vor^xi.j stray Feathers. 69 



Stray Feathers 



The Sunbird in Mackay. — 1 am slad to be able to report that 

 the pretty little Sunbird (Cyriostoiiiiis frcnatiis) is again in our 

 (iistrict. It was completely wiped out by the cyclone of 1918. 

 There are very few here yet, but I was pleased to find a pair in 

 mv iwddock a few week? ago, and I am in hopes that they will 

 breed ui> again.— E. M. CORXWALL, R.A.O.L'., :\lackay, Q. 



Sulphur-crested Cockatoos ( Cacatiia galcnta) are just bring- 

 ing tl'.cir tlc'lglings al)()ut now. We spent nearly half an hour 

 two evenings ago watching the old bird teaching two young ones 

 to get about from branch to branch in a tall dead tree. The 

 time of nesting of these birds depends a good deal on the season. 

 The bloodwood trees have had an exceptional wealth of blossom 

 in this district this year, and therefore the birds and bees have 

 had a glorious time. — ^NFrs. A. I'.LACK, Pajingo Station, Charters 

 Towers, O 1 0/4/21. 



Bird 5tudy by Aeroplane.— There is one good aspect of 

 ])\r(\ study whicli I lind is neglected in Australia, and as I had 

 something to do with it in England, 1 suggest it to you as a field 

 worth exploring. That is the study of migration by aeroplane. 

 The best method of doing this is to get in touch with all Govern- 

 ment aerodromes, enlist their sympathy so that every pilot is 

 asked to record what birds he meets by day or night, and at what 

 height they are seen, and their general direction of flight. The 

 pilots soon become keen, and even learn to distinguish different 

 birds beforehand, so as to make their job more useful. In this 

 Avay was found at home how many great flocks of birds pass by 

 day too high to be visible, and even by night enormous numbers 

 were identified. The points the pilots want to note are as stated, 

 with the addition of speed, for which the air speed of the aero- 

 plane should be noted, whether the birds overtake or are passed 

 l)y the machine, and by about what speed. It should show 

 I think, that about 16,000 feet is the average height of migration. 

 It the suggestion attracts you, and you take it up, I would dearly 

 like to hear from you the facts. My own experience here is con- 

 fined to being investigated by a Wedge-tailed Eagle at 1000 feet, 

 it seemed annoyed at our presence, and willing to fight ; but 

 was able to glide past us without a single wing beat, and we 

 were making 82 miles an hour at the time. But this is not 

 migration, and merely an incident. On the same flight I noticed 

 how we scared the Magpies w-henever we came low. making them 

 scurry away with much noise (heard bv those on the ground). — 

 A. H. R. WILSON. Ray wood. \ic. 



