Birdsong of the
Australian Bush

This vibrant dawn soundscape was recorded in the semi-arid mallee shrublands of Round Hill Nature Reserve in New South Wales. The strident songs of Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrikethrush & Southern Scrub-Robin ring out across the landscape, while Yellow-plumed & White-eared Honeyeaters call as they flit about in the flowering mallee trees. In the background, Crested Bellbird make rhythmic whistled phrases and if you listen closely you can hear the rising, repetitive ‘oom-oom-oom’ calls of Painted Buttonquail, as well as the similar, but evenly-pitched calls of Common Bronzewing. The occasional deep thumps of an Emu can be heard in the distance. Other species calling in this track include Chestnut Quailthrush, White-fronted Honeyeater, Splendid Fairywren, Australian Raven & Grey Goshawk.

Recorded in a damp, forested gully in the Blue Mountains, NSW, this track features birdsong which is typical of the wet eucalypt forests of South-eastern Australia. Both Rufous & Australian Golden Whistlers sing prominently and the powerful song of a Superb Lyrebird can be heard deeper in the valley. Eastern Whipbirds make sharp whipcrack calls from the undergrowth, while a variety of birds call from the forest above including Crimson Rosella, Crested Shriketit, Spotted Pardalote, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Yellow Robin, Mistletoebird, Brown-headed & Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Grey Shrikethrush, Shining Bronze Cuckoo and Grey Fantail. The repetive ‘woop’ calls of Brush Bronzewing can be heard in the distance from about halfway through this track.

The distant roar of waves can be heard as a backdrop to this recording from the coastal forests of Yuraygir National Park in north-east New South Wales. A mosaic of heathland, open eucalypt forest and shrub-covered sand dunes at this location attracts a variety of bird species, particularly honeyeaters which are drawn to the abundance of nectar-rich flowers. Scarlet Honeyeater make sweet whistled phrases from the treetops along with the calls of Little Wattlebird, Noisy Friarbird, White-throated & Yellow-faced Honeyeaters. A flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos wail and screech as they pass through the area, and Pheasant Coucals make deep whoops from the thick heath. Other species recorded in this track include Channel-billed Cuckoo, Olive-backed Oriole, Leaden Flycatcher and the high frequency rhythms of a couple of different cicada species.

Spring birdsong in the semi-arid woodlands of Nombinnie Nature Reserve, New South Wales. Male Rufous Songlarks fly from tree to tree making their distinctive electric song and calls while Restless Flycatchers can be heard making unusual ‘scissor-grinder’ calls as they hover above the grassy understorey in search of insects. In the latter half of the track, a group of Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters fly into in flowering shrubs near the microphones, making fine, fluty songs and gurgling, chortling calls as they chase each other about. Other birds heard in this recording include Brown Falcon, Willie Wagtail, Striped Honeyeater, Black Honeyeater, White-browed & Dusky Woodswallows, Jacky Winter, Southern Whiteface & Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo.

High in the damp montane forests of Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Crescent Honeyeaters & Pink Robins sing in the cool, misty air. The loud, ringing calls of the Black Currawong are heard in the background. Other bird species recorded on this track include Grey Shrikethrush, Silvereye, Striated Pardalote, Australian Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail & Tasmanian Thornbill.