How do birds detect Lake Eyre filling?

Well the experts don’t know so what was the point of their article?

'Cos they are a LOT Smarter than HUMANS and they leave us wondering!
Edit.
In outback when a Dingo is sometimes seen on a station , ie , no large numbers. When cattle begin calving, suddenly a large group of dingo's arrive to kill new born calves. A station I worked on could lose, from calf to a full saleable beast, around $250,000 in just ONE WEEK. Another mystery!

Thanks Allan, this is something that fascinates me. We were there last time it filled and did the tourist flight out of Maree etc etc. We also camped on the creek at Innaminka and as we were enjoying a quiet drink around the campfire late in the afternoon, down came a "squadron" of pelicans. They landed and quickly formed a perfect V covering the width of the creek. When squadron leader went "bums up" the rest of the squadron took his lead and did likewise. They returned to the surface in the same sequence. They floated past us and as they reached the bend downstream a bit they took off and repeated the process. This went on for the better part of an hour.

I have searched in vain for an explanation of the science behind the birds' arrival and much like the article you have appended in your link the boffins all have splinters under their fingernails.

Thanks again for your post.

Kenell

One of the lakes they would be referring to when they mention "Western Australia" in the article is Lake Disappointment. (aka Kumpupintil Lake). Had the good fortune of witnessing a significant banded stilt (and a few other birds) breeding event in March 2017. Quiet amazing. One of ~200 islands - but only a relatively small number used for breeding.




Cheers
Greg

Interesting article Allan, thanks for posting.

Macca.

On the CSR in 2019 one driver in the group reported he had seen a pelican. Memory is hazy but probably around lake Tobin.

After the predictable jibes about hallucinatory substances being ingested we stopped and there was indeed a solo pelican, flying west.

It had been a dry year and some veteran desert travellers in the group could offer no insights into where there might be water the bird had come from or be headed to.

Lake Auld was nominated as likely nearest water but when we passed there a few days later it was dry.

A mystery.

I’ll be back at the top of the CSR in a few weeks where I hear it has been quite wet. Looking forward to seeing full lakes and bird life.

Cheers

I'm guessing the same way my missus can spot expensive shoes and handbags from 200 metres away when she's shopping for a new t-shirt !