The biggest problem I see for the demise of the night Parrot is the cat as
the rat plague has long gone and the cats in the area are wiping out all
types
of birds and critters and are moving around looking for more things to eat.
The control would have to be ongoing because of this movement by them not
only in this particular area but the surrounding districts.
A fence could be built simular to the Bilby fence several years ago covering
a lot bigger area and it would take lots of sponsors and lots of Gov.
finance.
But after the debacle of the Bilby Fence it would be a big ask and do we
want dozens of volunteer backpacker trudging all over the area ??
They were a valuable source of labour on the Bilby Fence
Owls must be a problem as well as is the raptors if the birds are flushed
during the day.
Brown Falcons feed on the cock White-winged Fairy-wrens, Chats and Spinifex
Pigeons etc in these areas.
Spotted Harriers flush Quail which are knocked over by Hobbies and
Peregrines and they drop onto the Quail frozen with fear, they turn up in
these areas
after good seasons in the dozens following the Quail.
As for letting people go and have a look to see them I feel it will never
happen, it is a "Night Parrot" are we going to go trooping around with
spotlights at night
or go during the day and kick the crap out of every spinifex bush to make
them flush.
How would you feel if you flushed one during the day only to see a Peregrine
or Hobby appear from nowhere and knock it over ?
Poaching is another factor that should be looked at very closely as it is
still a real problem and when something as valuable as this comes along the
wheels are
set in motion.
Did some work in this field years ago and it was big business, birds out
drugs in and big money involved.
Don't forget this is not the only area where alleged sightings have been
seen over the last ten years, some not reported because of lack of proof and
the fear of ridicule.
Just my thoughts.
Barney.
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