Birdlife Southern Queensland recorded 373 species of birds in South East Queensland in the 13 years to 2023.
Many of those species live or make flying visits to our area.
How many? Well, that’s an unknown. What is known, is the area is rich in birdlife.
This week, we continue our series of some of the birds captured locally by the camera lens of photographer LYLE RADFORD.
ROYAL SPOONBILL
Outside its breeding season, this water bird has white feathers and those on the back of its head and neck are neatly placed. But during breeding season, there’s a yellowy wash on its lower neck and the back of its neck sports a crest of long feathers, which become a crazy crown (see photo) during courtship. It feeds in shallow water using the ‘spoon’ of its bill, which has vibration detectors, to sweep through water and catch small fish. Once it has a catch, the bird raises its head to allow the captive to slide down its throat.
BROWN HONEYEATER
One of the smaller honeyeaters easily identified by the yellowish sheen on its wings and the yellow marking behind its eyes. This acrobatic, social and noisy bird has a wide variety of chattering calls. It feeds most often in the vicinity of water but also in parks and gardens mainly in the foliage and flowers of native trees and shrubs as it seeks nectar and insects. Its nest is a small, deep, round cup and is built by the female while the male stands guard.
KING PARROT
In the rainforests, King Parrots feed on the fruit and seeds of native plants and they are a backyard favourite in urban gardens where there is many a feeding station and native trees. Their vibrant red and green colouring makes it an easy-to-spot visitor with the added bonus of being able to tell the males (red head) from the females. While numbers are thought to be on the rise, old growth trees are vital to their future as they lay their eggs in the wood dust at the base of tree hollows.
BLACK KITE
Both hunters and scavengers, these raptors soar and glide in thermals as they search for small animals, reptiles, insects or just as often, road kill. Also known as Fire Kites, they will hunt (sometimes in flocks) around the edges of a bushfire ready to swoop in with their legs lowered to grab anything trying to escape the inferno. In urban areas they will feed on food scraps. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. Both sexes are involved in aerial displays during courtship.
