Night Parrot

G’day,

I think the two biggest impacts on Night Parrot (and many other arid zone species) habitat have been overgrazing in much of their range, and the changes in fire regimes.

The former can be quite readily addressed and is being addressed by many in the pastoral community. Contrary to popular vitriol, and always with a few exceptions, people who make their livelihood from the land are usually very sensitive to its responsible management.

The latter problem is more difficult but there is much work being done on the problem and many land managers across the outback are starting to get a better understanding of the role of fire in arid ecosystems through the work of people like Peter Latz and Grant Allan in Alice Springs.

Central Australia IS in rude health at the moment, and many of the old hands that I talk to believe that the vigour of this season has far outstripped anything they have witnessed in their lifetimes, including the last significant wet season of 1973-74.

If the increase in Princess Parrot sightings at the moment is anything to go by, then if there was ever going to be any sort of community organised, systematic approach to searching likely habitat for a viable study population of Night Parrot, then the time for that endeavour is now.

I’d be surprised if there aren’t a few more Night Parrot sightings as the tourist numbers rise heading into the cooler months, and if those tourists were a bit better educated and perhaps on the lookout, then we might increase the likelihood of chance sightings being more credible. There is a role for Birdlife Australia in this education program or perhaps the shadowy organisation (whose very existence is new to me!) known as the Night Parrot Network.

The boom of the desert, and its effects on fauna abundance, should last for a good while yet, and as the desert dries and animals naturally start to concentrate on reliable water sources we may get a second bite at the cherry. Perhaps taking a leaf out of Frederick Andrews’ book might be wise in this effort; I believe most, if not all, of his specimens were obtained by staking out waterholes, so we know they drink!

There you go. I believe that is well and truly my two cents worth.

Cheers,

Chris Watson Alice Springs