birding-aus

birding-aus birdwatchers, Apostlebirds, Yellow-rumped Mannikin

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Subject: birding-aus birdwatchers, Apostlebirds, Yellow-rumped Mannikin
From: Goodfellow <>
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 99 07:30:26 +0930
"Last week a Sydney birdwatcher rang the NT Tourist Commission to ask the 
name of a local birdwatcher or guide, and was given the phone number of a 
lady who raises caged birds!  Still at least they took his inquiry 
seriously.  Mind you I have only been trying to get them to take 
birdwatchers seriously  for seventeen years!  Perhaps they've been so 
dismissive because they think I'm mad.  After all what sane person would 
frequent mangroves and sewage ponds! " 

To Chris Dahlberg and anyone else  who might have thought I was touting 
for business in the above email sent 21/6/99, my apologies.  However the 
thought hadn't even entered my head. I'm simply concerned that visitors 
aren't getting good information.  

I suggested years ago to the NT Tourist Commission that they erect a data 
base of  locals with expertise in topics as far ranging as birds, bush 
tucker, butterflies, fungi and orchids.   Sadly the  NTTC weren't 
interested in 'non-professionals' ie people who weren't tour operators.  
So the Aboriginal lady who still knows how to prepare cycad cakes, the 
elderly man who knows where to find a rare Habenaria sp. (orchid); the 
couple who have a resident Rufous Owl in the backyard are excluded to the 
detriment of all including visitors, and eventually the environment as 
well.

Re Apostlebirds:  they are quite common in the Northern Territory once 
you get to Mataranka (about 370 km south of Darwin).

First Chestnut-breasted Mannikins of the year landed at my feeder 
yesterday along with an immature Yellow-rumped Mannikin.
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