the crake package

[Denis Wilson <>]

Just on John's point that Crakes and Rails are "likely to turn up" in a suitable site, I vividly remember the excitement when various Crakes turned up in the centre of Canberra when the Lake started to fill and then stalled because of a 9 month dry spell.
Crake heaven in a previously crake-free environment.

Of course I realise that the Crake-free comment can also reflect the "observer-free" status of the Molonglo River prior to the Lake starting to fill.

But clearly these birds, lousy fliers as they are, are quite capable of getting around over large distances. The related Black-tailed Native Hen is the most famous "irrupter" in that clan.

Denis Wilson

On Mon, Jan 7, 2013 at 9:40 AM, John Leonard <> wrote:

Interesting that several different spp of Rails/crakes are being observed at the dam at Namadgi Visitors Centre (Buff Banded Rail/Lewin's Rail/Spotless Crake).

 

Along with my memories of reported observations at various wetlands in the ACT, this suggests that the spp in the ACT "crake package" (the above spp plus Spotted and Baillons Crakes), are equally likely to turn up in suitable wetlands, that is once a wetland becomes suitable (enough mud &c) then any or all of the five can be expected.

 

Or does anyone have any observations that suggest that these spp have slightly different requirements?

--
John Leonard

-- 
Denis Wilson
If you're not pissed off with the World, you're just not paying
        attention.
(Kasey Chambers)

"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au