RECORDS OF THE GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLA, YELLOW CHAT, TAWNY GRASSBIRD AND EASTERN GRASS OWL IN THE CHANNEL COUNTRY FOLLOWING SEVERAL WET YEARS

摘要

We report observations of the Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), Yellow Chat (Epthianura crocea), Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis) and Eastern Grass Owl (Tyto longimembris) from floodplains of the Queensland Channel Country in 2012. Habitat was lignum shrub communities, commonly with dense knee- to waist-deep seasonal forbs, sedges and grasses, on dry floodplain with shallow gutters. There are few or no previous records of these birds from natural habitats in Queensland's Channel Country. These occurrences in 2012 may have been due to unusually favourable conditions following a cluster of wet years. Extent of habitat in which these species were recorded suggests these species may be more widespread and numerous on the floodplains than previously recognised