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This evening we saw a flock of approx. 90
Fork-tailed Swifts flying around the Julia Creek (QLD) Water Tower like a big
flock of Fairy Martins. Some were so close to the ground that it was
really a easy to see some white rumps and their forked tails. There must
have been some insects around the tower for some reason.
Most of the birds were that close that their calls
combined sounded like a wierd twittering - certainly something I've never
experienced with this species, but they obviously do in close groups. But
at the moment up here, recent rain and plant growth has resulted in a mass of
insects, it's almost unbelievable and the birds are having the time of their
life. Most of the Brolgas and some species of waterfowl that frequent the
region during the dry season have moved on, presumably up towards the Southern
Gulf Wetlands to breed.
Singing Bushlarks, Browns Songlarks and Brown
Falcons are becoming extremely numerous too. Little Button Quail are more
frequently being seen. We need some of the 3 million Oriental Pratincoles
to get rid of all the insects - it's that bad, I kid you not, I have about
7 bugs and a small hawk moth on my screen as I type this message and I've just
triggered a stink bug somewhere!
Cheers
Marc Gardner
Julia Creek QLD
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