Having followed a little of the recent (at times quite unedifying)
conversations re Bush Stone-curlews I am happy to report that during an 8
hour stop-over in Cairns I saw 2 separate pairs within the city-limits (not
that this sheds any real light - as against the recent heat - on whether
they are common and/or widespread of course).
For those who might be visiting Cairns in the future and would like to try
for either pair, their locations were:
1. On the easily accessible waste-ground in the little
garden-type rubbish tip on the eastern side of the northern end of Lake St
(nearest the airport). This spot is also a reliable city location for
Richard's Pipit.
2. On the dirt track at the back of the sewage ponds (off the
by-pass road into Cairns, coming from Innisfail).
Note: From this track it was also possible to walk into the sewage
treatment plant through an open gate. The ponds were notable at this visit
for 3 Pied Heron (are these now "resident"? - if so they are a nice little
bonus for visitors to Australia who aren't heading for Darwin), and a small
flock of Wandering Whistling-duck. Three very good birds for only half an
hour's work right in Cairns!
The weather in Cairns was spectacular (of course) and 84 species from a
quite leisurely wander through 3 sites (the Botanical Gardens, the
potentially threatened Esplanade mud-flats and the sewage ponds) reminds one
just what a treasure this northern city really is (made all the more stark
by my grand total of only 48 species in the preceding 2 1/2 moderately hard
days on the north-east coast and adjacent deciduous forests of North Korea -
see separate posting at a later date).
There - how's that for "bird chat"?
Richard Nowotny (occasionally of Melbourne)
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