Come on you lot, Lorne asked the question
about finches ( I think, it’s that long ago now). A bit far from Starlings and waders ?
-----Original
Message-----
From:
[ On Behalf Of Ricki Coughlan
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 3:03
PM
To: Peter Madvig; Lorne Johnson;
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-AUS] finch
flocks
If we
are to include others than land birds, then what about migratory waders? Mixed
flocks on Roebuck Bay regularly numbered over 30,000 around November and
December lst year (often several of these in close proximity) and I have
observed flocks where more than ten thousand Bar-tailed Godwits were
present.
Broome
Bird Observatory staff witnessed pure flocks of 3,500 Black-tailed Godwits
depart on migration together around 3 weeks ago. Yes 3,500! That same night we
observed several flocks of similar sizes making their way on their annual epic
journey. Total for the night was a record - 9,200 birds! Deeply moving
experience to be sure.
On
Bush Point (south Roebuck Bay) some years ago, the world's largest mixed
gathering of migratory waders was recorded: 100,000 plus! I witnessed 3 flocks
of well over 30,000 individuals there in close proximity last year.
If
we're not limiting ourselves to Australia, I believe that Flamingoes do it
pretty well in Africa and Snow Geese are known to get about in flocks of
60 to 100 thousand! That's just for starters.
