birding-aus

Banded Stilt Breeding Lake Torrens

To: "Bird Chat Line" <>
Subject: Banded Stilt Breeding Lake Torrens
From: "Mitchener & Christie" <>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:18:00 +0930
By now I am sure that everyone has heard the wonderful news - that Banded Stilt 
have had an extremely successful breeding event at Lake Torrens with Alex 
Clarke, DENR Port Augusta, advising that over 200,000 chicks were produced.  In 
a visit to Lake Torrens on 8th July he reported seeing thousands of juvenile 
stilts spread across the lake - either fully fledged or just about too.  Very 
few adult stilts were present.  And that brings me to the challenge of the 
moment - WHERE ARE THEY!!!!!



As Lake Torrens and Lake Eyre dry up, and the inland feeding grounds disappear, 
it will be interesting to map the dispersal of this huge breeding flock, and 
their offspring, as they return to non-breeding sites.  Observers are asked to 
carefully check flocks for immature birds - recognizable by their grey lores, 
pale edges to the wing coverts (less obvious) and greyish legs. Do not be 
surprised to see flocks with a high proportion of juveniles - in September 2000 
Tony Russell reported on Birding Aus that a flock of 'hundreds and hundreds 
(maybe thousands)' of Banded Stilt at Penrice Saltfields only had approx. 30% 
adults.  News of flagged birds is especially sought - with observers being 
asked to make careful note of the configuration of any flags seen.



After the breeding event at Lake Eyre in 2000 Chris Baxter - with the help of 
Birding Aus members - recorded sightings from as far afield as Alice Springs, 
Woorinen Vic,  Lake George SA, the Coorong and Tasmania.  Where will they go 
this time?



So, once again, Birding-Aus members are asked to contribute their observations.



Maureen Christie

(not sure which hat I am wearing on this - Australasian Wader Studies Group 
member, Victorian Wader Studies Group member or Friends of Shorebirds SE 
member, but whatever the hat, your observations will be most appreciated!)



***************************************
Ian Mitchener & Maureen Christie
Carpenter Rocks, 5291
08 87380014
Mobile 0427 380014

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