‘Thickheads’ not nearly as dull as name implies
WE used to call them “thickheads”; their formal “surname” remains Pachycephala, which is the same thing.
But that was at a time when birdwatching was conducted with a 410 shotgun and museum cabinet.
They are the whistlers, and we have three species in the Geelong region.
The olive whistler is an inhabitant of the Otway forests and fern gullies, and rarely moves far from these places.
By contrast, the rufous whistler is strictly a springsummer visitor that leaves us when winter brings its inevitable chill.
The golden fits somewhere between. It nests in local forests and denser bushland, but in autumn and winter many move into more open country — which includes our gardens and parklands.
In Belmont, we usually play host to one golden whistler — perhaps not the same one each year, but invariably a light grey youngster.
So I am envious of those who have visits from the beautiful adult male bird.
With a jet-black head, white throat, olive wings and golden chest, he is one of our most attractive birds.
At Portarlington, one visited David Bond’s garden recently, and there have been other sightings elsewhere in the coastal areas.
Perhaps it is slightly milder closer to the ocean than it is inland, and the older birds learn this.
They gain their name from their call, for each species has its own distinctive voice
HOW do you celebrate your birthday when you share it with every other horse in the southern hemisphere? Wallington’s Jocelyn Cassar-Smith made sure it would be a special day for ponies Pippa and Sammy, who were treated to a birthday party inside the family’s dining room, while Inge Burke (inset) provided a carrot cake for birthday girl Peggy Star at Freshwater Creek’s Red Gum Run Arena.
Birdman Graham Pizzey wrote that the golden whistler’s call consists of “many sweet notes.”
By contrast, the rufous whistler has what Pizzey describes as “impetuous, spirited spring song; the most ‘Australian’ of spring sounds”.
The olive whistler’s song is “sweet, pensive, some notes powerful”.
Wildlife information and questions can be sent to ppescott@gmail.com