Peter Valentine | Conservation Officer
In this article I describe the experience of living within a tropical rainforest and, in particular, the variety and nature of bird species encountered, including responses to offering resources to birds and the relative importance of them. It is based on the experiences of Val and I living 10 years near Malanda.
Our home consists of steel buildings on a relatively small footprint, located at the bottom of a 70 metre driveway through quite dense rainforest, which includes some large individual trees. The property extends some 400 metres further downslope to the Johnstone River, uncleared rainforest all the way, and the house is located well away from any neighbours.
The birds we encounter are primarily rainforest-adapted species, although we do occasionally enjoy fly-over species like swifts, and even a Great-billed Heron occasionally!
Although the property itself is small (1 ha), it abuts onto much more rainforest along the river, and almost all our neighbours along the river and road have extensive uncleared rainforest, mostly like ours, land for wildlife. There is a good composition of rainforest bird species with very few gaps.
When we first came to Malanda we decided to provide bird baths to encourage the local birds into more visible locations near the house.
We also provided some fruit in feed trays under cover at the patio edge. The principal fruit provided was bananas, but also occasionally oranges and any other excess fruit available.
We made a deliberate choice to include occasional food provisioning as we knew these birds are used to periodic food supplies from rainforest fruiting trees, and therefore knew that when we stopped feeding for a while, it would not impact any more than when a rainforest tree finishes its fruiting period.
Considering both these additional resources, it is clear that the water (such as in bird baths) attracts many more species than the fruit. More about that below.
Our dining table is outside the house under the rear patio, and therefore just a few metres from the rainforest. We have great views of several bird baths and small frog ponds that are used by the birds for drinking and bathing.
Living within the forest we were surprised to not experience any mosquitoes, and very few other insects that might have caused discomfort, so we did not need any insect screening. That certainly allows for an excellent interaction with, and view of, the wildlife.
Local mammals include microbats (Eastern Long-eared Bats mainly); two species of bandicoots; Coppery Brush-tailed Possum; Red-legged Pademelon; Rakali; and White-tailed Rat. Others come by occasionally, including Green Ring-tailed Possum and Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Occasionally an Echidna wanders by in the forest, and Platypus is in the river.
Typically we have our first encounter with the birds as they sing their dawn chorus (mostly we are still in bed). A lot of species are involved, including resident Grey-headed Robin, Shrike-thrushes, Monarchs, and Eastern Whipbird.
But one regular interaction is over breakfast. At that time we can enjoy many different species, some of which are already taking baths or drinking. Typically these include the local Large-billed Scrubwrens who love a family bathing session ….
…. and two or three of the four resident monarchs: Black-faced in summer ....
…. and Spectacled and Pied Monarchs all year.
So far the White-eared Monarch rarely descends from the canopy, but we do hear the call.
Tooth-billed Bowerbirds love to bathe but are fussy about the water – they come down soon after I refresh the water each morning. They are exuberant bathers, taking 8-10 splashes interspersed with preening activities. A single bird displaces a lot of water in the process. Our Spotted Catbirds are equally enthusiastic, and it is not uncommon for me to have to refresh the baths twice a day, or more when conditions are hot and dry.
We have also found that slightly varying each bath condition and location helps, as some birds prefer nearby cover into which they can retreat to preen, whereas others are happy to stay on an exposed perch to preen, and to prepare for their bath.
It’s also interesting that some birds love to drink, but rarely bathe. Wompoo Fruit-doves and White-headed Pigeons are in this category. Both are wary, but are reasonably consistent if infrequent drinkers. I do not know if that reflects the weather or the type of food being eaten. We do seem to have more species drinking in the warmer and drier conditions of late spring early summer. But even in wet conditions some birds love to bathe.
The species that come to eat fruit are limited, but include several groups. The honeyeaters involved are Macleay’s, Lewin’s, and Bridled, as well as Helmeted Friarbird.
Then there are the Spotted Catbird and Victoria’s Riflebird both of whom enjoy fruit.
One interesting fruit is avocado, and when these are abundant, we put them out for the Riflebirds who love them. We discovered that when we found Riflebirds flying inside the house to eat our own avocados – something we do not encourage! But avocados are often cheap about breeding time for Victoria’s Riflebird, and they all seem to enjoy the fruit.
Occasionally (rarely for us) we get a pair of Rainbow Lorikeet and a pair of Pale-headed Rosella. King Parrots may turn up from time to time, but as we do not put seed out they do not stay. There are other places where they do get seed!
We do have a few more species who come for flowers on the edge of the small open area. These include Eastern Spinebill, Dusky Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater and rarely, Sahul Sunbird. The first two also use the bird baths.
Many more species use the bird baths. All of the fruit eaters do, but others who rarely or never come for fruit include Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Brown Cuckoo-dove, Superb Fruit-dove (rarely), Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Emerald Dove, Peaceful Dove, Spangled Drongo, Pied Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Whipbird, Rufous Shrike-thrush, Bower’s Shrike-thrush, Large-billed Scrubwren, Golden Whistler, Grey Whistler (rarely), Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Pale-yellow Robin, Grey-headed Robin, Silvereye (rarely), Satin Bowerbird (rarely), and White-eared Monarch (rarely).
Occasionally Australian Brush-turkey will take a drink from our baths.
