Gouldian Finches
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 13:49
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Member - Nick (TAS)
Well Im pleased to say that after years of searching and countless trips out to springs/Lakes and billabongs, we finally got our first sighting of these magnificant finches today, all 200 odd of them.
Up and away from
Kununurra at 0300 and headed off into
Wyndham to the Warri Aboriginal
park.We had tried this spot numerous times but thought we'd give it another shot.
We thought we caught a glimpse of one drinking at first light but couldnt make out for sure, by 0630 I thought our luck had ran out again so got out of the car to have a walk around....camera at the ready.At first I thought it was a flock of Zebras as there was so many but after they settled in the nearby tree's I made them out as all gouldians, from
young uncoloured to half coloured to fully coloured(pictures confirmed on computer zoomed in).There would have to have been 200 all up.You beauty.This was my last chance for this trip as we leave on Monday down the Tanami.(but will be back)
Reply By: Member - Mal W (NSW) - Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 14:24
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 14:24
Well done. I have never seen them in the wild but have always admired them. I heard one story that their numbers had been seriously reduced when there was no or little controlled burning, but they are starting to make a recovery.
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376665
Reply By: Leroy - Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 14:37
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 14:37
This is why Mornington Station is now a sanctury. They control burning off etc so to not burn the seeds etc they feed on. The grasses that they feed on aparently take 3 years to seed so if you are burning off every 2 years.....
Leroy
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Reply By: philip t jones - Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 14:37
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 14:37
Go to kingfisher
camp and you will find plenty
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376669
Reply By: Red Tail Black (WA) - Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 15:27
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 15:27
Thats great Nick, its so rewarding when you can mark another one off in your bird list. I saw them in
Wyndham in 1995.
Cheers Red Tail Black
AnswerID:
376677
Reply By: Member - Royce- Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 19:19
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 19:19
I love these little birds.
Before I escaped the housing commission flats in Melb I used keep a pair in a cage... shocking I know, but I was just a kid with no other pets allowed. .... 40 years ago...
Nowadays I'd never keep a bird in a cage. Lots of lovely native birds around my house.
I have had the pleasure of seeing the Gouldians in the wild a couple of times and am always thrilled.... while feeling a bit guilty about my poor little cage friends.
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376719
Follow Up By: The Landy - Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 20:47
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 20:47
Well it wasn't quite 40 years ago for me, but close, and I had a pair also. And like yourself would ot dream of caging them today....
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Reply By: The Landy - Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 20:49
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 at 20:49
I was quite excited to read this post as I have been looking at going in search of the 'Gouldian Finch' and this has encouraged me to do some planning for such a trip.
As a kid I had a couple in a cage, wouldn't do that today, but I would be over the moon to see them in the wild.
Thanks for the post Nick.....
Cheers
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Reply By: wendys - Friday, Jul 31, 2009 at 21:19
Friday, Jul 31, 2009 at 21:19
The Australian Wildlife Conservancy is doing intensive research and conservation work re Gouldian finches, at Mornington in the
Kimberley, in particular, but also at other properties it has acquired across the north of Australia. At Mornington, it appears that their work on fire regimes has led to some rise in finch numbers there.
AnswerID:
377058