Seasonality of Nectar Production by Woodland Plants on the Gove Peninsula

Abstract

In this paper I report flowering periods and indices of nectar availability over two years, for seven common plants regarded as being important nectar resources for birds in savannah woodland and rehabilitated mined land on the Gove Peninsula. Nectar availability varied seasonally, being lowest from December to February and highest in June and October each year. Nectar availability differed significantly between years, the difference being predominantly attributable to eucalypts, which exhibited large inter-annual differences in flowering, in contrast to the more consistent flowering of non eucalypts. Fern-leaved Grevillea contributed most to the nectar index (30%) across study sites. Darwin Stringybark contributed 10% to the overall nectar index, although this is considered an underestimate of its importance to nectar availability on the Gove Peninsula. Although birds were observed feeding on the nectar of all plant species for which the nectar index was calculated, Fern-leaved Grevillea (8 bird species) and Darwin Woollybutt (7 bird species) attracted the largest variety of birds.