12/24/2023 0 Comments Smallest cockatoo species![]() ![]() “Warriewood Wetlands has a remnant swamp mahogany and sand plain wetland and 191 bird species have been recorded there.” Cockatoo nesting in the hollow of a tree. “Irrawong Reserve lies below the Ingleside escarpment and is a rainforest which hosts a variety of rainforest species like gerygones, fantails, whistlers and the occasional roosting powerful owl. “Long Reef is an aquatic reserve and an important rock platform for wading birds and migrant species from Siberia in Spring. On a good day I have seen 50 different species there in a few hours. “Dee Why Lagoon can be full of seawater or completely empty and contain ducks, cormorants and has bush birds around the edges. What are some of the different habitats on the Northern Beaches, and what bird species might be encountered in them? “By taking habitat, shape, call and location into consideration, it gets easier.” “For me, that would take the fun away from working out the bird I am trying to identify,” he explained. However, Mike recommended training your ears and not relying on digital technology to determine bird species. There are for the USA and other regions of the world. Currently there are no apps for Australian birds which identify the species. “The calls on the app help narrow the type of bird I am trying to identify. “There are a few apps available with bird calls,” Mike confirmed. Photo: Paul BalfeĬan birdwatchers download apps to their mobile phone that analyse and identify native species? ![]() Its curiosity delighted the two young girls on our birdwatching tour. Soon, a male whistler that was perched on a tree branch nearby, a tiny songbird with black head, white chin and a bright yellow chest, flew in close to inspect this suspected interloper. “However, you don’t play it during the nesting season, it’s not good for the birds,” Mike cautioned, because it heightens their anxiety. “It’s a territorial call,” Mike revealed. Mike has recordings of native birds on his phone, and whilst we were in the Irrawong Reserve approaching the waterfall, he played the calling sound of a golden whistler. She took us to a place called Bass Rock where there were thousands of seabirds nesting on this vast rock protruding out of the sea. When I was 11, I went on holiday to Scotland with a friend from school and his mum. “My dad was a fly fisherman and that didn’t interest me at all. “I started as a young birder in the UK,” he revealed. The bird flew off after a few hours rest, but not before a dozen twitchers from all over Britain converged on the beach to witness its unscheduled stopover. I once hitched a ride with a twitcher who drove the length of England to catch sight of a migratory bird that landed on a south coast beach, having been blown off course in a storm. ![]() In Britain the more dedicated among the observers, who primarily seek out rare species, are known as ‘twitchers’. ![]() Photos: Hans Toom + David Cookīirdwatching is an unusual occupation, and one that requires patience and perseverance, with mixed results. Their flight is so graceful.” Mike Barrow’s two favourite birds: a peregrine falcon and a yellow-tailed black cockatoo. I also love Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. You know when one is around because all the other birds give out their alarm calls and scatter. They are the fastest animal on the planet and have been recorded at speeds over 280km/hr. What are your favourite bird species and why? It’s like anything, practice, practice, practice.” Take me out of the area and it becomes way harder. “Locally on the Northern Beaches and Sydney, I reckon about 95%. How many different bird calls can you identify? Manly Observer joined Mike, who owns Aussie Bird Tours, on a birdwatching trek around of Dee Why Lagoon, Irrawong Reserve and Long Reef Headland. In fact not only can he identify just about any bird call he hears along the Northern Beaches, he can distinguish between flocks socialising, individuals calling, territorial rivalry, warnings of predators and the lonely attracting a mate. ![]()
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