Birding Aussers who¹ve visited Howard Springs in the Top End may know that the area is no long fit for swimming because of the water quality. Despite vegetation both in and around the main pool and a colony of flying-foxes being blamed, it seems the real cause is the massive drop in the water table, some 8 metres in the last few decades. Over 30 000 bores are now established in the area.
It seems that the monsoon vine-forest is now shrinking, with numbers of large trees dying off. Howard Springs is a prime spot for Rainbow Pitta and a number of other monsoon forest birds, and it is safe, unlike many similar spots around Darwin (eg Holmes Jungle). Many visiting birders are women.
But this is not the only patch of monsoon vine-forest under threat. A large patch of pristine vine-thicket along the road to Wickham Point (near Palmerston) is to have its status changed from conservation to development, for the Inpex development. This is the only accessible monsoon vine-thicket I know of within relatively easy reach of Darwin, apart from East Point. Unlike East Point there are Rainbow Pitta here all year. It¹s also the best spot I know for Large-tailed Nightjar., there being four birds at any one time. And we once saw a stunning 3 m. long Carpet Python in the area.
Apparently Berry Springs is also under threat because of the large number of bores feeding off that aquifer.
I plan to lodge a submission and it would be great if others would join me. The closing date is 12 August, 2011. The land is Part Section 1813, 1814 and 1890 Hundred of Ayers, 497 Wickham Point Road, Wickham, 0832. The address GPO Box 1680 Darwin NT 0801 Fax: 8999 6055
Denise and Michael (Stott)