162.) New species - sadly

We have enjoyed "kitchen table birding" through our floor-to-ceiling windows over the deck. We have watched dozens of rambunctiously bathing Lorikeets, strutting Crested pigeons, singing Butcher birds, irregular Cockatoos, glaring Currawongs, and infrequent Rosellas (the King Parrots quit visiting when we quit growing tomatoes!)

But today I was introduced to a new species - the Superb Fruit Dove, when a juvenile slammed into our big window and broke its neck.

Distribution: The Superb Fruit-Dove is found along the coast and nearby ranges of Queensland and New South Wales south to Moruya.

Habitat: The Superb Fruit-Dove is found in rainforests, rainforest margins, mangroves, wooded stream-margins, and even isolated figs, lilly pillies and pittosporums.

Seasonal movements: The Superb Fruit-Dove may migrate to New Guinea in winter, but little is known of its movements, or the reasons for its sometimes southerly flights as far as Tasmania

Living with Us: Clearing of their forest habitat restricts access to fruit by Superb Fruit-Doves. They are listed as vulnerable in New South Wales. As they often move at night, many young birds fly into windows of buildings during their north-south movements.

Silbey (of bird guide fame) estimates that .9-1 Bill birds a year die due to window collisions (in the US. Many birds that survive impact die later of injuries. It is a difficult problem with no easy fix.

If you have big windows and things that go bump see:

http://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/~/~/link.aspx?_id=C0949ED365DD422688F6F57422D7B604&_z=z

http://birding.about.com/od/birdconservation/a/preventwindowcollisions.htm

We have had many collisions but this is the first immediate fatality. Sad....