31/05/10 - Bird Week Highlights
Red-bellied Pitta Bird Week
IRON RANGE
The timing of bird week at Iron Range has been chosen by me personally to coincide with the migrants from New Guinea – such as the spectacular Red-bellied Pitta and the Black-winged Monarch that come there to breed.
During this special week 16 endemics can be seen. These include the Red-bellied Pitta, Northern Scrub-robin, White-faced Robin, Black-winged Monarch, Frilled Monarch, Yellow-legged Flycatcher, Green-backed Honeyeater, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Trumpet Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Tropical Scrubwren, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Palm Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Marshall’s Fig-Parrot and the Marbled Frogmouth.
The Marbled Frogmouth, I believe, is a completely separate bird from its southern cousin, the Plumed Frogmouth. The distribution of this bird (where one only occurs on Cape York and the other only around the Border Ranges), and the difference in size and breeding biology is enough for me and many others to leave them as two distinct species. DNA is not the be all and end all and there are still many limitations. For example, the Grey Teal and Chestnut Teal have identical DNA yet are listed as two separate species.
On another path, the great thing about this bird week is there are air-conditioned self-contained cabins to retreat to where you can relax for a few hours during the heat of the day (when most birds are non-active anyway).
The food for the past few years has been organised by Hannah; who runs the cabins. Her catering skills are fantastic, and everyone that has attended will agree that lunch times and the evening meals are something to look forward to.
Our bus driver, Paul Peavers, is a local that is highly respected and treats our guests with the utmost kindness and respect. I am honoured to have Paul as my friend.
If you want to enjoy a piece of luxury in a tropical paradise and see birds that you cannot see anywhere else, then join John Young Wildlife and Oz Tours in late January for a birding trip of a life time – you won’t be sorry you did.
John Young
The Wild Detective
www.johnyoungwildlife.com