Eastern Spinebills (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) - Tasmania

The Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) is a species of Australian honeyeater that is inhabits dry sclerophyll forests, scrub and woodland from Northern Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, parts of South Australia and the Island state of Tasmania. The species is highly adaptable and is often found in urban gardens in which there are sufficient vegetation to act as cover and food.

LEFT:  Male Eastern Spinebill feeds on introduced flowers (click to enlarge).

The eastern species is not to be confused with the Western Spinebill which inhabits Western Australia; this spinebill, although belonging to the same Genus is a separate species.  Evolutionary scientists believe that both species derived from a cosmopolitan ancestor due to climatic change.  At some time in the past, desertification separated the species into two geographical locations on each side of Australia.  Over time, each population evolved into a distinct species.

Spinebills are small and fast and vary rarely perch for an extended period of time.  To provide the energy to support their fast lifestyle the birds rely on nectar from a number of indigenous and introduced plants.  The beak of the spinebill has evolved into a long and slender device that is ideal for removing nectar from a number of plants including the blooms of gum trees, mistletoe, heaths, grevilleas and banksias.  In addition to nectar (akin to rocket fuel) spinebills frequently prey on small insects and other invertebrates which are often captured on the wing.

The spinebill has evolved an interesting adaptation to counter against periods in which flowers are abundant, but the nectar supply is low.  During mast flowering years, plants may product copious numbers of flowers, but not a lot of nectar.  During these periods, the spinebill will store fat, increase the amount of time feeding, or lower its metabolic rate to a level similar to night-time levels.

LEFT:  Female Eastern Spinebill.  Note the differing pattern on the chest and the slightly drab colours in relation to the male in the upper image (click to enlarge).

Male spinebills sport rufus coloured feathers with a blaze of white across their chest.  The colour can appear very bright, especially in the low light of the morning or afternoon.  By comparison, females have rather dull colours.  It is with these bright colours that the males present to the females, in the hope of a successful application to reproduction rights.

Spinebills breed from August through December and make a small cup-style nest constructed from bark and grass and lined with feathers.  The clutch produced is usually two; however, four can be produced in good years.  The female incubates the eggs for around 16 days.  Both parents care and feed for the chicks.

To see further photographs of spinebills, navigate to the photograph archive and type in 'honeyeaters or spinebill'.

Glossary

Cosmopolitan – A term referring to wide ranging

Mast Flowering – Flowering events in which plants produce large numbers of flowers, often with a overall resultant decline in nectar.

Super Moon

I was spending the evening photographing Tasmanian Devils when I noticed this massive moon in the sky.  It was brighter and larger than normal.  It was only then that I remembered that tonight was the night when the moon was in super perigee phase.

LEFT:  An exceptionally bright moon set against a pitch black sky (Canon 700mm & 1D-MKIV - 1/125 @ f9 - no cropping)

A moon in super perigee phase is the closest distance that the moon is to the earth.  Therefore, it is brighter & larger.  The moon was only visible for a short time due to cloud cover.  Pity, as it would have been nice to obtain a foreground subject with the moon in the background.

Still, it was a nice evening without urban light pollution to witness an astronomical event that occurs rarely.  The last super moon was in 1993 and the next event will be in 2029. 

Set your calendars!

A Lull in Travel, Catch-up time & Australian Kingfishers

There is a lull in travel at the moment and I've been utilzing the time to sort, keyword and post process many of the images I took recently on my US Yosemite National Park. This has been in addition to preparing for two seperate 3 day trips to northern Tasmania to photograph Tasmanian Devils.

However, I did manage to catch some time in Brisbane (Queensland, Australia).

During my stay I noticed this Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) hanging out in the trees in front of my parent's house. Not wanting to miss an opportunity, and having my 300 2.8 lens with me, I took the opportunity to grab a few snaps before thre kookaburra decided to fly away to find something more interesting to occupy its time with.

Kookaburras belong to the Kingfisher family and there are two species in Australia; the one shown here and a northern species called the Blue-winged Kookaburra. All kookaburras are carnivorous and their favourite food is often small lizards and moderately sized snakes. I have obsevred kookaburras catching and killing highly venomous brown snakes. This just proves that predation from the air is the wiorst nightmare for many terrestially bound animals!

The "Laughing Kookaburra" is known by its name for its "laugh" which it uses to greet its mate after periods of absences. It can be heard at any time of day but most frequently shortly after dawn and especially when the colour drains from the forest after sunset.

One bird starts with a low, hiccupping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter. Hearing kookaburras in full voice is one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush, something even locals cannot ignore.

I'll try and figure out a way to install a MP3 file so that you can hear the laugh, so cruise back soon to see if I've figured out how to install a sound file.

Laughing Kookaburra Sound File (MP3)