Steve,
An interesting comment in your email (but
not a criticism of you) …”controlled grazing of the native
grasslands seems to be essential for the viability of the Plains-wanderer”.
Grazing by what? Kangaroos? Sheep? Cattle? How did they survive before sheep
and cattle came along if these indeed are the grazers? What happens in years of
drought such as we have at the moment? I would have thought that the birds
evolved with the grasslands or sometime soon after. The comment is a bit like
the cattlemen in the “high country” trying to justify their grazing
by saying that the alpine areas have never had it so good. I have always
wondered how they (the alpine areas) survived for millions of years without
this great benefit! Who actually stated your quoted comment?
Comments anyone?
Cheers,
Mark
From: stephpar
[
Sent: Monday, 19 November 2007
11:29 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] re.
plains wanderer info.
Hi Leo, Julian, Geoffrey & others --
I spent a weekend with "The Friends of Terrick Terrick N.P."
at the park which is west of Echuca in Vic.
Spot-lighting on the Fri. & Sat. nights resulted in one female bird
on Fri. p.m. and then a female & male bird on Sat. p.m.
One can get reasonably close to the birds, although the male bird
wasn't as co-operative as the female, the latter remained quite still for
people to get numerous photos.
There is a livestock manager who may be the best contact for you re.
visiting and spot-lighting. I think entry may be under the control of The
Friends of Terrick Terrick N.P. Controlled grazing of the native
grasslands seems to be essential for the viability of the Plains Wanderers.
More details a.s.a.p. once I have been in contact with the
Manager. Easy chap to get on with.
