84 Lk SouEf and Macphkkson, The Birds of Sydney. [^ 



En 



Oct. 



roost every night. The birds aj'rive during the later afternoon 

 and evening in small flocks, and settle down on the willow- trees 

 growing on the islands in the lakes, and also on the banks. 

 Some birds spend the day in the park, evidently not requiring food 

 every day, but the great majority leave early in the morning for 

 the fishing grounds in the harbour and along the coast. Four 

 species have been noted. 



One or two Brown Hawks [Hieracidea herigora) usually take up 

 their quarters in Taronga Park, where they find an easy living 

 among the numbers of wild birds. 



The Nankeen Kestrel {Cerchneis cenchroides) is often in evidence 

 over the city in the autumn, but it usually does not stay long. 

 This year one has been for some time in Centennial Park, hawking 

 about for its prey, quite unconcerned by dozens of cars, cycles, 

 and pedestrians that are continually about. 



White-belhed Sea-Eagle {Haliceetus leucogaster). — A pair of these 

 birds live about Middle Harbour, and are not infrequently seen 

 over the adjacent suburbs. In November, 1919, a terrific battle 

 took place between two males. For over half an hour they waged 

 fierce combat, one bird trying its utmost to catch the other, which 

 managed to elude its onset ; finally, one dived into the under- 

 growth in part of Ashton Park, and the victor sailed away. 



The Boobook Owl {Ninox boohook) is not as numerous as one 

 would expect it to be, considering tlie amount of food it would 

 be able to find. The reason is that probably no suitable nesting- 

 places are available. A pair of these birds live in the Quarantine 

 grounds, spending the day in low banksia bushes. 



A pair of Delicate Owls {Strix delicatula) lived in Taronga Park, 

 but they were suspected of frightening the aviary birds against 

 the wire at night and pulling them through, so they were caught 

 and put into the bird-of-prey enclosure. 



No Cockatoos and Parrots are now resident about Sydney, but 

 attempts have been made to get some species to establish them- 

 selves by liberating birds from Taronga Park. Rosellas and 

 Crimson Parrots have disappeared almost at once. The Sulpluir- 

 crested Cockatoo is quite willing to stay, but proves so destructive 

 to the flower-gardens that the birds had to be captured again. 

 Better success has been obtained with the Galah and the Pink 

 Cockatoo. Both these stay in the grounds, and do not do any 

 damage, with the exception that the Galahs have started to 

 ringbark an apple {Angophora) tree. This tree contains no 

 hollow, so. it is not for the purpose of protecting a nest. Both 

 species have become very tame, and will readily take food from 

 the visitors' hands. The Pink Cockatoos always attack a Hawk 

 if one comes over, and will hold aerial combats as long as it is 

 in their particular locality. 



One or two pairs of Frogmouths [Podargiis strigoides) live in 

 the parks adjacent to the city. Two young birds were reared in 

 Ashton Park in 1919. 



The famihar Great Brown Kingfisher {Dacelo gigas) is always 



