For the interest of list members: Stephanie Corsetti, an ABC journalist now based in Mildura, attended the Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group’s reporting back weekend in Ouyen last Saturday, and interviewed our President Peter Stokie and ecologist Dr Joe Benshemesh. Joe took the opportunity to make a point about the potential impact of the Victorian government policy on controlled burning, arising out of the Black Saturday Bushfires Royal Commission.
The story ran on The World Today on Monday, which was brilliant. You can hear / read it here: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/twt/201303/20130325-twt11-malleefowl.mp3 | http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2013/s3723120.htm
The interest in malleefowl in the Ouyen area is huge because of the birds on the roadside along the Ouyen-Patchewollock Road. We had a lot of people turn up to our community forum in the morning and to our afternoon meeting, and I even gave a talk at the local aged care hostel, because people who have lived in the area all their lives have never seen anything like it.
I also got to drive the road where that (now-famous) photo was taken. I only (only!) got to see 4 birds – 2 pairs, including these 2: http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n590/rmacfarl/Facebook/Malleefowl/DSCF3014_zps1f5b1bdb.jpg
The local council has done its bit to protect the birds on the road: http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n590/rmacfarl/Facebook/Malleefowl/DSCF3011_zps041e397e.jpg
… and so have the locals: http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n590/rmacfarl/Facebook/Malleefowl/DSCF3009_zps9c03ea91.jpg
The phenomenon of the malleefowl on the roadside has become a local tourist attraction. Every night cars are driving up and down the road with a running competition for the most that can be seen. The record I’ve heard is 88 – that was back in January, but 35 were still seen over the weekend.
These photos (and a lot more) were taken when the aged care hostel ran 2 buses down the road a few weeks ago (they counted 55):
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n590/rmacfarl/Facebook/Malleefowl/DSC_1247_zps24ed6069.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n590/rmacfarl/Facebook/Malleefowl/DSC_1160_zpse219b7cd.jpg
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Hi Ross, Thank you for your latest update on Malleefowl. I am planning to drive from Canberra to look for them in this coming Easter weekend. I would be happy if Malleefowl is the only bird I see for the trip. However any recommendation on other good places nearby would be great. I wonder if anyone knows of recent good sites for Mallee Emu Wren, Scarlet Parrot, or any local specialties. I will be traveling alone in my city car and most likely base in Mildura so I will not venture too far from major tracks or major car park/camp site in National Parks, unless I bump into helpful and seasoned birders willing to show me the way. Thank you in advance for your inputs, whether to this group or in private emails. Happy Easter Holiday! Tun Pin ONG Canberra/Sydney
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