The trip to the mallee around Round Hill in western NSW brought to mind
some of the problems which must be facing the Birds Australia team working
on the new acquisition in northern South Australia.
At Round Hill, near the campsite, there was a former wheat paddock which
was a red hot quail spot. Now the ground is covered with young acacias,
mallee saplings and other shrubs. I am sure these will just grow taller and
be soon the same as the undisturbed mallee. Splendid wrens, Shy Heathwrens,
Crested Bellbirds and many other species were already residents.
The wattles in the disturbed area were in full bloom yet the same species
in the undisturbed area had hardly a bud or a flower.
So my questions are:
1) Is mallee at its best with regular disturbance?
2) There was a very good water hole at Whooey Tank nearby. This was man
made. Should one install waterholes regularly in the mallee? I would but
I'm not in charge or even involved.
3) Should odd paddocks be maintained for quail or other seedeating species
in the mallee?
Trevor Quested
Sydney, Australia
Phone +61 2 9955 6266
Fax + 61 2 9959 4005
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