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

[david taylor <>]

Hi Rob and all,

Buff-banded Rails have been particularly prevelenti in Brisbane over the last 
year or so  - I bird a lot around the Murarrie/ Lytton/ Wynnum/ Brisbane Port  
area over many years - would not see or hear one very often in periods in past 
years - however keep a close eye on grassy verges in many of these areas and 
you a good chance - along Lytton Rd Ive seen as many as 5 or 6 on a morning out 
- fantastic - I do agree a result of the big wet years I would feel.

Having Crakes and Rails around is great!

cheers

David Taylor
Brisbane

On 07/01/2013, at 1:32 PM, robert morris wrote:

> 
> There are a lot of crakes and rails being seen in SEQ at the moment. Possibly 
> more than normal. The same is certain for Australian Painted Snipe which seek 
> out similar habitats. I suspect it is a combination of 2 things:
> a) 3 good wet summers in a row in SEQ, and inland Qld, allowing habitat to 
> rejuvenate and birds to breed well b) a dry spring and early summer exposing 
> a lot of muddy edges so the birds are more visible.
> I am sure a lot of the rails/crakes were here anyway (e.g. I have heard a lot 
> of Bush-hens, Spotless Crakes and Lewin's Rails over the last 3 years) - 
> we're just seeing more as muddy edges are exposed giving ideal viewing 
> conditions.
> Rob Morris 
> 
> 
> 
> Brisbane, Australia 
> 
> 
>> From: 
>> To: 
>> Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 14:18:59 +1100
>> CC: 
>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Is this an outstanding year for crakes and rails 
>> for some reason?
>> 
>> 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
>>