Thanks Chris,
I think a grader operator would be in an excellent position to flush
and spot a Night Parrot - graders are slow moving, they are moving at
the edge of the vegetation and have bright lights. They might also be
more likely to get a ground bird to fly rather than run away, which
might be the case if one were walking the same line ...
Regards, Laurie.
On 09/04/2013, at 4:05 PM, Chris Watson wrote:
G'day all,
I was chatting to an Alice Springs grader driver who is well-known
(locally) for preferring to conduct his work during the night. He
does a
lot of nocturnal grading in the areas to the near north and east of
Alice
Springs and mentioned that he has seen Night Parrots flushing in the
spotlights, from the spinifex before his blade. I'm sure we've all
heard
similar claims over the years, but I try to keep an open mind, and
figure
that those who aren't birders or ornithologists have nothing to gain
by
fabricating sightings of rare birds. There's arguable bragging
rights that
might come from being associated with the legend of the Night
Parrot, but I
think folks who make a living driving heavy machinery in the outback
have
other things they'd rather brag about in the company of their mates,
than
seeing a few parrots. This area is between a 1 and 3 hour drive of
Alice
Springs, so is potentially able to be surveyed from here within a
short
time of receiving notification, if people are equipped with the
correct
information.
Anyway, I'm sure this has been done before, but I'm putting together
an
information flyer that I intend to distribute through the CLMA
(Centralian
Land Management Association) which has contacts throughout the
Centralian
pastoral industry who employ grader drivers and similar remote workers
throughout the region. It seems like they might be a handy group to
target.
The National Night Parrot Network, who I'm sure it's been noted
before,
seem to be as elusive and shrouded in mystery as the bird itself,
don't
seem to have any online presence. If someone on this list could
forward me
the best contact details to include in the flyer that would be a great
help. Better still, if the Men In Black who constitute the NNPN
would like
to step briefly from the shadows and consult with me on the
composition of
the flyer, I'm sure it would be a better production all-round.
As photos aren't an option, if anyone has some decent artwork that
they are
able to grant permission for me to use, it'd be much appreciated as my
efforts with the crayolas so far have been less than stunning in their
reproduction of a realistic portrait of the Spinifex Chook. This'll be
funded from my own hip-pocket so there's no funds available I'm
afraid, but
needless to say all artwork will be fully acknowledged.
I'm not giving up on the fat parrot.
Cheers,
Keyser Soze (aka Chris Watson)
--
*BIRDS CENTRAL AUSTRALIA*
*Central Australian birding resource*
*Guiding, writing, and the latest site information*
*from Alice Springs*
www.comebirdwatching.blogspot.com
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