Australian Swiftlet Aerodramus terraereginae colony stability between 2012 and 2021 and new behaviour patterns at Chillagoe and Finch Hatton, Queensland

Michael Tarburton, Shirley Tarburton, Max Emeny, Sue Jenkins


Abstract

Surveys of Australian Swiftlets Aerodramus terraereginae at Chillagoe and Dooloomai Falls, Finch Hatton, Queensland, were conducted between 2012 and 2021, building on surveys conducted between 1972 and 2011. At Chillagoe, 57 colonies were located during the period 2012–2021: four colonies went extinct during this time, 19 declined, 24 increased and we located eight newly discovered colonies, resulting in a total of 8065 birds counted in 2021. The extinctions were probably caused by increased flooding, as were most of the declines, but the extermination of feral Cats Felis catus reduced Australian Swiftlet losses from predation. In 1 year (2017–2018), three pairs in one colony raised three fledglings, an event not previously recorded at Chillagoe. Most pairs raised only one or two fledglings per year. The two colonies at Dooloomai Falls were stable until 2021, when feral cat predation drastically reduced both colonies.

References


Chillagoe Caving Club (1982). Field trip records. Chillagoe Caving Club, Chillagoe, Qld.

Johnson, N.C. (2015). Population Ecology of the Mariana Swiftlet (Aerodramus bartschi) on O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands. MSc Thesis. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

Johnson, N.C., Haig, S.M., Mosher, S.M. & Hollenbeck, J.P. (2017). Reproductive success of Mariana Swiftlets (Aerodramus bartschi) on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Journal of Field Ornithology 88, 362–373.

Lord Medway (1962). The swiftlets of Niah Cave, Sarawak, II. Ecology and regulation of breeding. Ibis 104, 228–245.

Tarburton, M.K. (1987a). The breeding Biology of Two Populations of the White-rumped Swiftlet (Aerodramus spodiopygius assimilis) in Fiji and Aerodramus spodiopygius chillagoensis in Queensland, with Special Reference to Factors that Regulate Clutch Size in Birds. PhD Thesis. Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ. Available online: https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/4222

Tarburton, M.K. (1987b). The population status, longevity and mortality of the White-rumped Swiftlet in Fiji. Corella 11, 97–110.

Tarburton, M.K. (1990). Breeding biology of the Atiu Swiftlet. Emu 90, 175–179.

Tarburton, M.K. (1993). Determinants of clutch size in the tropics; with reference to the White-rumped Swiftlet. Avocetta 17, 163–175.

Tarburton, M.K. (2009). The breeding biology of the White-rumped Swiftlet Aerodramus s. spodiopygius in Samoa. Corella 33, 1–6.

Tarburton, M.K. (2011). Australian Swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae) breeding limited by La Niña weather in north Queensland. Sunbird 41, 6–10.

Tarburton, M.K. (2012). Swift manoeuvres: How Australian Swiftlets beat La Niña floodings. Australian Birdlife 1 (3), 27–29.

Tarburton, M.K. & Tarburton, S.R. (2013). Colony stability of cave-nesting Australian Swiftlets in Queensland: What are the impacts of severe weather events? Australian Field Ornithology 30, 131–151.