Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Wetlands going to the dogs

Pity to wipe smiles off faces of Tyto visitors. But some just don't pay attention to signs forbidding them entry. Pair (mum and son) skidded to stop yesterday and slunk off at shout of 'Get home!' (wherever that is). Bad dogs? Nope. Bad owners.

More welcome drop-in visitor, immature Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), taking break on way to warmer winter quarters in the islands.

Comb-crested Jacana lost three of four eggs over the weekend. Nest platform awash for three days but floating higher yesterday (above). Today, last egg gone. Water python? Maybe. Water rat? Maybe. Eggs sunk? Unlikely. Eggs shifted by Jacana? Does happen. But bird almost keening loss today (below).
                           


Shining Flycatchers still on x? eggs: incubation should be nearing end.

And here's another six-year first sighting for me: Brolgas (Grus rubicunda) on the ground (though some overfly most years).

3 comments:

mick said...

I agree about bad owners rather than bad dogs! A very interesting lot of birds again - Poor Jacana! - Hope the Shining Flycatcher eggs make it!

Tyto Tony said...

Happier news today.

Anonymous said...

I just returned home from the Daintree, and as usual was somewhat disheartened both by the number of dogs inside the national park boundaries (where they are prohibited), and the number of uncontrolled dogs in the farm/residential areas of the region (such as Cow Bay and Daintree). Especially worrying considering it is cassowary habitat.

Just found your blog - love it. I regularly stop at Tyto when I travel through Ingham. Great watching the place developing.

Head up for dragonfly, head off for fish head . . .

One moment it's dragonfly trying to dance on White-bellied Sea-Eagle's head, the next it's all go for fisher's discarded fis...