Vol. Ill 

 1903 



Stray beat furs. 67 



Creek is reached birds are met with in great numbers. One 

 marked peculiarity is that the Gang-Gangs, both males and 

 females, are to be seen near the river (Ovens), though in the 

 higher regions they are neither to be seen nor heard. As I saw 

 no young birds, and as the hens were flying about at 8 a.m., I 

 conclude that the Gang-Gangs have not bred, and are not now 

 breeding. The dry weather is probably responsible for the birds 

 missing a season. 



6th December. — On Wednesday a flock of Ib'ses, flying high, 

 passed over the school, travelling in a southerly direction. 

 Statements are frequently made that strange birds are to be 

 seen and are breeding here this year. Birds of all kinds seem 

 to be more numerous than usual. One nest was shown to me. 

 It was on the top of a stump about 4 inches in diameter and 

 2 feet high. It contained two zebra-striped young, scarcely 

 distinguishable from the decaying wood, and proved to be the 

 nursery of the Rufous Fantail. Surely an unusual site. 



13th December. — On Tuesday morning, about 7, a large flock 

 of Ibises was seen feeding on grasshoppers on the flat. This was 

 increased by smaller bodies arriving — about 1 2 in each — for the 

 next hour. As soon as breakfast was over each detachment 

 flew into the dry trees. 



This morning, also, about 7.30, the first of the " Bogong Crows " 

 arrived. Before their arrival a few Crows were seen flying 

 north, as if their business was to get out of the way. The " Crows " 

 fly in loose order, and give plenty of notice as to their where- 

 abouts. The caw of these " Crows " is quite different from that 

 of the real Crow. The supply of grasshoppers, &c, is very good, 

 and as the crops are very early it is quite possible that the " Crows " 

 will escape the accusation, only too well founded, of eating the 

 grain. 



20th December. — On Tuesday a Noisy Miner hatched out two 

 young ones, and on Wednesday a third, in a tree whose branches 

 touch the building used as a school. The boys took great interest 

 in the nest and the process of incubation, but no sign of violence 

 was shown to the birds. 



27th December. — The large flocks of Ibises have broken up 

 into small bodies of from 25 to 100. These are eating up 

 grasshoppers in places missed by the large flocks. For example, 

 the large flocks almost exterminated grasshoppers on the large 

 paddocks, and now the smaller flocks are cleaning up the bends 

 of the river. " Bogong Crows " are associated with the Ibises. 

 These have missed their customary diet of wheat, rye, &c, owing 

 to their arrival being later than usual. A journey to Bright 

 reveals the same condition of things as was formerly noted. The 

 late rains have had no appreciable effect on the water in the 

 mountain creeks. 



To 31st December. — The small birds — Wrens, &c. — seem to 

 be more numerous than usual on the flats. They have bred, 

 but by the river, not in the ranges. 



