Hello all,
A few weeks back I mentioned that there had been an unconfirmed sighting of
a Malleefowl in Binya SF (20 km E. Griffith in central west NSW). I'm in a
position to confirm this record now because yesterday evening I watched and
photographed a Malleefowl on two separate occasions separated by about half
an hour!
Why the Malleefowl has remained unseen in Binya SF for so long remains a
mystery. I've had a bit of a trawl through the records and found that there
have been 3 records of Malleefowl within 30 km of Binya SF.
The birds at Pulletop NR which is about 40 km to the north-west (where
Harry Frith conducted his research on malleefowl) appear to have gone
extinct. The last record was of tracks in 1989.
mid 1970's- seen on the roadside about 20 km N. Garoolgan which is about 30
km to the north-east of Binya SF.
1981- "Acres"- 26 km NW of Binya
1977- "Culhane"- 20 km NE of Binya
1982- "Sifton Bush" 32 km NE of Binya
late 1970's- Alan Bairds property, 32 km NE of Binya.
Most of the mallee in these areas is long cleared and the closest known
malleefowl are about 40km to the north-east where a couple of pairs are
believed to be hanging on (last record 1999).
That malleefowl have hung on so close to Griffith is amazing and I can't
help wondering whether they have moved in. Still, the obvious question then
becomes moved from where!
Cheers
Mick Todd
Griffith, NSW
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