Diet and Foraging Behaviour of Red-browed Finches Neochmia temporalis Near Newcastle, New South Wales

Abstract

At Blackbutt Reserve (Newcastle) and Green Point (Lake Macquarie), the diet and foraging behaviour of Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis populations were examined. The diet at two sites within Blackbutt Reserve was mainly exotic seeds obtained by entering aviaries with large wire mesh. Captive feeding experiments failed to prove that the reason for this was either accessibility or risk avoidance. Dietary diversity was greater at the natural Green Point site. No variation in diet between age classes was evident. Common foraging methods included perching, reaching and climbing.