Eastern Spinebill

Should be a great year for waterbirds so let's go for broke - 250 spp for 2011.

Moderator: Mick Atzeni

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Mick Atzeni
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Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:08 pm

Eastern Spinebill

Post by Mick Atzeni »

Overdue Eastern Spinebill (immature) in Niddrie Drive, Middle Ridge on 1/5/11. A newie for my yard list too.

Has anyone else got an earlier record??
Rod Hobson
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Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:03 am

Early Eastern Spinebill Record

Post by Rod Hobson »

Mick,

With regard to your query about dates for Eastern Spinebill records for this season, I was walking the mutt on the very wet morning of the 20th March when I heard, then saw a single Eastern Spinebill near the intersection of Curzon and Plant Streets in Toowoomba.

This was the same morning that I found the dead Powerful Owl suspended in the powerlines outside of 45 Prince Henry Drive later in my walk. I guess that the excitement of this last find somewhat deflated the significance of the early spinebill record.

Regards,
Rod Hobson
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Mick Atzeni
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Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:08 pm

Eastern Spinebill

Post by Mick Atzeni »

Thanks Rod.

Just had a quick look through the "They're back" topic and going by that, your record is about a month earlier than normal. A mid-April arrival seems to be more typical:

.://..toowoombabirdobservers.org/f ... .php?t=574
.://..toowoombabirdobservers.org/f ... .php?t=575
.://..toowoombabirdobservers.org/f ... php?t=1600

Be interested to see what the monthly reporting rates show.

Cheers
Mick
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Mick Atzeni
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Monthly reporting frequencies

Post by Mick Atzeni »

Just out of interest, the monthly reporting rates (%) locally for Eastern Spinebill (1976-2000) were:

Ja Fb Mr Ap My Jun Jul Au Se Oc No De
8 16 12 56 84 96 100 88 80 36 20 16

Based on this data, seeing a spinebill locally in March is around a 12% chance.

Thanks to Pat our Records Officer for the data.
Michael Atzeni
7 Woden St, Murphys Creek 4352
Mob: 0499 395 485
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