This is the sort of inspiring birding-aus post I like.
I’ll probably never get out to see the Princess Parrots. But because I know that somewhere there is a place with hundreds of Princess Parrots, the world seems a better place.
John Leonard
On , Ian May
> Subsequent to my previous post, just returned to Alice Springs after > spending a week searching for Princess Parrots with Geoff Jones and Don > Hadden in the area between Mereenie Oil and Gas Field and Mt Liebig, > Northern Territory.
> Great news.
> We have located many hundreds, of Princess Parrots at various locations. > From the observations so far, most birds are concentrated mainly within 4 > or 5 areas however it is likely to be many more because our searching was > somewhat restricted by difficult access. It is likely that there are many > hundreds, probably thousands of birds spread over a much greater area > than we could cover.
> When we return to Price SA next week I will post a complete report > including coordinates and details of all our sightings. For those > interested to have a look, two reasonably accessible areas offer high > probability of locating birds if visited over a period of at least a day > or two. Remember the hot weather will arrive soon and the current ideal > conditions will almost certainly deteriorate quickly
> Please note; The following information refers to Map datum WGS 84. > Coordinates are in Deg, min, sec. Time is Australian Central Standard
> The first location is the most south eastern population we encountered. > First birds only approx. 17 km from the Meereenie Loop road at 23 56 04S, > 131 22 28 E
> More than 100 birds scattered at various locations adjacent to and off > the track for about 15 km traversing west to 23 59 01S, 131 14 08E. > Approximately 65 km from Kings Canyon Resort. The birds can be found > dispersed singly, in pairs and in small flocks of up to 20 frequenting > open tall forest areas of Desert Oak and Eucalyptus (Bloodwood?). Many > are found while feeding between dawn to about 11.00 and again from about > 1500 until dusk At these times birds usually flush from the ground and > fly about calling loudly often circling and settling again in nearby > desert oaks.
> The other location offering reasonable access is approximately 60 km > south west of Mt Liebig and 23 km WSW of Browns bore. Birds were > scattered in pairs and flocks up to 20 birds encountered along about 7 km > of track from 23 39 22S, 131 03 48E to 23 41 46S, 131 00 46E.
> Although we experienced cold conditions, now is the seasonal transition > and very hot weather can be expected soon. These areas are extremely > remote so proceed with caution and with full safety preparation. Arrange > transit permits and be equipped with 1:250,000 topo maps.
> Please report your sightings on birding-aus. When this exciting and > remarkable natural event concludes, I hope to compile the sightings and > post a full report on birding-aus with full acknowledgments of course.
> The country is in great condition and birding is excellent at present. > Pat and I found Geoff Jones and Don Hadden to be great company. They are > professionals and took hundreds of pics. More than once I watched > Princess Parrots nearly landing on their cameras and I cant wait to see > the results of their photographic extravaganza. On my next posting, I > will provide links to their web sites. We also want to thank Llane and > Don Hadden for their generous hospitality when we returned to Mt Liebig > on Wednesday evening.
> If you intend to visit, please contact Don Hadden at Mt Liebig. You will > find his email address above.
> Regards and good birding
> Ian and Pat May
> St Helens, Tasmania
> (currently at Kurnoth bore west of Alice Springs)
> 0428337956
> Ian wrote:
> Hi all
> It is pleasing to report that on Friday 23rd July 2010 Pat and I located > good numbers of Princess Parrots frequenting an area of more than 100 sq. > km within the Northern Territory between Yulara and Mt Liebig within a > geographic area that could be described as the eastern Gibson Desert. The > minimum number of birds observed were estimated to be more than 100 but > it is probable there were many morein the area. The birds were very > active and had formed numerous flocks of mostly 12 to 20 birds. One flock > comprised more than 60 birds.
> At about 1030 am on Friday morning while driving east along a remote > abandoned seismic track a flock of about 15 Princess Parrots flushed > noisily from vegetation in front of us. Calling loudly they allowed great > views before heading south west. In a state of excitement we searched the > surrounding dunes for more birds without success and after about an hour > we continued traveling east. After traveling about 4 km further east we > flushed another flock of about 20 birds. We decided to camp at this > location and at about 4.30 pm while looking south across a broad valley > between the dunes several flocks of from 12 to 20 birds were observed > simultaneously wheeling in from various directions and merging to an area > about 300 meters from me where they landed to commence feeding. Minimum > estimate of 100 birds in the area on Friday. On Saturday 24th, as we were > driving out we came across several birds then a flock of more than 60 > perched in full view on a dead desert oak. Many birds were on the ground > feeding among spinifex covered sanddunes while others were perched in > Desert Oak. There are many flowering Gravilliar, Cassia, Eromophila and > acaia in the area. It is hard to estimate numbers accurately because they > are so mobile however there could be several hundred in the area
> We have just resupplied at Alice Springs and now stopped at Erldunda to > send this email message before heading back out therein about 20 minutes > and out of phone and internet range. Sorry if this message is a bit > rushed but as we speak storm clouds are brewing to the south west so we > could be in for a wet night. We are heading out to the site hopefully to > take some more photos. Meeting Geoff Jones and Don Hadden at Mereenie Oil > Fields on the way. I will post full details including GPS coordinates > when we return in about a week.
> Regards
> Ian May
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