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Denis,
during COG's surveys of the northern part of Lake George
I did also encounter A. Bitterns on various occasions. I am certain the species
has bred there, albeit no actual proof for that. One day the area may
recover.
Yes, water levels were recorded for L George and also
(starting much later and for a shorter period) for Lake Bathurst, but this was
given up with the retirement of the person who carried out the
measurements. Doubt that any one still cares at relevant
institutions.
Best wishes,
Michael Lenz
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 6:07 PM
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] [Fwd: Lake George] - student seeking
information
Thanks Michael, for your response.
I always found Don
Lamm's surveys interesting. in that he was the only person I knew who could
regularly report Australian Bitterns. He seemed to flush them from within the
deep drainage channels through the northern end of Lake George (technically NOT
Lake area as such), but amongst the long grasses in the area he surveyed. As you
rightly point out that area has been grazed for a very long time, now (about 30
years, or more likely 50 years).
While on the topic of Lake George,
Professor Philip Pells, an hydrogeologist and Geotechnical Engineer, who
has recently done a series of studies on the Thirlmere Lakes, recently commented
to me that Lake George has the longest running set of water level data records
of any Lake in Australia.
http://www.pellsconsulting.com.au/
He
then said that those data collection studies had been abandoned in recent years
(which in view of the recent return of water in the Lake has proven to be
an unfortunate decision). Apparently the data is held (buried within) Geoscience
Australia http://www.ga.gov.au/
Cheers
Denis
Wilson.
On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 4:10 PM, Michael and Janette Lenz
<>
wrote:
Hi Denis,
most interesting to have some one who went out with
Don Lamm to Lake George. However, the area surveyed by Don Lamm and others
(incl. the "Wilson family" as in the acknowledgements) is very much the same
that COG surveyed later as part of its waterbird surveys, although we did
not manage to round the northern tip as far East as probably D.L. would have
done (heavily stocked with cattle by then).
Michael Lenz
From:
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 11:06 PM
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] [Fwd: Lake George] - student seeking
information
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.
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
--
Denis Wilson
"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au
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