g'Day all
We have had some delays with minor vehicle repairs at Alice Springs and
consequently will be unable to return to Price SA next week to post an
update as previously suggested.
However after making some repairs today we have decided instead to
resupply and head out again early tomorrow morning into Princess Parrot
country. This time we hope to search from Mereenie Oil Fields to a
point about 23 km. south east of Mt Winter then south west crossing
between Lake Neale and Lake Amadeus at a point about 26 km. south east
of Mt Unapproachable and then WSW to Tjuntinanta via Walu eventually
exiting about 10 km east of Docker River (Kaltukatjara). This area is
remote and unlikely to have been searched much.
We are unable to receive most of our birding emails until we return to
base. Unless something happens to change our plan we should be back to
provide some more information and to answer any outstanding messages in
about 1 week or so.
Regards and good birding
Ian and Pat May
Ian May wrote:
Hello again
Subsequent to my previous post, just returned to Alice Springs after
spending a week searching for Princess Parrots with Geoff Jones and
Don Hadden in the area between Mereenie Oil and Gas Field and Mt
Liebig, Northern Territory.
Great news.
We have located many hundreds, of Princess Parrots at various
locations. From the observations so far, most birds are concentrated
mainly within 4 or 5 areas however it is likely to be many more
because our searching was somewhat restricted by difficult access. It
is likely that there are many hundreds, probably thousands of birds
spread over a much greater area than we could cover.
When we return to Price SA next week I will post a complete report
including coordinates and details of all our sightings. For those
interested to have a look, two reasonably accessible areas offer high
probability of locating birds if visited over a period of at least a
day or two. Remember the hot weather will arrive soon and the
current ideal conditions will almost certainly deteriorate quickly
Please note; The following information refers to Map datum WGS 84.
Coordinates are in Deg, min, sec. Time is Australian Central Standard
The first location is the most south eastern population we
encountered. First birds only approx. 17 km from the Meereenie Loop
road at 23 56 04S, 131 22 28 E
More than 100 birds scattered at various locations adjacent to and off
the track for about 15 km traversing west to 23 59 01S, 131 14 08E.
Approximately 65 km from Kings Canyon Resort. The birds can be found
dispersed singly, in pairs and in small flocks of up to 20 frequenting
open tall forest areas of Desert Oak and Eucalyptus (Bloodwood?). Many
are found while feeding between dawn to about 11.00 and again from
about 1500 until dusk At these times birds usually flush from the
ground and fly about calling loudly often circling and settling again
in nearby desert oaks.
The other location offering reasonable access is approximately 60 km
south west of Mt Liebig and 23 km WSW of Browns bore. Birds were
scattered in pairs and flocks up to 20 birds encountered along about 7
km of track from 23 39 22S, 131 03 48E to 23 41 46S, 131 00 46E.
Although we experienced cold conditions, now is the seasonal
transition and very hot weather can be expected soon. These areas are
extremely remote so proceed with caution and with full safety
preparation. Arrange transit permits and be equipped with 1:250,000
topo maps.
Please report your sightings on birding-aus. When this exciting and
remarkable natural event concludes, I hope to compile the sightings
and post a full report on birding-aus with full acknowledgments of course.
The country is in great condition and birding is excellent at
present. Pat and I found Geoff Jones and Don Hadden to be great
company. They are professionals and took hundreds of pics. More than
once I watched Princess Parrots nearly landing on their cameras and I
cant wait to see the results of their photographic extravaganza. On
my next posting, I will provide links to their web sites. We also
want to thank Llane and Don Hadden for their generous hospitality when
we returned to Mt Liebig on Wednesday evening.
If you intend to visit, please contact Don Hadden at Mt Liebig. You
will find his email address above.
Regards and good birding
Ian and Pat May
St Helens, Tasmania
(currently at Kurnoth bore west of Alice Springs)
0428337956
Ian wrote:
Hi all
It is pleasing to report that on Friday 23rd July 2010 Pat and I
located good numbers of Princess Parrots frequenting an area of more
than 100 sq. km within the Northern Territory between Yulara and Mt
Liebig within a geographic area that could be described as the
eastern Gibson Desert. The minimum number of birds observed were
estimated to be more than 100 but it is probable there were many
morein the area. The birds were very active and had formed numerous
flocks of mostly 12 to 20 birds. One flock comprised more than 60
birds.
At about 1030 am on Friday morning while driving east along a remote
abandoned seismic track a flock of about 15 Princess Parrots flushed
noisily from vegetation in front of us. Calling loudly they allowed
great views before heading south west. In a state of excitement we
searched the surrounding dunes for more birds without success and
after about an hour we continued traveling east. After traveling
about 4 km further east we flushed another flock of about 20 birds.
We decided to camp at this location and at about 4.30 pm while
looking south across a broad valley between the dunes several flocks
of from 12 to 20 birds were observed simultaneously wheeling in from
various directions and merging to an area about 300 meters from me
where they landed to commence feeding. Minimum estimate of 100 birds
in the area on Friday. On Saturday 24th, as we were driving out we
came across several birds then a flock of more than 60 perched in
full view on a dead desert oak. Many birds were on the ground
feeding among spinifex covered sanddunes while others were perched in
Desert Oak. There are many flowering Gravilliar, Cassia, Eromophila
and acaia in the area. It is hard to estimate numbers accurately
because they are so mobile however there could be several hundred in
the area
We have just resupplied at Alice Springs and now stopped at Erldunda
to send this email message before heading back out therein about 20
minutes and out of phone and internet range. Sorry if this message
is a bit rushed but as we speak storm clouds are brewing to the south
west so we could be in for a wet night. We are heading out to the
site hopefully to take some more photos. Meeting Geoff Jones and Don
Hadden at Mereenie Oil Fields on the way. I will post full details
including GPS coordinates when we return in about a week.
Regards
Ian May
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