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� Graeme Chapman http://www.graemechapman.com.au/cgi-bin/library.php



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Family
Genus
Species
Common Names
Distinguishing Features
Survey Techniques
Species Call
Similar Species
Distribution
Country of Origin
Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - Regional
Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National
LSCCES Population
Associated vegetation community
Limiting Resources
Breeding
Behaviour
Functional Group
Food Species
Predators
Threats/Control Methods - Regional
Threats/Control Methods - Local
Local/Urban Actions
Interesting Fact
References

Family

Artamidae

Genus

Armatus

Species

personatus

Threats/Control Methods - Regional

The woodland habitat of the Masked Woodswallow has been recognised as an Endangered Ecological Community, as it only covers a tiny percent of its original area due to land clearing for agriculture and urban development, grazing and weed infestations.

Threats/Control Methods - Local

Droughts are a local threat that brings the birds into the suburbs for more reliable water, thus putting them at an increased risk of attack from domestic pets.

Local/Urban Actions

The preservation of large areas of suitable woodland habitat is key to the survival of this species. This is facilitated through local Landcare groups or Greening Australia. Cat owners can prevent their pets preying on the species by providing a stimulating indoor environment and by installing a cat run or enclosure.

Common Names

Masked Woodswallow, Blue Martin, Bush Martin, Skimmer

Distinguishing Features

The soft, powdery plumage of this medium-sized, 19-20cm bird, consists of different shades of grey. Males have a black mask over their eye and cheek, bordered with a white line around the neck. Females have a dusky face and more pink-grey breast. Young birds are similar to the female, although slightly browner with some light flecks.

Survey Techniques

Call and visual identification.

Species Call

A nasal 'churrt' and 'chuk' or a soft 'chrrup'. Some mimicry.

Similar Species

This bird is regularly seen in flocks with the White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus), diferenciated by the chestnut-coloured underparts of the white-browed species. The same grey plumage and black face is seen in the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae ), but the cuckoo is much larger at 30-36cm.

Distribution

This species is found across Australia, excluding the most northern areas and TAS. Locally, flocks may be seen across the southern Tablelands and Monaro regions from time to time.

Country of Origin

Australia

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - Regional

This is a rare visitor to the ACT (Veerman).

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Secure, not listed under the EPBC Act 1999.

LSCCES Population

Three sightings were made in Turner.

Associated vegetation community

Masked Woodswallows inhabit open forest, woodland, heath and small vegetation patches along roads or near farms.

Limiting Resources

This species depends on water, as it is most likely to breed after major rain events.

Breeding

The breeding season generally runs throughout August to December, or after major rain events. A breeding pair builds an untidy nest of twigs about 1-3 metres from the ground. Nests can be found in dense bushes or in clumps on the side of tree trunks. They will also use tree stumps or the discarded nests of Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen ). A clutch size is 3-4 eggs, which are densely covered in brown speckles. Both parents share incubation and feeding.

Behaviour

This species can be seen flying high in large noisy flocks, soaring for hours. They often join with the more regionally common flocks of White-browed Woodswallows (Artamus superciliosus) and are short-term visitors to the Canberra region. They generally migrate north for winter, following insect abundance.

Functional Group

Insectivore

Food Species

Masked woodswallows grab insects swiftly in-flight while fluttering and gliding.

Predators

Feral or domestic Cats (Felis catus) or European Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) may attack young Masked Woodswallows, especially when nests are in accessible locations.

Interesting Fact

Woodswallows keep their flocks of hundreds of birds together by chirping to one another constantly.

References - (reader suitability of references, P=Primary teachers, S=Secondary students, T=Tertiary students and researchers)

Books:
Morcombe, M. 2000. Field Guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing. Archerfield. Australia P, S, T

Schodde, R. and Tideman, S. (eds) 1990. Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds (2nd Edition). Reader's Digest Services Pty Ltd. Sydney. P, S, T

Taylor, M. and Day, N. 1993. Field Guide to the Birds of the ACT. National Parks Association of the ACT Inc. Canberra. P, S, T

Veerman, P. 2003. Canberra Birds: A report on the first 21 years of the garden bird survey. Philip Veerman and Canberra Ornithologists Group. Canberra. S, T

Online Publications:
ACT Government. 2004. Woodlands for Wildlife: ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy. Action Plan No. 27. Environment ACT, Canberra. [online]. Available at: http://www.environment.act.gov.au/nativeplantsandanimals/threatecspec/woodlandsstrategy S, T

Nix, H. and Cunningham, R. 2006. Birds of the Lower Sullivans Creek Catchment, Canberra ACT. Prepared for the Life in the Suburbs project using data from the Lower Sullivans Creek Catchment Ecological Survey (LSCCES). Australian National University. Canberra. [online]. Available at: http://www.lifeinthesuburbs.com.au/category.php?id=65 S, T

 

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