Ornithology update: (was Bluebirds are go?)

[Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au>]

First it was Tasmanian Tigers, now Bluebirds!

There have been unconfirmed sightings of the rare Southern Australian
"Bluebird" in the Gippsland region of Eastern Victoria.  The "Bluebird"
(Dieselum Islingtonii), the last specimen of which was sighted in the
wild in 1991, are a fine looking bird indiginous to the semi-arid areas
of South-Central Australia.  Until 1970s they were relatively plentiful
in the wild, however their population went into decline in 1980s due to
destruction of their habitat and an explosive increase in population of
the introduced Mitsubishii and Mercedum Benzii species.  The presence of
these predatory species, coupled with community disinterest led to the
extinction of the Bluebird in the wild.

Luckily, some specimens have survived in captivity, notably at Port
Adelaide and at other undisclosed locations around Adelaide.  Recently,
a limited experimental release of captive Bluebirds has been made, and
this has re-established a small colony in the Barossa Valley.  It is
hoped that this small colony may lead to increased population in the
wild.

The Bluebirds should not be confused with the "Redhens", a related
breed,  which although originally much greater in number inhabited a
smaller region of the coastal plains on the eastern shore of the Gulf of
St Vincent, and also extinct in the wild since the mid 1990s.

The reported sightings of Bluebirds in the wild in Eastern Victoria is
very surprising, and until authoritative evidence (including pictures)
are published, should be treated with caution, particulalry because
Gippsland also claims to be home to Tasmanian Tigers (Thylacines),
however like Bluebirds, no verifiable sightings with pictorial evidence
have been made.

It is feasible that Bluebirds could have established a colony in
Gippsland because the habitat is of the correct gauge, however the
climate and terrain would be unfamiliar to them.  Some reports claim
that the specimiens have adapted their plumage from the original dark
blue and silver to incorporate some orange.  This could be to assist
assimilation with other species indiginous to this area (notably
Sprinteronian Goninanii).

Any sightings of Bluebirds in Victoria should be reported immediately as
there are numerous Ornithologists very keen to study this phenomenon.

Happy new year to all, 
and good luck birdwatching.