I’ve been thinking about this since I heard about the curious hopping behaviour seen in John’s video (still waiting to see it myself of course!). The only accepted Night Parrot sighting by BARC is the Minga Well ’05 birds, case summary here: http://www.tonypalliser.com/barc/summaries/SUMM506.htm
Interestingly, the observers report the birds “running a short distance” towards the water after landing. Not hopping. Thoughts anyone? Maybe there’s a Western “Running” Night Parrot and an Easter “Hopping” Night Parrot! (typo intended)
Cheers, Joshua Bergmark ===============================
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Joseph M Foreshaw’s book “Australian Parrots” (published by Lansdowne Press, Melbourne in 1969 and illustrated by William T Cooper) contains some interesting information about the Night Parrot.
The following extract is relevant to the discussion about it’s styles of locomotion.
“A Night Parrot caught in the Gawler Ranges, South Australia, in 1867, lived for some months in captivity at London Zoo. It moved along in a series of jumps, much like the actions of a House Sparrow, but at times ran about on the floor of the aviary with considerable agility.”
So, it seems that John Young’s observations are valid as are those of the observers at Minga Well.
Bob Inglis Sandstone Point Qld ===============================
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G’day Nikolas,
The bird filmed was agro from the call playback probably had a nest, I discussed this with a friend a few minutes ago he suggests the species probably runs as fast as a Ground Parrot, it’s got good legs I bet it can use them.
Cheers Jeff.
Josh,
Another option that Julian Reid and I discussed yesterday is that the hopping could be part of a distraction behaviour (being disturbed by a spotlight near a possible nest site) while the running (to the water) is the normal way to get from A (cover) to B (water).
Cheers,
Nikolas
I was thinking that perhaps their locomotion depends on whether they are on bare gorund or not. With such short legs, any vegetation would mean they have to hop!
John Leonard
Hi Josh,
I was talking about this to someone this morning, and we agreed that rosellas sometimes hop when they are on the ground, and I think Red-rumped Parrots do as well, so maybe they have different styles of ambulation depending on the need for speed or even just how they’re feeling!
Perhaps the Easter one has chocolate eggs for part of the year, hence the low population!
Sonja
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