You’re invited to participate in a Regent Honeyeater (and Swift Parrot) survey in the Chiltern section of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP as part of the Annual National Regent/Swift Survey weekend on: Saturday 19th May
Aim:
To get as many bino-clad people as possible into the park to search areas supporting flowering euc’s or high honeyeater activity to (hopefully) detect wild and/or ex-captive release Regents (and Swift Parrots).
Background:
“Red Yellow” was recently detected in Chiltern marking the 7th ex-captive known to have been alive 12 months post the May 2010 release (and obviously now the first almost 24 months post-release).
Two wild Regents have also been observed including a male first banded in June 2010 that has now been seasonally sighted for three consecutive years within Chiltern.
Swift Parrots (in reasonable numbers) have been recorded in Chiltern over the last few weeks.
White Box is in heavy bud and/or just commencing flowering throughout the Region and it’s looking great within the Park. In addition to White Box zones, patches of sparse Mugga Ironbark, Grey Box and Hybrid flowering will form the focus of our survey effort on Saturday 19th.
Details for Regent/Swift Survey are as follows:
Meet: 8.15am for 8.30am briefing @ Honeyeater Picnic Area on Cyanide Rd (on the south side of the Hume Fwy – see attached map) For new comers the easiest way to the site is:from the Chiltern Yackandandah Rd (parallel to the Sth side of the Fwy), turn into Lancashire Gap Rd. Turn left into Cyanide Rd. Turn right into the Honeyeater Picnic Area carpark. We’ll go through a quick introduction, registration, overview OH&S considerations, discuss communications protocols (each team will be provided with UHF radio), and allocate each team locations for searching. We’ll reconvene at the same site for a sumptuous lunch & billy tea (that we’ll provide). For those able/interested – there’s an opportunity to make a weekend of it (camping and cabins at the caravan park etc) and follow-up with more surveying on Sunday at Chiltern or surrounds.
Actions:
1. Please forward this onto other birdo’s who may not have received this email
2. If you are able to participate in the Saturday 19th May Chiltern survey – to enable us to plan & cater for lunch: please RSVP by return email to Glen Johnson by Thursday 17th May (earlier appreciated) & include any dietary preferences
3. If you are unable to make it to Chiltern, please undertake Regent / Swift surveys in your patch of appropriate bush or reserve and record outcomes on the attached form.
Regents have been observed recently as far away as Portland in Vic and in NSW on the south coast and usual haunts in the Capertee Valley. Swifts are also widespread throughout the mainland. Further Regent / Swift update details can be found on:
http://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/woodland-birds-for-biodiversity
Please complete and forward survey forms even if no Regents/Swifts are seen to enable BirdLife Australia to record search effort and locations over the National Survey weekend.
Chiltern participants please BYO: Bino’s
Mobile phone (we’ll do regular checks with participants via DSE radio’s but bring mobile as back-up)
Warm clothing/Jackets/Wet weather gear, sturdy footwear, hat, mosi repellent & sunscreen (well you never know!) etc
Snacks/drinks for in the field (NB Lunch supplied back at Honeyeater Picnic Area)
Remember to report any sightings: Regent Honeyeater:please call 1800 621 056, or email: Dean.Ingwersen@birdlife.org.au Swift Parrot: please call 1800 665 766, or email: Chris.Tzaros@birdlife.org.au Please contact me if you have any queries and all intending participants remember to RSVP asap. Cheers Glen Johnson