Monday 31 August 2009

Wompoo in the quandong

A pair of wompoo pigeons (Ptilonopis magnificus) visit the quandong (Elaeocarpus) late each afternoon. They are big, colourful pigeons that specialise in a fruit diet. Now the quandongs are ripening, the birds are turning up earlier and staying longer. It's probably not a good idea to walk under the tree at that time.

Wompoos have a large gape, which means they can deal with chunky fruit. Quandongs give them no problems. Because of this, they play an important role in dispersing seeds throughout rainforests. (Not all of the fruit-eaters are so beneficial. Many of them crush the seeds when they feed.)

Unfortunately, wompoos aren't fond of rainforest fragments and regrowth, preferring larger expanses. There is evidence that they are declining in dissected landscapes, which may have implications for the quandongs and other fruiting trees (such as Cryptocarya). However, figbirds appear to be increasing in the habitats that the wompoos dislike, so it may not be all bad news for the trees.