Concerning the original superb reflection posting of 17 January I note
that the discussion has wandered over various issues and jolly glad to see that
it has done so. The lerp feeding was a new one for me and I thought a
most interesting observation.
My comment concerns Benji’s observation ‘My gut feeling is
that the influx is a post breeding (nesting) dispersal in search of food’.
What needs to be remembered is that the post breeding (nesting)
dispersal happens every year without fail as the inhabitants of Fraser, Kaleen
etc know only too well. What is different this year is the numbers and
the extent to which the birds have extended into the more southern Belconnen
suburbs.
Having stuck my neck out once before I am prepared to do it
again. Given that the Department does not alter their present policy of
periodic management rather than routine management of the ovals I think we will
see the birds now routinely returning to their ‘newly discovered’ post
breeding feeding areas and this will occur irrespective of the success of the
breeding season. If I am correct then it will be a great example of a
situation arising where birds have been forced to find food elsewhere only to
discover there is a bounty of food if only they had ventured further afield
previously (i.e. departed from a tradition.) Having now broken the local
tradition and found the additional food, if post dispersal food resources were
limiting the population numbers then, this may well lead to an increase in the
local population.
On further reflection if I am correct it must mean that the food
for the successful production of young must have been in abundance this year
but the post breeding food has been limiting forcing the birds to go further
afield.
I think this breaking of tradition has happened before with other
species and hence the reason for the sudden increase in the recent past of King
parrots, Crested pigeon, Australian raven etc (but not Indian Myna, that is a
different issue).
Incidentally I have observed Super parrots flying south-east from the
direction of Higgins and towards Coppins Crossing, that is south of Hovell
Drive.. Is this the furthest south that they have been seen?
