The recent Wingspan Vol. 17 No. 1 has an article about John Gilbert. Gilbert collected a
Paradise Parrot between Tummaville and Yandilla. These localities were early stations on
the Darling Downs SEQ. In present times they exist as localities and properties on a
smaller scale. To have collected a Paradise Parrot between Tummavile, which is on the west
bank of the Condamine and Yandilla, which is between the east bank of the Condamine and
west of the Condamine North Branch puts the location squarely on the Condamine River flood
plain.
My question to Penny Olsen editor of wingspan was "were Paradise Parrots nomadic and only
appeared in our area (I live at Pittsworth about 20km away from Yandilla) in the non
breeding season, which is well documented much further north?". My reason for suggesting
this is the present day lack of any termite mounds on the flood plain. Penny asks "is this
because modern farming methods has ploughed them out?". There is perhaps suitable harder
country further south and west of the river which may have had big enough termite mounds
for use by nesting birds. But my impression is that termite mounds are really in short
supply in this part of Qld. But I hasten to add - until about 30 years ago most farming
families played tennis and they all had 'Ant bed' courts. The ant bed must have come from
somewhere not too far away. Possibly west of the river.
Any comments from the brains trust on Birding-aus
Thanks John
Pittsworth SEQ
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
