On the matter of 170 mixed species in a small section of FSP, the below is similar to the photo on which the count was based.
The count was by the paint-dot method, a section shown below. The counting was conservative. (You can probably see more birds than dots.) It took only a few minutes. It would take quite a bit longer to go species by species. A global
number of 170 individuals might not seem worth much given current preference for species counts. However it indicates the fertility of this particular sewage pond at the moment - like some of those at Werribee and elsewhere. While of no great value at the
moment, waste will be important to the future human occupation of Mars, as demonstrated in the 2015 movie
The Martian, starring Matt Damon.
Incidentally, such an afternoon photo is not usually possible because of heat shimmer. Good conditions yesterday, though.
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2023 2:47 PM
To: Canberrabirds <>
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Bird counting, Dairy Flat this afternoon
