Congratulations John, on finding this bird.
I abandoned Gunlom years ago because of regular fire in the spinifex sandstone
habitat. To hear that Plumtree Creek habitat has also been burnt is very
disappointing.
However, my experience is that WTGW are harder to find at this time of year,
and more so after a good Wet Season, such as we’ve just had. I most often saw
them late in the year when they make themselves much more obvious, e.g. through
territorial singing.
White-throated Grasswren Jim Jim Creek, Kakadu
Thanks to Tim Faulkner for researching NT online burn scar data to determine
what may well be the only remaining mature (10-20 years old) spinifex sandstone
habitat in the 'World Heritage' Kakadu NP. The habitat though only small, and
surrounded by scorched country, was rich in reptile fauna, including a possibly
eastern-most record of Pygmy King Brown Snake (well named as Pseudechis
weigeli), which I was videoing when I heard the only WT Grasswren I was to
encounter. An unforgettable moment, but one that had me grappling with my
priorities. It is a very big job getting to the site, with camping permits
required, but my advice to anyone who wants to see this bird is to not leave it
too late. Last year was the most extensive burn year for Kakadu, and the
momentum appears to be ongoing. As I hiked out today a fresh series of fires
through visible gullies were visible. BTW I tried on previous days to find
mature habitat atop Gunlom and at Plum Tree Ck, areas I know well from many
explorations over the past few decades, but could not find any, and very
disappointing herp activity. With the WTGW, I have now photographed all IOC
Grasswren species within a two-month period, all solo. WTGW was definitely the
toughest!
John Weigel
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
PO Box 71
Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841
PhD candidate
Vice-chair Wildlife Tourism Australia
Founding Member: Ecotourism Australia
Founding Member: Australian Federation of Graduate Women Northern Territory
043 8650 835
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