I would think that confirmation of any long-term patterns in seasonal
occurrence of Grey Wagtail atop Jim-Jim Falls would be very difficult
to establish given the area's inaccessibility. There may have been
systematic surveys done by Parks workers but I have no info on this,
and it seems a little unlikely that observers are taken in by
helicopter to Jim-Jim every Wet Season to look for Grey Wags or
anything else. Mike Carter I think has quoted Kym Brennan (in a
Wingspan?) as suggesting that the species is regular(?) on the Kakadu
escarpment (presumably escarpment in general, not a particular site),
and maybe this is the source of the Thomas' statement. T & T may have
got their info from elsewhere though and it may be "accurate" in an
optimistic sort of way. But then it may well be another of the Top End
myths that seem to proliferate. There are a number of these, some due
to the lack of a 'formal' public bird record system in the NT, some due
to unreferenced publication of records and reports, and some because
there is no system in place to vet those 'rarity' claims that are only
of local (NT) significance. Someone will publish a book one day that
rigorously addresses the status and distribution of birds in the Top
End, and shows those 'myths' to be fact or puts them forever to rest.
Happy birding
Niven
=====================
Thomas & Thomas suggest that Grey Wagtails occur at the top of Jim Jim
Falls in Kakadu NP every wet season, when the top of those falls is
only accessible by helicopter. Can anyone confirm or deny this please.
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
