Temporal changes in abundance and resource utilization by Honeyeaters at Wongamine Nature Reserve

Abstract

White-cheeked and Brown Honeyeaters, Phylidonyris nigra and Lichmera indistincta, were counted in the only section of the Wongamine Nature Reserve where Banksia prionotes occurs, between January and June, 1982. Abundances of both honeyeater species in a central patch of the B. prionotes were correlated with the numbers of inflorescences or flowers present in the patch and elsewhere. In January, when few B. prionotes inflorescences were open, birds were rare and generally foraged at flowers of other plant species in the surrounding vegetation. Numbers of L. indistincta in the patch were still low in February, although the abundance of P. nigra had increased significantly. Honeyeaters were most numerous in the central patch in March and April, when open inflorescences and nectar were abundant on most B. prionotes bushes. Despite the relatively large standing crops of nectar available per inflorescence at dawn in May, few honeyeaters visited the patch at this time. Birds switched their attention to other plant species that had more flowers and offered larger volumes of nectar than in previous months. Arthropod availability did not appear to directly influence the abundance or distribution of honeyeaters in this region.