Is this an outstanding year for crakes and rails for some reason?

[pbrooks <>]

The arrival of Baillon's Crake, a bird seldom recorded in Tasmania, is quite 
conceivably the result of dispersal after good inland breeding.  Jez, I think 
the higher reporting rate of crakes in general at Gould's Lagoon, however,  
simply reflects a) the geater search effort by observers wishing to see the 
rarity, and b) considerably lower water levels than preceding years, meaning 
crakes are much more visible while feeding on exposed mud.
 
If the arrival of Baillon's Crake is the precursor to a dispersal of 'mainland' 
species not usually present here in Tasmania, happy days!
 
Cheers,
Paul