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
> On 5 May 2020, at 2:00 am, wrote:
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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 -)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 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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