Rottnest is reserved as a summer residence for the State Governor of Western Australia, and for a native penal settlement, so that it is very little disturbed by the presence of man.
I spent a full fortnight on the island, during which I devoted the whole time to an examination of the bird life. Breeding operations were in progress with several species, but I was too late for the nests of the Passerine birds.
Hieracidea berigora (Striped Brown Hawk).—I several times encountered this species, but hardly think there were more than a pair or two on the island. On one occasion I surprised an individual engaged in plundering the bait from a crayfish basket. I also saw a pair attack and successfully carry off from the centre of the largest lagoon a wounded Banded Stilt.
Cerchneis cenchroides (Kestrel).—A few pairs on the island, probably breeding in the cliffs.
Pandion leucocephalus (Osprey).—I had the good fortune to examine and photograph two eyries of this fine species—one with eggs, the other with a nearly full-grown nestling. In each case the nesting sites were turret-like spurs in the limestone cliffs, where the latter were at their greatest elevation. Neither was really difficult of access, though the rocks had weathered away into very rough and jagged prominences, rendering them very far from pleasant country to scramble over. The nests were large but rather shallow structures of short branches, lumps of wood, pieces of reed, and other flotsam to be found on the beach, with an interior lining of seaweed, sponges, straw bottle-covers, and a few reed-like plants of a smaller kind. The first nest contained three handsome eggs, hardly distinguishable from those of the Holarctic P. haliaëtus. In the case of the second nest the parent birds were hovering overhead, within easy shot, whilst I was taking a photograph of their home and offspring. Near at hand, on a spur projecting further out into the ocean, were the remains of an old nest, perhaps that of the previous year.
Corvus coronoides (Crow).—A few occasionally seen, probably visitors from the mainland. I shot one at dusk, unintentionally, being deceived in the semi-darkness. I saw no signs of the Raven, a species one might expect to find in such a locality.
Petrœca goodenovii (Red-capped Robin).—It is a remarkable fact that the Robin breeding on Rottnest should be. this species, which is almost unknown within a very wide radius on the adjacent mainland. It seems fairly plentiful, but the song and call note struck me as being feeble in comparison with those of birds on the Murchison goldfield and interior in general. I saw no signs of P. campbelli on Rottnest.
Sericornis maculata (Spotted Scrub-Wren).—I encountered a few family parties in the thick acacia scrub. It was very difficult to procure specimens for identification.
Ephthianura albifrons (White-fronted Chat).—One or two seen near the salt lagoons.
Pachycephala occidentalis (Western Thickhead).—Not uncommon in the acacia scrubs. From the appearance of several I dissected, I have no doubt that males pair before they have fully attained the brilliant yellow under parts.[1]
- ↑ See P. gutturalis, "Nests and Eggs" (Campbell), p. 320.—Eds
