Holland Honeyeater Research Articles

The Vocal Repertoires of Six Honeyeater (Meliphagidae) Species from Adelaide, South Australia

Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) are prominent members of the avifauna in Australia, typically with four to five resident species in any area. We recorded vocalisations from six species resident around Adelaide in South Australia: the Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata, Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera, Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala, White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus, New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae and Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera. The larger honeyeaters (Red and Little Wattlebird) produced characteristically harsh vocalisations covering a wide range of frequencies. Crescent and White-plumed Honeyeaters had a varied and complex repertoire of calls and songs which were quite musical in nature. Noisy Miners and New Holland Honeyeaters produced vocalisations dominated by simple single note whistles. Each species had specific vocalisations emitted in different contexts: alarm, distress, begging and contact calls as well as song. Alarm and distress calls of the six species had common characteristics and typically induced responses from other honeyeater species.

Ecomorphological constraints imposed by the kidney component measurements in honeyeater birds inhabiting different environments

The histological renal anatomy of 10 species of honeyeaters was examined quantitatively, using stereology. The kidneys of five species of predominantly wet zone inhabiting birds: the western spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus, White‐checked honeyeater Phylidonyris nigra. New Holland honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, little wattlebird anthochaera chrysoptera and red wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata, were compared to five predominantly arid zone inhabiting birds: the grey‐fronted honeyeater Meliphaga plumula, white‐plumed honeyeater Meliphaga penicillata, white‐fronted honeyeater Phylidonyris albifrons, spiny‐checked honeyeater Acanthogenys rufogularis and yellow‐throated miner Manorina flarigula. The kidneys were asymmetrical, with the left kidney being larger than the right kidney. Kidney mass was directly proportional to body mass (coefficient of correlation, r =+0·95), as was kidney volume to kidney mass (r =+1·0). Wet zone honeyeaters generally and a higher percentage and absolute volume of renal cortex, whilst arid zone honeyeaters generally had a significantly higher percentage and absolute volume of renal medulla. There were few differences between species, in either the percentage or absolute volume or luminal surface area of nephron components within the cortex. Within the medulla, wet zone honeyeaters generally had a higher percentage and absolute luminal surface area of collecting ducts, whilst arid zone honeyeaters had a higher percentage and absolute surface area of capillaries. This may be due to factors such as variations in diet and climate between habitats resulting in differences in honeyeater renal morphology which enable arid zone birds to conserve water and wet zone birds to conserve ions more efficiently.

The avian population of an urban bushland reserve at Wollongong, New South Wales: implications for management

This study focuses on the avian ecology and management of a 43.5 ha remnant hind-dune and estuary ecosystem in suburban Wollongong (population 200 000). In total, 62 land-bird species and 24 water-bird species were present between July 1984 and February 1987 (32 months). During area searches ( n=12) in each calendar month, an average of 427 individuals of 31 species was recorded with an average species diversity of 70%. The avian population was characterised by a small number of species with high abundance and vice versa. Five species were migratory. Resident species ranged in abundance from the Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus (maximum population eight birds) to the New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (maximum population 200 birds). Numbers of the latter species increased markedly in autumn and winter when banksia and coral trees were rich with nectar. Most terrestrial species were habitat specialist, linked to the various microhabitats for food, nesting or protection. Recommendations to preserve the bird community are as follows: (1) the catchment should be managed to control siltation and contamination of the wetland, rather than dredging the estuary itself; (2) wetland diversity should be maintained by allowing water levels to vary naturally; (3) terrestrial microhabitats should be preserved by maintaining their structural and floristic diversity; (4) refuge areas should be established to minimise the impact of human-related disturbance; (5) a network of corridors should be provided to facilitate movement of birds into the reserve; (6) a buffer zone should be maintained around the reserve to shield the birdlife from suburban disturbance and domestic animals.

Seasonal Patterns of Capture Rate and Resource Abundance for Honeyeaters and Silvereyes in Heathland near Sydney

SummaryPyke, Graham H. & Recher, Harry F. (1988). Seasonal patterns of capture rate and resource abundance for honeyeaters and silvereyes in heathland near Sydney. Emu 88, 33–42.Capture rate per unit effort employing mist nets is used as an index of abundance for honeyeaters and silvereyes. The nonresident and presumed migratory species (Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops, White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus, Silvereye Zosterops lateralis, Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) move through our study area during June or July when nectar production is relatively high. Resident and breeding species (New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, White-cheeked Honeyeater P. nigra, White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus ieucotis and Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera) are rare or absent only during summer and there is no correspondence between their capture rates and the availability of nectar or insects, their main food sources.

An Immunohistochemical Study of the Gastrointestinal Endocrine-Cells of the New Holland Honeyeater, Phylidonyris-Novaehollandiae

The gastrointestinal tract of the New Holland honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, was studied macroscopically, histologically and immunohistochemically. Although the honeyeater did not differ from other birds at the macroscopic and histological level, some interesting differences were revealed immunohistochemically. Eight types of immunoreactive endocrine cells were detected in the gastro- intestinal mucosa. The proventriculus and gizzard were characterised by the presence of serotonin-, somatostatin-, and gastrin-releasing polypeptide-immunoreactive cells. The pyloric region contained numerous gastrin- and motilin-immunoreactive cells as well as moderate numbers of somatostatin- immunoreactive cells. Along the length of the intestine, serotonin-immunoreactive cells were the dominant endocrine cells but small numbers of somatostatin-, gastrin-, enteroglucagon-, pancreatic glucagon- and neurotensin-immunoreactive cells were also found. Each had a different distribution pattern. The functional significance of these results remains to be resolved.

Partitioning of nectar sources in an Australian honeyeater community

AbstractFeeding by honeyeaters was found to maintain nectar at low levels at three sites studied on Kangaroo Island in May‐June 1978. The productivity of nectar at a site and position in a dominance hierarchy appeared to determine which bird species used each site. Correa was the main nectar source in the poorest area and produced 0.05 kJ m−2 per day. The small eastern spinebill was the most abundant honeyeater. The purple‐gaped honeyeater also occurred but fed mostly on honeydew. The medium sized New Holland honeyeater was common and territorial in the second area, where Banksia marginata and B. ornata inflorescences and Adenanthos flowers produced 0.7 kJ m−2 of nectar per day. Spinebills and crescent honeyeaters also visited flowers and were sometimes chased by New Holland honeyeaters. The richest site was a flowering Eucalyptus cosmophylla tree (5.1 kJ m−2 of nectar per day). A red wattlebird, the largest honeyeater, held a territory in part of this tree and chased other honeyeaters from the territory. New Holland, crescent and purple‐gaped honeyeaters fed on flowers in other parts of the tree. The spinebill was absent. We conclude that nectar was partitioned along a spectrum of rich to poor sources. Larger more aggressive species used and sometimes defended the richest sources while the smaller birds used the poorer sources.

Alarm Calls of Honeyeaters with Reference to Locating Sources of Sound

The alarm calls that are given in response to a flying hawk by the New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, the White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus and the White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus are described. Animals locate sources of sound by comparing differences in intensity, phase and timing cues of the incident sound at each ear. These processes are explained and previous explanation is criticized. Some animals create more directional cues from incident sound with pinna. The structure of the alarm calls of honeyeaters makes them easy to locate and some honeyeaters possess specialized ear-feathers that may function as pinna. The function of the alarm calls is discussed with reference to survival value.