134 SAXDI.AXI) & ORTOX, Birds near Moora. fi^sfgcT 



List of Birds found Breeding in and around 

 the Swamps near Moora, W.A., during 192 1 



By P. T. SAXDLAXI). R.A.O.U., and O. L. E. ORTOX. 

 R.A.O.U. 



Porzana pusilla. Little Crake. — One nest found among bulrushes 

 and tea-tree containinfr three eggs, but when examined a week later 

 the e^gs had disappeared. 



Porphyrio bellus. Blue Bald-Coot. — Four nests found containing 3, 

 4, 4, and 5 eggs. Nests always built on a fallen bough among bul- 

 rushes and tea-tree. Rare. 



Fulica atra. Coot. — Very common. Nests principally in the 

 swamps that are free of bulrushes. Number of eggs varies from five 

 to fifteen, the latter number no doubt being a combination clutch. 

 The breeding season lasts from August to January. 



Carphibis spinicollis. Straw-necked Ibis. — First occasion. Large 

 flocks often to be seen during winter and early summer. A number 

 of birds commenced building on tea-tree in Marrida Swamp. Several 

 nests contained one and two eggs, but next time we examined them 

 the eggs were broken and the birds had forsaken, although still living 

 on the swamp. 



Platalea flavipes. Yellow-billed Spoonbill. — First occasion. Eight 

 birds lived on the swamps all the winter. Two nests were found in 

 Street's Swamp, built in paper-bark trees, containing three eggs. An- 

 other in Blue Gum Swamp, with two eggs, and when this nest was 

 examined a week later the eggs were hatched. This, 1 think, is the 

 furthest south these birds have been recorded breeding in W.A. 



Notophoyx novte - hollandiae. White-fronted Heron. — Very common. 

 After the Coots and Cormorants, it is the most plentiful bird found 

 breeding round the swamps. These birds are often found breeding 

 fully half a mile from water. Usual number of eggs four or five, in 

 about equal proportion. Have found nests at all heights from 5 to 50 

 feet from ground or water. 



Ixobrychus minutus. Little Bittern. — Rare. Two pairs of birds 

 bred in the Bulrush Swamp, on opposite sides. They are late 

 breeders. On November 13th we observed two nests containing two 

 eggs heavily incubated and four eggs not quite so far advanced. 

 Something must have happened the first pair, as three weeks later 

 we found a set of four eggs within 3.5 yards of the previous nest con- 

 taining two eggs. The second pair was not found again. The 

 nests are small, neat platfcrnis, abcut G to 7 inches in diameter, 

 and about 2h inches deep, placed in each instance en a leaning limb 

 among tea-tree and bulrushes. Nests were made on a foundation cf 

 bulrushes, bent down on to a leaning limb, and then shoi't pieces of 

 i-ushes were placed across and across, and Hned with shorter, finer 

 pieces. Height above water, 15 inches to 2 feet. In 1918 we found 

 two nests containing three and four eggs, and one nest was fully five 

 feet above water. The birds were first seen on the swamp in Sep- 

 tember, when they flushed easily; but, when they were nesting, they 

 preferred to sneak away through the rushes. 



Botaurus poiciioplilus. Australian Bittern.— Rare. Two nests were 

 found on October \'A\\ and KUh at Karo and the Three-Milc Swamp, 

 some 45 miles west of Moora. The first nest was built in a patch of 

 dense speai-wood, and contained three young and two eggs just chip- 

 ping. The second contained four incubated eggs. A pair was heard 



