The Dec 2009 edition of "The Sunbird" (the journal of the Queensland
Ornithological Society) contains an article titled "Further discoveries
extend the range of Capricorn Yellow Chat in coastal Central Queensland",
authored by Wayne Houston, Roger Jaensch, Robert Black, Rod Elder & Leif
Black.
Quoting in part from the abstract: " Extensive surveys of marine plain
wetlands of western Broad Sound and the Fitzroy River Delta, Central Qld
between 2005 and 2008 identified several new sites and extended the
documented range of the recently re-discovered Capricon sub-species of
Yellow Chat ,Epthianura crocea macgregori. All newly discovered sites
comprise only small portions (less than 300 ha) of much more extensive
marine plains. They included: two breeding sub-populations and an incidental
occurrence of the Capricorn Yellow Chat in Western Broad Sound immediately
west of its known range; two sites (one confirmed breeding sub-population)
in the southern Delta near to previously documented sites; and the
rediscovery of the chat in the far north of the Fitzroy Delta, where it was
collected over 120 years ago in 1882 but not reported
since.--------------Despite the increase in known sites of occurrence, the
population of this critically endangered subspecies is estimated at less
than 400, the majority within one main area,Torilla Plain, with only small
numbers (5 to 30) in the remaining sites."
Participants at the BA National Campout in October 2007, ably hosted by BA
Capricornia , saw Yellow Chats sitting on fences from public roads whilst
still in their cars.
Russ Lamb, Maleny,SEQ
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