Grallina Cyanoleuca Research Articles

Isolation and characterization of avipoxviruses from wild birds in Western Australia.

Avipoxviruses were isolated from wart-like lesions in an Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and a silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), and the poxvirus aetiology of wart-like lesions in a magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) was confirmed. The three viruses produced typical pock lesions on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated eggs and were able to replicate in trypsin-dispersed chick embryo fibroblast cultures but not confluent monolayer cultures. Pock neutralization and immunodiffusion studies showed that the three wild bird isolates were distinct from fowlpox, although antigenically closer to fowlpox than pigeonpox. The magpie and silvereye isolates were more closely related to each other than to the magpie-lark isolate.

Egg Predation and Possible Usurption of an Australian Magpie-Lark's Nest by Apostlebirds

Egg Predation and Possible Usurption of an Australian Magpie-Lark's Nest by Apostlebirds

Antiphonal Song of the Magpie Lark

This paper gives initial results of a field-study of Magpie Larks to investigate the function of antiphonal song. The occurrence of antiphonal calling arises during the year, reaching a peak before breeding and a minimum during care of the young. Antiphonal calls are given most often when the pair is together than apart, especially from roosting and other trees and during joint territorial aggression. During breeding, more circumstances must be classified 'apart' than at other times because one bird is on the nest, but the pair is still often in visual contact while calling. Each pair has a number of varieties of antiphonal call that are used at different times of day. A pair's antiphonal songs carry information about the sexual and individual identity of the caller, probably only for that pair. The primary function of antiphonal song is probably to keep the pair together and to enable co-operatIon. Its second function is in advertising to conspecifics that the territory is occupied. Only a pair's signature call seems to be given in a different actuation from other antiphonal calls and may be particularly important in keeping the birds together.

Records of New and Uncommon Species for the Island of New Guinea

The first records of Burhinus magnirostris and Grallina cyanoleuca for New Guinea are presented. B. magnirostris is recorded as a breeding species. In addition, the second record of Hirundo ariel for New Guinea and first records for the Australian-administered Territory of Papua and New Guinea of Bulbulcus ibis and Artumus cinereus are listed. All observations were made south of Weam (latitude 8° 37' S, longitude 141° 07' E) in the south-western corner of Papua during 1969 and 1970.

Studies of the epidemiology of arthropod-borne virus infections at Mitchell River Mission, Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland: III. Virus studies of wild birds, 1964–1967

8 strains of 4 arboviruses were isolated from blood and organs from 775 birds captured at Mitchell River Mission in 6 collections from October 1964 to March 1967. 3 strains of Ross River virus (from Grallina cyanoleuca, Microeca fascinans and Poephila personata) and 1 strain of Corriparta virus (from Charadrius melanops were isolated in March-April 1965; 3 strains of a Group B virus (from Centropus phasianinus) and 1 strain of Kunjin virus (from Oriolus flavocinctus) were isolated in March-April 1966. The Group B virus was found antigenically distinct from those previously isolated in Australia, and has tentatively been named Alfuy virus. No viruses were isolated from birds collected during the dry seasons. Serological tests on bird serum or blood gave additional evidence of infection with Group B arboviruses, Sindbis, Corriparta and Koongolg Group viruses. The isolation of Ross River virus from birds was at some variance with the results of previous serological surveys and is discussed.

Anting by Mudlark

Anting by Mudlark

Nests of Magpie-Larks

Nests of Magpie-Larks

Resourceful Magpie-Larks

Resourceful Magpie-Larks

Magpie-lark.

Magpie-lark.

Fine for Shooting Magpie-lark

Fine for Shooting Magpie-lark