|
Kathy and I were at Newline yesterday (Sunday 26
December) and met the owner of said goat (one of the lessees of the property -
the man, not the goat). Contrary to Martin's fear of receiving a bloody nose,
the chap was quite forthcoming, and explained that the goat was feral, and he
had newly acquired it to use as a decoy to catch other feral goats (he
didn't say where). He was very much interested in eradicating feral animals, and
mentioned his intention to catch deer near Tarago (presumably not using the
goat).
He also said that he regularly climbs the trees at
Newline and removes Starling nests, eggs and young. He was interested in birds,
and told us he has seen nesting Gang-gangs further down the road.
In contrast to Martin's visit, we saw many birds
there, these being particularly active and vocal given that it was about
midday. The highlights were at least 6 Brown Treecreepers, several Speckled
Warblers, 2 Jacky Winters, an adult and a juvenile Brown Goshawk, several
Rufous Songlarks, a Dollarbird entering a hollow, Tree Martins feeding young in
a hollow, numerous Fairy Martins and Dusky Woodswallows, Crested Shrike-Tit, and
many Rufous Whistlers, Superb Fairy-Wrens, Red-rumped Parrots, Striated and
Spotted Pardalotes, White-plumed Honeyeaters, Spinebills and more of the usual
suspects. This is a true mecca for birds.
David Cook
|
