Observations on Some Birds of the Tooloom Scrub, Northern N.S.W.

Abstract

The natural rain forest areas of the Tooloom Scrub, N.S.W., produced a rich and diverse avifauna in contrast to the general paucity of birds in those areas worked by the Forestry Department. Notes on pigeons, Columbidae, and parrots, Psittacidae, are presented. Detailed observations are given on the Fig-Parrot, Opopsitta diophtholma, and the passive threat display of the Noisy Pitta, Pitta versicolor, and the behaviour of the Paradise Rifle-bird, Ptdoris paradiseus, are described. The Rufous Scrubbird, Atrichornis rufescens, which has been recorded in the region, was not found. Finally, possible effects of work by the State Forestry Department on the bird life in the Tooloom Scrub arc discussed.