Bird life as affected by drought.



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BIRD LIFE AS AFFECTED BY DROUGHT.*


By Charles Barnard.


Under this heading I would like to mention a few instances

that have come under my notice, showing how certain forms of bird-

life can be driven away from, or exterminated in, certain districts

during times of severe drought, and also showing how birds can

become a medium of conveying seeds of plants, or grasses, possibly

of an injurious nature, from one district to another, in other ways

than by the usually acc^ :cd one of eating and evacuating.


Referring particularly to the district round about Coomooboo-

laroo, Central Queensland, I can mention the case of the Beautiful

Parrot (Psephotus pule her rimus). Previous to the terrible drought of

1902 it was not very uncommon to see a pair of these birds when

out mustering on the run, and on two occasions nests were found,

but since that year not a single specimen has been seen.


About the year 1882, when on a collecting trip to Fairfield, a

station about seventy miles south of Coomooboolaroo, many of these

birds were seen, and several sets of eggs taken.


Since 1902 I have frequently asked the people living at Fair-

field to keep a look-out for the birds, but they report that none have

been seen. I have also been in the vicinity myself, but saw no

birds. The reason of their disappearance is not hard to discover.

For three years previous to the climax of the drought in 1902 there

had been no wet season, and very little grass grew, consequently

there was little seed ; then the worst year came on, in which no

grass grew, so that the birds could not find a living, and either

perished or migrated. As there was more grass on the coastal

country, the latter is possible, but if so, it is strange that they have

not found their way back to their original haunts.


Then we have the case of the Scarlet-backed Malurus

(M. melanocephalus ). These little birds were always numerous in

the long grass, but after that drought not one was seen on the run

for at least three years, but since then an odd little flock has been

seen. It is possible that as the grass became scarce inland they

worked their way towards the coast, where the grass was longer.


* From 1 The Emu,’ with acknowledgments to the Editor.



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