DONGARA FLORA & FAUNA

by Br W H van Veen sac

Part 5

Grey-shrike-thrush The Grey-shrike-thrush is also a bird that you can see the whole of the year. Colluricincla harmonica (rufiventris) is among the world’s most pleasing songbirds. The plumage of the male and female is very plain; because of this most people are not aware of this bird around them. The western shrike-thrush has a distinct buff colouration on the belly and vent. These shrike-thrushes build their bowl-shaped nest in a variety of sites.

 

Willie wagtail Willie wagtails nest are regularly robbed by other birds. Birds take their young or take the nesting materials. The nest are saved only if built near a Magpie-larks nest or where there is human traffic close by. It is also a lack of experience of the birds that make them put the nest in a problem area. Birds like the Kestrel, Little Falcon and the Grey currawong all rob nest and the Singing honeyeater take material from the nest of the Willie wagtail.

 

Australian Kestrels The Australian kestrel is slower than the other members of the falcon family. It preys on creatures that live on the ground, the bird hovers about 30 m or les above ground or perching. I have seen the kestrel patrolling the Estuary near the Irwin River regularly and also operating at Brennand Road.

 

Crested Pigeon The Crested pigeons are not common here at Dongara as in the Irwin catchment areas. For the pigeon the most important single plant is the introduced Paterson curse, Echium lycopsis which is a bit out of control. It provides a third of the birds’ annual food. There is no doubt the ability to eat exotic seeds has contributed greatly to the bird’s expanding its territory.

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