birding-aus

Albert's adventure

To: "" <>
Subject: Albert's adventure
From: Michael Hunter <>
Date: Tue, 5 May 2020 12:19:41 +1000
    Some years ago in search of Alberts and other luscious birding , we stayed 
at O'Rielly's and did a long cliff top walk in search of Alberts in particular. 
 Eventually after about ten km had good views, but not displaying.

     Decided to take an alternative less direct creek side return walk, but a 
couple of km. short of home,  nightfall fell like a blanket with zero 
visibility in the depths of the forest. No torch, the track virtually invisible 
and at that point a cliff on the right, so we decided to stay put. Laid down 
but too cold to sleep, only summer walking clothes, had to do calisthenics 
every few minutes to avoid freezing. 
    Only company was fireflies dancing in the bush.

        Eventually it Dawned and we walked back meeting surprised early rising 
hikers on their way out.

       Now always carry a functional torch, poncho and chocolate in case of 
stupidity/misadventure  henceforth. Two way radio in The Centre.

       Laurie's tail tale has prompted a trip to Witches Falls once the border 
to the Borders opens up.  

       But is there a display season?

        How can we access Syd Curtis'
Study on the Alberts?


                      Best

                           Michael


      

    

     

 

Sent from my iPhone

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. A Tail of Two Alberts (Laurie Knight)
>   2. Re: A Tail of Two Alberts (Roaminoz -)
> 
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 4 May 2020 15:53:12 +1000
> From: Laurie Knight <>
> To: 
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] A Tail of Two Alberts
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> 
> The social distancing restrictions in Queensland were relaxed to the point 
> that people can legally travel 50 km for recreational purposes, so it was 
> time to pop out for some quality rainforest time.
> 
> Mt Tambourine is within 50 km from home and easy to get to by 7:30 am [before 
> the hordes arrive].  Witches Falls is one of the best places in Australia to 
> have a close encounter with the Alberts Lyrebirds (the population there was 
> closely studied by Syd Curtus during the last century.)
> 
> This morning I had the joy of close views of not one but two dancing males.  
> Both were in the breaking wave posture and the second was strutting his stuff 
> in the clear less than 10 metres from the track.  That was within comfortable 
> range for the phone camera and you could see the central tail feathers that 
> break ranks and stand up straight while the others cascade over the 
> performer?s head.
> 
> There were no gronking calls in the birds? dance routine.  The dominant calls 
> were drawn from bowerbirds, rosellas and catbirds.  Interestingly, there was 
> an unusual element in both routines - protracted passages that sounded like a 
> cross between popping bubble wrap and a crackling fire.  Perhaps that sound 
> was based on the frog calls at a nearby intermittent wetland or it may have 
> been a piece of local culture handed down over the generations.
> 
> I?m sure Syd would have loved it.
> 
> Regards, Laurie.
> 
> PS, there were four Glossy Blacks feeding close to the lookout at the Knoll 
> picnic site.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 4 May 2020 06:48:45 +0000
> From: Roaminoz - <>
> To: Laurie Knight <>,
>    "" <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A Tail of Two Alberts
> Message-ID:
>    
> <>
>    
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> Lucky you Laurie ... I am yet to see both our Aussie Lyrebirds in the bush.   
> I'm about 200 ks from Witches Falls .. but I have made  note when Corvid 
> disappears, guess where I am going.
> Jude
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Birding-Aus <> on behalf of Laurie 
> Knight <>
> Sent: Monday, 4 May 2020 3:53 PM
> To:  <>
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] A Tail of Two Alberts
> 
> The social distancing restrictions in Queensland were relaxed to the point 
> that people can legally travel 50 km for recreational purposes, so it was 
> time to pop out for some quality rainforest time.
> 
> Mt Tambourine is within 50 km from home and easy to get to by 7:30 am [before 
> the hordes arrive].  Witches Falls is one of the best places in Australia to 
> have a close encounter with the Alberts Lyrebirds (the population there was 
> closely studied by Syd Curtus during the last century.)
> 
> This morning I had the joy of close views of not one but two dancing males.  
> Both were in the breaking wave posture and the second was strutting his stuff 
> in the clear less than 10 metres from the track.  That was within comfortable 
> range for the phone camera and you could see the central tail feathers that 
> break ranks and stand up straight while the others cascade over the 
> performer?s head.
> 
> There were no gronking calls in the birds? dance routine.  The dominant calls 
> were drawn from bowerbirds, rosellas and catbirds.  Interestingly, there was 
> an unusual element in both routines - protracted passages that sounded like a 
> cross between popping bubble wrap and a crackling fire.  Perhaps that sound 
> was based on the frog calls at a nearby intermittent wetland or it may have 
> been a piece of local culture handed down over the generations.
> 
> I?m sure Syd would have loved it.
> 
> Regards, Laurie.
> 
> PS, there were four Glossy Blacks feeding close to the lookout at the Knoll 
> picnic site.
> 
> 
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