Records of the Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana Raffles, 1822 from the Tin Can Bay area, southern Queensland

4 Pages·2002·1.2 MB·English

by  M Burnham

RECORDS OF THE GREAT-BILLED HERON ARDEA SUMATRANA RAFFLES, 1822
FROM THE TIN CAN BAY AREA, SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
MARK BURNHAM, IAN GYNTHER AND ROD HOBSON
Burnham, M,Gynther,I.&Hobson, R2002531: Recordsofthe(Jreat-billedHeronArdea
simuurana Raffles, 1822 from theTinCan Bayarea, southern Queensland. Memoirsofthe
QueenslandMuseum 48(1): 45-48. Brisbane. ISSN0079-8835.
In March andMay 2000. incidental sightingsofGreat-billedHeronArdeasumatranawere
made intheTinCan Bayarea,situatedatthe southernendoftheGreat Sandy Straitcloseto
thesouthern tipofFraser Island. Two furthersightings from this mainland localityresulted
from a concentrated search in December2000. These are the first records ofA, sumatrana
fromthis region sincethe 950swhen nestingwasobserved60-70kmtothenorthon Fraser
1
Island. The temporal and spatial patterns ofthe present sightings suggestA. sumatrana is
resident in the Tin Can Bay area, making this the most southerly population recorded in
Australia overthepastcentury. Thediscoveryrepresentsasignificantsouthwardextension
to the Great-billed Heron's current Australian andglobal distributions. Ardeidae, Ardea
sumatrana,southern Queensland, GreatSandyStrait, estuarineareas.
MarkBurnham, QueenslandParks& WildlifeSennce,POBox101, Maryborough4650;lan
Gynther(e-mail: lan.Gynthenai.epa.qkl.gov.au), QueenslandParks & WildlifeService, PO
Box42, Kenmore 4069; RodHobson, QueenslandParks £ WildlifeSen'iee, POBox 731
Toowoomba 4350, Australia; received 10 October2001.
The Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana Hancock & Kushlan, 1984; Pizzey & Knight,
occurs from Burma and Thailand through 1997), although more southerly sightings are
SoutheastAsiaand Indonesiato NewGuineaand documented al Eurimbula National Park
Australia (Hancock&Kushlan, 1984). Although (24°12,S, 151°48'E; Marchant& Higgins, 1990,
historically the speciesrangedas farsouth asNE where this locality is stated as 'Miriam Vale';
New South Wales (Ramsay, 1888; Campbell, N.G. McKilligan, pers. comm.; D.H.C. Seton,
1900), an individual recorded there in recent pers. comm.) and the Biloela (Jambin) area
tviamgersan(tGiobrsonac,ci1d9e8n1t)alis c(oMnasricdhearnetd t&o haHvieggbienesn. (M2a4r°c1h5a'nSt,&1H5i0g°gi2n5s,,E;199B0l)a.kGearsmetett &al.C,ro1w9l8e4y;
1990; Pizzey & Knight, 1997). The accepted (2000) statedthere areno recent records south of
southern extent of the species post-1900 is the Rockhampton and suggested the Australian
Great Sandy Strait coast of Fraser Island distribution of A. sumatrana has contracted
(25°15'S, 153°03,E), based on nesting records northwards up the east coast.
(Beruldsen, 1980) originating from the diary of This paper, describing four separate sightings
the late Valdie Christensen inthe early 1950s (G made during 2000 from the mainland Tin Can
Beruldsen, pers. comm.). Importantly, the Qu- Bayarea, confirmsthecontinuedexistenceofthe
eensland Museum's collection does not contain Great-billed Heron in the Great Sandy Strait,
skins oreggsofA. sumatrana from FraserIsland southern Queensland,
(A. Amey, pers. comm.); the records from this
locality attributed to D.P. Vernon in Blakersetal. MATERIALS AND METHODS
&
(1984) and Marchant Higgins (1990) very
likely refer to those of V. Christensen (D.P The general area where the sightings were
Vernon, pers. comm.). made possesses numerous mangrove-lined
creeks, each characterised by a seaward zone of
Over the ensuing half century since closed Rhizophora stylosa and a landward
Christensen'srecords,noadditional observations saltpan, between which closed or open
ofA. sumatrana fromtheGreatSandyStraithave communities ofAvicennia marina oxA. marina
come to light. The current distribution of the and Ceriops tagal sometimes formed a narrow
species along the eastAustralian coast is usually zone. Bruguiera gymnorhiza was occasionally
given as Cape York to Broad Sound (22°25'S, present in open stands. Extensive saline
149°45,E; Marchant & Higgins, 1990) or the grasslands and stands ofsedges were present in
Rockhampton area (23°30,S, 150°55'E; theintertidal zonein someplaces. Theuppertidal
46 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
reaches of each waterway were lined with a approach closer than 100m. A photograph taken
closed Aegiceras corniculatum community. at this range was sufficient to confirm the
Terrestrial vegetation surrounding the coastal identification.
