Broadbill -Birdwatcher's site

Rainforest Birds

© Koji TAGI

photo: Paradise Riflebird male (left) and Victora's Riflebird (female)

Rainforest is not a scientific word. It may be similar to broad leaf temperature forest in Japan. The forest is formed by tall trees with dense vegetation. The moist forest used to cover most parts of Australia. However, the continent has become drier and drier. It reduced area of the rainforest. Bush fire accelerated loss of rainforest. Rainforest is not recovered immediately likely eucalyptus nor acacia. So, once the rainforest is lost, it may be replaced by eucalyptus woodland. While rainforest needs regular rainfall, now the rainforest remains in eastern coast patchily.

As a matter of course, rainforest bird is confined in the forest and tends to have limited distribution along eastern coast. Paradise Riflebird, a kind of birds of paradise, is confined in the sub-tropical forest in the northeastern New South Wales to southeastern Queensland forest while Victoria's Riflebird has limited distribution from the Atherton Tableland to Paluma range. The riflebirds are evidence that Australia used to be in a same continent with Papua New Guinea.

Riflebird has very characteristic display likely other birds of paradise. During the breeding season, they often perch on the dead blanch near or at the canopy. The male spreads the wing which is velvet blue or green forward when a female comes into the territory. The strange display is like an old clockwork toy.

There are more strange birds in the rainforest. Male Regent Bowerbird （refer to Menu） and Satin Bowerbird (photo) build a "bower" for their display. The bower is well-built by twigs and maintained frequently. The shape of bower is different dependent on bowerbird. For example, Satin Bowerbird and Great Bowerbird build an avenue type bower while Golden Bowerbird build a maypole type bower. Their fastidious character decorates the bower with items. For example, Satin Bowerbird decorates the bower with blue items. Everything blue s OK if it is not too big to carry for them to the bower. So, you will see plastic straw in their bower. Great Bowerbird often collects white shells with green leaves.
Regent Bowerbird sometimes uses a smart way to collect the items. The bowerbird goes to Satin Bowerbird's bower to steal the items for decorate their bower.　

Lyrebird is also a strange bird. The large, pheasant like passerine bird has superb song as the appearance. They are also a talented mimic. It takes the call of other birds into the territory call. They sometimes take something artificial noise into the song. For example, noise of releasing the shutter and chain saw.

Lewin's Honeyeater's call (photo) can be said one of the most strange calls in the rainforest. The machine gun like call cannot be confused with anything else. Eastern Whipbird's call is also very unusual. Male has a long, explosive whipcrack call. Female often instantly replies with "choo-choo". Their calls can be heard likely from one bird. 　

　As I introduced here, there are many strange or interesting birds in the rainforest. Some of famous rainforest, such as Lamington National Park or Royal National Park are not so far away from major Australian cities, such as Brisbane and Sydney. I recommend you to visit the rainforest if you have an opportunity to go to Australia.

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