Howdy All
Felt I must share this one. I enjoyed one of the most spectacular bird
observations yet in my 25 years as a birdwatcher a few weeks ago. I was
birdwatching on the outskirts of Birdsville in far SW Queensland when I came
across a single flock of ca. 1,000 Flock Bronzewing Pigeons. They were
congregated together on a plain next to a dam during late arvo/dusk. Rose up
off ground and flew swiftly about before half of them peeled away and
disappeared from view. the other ca. 500 stayed around and eventually got
good close views of this magnificent species when small numbers of them came
to drink at the dam. Have seen on a number of times before but never in this
number. I guess flocks of this magnitude are not that uncommon in its
stronghold - which I presume is the Barkley Tableland. I would appreciate
any feedback on this.
Closer to home at Port Augusta - Pallid, Black-eared and Horsfield's Bronze
Cuckoos are all vocal as is the Fan-tailed in nearby Flinders Ranges. Winter
visiting Blue-winged Parrots have moved into Acacia covered dunes
surrounding the town and Elegants are common in the Flinders Ranges. During
a recent Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby helicopter survey managed to see 12
Peregrine Falcons (six pairs) in a few hours between Hawker and Quorn. These
two towns are north of Port Augusta and separated by about 60 km of rugged
mountain ranges. Also of interest is ongoing observations of Plains
Wanderers in Mitchell Grass paddocks on several stations in the Olary Plains
of Lower NE of SA (north of places such as Mannahill and Olary on the
Barrier Highway). This species would be an ideal research study project in
SA to better understand its presently poorly understood abundance,
distribution, status and habitat preferences in this state. I would be keen
to take this on myself except I am going to be moving on to a new neck of
the woods later this year. Anyone interested?
Regards
Chris Baxter
Ranger, Outback Parks
National Parks and Wildlife SA
Department for Environment and Heritage
Ph: +61 8 8648 5347
Fx: +61 8 8648 5301
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