G’day all,
I was chatting to an Alice Springs grader driver who is well-known (locally) for preferring to conduct his work during the night. He does a lot of nocturnal grading in the areas to the near north and east of Alice Springs and mentioned that he has seen Night Parrots flushing in the spotlights, from the spinifex before his blade. I’m sure we’ve all heard similar claims over the years, but I try to keep an open mind, and figure that those who aren’t birders or ornithologists have nothing to gain by fabricating sightings of rare birds. There’s arguable bragging rights that might come from being associated with the legend of the Night Parrot, but I think folks who make a living driving heavy machinery in the outback have other things they’d rather brag about in the company of their mates, than seeing a few parrots. This area is between a 1 and 3 hour drive of Alice Springs, so is potentially able to be surveyed from here within a short time of receiving notification, if people are equipped with the correct information.
Anyway, I’m sure this has been done before, but I’m putting together an information flyer that I intend to distribute through the CLMA (Centralian Land Management Association) which has contacts throughout the Centralian pastoral industry who employ grader drivers and similar remote workers throughout the region. It seems like they might be a handy group to target.
The National Night Parrot Network, who I’m sure it’s been noted before, seem to be as elusive and shrouded in mystery as the bird itself, don’t seem to have any online presence. If someone on this list could forward me the best contact details to include in the flyer that would be a great help. Better still, if the Men In Black who constitute the NNPN would like to step briefly from the shadows and consult with me on the composition of the flyer, I’m sure it would be a better production all-round.
As photos aren’t an option, if anyone has some decent artwork that they are able to grant permission for me to use, it’d be much appreciated as my efforts with the crayolas so far have been less than stunning in their reproduction of a realistic portrait of the Spinifex Chook. This’ll be funded from my own hip-pocket so there’s no funds available I’m afraid, but needless to say all artwork will be fully acknowledged.
I’m not giving up on the fat parrot.
Cheers,
Keyser Soze (aka Chris Watson)
Heh. I recently received a very nice correspondence from a woman in Deniliquin who was convinced she had a malleefowl in her front yard, having compared it to the picture in Robin Hill’s book. I asked her to send some photos and was forced to advise that she had a very lovely but very Common Bronzewing… :-p
Well, she was a botanist. At least she did not say it was a ground cover.
Carl
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When I was at Cheynes Beach last year I was chatting with a botanist who told me that she’s seen a Ground Parrot at one of the caravan sites (Ground Parrots have been seen around there in the past, but not recently). I rushed over and discovered and discovered an Elegant Parrot on the ground.
Jeremy
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I have read several ornithological books lately which use lower case for common names. Not surprising really, as many users of the English language are so challenged by it, they would not know whether to insert, wear, or eat a gerund, let alone when to capitalise a word. My theory is, that it is the publishers trying to save on ink costs. Many a little makes a muckle.
Carl Clifford
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And still some publications refuse to use capital letters!
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Hi Chris,
Ideally, someone who claims to have seen Night Parrot, has done so having seen a picture of one, and is therefore familiar with their appearance and size. If they are further aware that they are extremely rare, they could be motivated to look more closely than might otherwise be the case. Perhaps the grader driver can be armed with relevant information on the Night Parrot, and can be persuaded to report any future sightings and their location within a short time frame.
In the past, I have had two situations develop where a person has reportedly seen swift parrots. One was quite adamant (not always a good sign). In both cases, after having been shown pictures, they agreed that what they had actually seen was a musk lorikeet. To be fair, one of the people had not previously heard of musk lorikeet.
Carl Weber
Excellent idea Chris. These are the people who are most likely to see them.
Regarding the National Night Parrot Network I have found the following extracts that might help you locate one of the members.
The founders of the National Night Parrot Network, which includes the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, described it as part research sharing group, part rapid response team, ready to climb into a four-wheel-drive or an aircraft and head into the desert on reports of a sighting.
see http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/twitchers-cry-foul-in-case-of-the-deceased-parrot/2007/06/22/1182019367467.html
also
(which included Leo Joseph from the National Night Parrot Network)
see http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/birding-aus/2012-06/msg00003.html
Referring Leo Joseph see http://www.csiro.au/Organisation-Structure/Divisions/Ecosystem-Sciences/LeoJoseph.aspx
Regards
Ian May St Helens, Tasmania 0428337956
Chris Watson wrote:
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Thanks Chris,
I think a grader operator would be in an excellent position to flush and spot a Night Parrot – graders are slow moving, they are moving at the edge of the vegetation and have bright lights. They might also be more likely to get a ground bird to fly rather than run away, which might be the case if one were walking the same line …
Regards, Laurie.
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