Dollarbirds return after long journey home to south-east Queensland

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) resting on the clothes line at Jarowair, December 2017

The Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) is a truly remarkable small bird that travels an extraordinarily long way every spring to return to the same nesting site in a hollow tree, year after year.

The Dollarbird makes it journey all the way from New Guinea and the nearby islands and arrives in northern and eastern Australia around September every year where it resides in dry woodland areas where it nests in mature trees with hollows.  Both parent care for the young Dollarbirds in the tree hollow.

The Dollarbird gets its unusual name because it has a large, prominent white spot on each wing, visible when the bird is in flight; these spots were considered to resemble silver dollars.
The Dollarbird is the sole Australian representative of the Roller family, so named because of their rolling courtship display flight.

It has mostly dark brown upperparts, washed heavily with blue-green on the back and wing coverts. The breast is brown, while the belly and undertail coverts are light, and the throat and undertail glossed with bright blue. The flight feathers of the wing and tail are dark blue. The short, thick-set bill is orange-red, tipped with black. In flight, the pale blue coin-shaped patches towards the tips of its wings, that gave the bird its name, are clearly visible. Both sexes are similar, although the female is slightly duller. Young Dollarbirds are duller than the adults and lack the bright blue gloss on the throat. The bill and feet are brownish in colour instead of red.SOURCE: http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/dollarbird

During breeding season, pairs of Dollarbirds are often seen flying in characteristic rolling flights. These flights are more common in the evening, and are accompanied by cackling calls. The white eggs are laid in an unlined tree hollow and are incubated by both adults. The young birds are also cared for by both parents.
SOURCE: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Eurystomus-orientalis

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), Jarowair, South East Queensland, Dec 2017

 In March or April the birds return to New Guinea and adjacent islands to spend the winter, until their long journey back in Spring.  I am totally in awe of these birds!

We have been seeing the Dollarbirds regularly for a long time now at Jarowair, and are witness to their crackling sounds and swift flights to catch insects.  They often roost in the large ironbark trees close to our house, however we still have not discovered their nesting site and if it is even indeed on our property.

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) Silhouette, Jarowair Dec 2017

I can't help think about how distressing it must be for these resilient birds,when they reach their destination in the surrounding Toowoomba Region, after flying for goodness knows how long from New Guinea, to find that their nesting tree is no longer there!  Removal of old growth trees with nesting hollows, not only effects arboreal species, but important bird species as well, who also rely on these territorial homes to breed.

Judi Gray