Hi all,
I am hoping some of the regulars visitors to the WTP can help me with info on the Banded Stilts.
I was down at the plant on 23/5 and there were thousands of stilts spread over many ponds. Due to bad weather and the Queen’s Birthday w/e I did not get back there until 16/6. On that day the numbers of Banded Stilts at the plant had dropped into the hundreds. There was flock of 50 +/- on the Borrow Pit and another of 100 + on Summer Lagoon 2. There were also small numbers dotted around in other ponds, but not many.
What I would like to know is the actual day the numbers fell because, according to HANZAB, they fly overnight to the breeding grounds so there should be a marked difference from one day to the next some time between 23/5 to 16/6 at WTP.
There has been some rain over the Lake Torrens and Lake Eyre area breeding grounds but I don’t know if it was enough to put water in or top up any lakes. I heard from friends driving north that the Birdsville Track had been closed due to heavy rain in the first week in June. According to BOM Coober Pedy had 67mm between 12/5 and 18/6. Woomera had over 40mm in the same period. There was a single day of rain totalling 34mm on 22/5 at Bedourie, Qld.
Also, are there any other big Banded Stilt flocks that have left other wetlands in southern Vic or SA?
Thanks
Jenny http://jenniferspryausbirding.blogspot.com.au/ ===============================
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