Hi,
After consideration, the CLC has issued an opportunity – initially just for this season – allowing groups of birders to arrange viewing of Princess Parrots near Alice Springs. Note, for further information, please contact Jol Fleming (contact details at base of announcement).
Regards,
Simon Mustoe.
______
Rare Opportunity to see Princess Parrots
The Central Land Council has been instructed by a key traditional owner of the area in which princess parrots are currently nesting to issue a limited number of permits for people to join him on a series of visits to the site.
Permits will be available to:
– groups of between 5 and 12 people
– commercial birding companies wishing to organise groups of the same size.
Day trip access to the princess parrot site (west of Alice Springs) is offered at a traditional owner fee of $450 / person. Visitors will be accompanied by the traditional owner. All other costs and arrangements (e.g. travel to and from the site, accommodation, food etc.) are to be met by participants.
Site visits will be available on the following dates:
Monday 22nd November Wednesday 24th November Friday 26th November Monday 29th November Wednesday 1st December Friday 3rd December
Parks and Wildlife scientists, who are conducting research on the parrots at this site, have confirmed that the birds are still present.
For further details, to organise permits and for more information on permit conditions, please contact:
Jol Fleming* Direct Four W.D. Awareness Ph: 0457 582 731 Fax: (08) 8953 0109 Email: jol@direct4wd.com.au *Direct Four W.D. Awareness are appointed by the traditional owners to collect and administer funds received. They can arrange transportation to the site, if this is required, or visitors can arrange their own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Simon Mustoe Tel: +61 (0) 405220830 | Skype simonmustoe | Email simonmustoe@ecology-solutions.com.au
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Hello all
This is great news and thank you to the traditional owners.
If you are a birwatcher wondering if there might be a better chance to see Princess Parrots near Mereenie at some other time, consider the following.
The succession of events following outback rainfall cycles such as this one, nearly always culminates in other not so desirable strikes against the environment. Overnight, these events can change the habitat condition for decades.
In the Mereenie Princess Parrot areas the likely most serious issue will be broad front bushfires. Usually caused by dry lightning strikes from November to February, uncontrolled bushfires can burn across vast frontiers of the outback after exceptional seasons when there is enough dry fuel available to carry one. This was not always the case but changes to traditional burning practices (the lack of mosaic burns) have altered the way outback fires burn across the landscape.
Although early summer bushfires are natural in the arid zone, in average years fuel loadings are too light for outback bushfires to carry far.
An example of how bushfires can change a habitat! After the major outback floods of 1974, generally regarded as the wettest outback years on record, lines of intense fire raged across inland WA NT SA and Qld, reducing vast areas of outback bird habitat to bare earth. Uncontrolled fires burnt out much of the Simpson Desert. It is ironic that the few areas left unburnt were mostly grazed severely by massive rabbit irruptions that were exploding across the landscape also generated by the exceptional seasonal conditions that benefited them.
The habitat around Mereenie this year is in absolute prime condition. It has not carried a fire for many years and this is partly why the birds are using the area
Because the fuel loadings are so high, unfortunately when it dries out (cures), the area will potentially carry a very intense fire that would alter the habitat suitability for Princess Parrots for a long time.
I try to avoid giving advice but if I was contemplating looking at Princess Parrots in the near future, I would jump at the generous offer from the Traditional Owners now while this rare opportunity exists.
Regards
Ian May St Helens, Tasmania.7216
Simon Mustoe wrote:
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Well done, all. (Wish I could go….)!! Peter