Dear Birders
Further to the previous notes on this subject posted on 07,10,15 and
23/07/2000, the Ibis Island, Lake Eyre Banded Stilt colony has been
re-assessed and is now estimated to have contained about 20,000 nests.
>From this colony, an estimated 50,000 Banded Stilt chicks have now
hatched and appear to be progressing well, accompanied by many adults
they are dispersing in scattered groups southwest and south east into
the lake towards Brooks Island, Madigan Gulf and the Hunt Peninsula.
Since departing the island, no attacks on the chicks by Gulls have been
sighted and it is now the general consensus that chicks should be past
their most vulnerable period (relating to predator attacks by Silver
Gulls), if they can survive the next week.
As reported earlier, this year's two previous Banded Stilt nesting
attempts both failed. In those two attempts, the eggs and young from
more than 27,000 nests were destroyed by Silver Gulls preying upon
them. By initiating a limited Silver Gull control project at Ibis
Island and around its immediate vicinity, the South Australian National
Parks and Wildlife (NPW), has carefully managed this third attempt.
Now for the best news of all. It has just been reported today that
the Banded Stilts are going to breed again, having in the last couple of
days, selected a new colony at Ibis Island. It appears that because of
the reduced pressure due to the reduction of Silver Gulls in the
immediate area, that a further Banded Stilts breeding attempt has now
commenced at Lake Eyre North.
More information will be posted when it comes to hand.
Regards
Ian May
PO Box 666
Enfield Plaza, South Australia, 5085
Phone/fax (08)81825858
Mobile 0409474575
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
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