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Dear Birders,
I have a strange question(s) that I hope that someone can answer, or at
least point me in the right direction.
While traveling in Australia last winter I was in the Carathool Shire
area and saw their emblem. I looked in my bird book and could not find a
bird called a "Kooroodook." Before I could investigate
further, I had to fly back to Canada, which is where I am now.
I have written the Carrathool Shire (Hillston, Merriwagga) for
information about this bird and the general belief is that the Kooroodook
is an extinct water bird. When I was in Merriwagga, I talked to a retired
councillor and he stated that it was an extinct Stork. I've looked up
a number of extinct water birds in Australia, and cannot find one that looks
like the emblem.
However, I have found another piece that may fit the puzzle. As you
probably already know, there is only one type of Stork in Australia -- the
Black-necked Stork. I didn't think it was reasonable that the
Carrathool Shire would have the Black-necked Stork as their
emblem. My bird book did not indicate that its habitat was in the Shire's
area. However, according to the Australian Museum ( http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/jabiru.htm),
it used to inhabit much of NSW. Kooroodook may be the Waradjuri peoples (who is
the aboriginal clan in that area) name for the Black-necked Stork.
I recently contacted Dr. John Rudder, who is in the process of researching
and reclaiming the Waradjuri language. Their language is very fragmented and I
hope that the word has not been lost. However, with a few more pieces
to the puzzle, we may have enough evidence to add another word to
the Waradjuri Dictionary!
At present, I have been trying to find out when the Black-necked Stork's
population began declining in NSW. Also, I know that the
Black-necked Stork was in NSW, but was the Black-necked Stork in
the Carrathool Shire area? This is where I was hoping that some of you
might be able to help. I can't find any records or maps of the Black-necked
Stork's habitat history. I would really like to find records of their
extinction to certain areas -- especially around 1906, which is when the emblem
is dated. Do you know where I would find this type of information? I have been
able to piece most of this together from my location in Canada. I am amazed I
have gotten this far. Any information that you can provide would be very much
appreciated.
Thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Dowler
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