Lyrebird. That was the fastest Albert's tick for anyone I've
been birding with.

Instead of instantly disappearing as Albert's are want to do, it
loitered for 10 seconds before vanishing. We walked on 100 metres,
and there was another one. And another one. Then there were two or
three together. All up, we saw Alberts for about a kilometre along
the track. At times we could see them less than 10 metres away
scratching in the rich soil beside the track, and I managed to get my
first ever good photograph of an Albert's. There was a fair bit of
calling going on, but not a full breeding recital. They did, however,
make a diverse range of calls and Peter got to hear the classic
gronking call.

I have never seen so many 'tame' Albert's in one place. Perhaps the
fact that the track runs 20 metres from a host of back fences has
something to do with it.

The bottom line, is that if you want to see an Albert's, go to Witches
Falls on a wet morning. The rain may bring the leeches out, but it
sure keeps the wombles away.

Regards, Laurie.

PS We got some nice close-up shots of Log Runners on the Curtis Falls
track and I was surprised to find a large colony of Flying Foxes
camped over the creek. I can't remember seeing them on Mt Tambourine
previously.
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[Peter Shute]

I was very pleased to see these birds so easily and so well, when it appears that a quick glimpse if anything is all one can normally expect. It's hard to say how many we saw, but it could have been up to five, depending on how much doubling back they did.

Is it possible that a local has been feeding them? The Superb Lyrebirds at Grants Picnic Area in Kallista, Vic, are fed, and will walk among people's legs at times. But Albert's are reputed to be much shier. Would they respond the same way?

Peter Shute


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[david taylor]

I have had similar close encounters in exactly the same spot on a number of occasions and I do believe that the proximity to the homes may make these particular birds a little less shy than usual. I know some people who live in one of the homes that back onto the track and they certainly have Alberts Lyrebirds frequently visit their garden. Without a doubt Witches Falls is the best place I know to see Alberts and one can usually expect to spot one on a visit there, particularly when the crowds arent around.

regards

David Taylor
Brisbane

David Taylor
Brisbane
dam...@bigpond.net.au

[Carol Probets]

Hi Peter,

Lucky you! I can't comment on your question regarding the Alberts
specifically, but I am currently doing some work on Superb Lyrebirds
in the Blue Mountains, where we also have populations of tame birds
in places they have a lot of contact with people, e.g. at Scenic
World. I can say with confidence that these birds are not fed but
they are habituated to tourists to the extent that they can be
observed as closely as 2-4 metres without taking any notice of the
observer. (It makes them truly amazing study subjects!)

Cheers,

Carol

[Gordon and Pam Cain]

And I saw a pair scratching in the Dirt at Fitzroy Falls about 4 years ago -- just 2-3 metres from the busy footpath.

Just stood there and watched them while otehrs walked past in broad daylight.

Cheers
Gordon Cain
Schofields, NW Sydney

Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2010 16:55:39 +1000
From: Carol Probets <ori...@westnet.com.au>
Subject:
To: Peter Shute <psh...@nuw.org.au>, birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Message-ID: <a06110403c8aa3af8f2d2@[192.168.1.5]>
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[Gordon and Pam Cain]

Apologies, all --

Fitzroy Falls is in the S Highlands of NSW -- perhaps 2 hrs S of Sydney.

Cheers,
Gordon, who gets frustrated when folk don't say where a place is!

Syd Curtis wrote:

Hi Gordon,

Where, please, are Fitzroy Falls?

TIA

Cheers

Syd Curtis

From: Gordon and Pam Cain <gordon...@internode.on.net>
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:25:28 +1000
To: birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A chorus line of Albert's [SEQ]

And I saw a pair scratching in the Dirt at Fitzroy Falls about 4 years ago -- just 2-3 metres from the busy footpath.

Just stood there and watched them while otehrs walked past in broad daylight.

Cheers
Gordon Cain

Schofields, NW Sydney