birding-aus

All Three Whistling Ducks on Campus Today

To: "Birding Aus" <>
Subject: All Three Whistling Ducks on Campus Today
From: "Mike Tarburton" <>
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 21:30:23 +1000
Dear Birding Aussers

Today the first confirmed sighting of Plumed Whistling Ducks was accomplished 
at Lake two on the Pacific Adventist University campus today.

We get used to tourists and other first-time visitors mistaking our 
ever-present Wandering Whistling Ducks for Plumed Whistling Ducks; so when I 
caught up with Mark and the Bird Quest group that had just arrived on campus 
and they told me they had seen Plumed Whistling Ducks on our campus.  I just 
replied well there have been no confirmed sightings in the 20 years that 
records have been kept.  They replied well they had orange eyes - so I looked 
and there were five of them.  Local knowledge does not always know everything- 
nice to be reminded of that in such an enjoyable way.

There were about 80 Wandering Whistling Ducks with them and five Spotted 
Whistling Ducks perched in the trees next to our sewage ponds so all three 
species on the one campus.  Can anyone equal or beat that?  Do not worry if you 
can't I am sure you have something we do not have.

Another highlight On Friday- when I was showing another bird group around our 
campus.  Went to the Fawn-breasted Bowerbird bower that I had made several 
hours of observations at in the last week.  There were three birds there but 
the Alpha male had demolished his bower - sorry folks - it was just after 
sunset (they had arrived late) and we did not have time to get them to any of 
the other seven bowers on our campus.  The next day I found a new bower half 
built right next to our house under the rampant Bougainvillea.  Well they know 
who to trust don't they.  Again local knowledge was two days behind.

I think the moral is never give up looking!!!

Happy birding all

Mike




Dr Mike Tarburton
Dean: School of Science and Technology
Pacific Adventist University
PMB, Boroko
Papua New Guinea

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