Lake Gregory (WA)

Hi Deanna

No, it is still called Lake Gregory, or by iit's proper traditional name Paruku.

Mulan in the community, next to Lake Gregory in which my wife and I live. My wife is one of the taditional owners of the area.

I entered this post just to let the Orinthologists know that the information of limited birdlife in the area is incorrect. If anything, the environmental differences due to less water this year has simply diversified the birdlife. There has been an nexponential increase in the birds oif prey, including a lot of owls that have not been around for a very long time, from what the Elders say.

I just thought that people had a right to know the facts. I rarely post, even though I am a life member of ExploreOz, no reason to normally.

Take Care

Marc & Dolores Bridgman

I find that very interesting, you say the owls haven't been around for a very long time, have the elders got a time span on that? as in how many years ago it was that they were so plentiful last. I ask this as I do believe that nature can tell us a lot about the weather and what we can expect for the next season etc.
Cheers

Deanna

Hi Deanna

My wifes father is a Walmajarri/Martu Elder. According to what he say, the last time they have seen this amount of owls around was when the water (Lake Gregory) was extremely low, some 25 years ago. He says that when the water is down so far, the smaller rodents and smnall marsupials have much fuirther to go for water, this makes the predatory behaviour of a lot of raptors much easier I assume. The mount of rodents has also dramatically increased, which I assume has resulted in tyhe increased amount of birds of prey. We have seen wedge tailed eagles, and a variety of hawks and probably kites, in large numbers.

They are even hunting within the Community in which we live, asd the rodent number has expanded exponentially. The number of snakes has not increased, and that I am assuming is due to the increase of birds of prey taking them.

I am not learned in this area, but I am more than hapy to disbuss what I see.

Cheers

Marc

Thanks for that info Marc, It's good to get the information from the older generation before they all pass on and take their knowledge with them. I remember when I was a young girl my parents were friends with the man that looked after the camels on Canning's trip building of the wells on the CSR. I use to love to listen to his stories of the droving days but can't remember too many of them now.
That's life though.

Cheers

Deanna

Hi Deanna

Just an interesting comment for you. My wifes father was involved in several of those camel treks. Unfortunately we cannot find anyone interested in sitting down with such as the old man and getting the life stories recorded for posterity.

Such is life

Marc

You should try to get some of the stories down on paper before it is too late.
As you say, it is unfortunate that no one seems to have the time to even listen to the older generation let alone taking notes of their stories.

Cheers

D

Hi Mick

Good to hear from anot.her lifetime member.

There has not been sufficient water to increase the lake levels, though there was enough to prevent decrease any further. You may or may not have nmet me, I am the bald headed guy with the long beard, frequently working in the Community shop.

There has been no horse culling here yet. The talk is happening, but nothing yet, so I have no idea what the pilot is talking about. We would have noticed helicopters flying around.

Cheers bloke.