Some species also enjoy sun-baking and/or anting including honeyeaters, doves and brush-turkeys.
To this big cast of more or less regulars, we must add the other species that are present in the forest and frequently seen, but for whom our offerings of either food or water don’t appeal. Orange-footed Megapode is among this group but despite that, we see them most days. And we love their nocturnal calls.
Brown Gerygone, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Australasian Figbird, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Varied Triller, Double-eyed Fig-parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and White-throated Treecreeper are all heard more than seen close by, but we do frequently see them in the forest.
Looking up we also see the Australian Swiftlet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Common Cicadabird, Pied Currawong, Barred Cuckoo-shrike and, in season, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Pacific Koel, whose calls penetrate the forest.
The final group of birds are those who live in our forest but rarely expose themselves, or that fly over or enter our place infrequently. An example of the latter is Red-browed Finch which, while common along the edge of the rainforest, is very rare inside it. Metallic Starlings fly over at speed but only rarely seem to stop, although I have recorded them feeding nearby.
Among the birds living in our forest, but rarely exposing themselves, are our four species of owls, all of whom reveal their presence through nocturnal calls. These are the Forest Boobook, Barking Owl, Lesser Sooty Owl, and Rufous Owl.
We have also seen Rufous Owl a few times when a nearby roosting individual is harassed by a chorus of inferior beings. The birds use their warning calls to alert each other to predators including raptors, roosting owls, and snakes.
One of our birds’ greatest fears seems to be the Grey Goshawk. When one calls every bird goes to ground or freezes! Occasionally a Goshawk will fly through past the house under the rainforest canopy, and all other birds present scatter or hide.
On one memorable occasion a young Grey Goshawk took up residence, all the while calling to its parents to be fed. It was a very large juvenile female and its loud cries dominated the forest. It even took a bath in a bird bath not quite big enough to contain it. I realized its juvenile status when it ran along under the canopy trying to catch a pademelon! I suppose it was hungry. After three days of neglect from its parents (I imagine they had decided it was time for the youngster to leave home) it finally departed, much to the relief of Val and I and our local birds!
Other perhaps surprising sightings include a Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher who was first seen on the edge of our forest, then a few minutes later, flying through the forest past the house: the only time I have recorded this species here. Once looking above the canopy I noted a Great-billed Heron flying across the rainforest towards the Johnstone River where I expect it had feeding and roosting sites.
If we are lucky in summer we see the occasional Swifts flying overhead and the beautiful Needletails. We quite often see Pacific Baza in the canopy, and occasionally other raptors flying overhead.
We hear more cuckoos than we see. Very occasionally I have seen or heard a Black Butcherbird, a notable event for us. Others recorded more by calls include Mistletoebirds, Magpie-larks and Bush Stone-curlews. I have no recollection of ever recording a Willie Wagtail despite their presence about 100 metres from us!
Typically, if we sit outside on our rear patio, we are continuously entertained by bird activity. I have tried to work on the dining table, but it proves impossible as species after species turns up for drinks or a bath, and catches attention. Birds continue their daily activity, sometimes feeding, often chasing each other, sunbaking, calling or singing, and sometimes feeding on flowers, fruit, or other forest products including larvae in dead wood, or prey along trunks, branches or even on the ground. This non-stop action is enjoyable for us but not conducive to productive work!
Our experience is mirrored by many other people who live within the forest, but sometimes with interesting differences. For example, Martin and Sam Willis who live nearby have established a magnificent, large pond under their rainforest canopy in clear and close view from their house. After a while, as the pond softened with the growth of plants, more and more birds starting using it for bathing and drinking. Even the White-eared Monarch comes regularly to bath (and they can have all four summer monarchs using the pool on the same day).
I have also noticed different species use the water resources differently, and the monarchs like open water they can dive into rather than shallow water to hop into, as most of the other birds prefer. But our birds have responded well to even simple water baths and small ponds, so it does not require a significant effort to add appeal to your backyard!
I have installed a couple of display posts for our riflebirds and they are well used. The riflebirds seem to prefer posts under the canopy, but even when I put one near the house and only partially under the canopy, they have been used, at least for practice dancing. Just recently a beautiful male Victoria’s Riflebird spent quite a few minutes dancing on a tall cut-off tree fern stump while Val and I were having breakfast.
We could see no female nearby but we were suitably impressed by the fantastic dance moves and action. We were delighted. And we take some degree of pleasure in seeing many species producing young, some of which come to our baths at a young age!
The species I enjoy the most are the Tooth-billed Bowerbird (because it is otherwise difficult to find outside the breeding season) ….
…. the Victoria’s Riflebird with dancing brown and black birds ….
…. the Golden Whistler with its bright and continuous song; the Yellow-breasted Boatbill because of its beautiful plumage, distinctive song and rapid flight ….
…. and the Little Treecreeper with its piercing song and busy tree trunk searches.
I am sorry that we do not have Chowchillas in our patch although they must once have been here. Birds that seem to be less frequent today are the Bridled Honeyeater, Mountain Thornbill, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, and the four species of owls. But despite that our backyard birds delight us every day and we are grateful for their joyful presence in our lives.
All the photos in this article were taken from our back patio, usually while sitting at our dining table. Most were taken with a telephoto lens.