[Fwd: Lake George] - student seeking information

[martin butterfield <>]

Sandra 

I followed an idea about land use rather than birds and on doing a Google search  I found some very early reference to Mitchell's visit to the area in 1828.  He mentions the size of the Lake (water area 17miles x 7 miles) and quality of the vegetation.  The NLA 'Trove' facility revealed info about a flood in 1870 reported in the Queanbeyan Age so a search of that papers archives might be helpful.  Somewhere along the way reference was made to Captain Rossi having land in the area of the lake and I know his activities are a matter of interest to the Goulburn Historical Society so they may have details about the sanctuary etc.

Martin

On Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 11:06 PM, Denis Wilson <> wrote:

Hi Sandra

I know that my father's close friend Don Lamm (D.W. Lamm) conducted a waterbird survey at the northern end of Lake George over a number of years through the early 1960s. From memory he resumed this survey which he had conducted during a previous posting to Canberra (in the 1950s I believe).

Don was Charge D'Affaires at the American Embassy in Canberra during the early 1960s.
He had been posted here in the 1950s I believe.

He was around Canberra probably before COG was formed - I am not totally sure when he left Australia.

From memory he published papers in the Emu. Some were jointly published with my father (S.J. WIlson) but they would have been papers on small passerines.

RE Lake George, I found one reference with a quick Google Search.

• Emu
• Volume 64 Number 2 1964
• Seasonal counts of birds at Lake George, New South Wales.
• D.W. Lamm
• pp. 114-128

Incidentally, the area Don surveyed has been totally dry for about 30 years. Even with the return of some water to the southern end of the Lake bed, the area Don surveyed would be approx 8 Kms from standing water. I may be able to help give general directions to the area he surveyed, as I accompanied him on several such surveys.

Mark Clayton and other senior members of COG might also be able to flesh out this report, as Mark would almost certainly remember Don.
 
Don Lamm travelled widely in his diplomatic career, in Africa and South America, and then retired to Arizona, so Google Searches with DW Lamm and birds will probably all relate to him. I know he collected many specimens for the Smithsonian Museum, mostly South American birds.

I hope that is of interest to your correspondent.

Denis Wilson

On Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 7:11 PM, Canberra Ornithologists Group Inc. <> wrote:

the request below is self explanatory - please get back to me if you can help this student and if you're happy for me to pass on contact details so she can email you or phone you.
sandra henderson
COG secretary
__________________________________________

 I am currently completing history honours at the ANU. Broadly speaking, my thesis is an environmental history of Lake George. I have found early evidence of a bird and animal sanctuary on the Lake. I was wondering if your group has had any association with Lake George and if not, if you would know which organisations did? I am very keen to write about the significance of conservation in the area historically, so any help, or direction you could give me would be very much appreciated. 

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--
Denis Wilson
"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au