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The splitting of bird species is typically
foreshadowed for years or even decades by rumour if not speculative
publication. The grasswrens are no exception.
Mostly because I'm interested in regional variation,
especially in habitat use, I looked for the Short-tailed (Chestnut-mantled)
Grasswren in September 1989. It was easy to find in a very accessible
location and I gave Graeme Chapman directions to photograph it
there.
The location is Stokes Hill, where all birds seen by me were
100-700 metres E or SE of the lookout.
After more than a decade I don't know whether this population
still exists in such good numbers.
But more importantly, lucky me, I now have another highly
potential tick.
The lesson for listers is to
bird as often and in as many places as possible. Always seek geographic
variants, especially isolates.
On the
positive side, the conservation outcomes for these latent ticks will probably be
improved by our heightened arousal...just as I hope it is for the albatrosses.
Glenn
Glenn Holmes & Associates
Birding & botanical
specialists
PO Box 1246 Atherton
Qld 4883
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