22 Barrett, Bird Life on Yanko Creek (.V.S.H'.) [..fXi,. 



Leaving the Owls' haunt, we walked to a l^illaliong where 

 hundreds of Budgerigars were nesting in the dead eucalypt?. 

 Many birds were seen entering and quitting liollows, liut our boat 

 was miles away, and all the nest-trees were in deep water. So 

 we had to be content with watching the Warbling Grass-Parrots. 

 Crossing the plains, vast flocks of these lovely little birds were 

 observed. In a big hollow, near a wheat field, we noticed at least 

 a thousand Budgerigars feeding on the dry grass. They were so 



Young Delicate Owl. 



PHOTO. BY CHARLES BARRE1 



absorbed that they were unaware of our presence till we stood on 

 the edge of the depression, only a few feet from the nearest birds. 

 Then some of the little Parrots raised their heads, the alarm spread 

 like flame in stubble, and the whole flock rose simultaneously and 

 flew swiftly to a dead tree a hundred yards away. When the birds 

 settled, every branch of the tree seemed suddenly to be clothed in 

 green and yellow leaves, which stood erect instead of being pendent. 

 On the wing, Budgerigars resemble large butterflies, and a flock in 

 flight is one of the most charming sights I have seen in all my 



