Aussie Finch Forum

Looks like the Wyndham Gouldian count wan't the only one to have been on. According to the ABC story, Dry conditions perfect for rare finch survey, the Gouldian population at the Yinberrie Hills, near Katherine (NT), has remained stable over the last 6 years of the count at 235 birds . The operation of the nearby Mount Todd gold mine also appears not to be affecting the birds (Lucky it's not the Ok Tedi mine).

Thats the site I saw gouldians as a 4 or 5 year old in about 1990. One of my earliest memories.

Cheers Ian

Its astounding how many small pockets of gouldians are left when you go looking.I found a group of 50 plus Edith Falls i was not expecting a few hundred kms from Darwin . Another group that were at the count seen 200 at Pine Creek not far from where I was. I seen some at Timber Creek also,I was talking to the Ranger there and he said they were doing work on saving them.I started to talk about the STGF,he was really not to interested.Its a shame these organizations don't get together and talk about whats making a huge success.

gomer wrote:Its astounding how many small pockets of gouldians are left when you go looking.I found a group of 50 plus Edith Falls i was not expecting a few hundred kms from Darwin . Another group that were at the count seen 200 at Pine Creek not far from where I was. I seen some at Timber Creek also,I was talking to the Ranger there and he said they were doing work on saving them.I started to talk about the STGF,he was really not to interested.Its a shame these organizations don't get together and talk about whats making a huge success.

There are many who are somewhat sceptical about the population estimates from the STGF. I'm going to a talk on Tuesday evening by a well known older trapper who I'm told is still readily able to locate Gouldians in large numbers in many locations. It's the MacArthur Aviary Bird Club if anyone is interested - I'm not a member (or even a regular) but I'm sure all are welcome to attend.

Do you have any more details about the meeting Sam- time & location?

gomer wrote:I was talking to the Ranger there and he said they were doing work on saving them.I started to talk about the STGF,he was really not to interested.Its a shame these organizations don't get together and talk about whats making a huge success.

Shame really that they dont talk to each other, it could save them so much time and money if they found what works and did the same in their area.

Myzomela wrote:Do you have any more details about the meeting Sam- time & location?

From their June/July 2013 magazine:
October 1st. Ray Ackroyd - Licensed Trapping in the Australian Bush
Meetings are held from 8pm on first Tuesday of the month at the Catholic Church Hall, 58 Edgar St, Macquarie Fields, NSW.
Their raffle and supper is usually a cut above the average bird club too.

SamDavis wrote:

Myzomela wrote:Do you have any more details about the meeting Sam- time & location?

From their June/July 2013 magazine:
October 1st. Ray Ackroyd - Licensed Trapping in the Australian Bush
Meetings are held from 8pm on first Tuesday of the month at the Catholic Church Hall, 58 Edgar St, Macquarie Fields, NSW.
Their raffle and supper is usually a cut above the average bird club too.

Boy thats a bit of a risky topic to have at an avicultural meeting nowadays. It could be viewed as very conflicting from outside!!!

firetail555 wrote:

SamDavis wrote:

Myzomela wrote:Do you have any more details about the meeting Sam- time & location?

From their June/July 2013 magazine:
October 1st. Ray Ackroyd - Licensed Trapping in the Australian Bush
Meetings are held from 8pm on first Tuesday of the month at the Catholic Church Hall, 58 Edgar St, Macquarie Fields, NSW.
Their raffle and supper is usually a cut above the average bird club too.

Boy thats a bit of a risky topic to have at an avicultural meeting nowadays. It could be viewed as very conflicting from outside!!!

I don't really know what he'll talk about but I presume it will largely be a history lesson. Although I'm told/believe he still holds a current license for some pest species - Correllas, Galahs, etc...

Ray is a very interesting speaker . .

Sam, does the club have a website where a transcript of RA's talk might be reproduced?


Edit: Had a look but seems site is not current