oweptelnandfsorceosnts,istgeednoefratallllyopwenitwhooEdulcaandlytpottualsl At 14:00 on 21 May 2000. while canoeing
racemosa, Coiymbia intermediaandE. umbraas arounda bend in anotheMrBsmall creek4.4km from
dominants. The closed understorey contained a the previous sighting, and J. Holt observed
diverserangeofheathspecies, fernsandsedges. an adult A. sumatrana at close range (10m) as it
perched 3m aboveground in anA. marinaamida
The firsttwo encounters withA. sumatrana, in fringing, low mangrove community. Startled by
March and May 2000, occurred incidentally the canoe's unexpected approach, theheron tlew
during components of a Water Mouse XeromMyBs upstream until out of sight. It was not located
myoidessurveyprogram beingconducted by again.
in estuarine areas between Rodds Peninsula and
Tin Can Inlet. The survey and reconnaissance The subsequent, targeted survey conducted by
work involved in this program entailed fourobservers yielded two sightings ofsingleA.
negotiating tidal waterways by boat and sumatrana on 13 December2000. At 07:30. MB
traversingadjacent areas ofmangrove, saltmarsh and RH briefly glimpsed an individual flying
and saltpan on foot. A subsequent, targeted downstream beside a section of a third creek
survey fatA. sumatrana, conducted from 12-13 3.2km and 2.4km, respectively, from the
December 2000, focused on the locations ofthe locations of the first and second incidental
two earlier sightings but also examined other sightings described above. Here, scattered
suitable habitat in the general vicinity. During Aegicerascorniculatum linedthewater'sedge. A
this follow-up work, two parties, each steep, 10m bank obscured the view ofthe heron
comprising two observers, used boats to search as it flew at 6-8m height,just below the canopy
tidal creeks and other waterways to their level ofthe surrounding terrestrial woodland.
navigable limits. All areas were visited twice At about 1 1:00 the same day, while searching
over the two day period. Occasionally, searches an area 360m straight-line distance downstream
ofadjacent habitat were also undertaken on foot. ofthesitewheretheMarch2000observation was
Colour aerial photography (1:12,000 scale) made (and 3.4km from the location ofthe earlier
proved to be an indispensable aid during the observation that morning), 1G and K. Wortel
survey. Observations were made with Leica sighted an A. sumatrana as it flushed from a
10x42B binoculars and locations recorded using shallowly-flooded mangrove and saltpan area
a Garmin GPS 12 or a Garmin GPS 12XL. situated between the creek bank and the dense
mangroves lining the creek channel. Mangrove
RESULTS A
species were marina, R. stylosa, C. tagal and
adjAalcleonbtsetrovaesttiuoanrsinweeraeremaasdienitnheorTiimnmeCdainatBealyy saBhpropurrgeouxiaitemraaathgeeyilmgynhot3ro5hfmioznaals.yIt3nhiemtiabbliervfdiorefewlievnwegeprraiarnnaglgleaewlwaatyso
areawithin the latitudinal band 25°45 -25°55'S. to land in a 9m high Eucalyptus umbra, some
Precise locations are withheld to minimise 80m from the creek in the adjacent woodland.
potentially negative impacts by bird watchers on The heron perched at 5m on a horizontal limb
hthuismasnpecdiiessturthbaatncies (nSoetteodn,fo1r97it3s;sMenasricthivaintty t&o (fFliugs.hedi)whaennd IrGemaapipnreodachtehedret,oowcaltocshefluyl,onufnotoilt
Higgins, 1990).
to obtain additional photographs. It then flew
At 12:00 on 10 March 2000, a single adult A. only 30m to an exposed, dead branch of a
sumatrana was observed at an initial distance of Melaleuca quinqitenervia where more
approximately 60m as MB and M. Ford walked photographs were taken (Fig. 2). Views with
beside a narrow tidal creek. The bird took flight binoculars at ranges down to 30m revealed the
from the ground within a low mangrove bird to be in breedingplumageas indicatedbyits
community consisting of Avicennia marina. greyfacial skin, nuchal crest,and longplumeson
Rhizophora stylosa and Ceriops tagaL It flew the lower foreneck and back (Marchant &
350m upstreamand intowoodland adjacenttoan Higgins, 1990; Pizzey & Knight, 1997). After a
area where sedgeland surrounded the creek's brief and unrewarded search for nests in the
mangroves. The bird landed in an unidentified immediatevicinity,thesitewasdepartedat 12:20
eucalyptwhereitbehavedwarily, notallowingan with the heron still in the same tree.
