It has been pointed out to me that this is an incorrect view. Apparently
the story is that Superb Parrots and other parrot species used to suffer
high mortality feeding on spilt grain by roadsides. It was when the
practice of carrying uncovered loads of wheat was stopped (meaning fewer
spillages, especially on bends) that Superb Parrot numbers began to recover.
John Leonard
On 28 February 2013 14:02, John Leonard <> wrote:
> I'm thinking that maybe these Malleefowl have discovered a new food
> resource and this will help them have better breeding success, boost
> numbers &c, at least as long as cnaola continues to be grown in the area.
>
> In the area north-west of Canberra Superb Parrot numbers have increased in
> recent decades and it is thought one factor is the discovery by them of new
> food sources, including wheat spilled from grain trucks along roads.
>
> John Leonard
>
> On 28 February 2013 11:27, Ross Macfarlane <> wrote:
>
>> This is definitely not an annual event. The consensus is no one has ever
>> seen anything like it. One Ouyen local told me his wife was arranging a
>> mini-bus to take people from the local nursing home down to see the birds
>> as no one has seen this many in one place.
>>
>> (I have been having quite a few conversations with Ouyen-ites in the past
>> month because the VMRG is organising its annual reporting back weekend
>> there on 23-24 March - send me an email if you want details.)
>>
>> The nearest I can get to a similar sighting is that some of our members
>> once saw about 12 malleefowl feeding in the same place in a clearing at the
>> southern end of Wandown FFR in the early evening.
>>
>> The prevailing wisdom is the malleefowl are feeding on canola thrown off
>> the grain trucks, but my Dad told me someone had dissected a road-kill bird
>> and found mostly native seeds. The bird was apparently in good condition.
>>
>> Our general view is this is unusual behaviour and therefore it's probably
>> not a good sign, but we don't know. The birds have had 3 very good breeding
>> seasons after the improved rains, but this past season has been the best
>> despite a dry winter.
>>
>> Here's a couple of links to stories about the sightings.
>>
>> The ABC one includes an interview with Colleen Barnes from Ned's Corner
>> who talk the now-famous photo.
>> http://www.abc.net.au/local/**stories/2013/02/11/3687952.htm<http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/02/11/3687952.htm>
>>
>> This one from the Weekly Times aka the pink comic book includes a quote
>> which completely misrepresents what I told the reporter - but fortunately
>> they've published my comment to correct the record.
>> http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.**au/article/2013/02/15/559885_**
>> national-news.html<http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2013/02/15/559885_national-news.html>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Ross Macfarlane
>> Secretary
>> Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group, Inc.
>> <>
>> www.malleefowlvictoria.org.au
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Philip Jackson
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 8:12 PM
>> To: Birding-Aus
>> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Malleefowl Bonanza
>>
>> A quick trip north to look for the reported Malleefowl along the
>> Ouyen-Patchewollock Rd, was most successful. We saw 35 malleefowl feeding
>> along the road between 6:15pm and 6:45pm. The birds were mainly in singles
>> and pairs, with one group of three. The next morning we saw 8 Malleefowl
>> along the same stretch of road at about 8:30am. I suspect that there would
>> have been more birds earlier. To see so many of these enigmatic birds was
>> an exciting and highly recommended birding experience.
>>
>> I do, however, have some questions. The birds were feeding on what I
>> presume is spilt grain along with many Common Bronzewing Pigeons, Mallee
>> Ringnecks and Red-rumped Parrots. Is this Malleefowl gathering an annual
>> occurrence which has gone unreported in the past or a unique event? Is
>> this large number of Malleefowl the result of a few years successful
>> breeding who are now struggling after our current hot dry summer? We saw 35
>> Malleefowl along a 10km stretch of road. This seems to be a high population
>> density. Is this usual or are the birds travelling large distances for an
>> 'easy' feed?
>>
>> I would be most interested to hear other birders' opinions on what is
>> happening here. When I think of my previous efforts to spot a Malleefowl!
>>
>> Philip Jackson
>> ==============================**=
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> John Leonard
> Canberra
> Australia
> www.jleonard.net
>
> I want to be with the 9,999 other things.
>
--
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net
I want to be with the 9,999 other things.
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