Notes on Occurrence and Feeding of Birds at Crater Mountain Biological Research Station, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

During 1989-93, 170 species of birds were observed and 1787 individuals captured in mist nets at the Crater Mountain Biological Research Station, Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea. Populations of many species fluctuated on annual or supra-annual schedules; 46 species were considered transients. Areas of the forest where many understorey trees had been removed exhibited reduced mist net capture rates. Comparisons among four other sites insouthern Papua New Guinea reveal striking similarities among sites in number of species and trophic organisation. Range extensions, weights and natural history observations are reported for many species. Feeding observations of nectarivorous and frugivorous birds at over 50 species of plant are reported.