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G'day nature lovers
I thought that I would share a little tidbit of
information which has come through to us from some colleagues who are currently
in China, where they are capturing, banding and flagging migratory waders as
they head northward on the East Asian - Australasian Flyway.
In an enlightened move, the Chinese government
now pays many people who used to hunt waders for food to trap these birds for researchers. The hunters eschew cannon-netting
and employ the traditional "clap-net" system. They set the nets on or near the
mudflats, pop a few stuffed birds or decoys near the nets and hide in nearby
bushes where they immitate the calls of the waders on home made bamboo flutes as
the birds fly over. Apparently, the trappers are fine exponents of the art of
bird calling, for the birds hear their calls and see their friends on the
mudflats and thus fly down to join them. Before they know it, they're wearing an
alloy band and plastic flags - coloured according to the trap location
- and have been measured, weighed and released! Invaluable knowledge of the
movements of these birds is thus obtained.
Of great interest is that the trappers inform us
that they use the call of the Grey Plover to coax Great
Knots down to their traps. The reason they give is that Grey Plovers
often travel with the Great Knots and are indeed their preferred leaders in the
course of their long migratory journey! Fascinating stuff! Although good
numbers of Grey Plover winter at Roebuck Bay, we have not noted any of them
departing en masse. I am starting to suspect that it might be possible that at
least some are indeed slipping out with our Great Knots and we are now keeping
as sharp an eye as possible on the Knots as they leave. An interesting side
note: We are not sure where male Grey Plovers winter but I have it that so
far we have been able to locate only female Grey Plovers
in Australia.
The amazing lives of these incredible 'travelling
birds' becomes more wonderful and inspiring at every turn!
Ricki
Broome WA
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