Tarago area, morning 31.12.06

["Michael & Janette Lenz" <>]

Hi Anthony,

 

here a comment on the status of the Banded Lapwing around Lake Bathurst:

 

The Banded Lapwing used to be more common around Lake Bathurst than it is now. This is probably more due to habitat change rather than the result of an actual decline. It preferred some of the sparsely vegetated areas of the higher parts of the lake bed that get inundated only after a lot of rain. With the lake being more or less dry (apart from the occasional puddles) now for several years, dense stands of tussock grass have taken over large tracts of lake bed that were once used by Banded Lapwings.

 

The pair I mentioned in the earlier email was breeding on the dry bed of the southern Morass (limited water there until August). I have observed it there since September. It now has 3 almost fully-grown young. The pair had disputes with a 3rd adult, but could never establish wether there was actually a 2nd pair.

 

 

Michael