Our team of four observers enjoyed a relaxing time observing the birds of the Jondaryan area on a mild to warm, windy morning.
We visited a number of sites in the Jondaryan area and utilised a number of survey types.
We completed 2ha-20minute surveys in the former recreation reserve (woodland of belah, yarran, poplar box and weeping myall) and along the Jondaryan Sabine Road (roadside observations in yarran and wilga regrowth with some older trees).
In addition, we recorded all birds seen in the Jondaryan area at places visited within a 5km radius.
As expected, Painted Honeyeaters were busy and calling and we accounted for nine individuals seen and/or heard. Ripe mistletoe berries were abundant in the yarran and myall woodland. A biodiversity survey (like a ’bioblitz’) earlier in October documented a minimum of 39 individuals around Jondaryan in about half of the assumed suitable habitat.
Other species of note were a Collared Sparrowhawk in the recreation reserve, White-necked Herons seen in the creek system—in the water and flying by, several Sacred Kingfishers and a flock of Chestnut-breasted Mannikin. Apostlebirds were feeding young and Wedge-tailed Eagles lorded it over us from high in the sky.
The total of 41 bird species for the morning comprised species that we have come to expect in this area. If effort had been possible earlier, soon after sunrise, we may have encountered more species and individuals, especially parrots. The prevailing very dry conditions and wind possibly limited the bird activity a little today. The full list for the day is as follows:
| Apostlebird | Struthidea cinerea |
| Australasian Darter | Anhinga novaehollandiae |
| Australian Magpie | Gymnorhina tibicen |
| Australian Raven | Corvus coronoides |
| Australian White Ibis | Threskiornis moluccus |
| Black-shouldered Kite | Elanus axillaris |
| Brown Honeyeater | Lichmera indistincta |
| Chestnut-breasted Mannikin | Lonchura castaneothorax |
| Cockatiel | Nymphicus hollandicus |
| Collared Sparrowhawk | Accipiter cirrocephalus |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis |
| Crested Pigeon | Ocyphaps lophotes |
| Crow & Raven spp | |
| Double-barred Finch | Taeniopygia bichenovii |
| Fairy Martin | Petrochelidon ariel |
| Galah | Eolophus roseicapilla |
| Golden-headed Cisticola | Cisticola exilis |
| Grey Butcherbird | Cracticus torquatus |
| Laughing Kookaburra | Dacelo novaeguineae |
| Little Pied Cormorant | Microcarbo melanoleucos |
| Magpie-lark | Grallina cyanoleuca |
| Mistletoebird | Dicaeum hirundinaceum |
| Noisy Miner | Manorina melanocephala |
| Painted Honeyeater | Grantiella picta |
| Pale-headed Rosella | Platycercus adscitus |
| Peaceful Dove | Geopelia placida |
| Pied Butcherbird | Cracticus nigrogularis |
| Red-rumped Parrot | Psephotus haematonotus |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia |
| Sacred Kingfisher | Todiramphus sanctus |
| Scaly-breasted Lorikeet | Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus |
| Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater | Acanthagenys rufogularis |
| Spotted Dove | Streptopelia chinensis |
| Straw-necked Ibis | Threskiornis spinicollis |
| Striped Honeyeater | Plectorhyncha lanceolata |
| Superb Fairy-wren | Malurus cyaneus |
| Torresian Crow | Corvus orru |
| Variegated Fairy-wren | Malurus lamberti |
| Wedge-tailed Eagle | Aquila audax |
| Welcome Swallow | Hirundo neoxena |
| Whistling Kite | Haliastur sphenurus |
| White-faced Heron | Egretta novaehollandiae |
| White-necked Heron | Ardea pacifica |
| Willie Wagtail | Rhipidura leucophrys |