WHITE-THROATED GERYGONE –GERYGONE OLIVACEA

White-throated Gerygones (pronounced jer-rig-on-ees) or White-throated Warblers are common to Bribie Island and breed here during spring and summer. They are most likely to be found in forest areas and wallum heathlands.

BY: Marje Webber

They are one of the tiniest birds in Australia being 10-11 cm in length and weighing only 5-8 g. Their melodious, warbling calls are their most striking feature, and if you are walking through the bush, you may hear them, but they are very hard to spot as they are usually high up in the trees. I hear them often as their call is quite distinctive, sounding much like falling leaves. Last week I was lucky enough to see one in the high trees at Sandstone Lakes and was able to take a couple of not-sobrilliant shots, but good enough to be recognisable. You can recognise the yellow breast and underparts, white throat, white on the tip of the tail, white spot on each side of the forehead, red eye and brownish olive back. They are similar to Fairy Gerygones but do not have the white eye ring but do have white on the tips of their tails which the Fairy-Gerygones do not have. Fairy Gerygones is very rare in our area but have turned up a couple of times over the years in the forest at Red Beach. Female White-throated Gerygones are similar to the males but are paler in colour. Usually, they are alone, in pairs or in family groups.

Open forest and heathland bush are their preferred habitat in Australia from about Broome across northern Australia and down the east, across Victoria and South Australia to around Ceduna. They are mostly sedentary, but some southern birds migrate north during summer. Gerygones are also found in PNG.

Insects are their main source of food which is busily collected in the outer foliage of high trees. Gerygones mate for life and produce their broods usually from September to November. Pear-shaped nests with wispy tails and hooded side entrances are built of bark, grass, animal fur and cobwebs. Nests that hang from thin branches 3-15 m high are decorated with spiders’ egg sacs and caterpillar droppings. It takes several weeks to build these interesting nests. 2-3 small, pink, blotched eggs are laid. Incubation takes about 12 days, and the young are in the nest for a further 15 days. Their name is derived from the Greek meaning “Children of song”.

Their conservation status is of “Least concern”.

PD Beau joined the Queensland Police Service in 2015 when he was seven weeks old, and commenced training with his handler, Senior Constable Matt Grace. Before settling in Moreton, the pair travelled around the State including trips to Mackay, Townsville and Ipswich, where together, they tracked armed offenders. In October 2017, the pair were shot at during a tracking operation in Mackay however, that didn’t stop them from apprehending the offender. Senior Constable Grace received the Queensland Police Valour Medal for displaying exceptional bravery in hazardous circumstances.

Throughout his amazing career, PD Beau always found time to attend school and kindergarten events, enjoying plenty of pats and cuddles from the kids. Colleagues describe him as having a gentle soul, that is until he has his nose to the ground and is completely focused on his work.

In 2021, PD Beau beat cancer and once he recovered from surgery, he returned to work without hesitation. As a tribute to his service, PD Beau became the first retired dog to feature in the Caboolture police dog mural. Senior Constable Grace now has a new partner, PD Fury, who was trained by none of other than PD Beau. Now officially retired, Beau is enjoying life with Senior Constable Grace and his family. Enjoy your retirement Beau, you deserve it.

Police officers aren’t born, they’re made, with every challenge or adversity overcome, and their personal values, helping to shape them into great officers who can make a real difference.