At 06:00 4/04/98 -0800, Atriplex wrote:
>The thing which pleases me about any evidence of lots of raptor presence
>is the implication that, these all being top-of-the-food chain species,
>there must be some very rich food chains to support them. Good-oh!
>Regards, Anne
>--
>Anne & Roger A. Green, Atriplex Services, Morgan, Sth.Australia
>Environmental Consultants & Native Plant Nursery.
>Mailto:
> http://www.riverland.net.au/~atriplex
>
We have had a good wet season in North Queensland (a bit too wet on one
memorable night when Townsville got half a metre of rain) and birds are in
good numbers; but I think you have to include the observer factor in all
this. Though I've been birding for 6 years I've only recorded raptor
numbers (for the BOP watch) since January; ditto wader numbers for about a
year; general avian species counts for 3+ years. I am still honing my skills.
Having said that, I find raptor movements a fascinating subject; there are
diurnal differences due to lack of thermals earlier in the day; and
seasonal and regional differences due to availability of food supply. I am
also picking up behavioural differences with the scavangers cruising the
highways for 'takeaways' and the hunters predating the side roads of
coastal towns and the unsealed roads further inland.
I do not have details on the incidence of the rabbit calici virus in
Queensland, which is likely to impact on available sources of food.
Perhaps Stephen Ambrose can update us?
Cheers
Alex Appleman
Townsville
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