Hi Michael,
I have recently returned form Old Andado & Mac Clarke Reserve (on the other
side of the Simpson Desert form where you plan to go) where the native rodent
boom is in full swing. I camped for two nights and had no issues, although
anyone who is a light sleeper might find the squeaking, sniffing and scrabbling
noises a bit annoying. The odd one bounces over your swag and while the
Long-haired Rats are mostly shy they are surprisingly heavy and give you a
thump when they jump on your belly in the night! I resorted to getting into a
bug dome at 2am after the second rat bounced on me. Present at the site were
Long Haired Rats, Plains Mouse, Sandy Inland Mouse in huge numbers, and a few
cheeky feral House Mice. These days I 'tick' all Aussie terrestrial
vertebrates- not just birds- so I was as much there to see the Plains Mouse as
the Letterwing Kites. Some people are a bit squeamish about rodents but these
beasts are a key component of arid-zone ecological
systems and the chance to see a major irruption event like this only comes
along every decade or less so I'd say go for it! The rodents are the sole
reason the Letterwing Kites and all the other predators out there are booming
so its just all part of the experience.
I have a few pictures of the animals I saw (all wild spotlighting shots- no
captive) over at Wildiaries: http://aussiebirding.wildiaries.com/trips/10682 ;
Cheers
Mark Carter
0447358045
http:www.desertlife.com.au
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