The late lamented John MacKean had the most logical-sounding theory I've yet
heard. The bird appears to be nomadic and a seed-eater. The most
predictable conditions for expecting the bird to be in the area is during a
long drought in Australia south of the tropic, but with a reasonable monsoon
in the North. This should produce a good seed crop in the Northern Tanami
desert. Being seed-eaters the birds must drink every night. Some of you
may remember a TV series with Harry I-forget-his-last-name who went up to
the Kimberley's during a bad drought (it may have been 82-83) and put
mistnets around the only pool of water in a wide area. Unfortunately, it
poured with rain during the day, ruining poor Harry's plan.
Anyway, back to the northern Tanami: the idea would be to visit the
southern-most station on the Northern Tanami, and camp on a different
waterhole every night. Eventually, the parrots should come in !
Of course, this requires not only the right conditions, but also lots of
time, and I don't see myself as having this time until I retire, which I am
planning to do in 2008.
Of course, if money were no object, I would commission John Young in Ingham
to find a nest for me. Alas, I am not in that happy state, nor do I ever
expect to be.
I live in hope!
John Penhallurick
Associate Professor John M. Penhallurick<>
Canberra, Australia
Phone BH( 61 2) 6201 2346 AH (61 2) 62585428
FAX (61 2) 6258 0426
Snail Mail Faculty of Communication
University of Canberra,A.C.T.2601, AUSTRALIA
OR PO Box 3469, BMDC, BELCONNEN, ACT 2617, AUSTRALIA
"I'd rather be birding!"
"Vivat,crescat,floreat Ornithologia"
Hartert,Vog.pal.Fauna,p.2016.
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