ARDEA SUMATRANA IN SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND 47
FIG. L Ardea sumatrana perched in Eucalyptus FIG2. finalperchingpositionof[UcAnicaMimatnmu
umbra, Tin Can Bay irpa, Sh Queensland. individual. Tin Can Bayarea, SH Queensland.
DISCUSSION greater. Considered together, the results indicate
that the area in question may support a small
population ofGreat-billed Herons.
That thethreesightingdatesreported herespan
a nine month period suggests A. sumatrana is Ifthis assumption is correct, the Tin Can Bay
resident, not vagrant, in the Tin Can Bay area. area represents the southernmost locality
Two observations made nine months and just occupied by A, sumatrana in Australia since
360m apart on the same ereek also suggest a I^OO. being 60-70km south of the previous
resident individual was involved. The species is records from the western shore ofFraser Island
knowntobesoli&taryandsedentary(Blakerselal., (Bcruldsen, 1980; V. Christensen via G.
IQS4; Ilaneoek Kushlan, 1984), withprobable Beruldscn. pers. comm.) and approximately
territory sizes of several square kilometres 330km south ofRockhampton. often cited as the
(Marehant & Higgins, 1990). Previous modern limit ofthe distribution of this species
Queensland studies have found territories are (Hancock & Kushlan, 19*4; Pizzcv & Kniuht.
separated by 1.5km (straight-line distance) and 1997; Garnett & Crowley, 2000). The apparent
5km (by river) alonu the same cstuarine system persistence of a population in the Great Sandy
(Scion, 1973: Garnett & Bredl, 1985). Strait 50 years after it was last noted argues the
Consequently, although all our observations suggested northward contraction ttl the species"
involved single birds, the likelihood that more distributionuptheeastcoast(Gameii &Crowley,
than one individual exists at the locality is 2000) may not have been as extensive as
supported by sightings made the same morning, originally thought. Although conclusive
but more than 3km aparton different creeks, and evidence ofpresent day nesting ofA, sumatrana
by Ihe separation of each of (he three general atthis locality is not available, extensive areas of
sighting locations by 2.4 to 4.4km. These suitable habitat along remote and seldom-visited
distances arc all straight-line measures - actual tidal creeks in the Tin Can Bay area, as well as
separation of the sites by water would be much farther north along the Great Sandy Strait, offer
MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
4<S
ampleopportunities forbreeding bythis species. BLAKERS, M., DAVIES, S.JJ.F. & REILLY, P.N.
Additional surveys are required to confirm this 1984. The atlas ofAustralian birds. (Melbourne
possibility and to better define the distribution UniversityPress: Melbourne).
and abundance ofA. sumatrana in the region. CAMPbBirEdsL.L(,PaAw.Js.on19&00.BrNaielsstfsoradn:dSehegfgfsieolfd)A.ustralian
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GARNETT, S.T. & BREDL, R. 1985. Birds in the
vicinity of Edward River Settlement. Part L
Introduction, methods, study area, list of
NatWueraalreReesspoeucriaclelsygarnadtefMuilnteost,heDDeeppaarrttmmeennttooff GARNnEoTn-Tp,asSs.eTr.in&esC.RSOunWbLiErdY,15:G6M-.23.2000. Theaction
plan for Australian birds 2000. (Environment
Primary Industries (Forestry) and the Australian
Australia: Canberra).
DefenceForceforpermittingaccesstotheirlands GIBSON, A. 1981. Great-billed Heron at Yamba.
and to Kirsten Wortel forhervaluable assistance Australian Birds 16: 32-33.
during the December 2000 survey. Excellent HANCOCK, J. & KUSHLAN, J. 1984. The herons
field and logistical support was provided by handbook. (Croom Helm: London).
Jennifer Holt and Michael Ford. Paul Grimshaw MARCHANT,S.&HIGGINS,P.J. 1990.Handbookof
kindly identified a botanical specimen. Gordon Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds.
Beruldsen, Don Seton, NeilMcKilliganandDon Volume 1. Ratites to ducks. (Oxford University
pVreervnioonusgQenueereonussllayndprroevciodredds oifnfAo.rsmuamtiaotnraanbao.ut PIZZEbPYrie,rsdsGs:.o&fMeAulKsbNtorIuaGrlniHaeT.),.(AF.ng1u9s97&.TRohbeerfiteslodng:uSiyddenteoyt)h.e
RAMSAY, E.P. 1888. Tabularlist ofall the Australian
LITERATURE CITED birds. (The author: Sydney).
SETON,D.H.C. 1973. Observationsonbreedingofthe
BERULDSEN,G 1980.Afieldguidetonestsandeggs Great-billedHeron in northernQueensland. Emu
ofAustralianbirds. (Rigby: Adelaide). 73: 9-11.