"Last week a Sydney birdwatcher rang the NT Tourist Commission to ask the
name of a local birdwatcher or guide, and was given the phone number of a
lady who raises caged birds! Still at least they took his inquiry
seriously. Mind you I have only been trying to get them to take
birdwatchers seriously for seventeen years! Perhaps they've been so
dismissive because they think I'm mad. After all what sane person would
frequent mangroves and sewage ponds! "
To Chris Dahlberg and anyone else who might have thought I was touting
for business in the above email sent 21/6/99, my apologies. However the
thought hadn't even entered my head. I'm simply concerned that visitors
aren't getting good information.
I suggested years ago to the NT Tourist Commission that they erect a data
base of locals with expertise in topics as far ranging as birds, bush
tucker, butterflies, fungi and orchids. Sadly the NTTC weren't
interested in 'non-professionals' ie people who weren't tour operators.
So the Aboriginal lady who still knows how to prepare cycad cakes, the
elderly man who knows where to find a rare Habenaria sp. (orchid); the
couple who have a resident Rufous Owl in the backyard are excluded to the
detriment of all including visitors, and eventually the environment as
well.
Re Apostlebirds: they are quite common in the Northern Territory once
you get to Mataranka (about 370 km south of Darwin).
First Chestnut-breasted Mannikins of the year landed at my feeder
yesterday along with an immature Yellow-rumped Mannikin.
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