4 
The Queensland Naturalist February, 1934 
’eighties, there were good seasons. In those times there 
were numerous large creeks, fifty and sixty miles in 
length, heading away back into high ranges, where many 
springs helped to replenish the water supply. These creeks 
were mostly a chain of large, deep waterholes, covered 
with purple water lilies. Round the holes grew large 
paper-bark or Melaleuca trees, their drooping branches 
overhanging the water. From the ends of these branches 
that rare little honey-eater, ‘ ‘ Gliciphila fasciata ,” sus- 
pended their large domed nests, composed of shreds of 
paper-bark. 
Away from the creeks were large swamps which were 
practically permanent, and for the greater part of the 
year were covered with tall rushes. These swamps were 
the home of thousands of waterfowl. All kinds of ducks, 
cormorants, ibis, spoonbills, herons, native companions, 
bald-coots, coots, grebes, and many other smaller birds, 
such as landrail and crakes, bred there. 
Land birds, too, were numerous. In the long grass 
on the flats near the creeks, finches, such as the plum- 
head, chestnut-breasted, zebra, or chestnut-eared, were 
in hundreds. The good seasons caused the trees to bloom 
freely, and there were nearly always some kind in bloom. 
Honey-parrots screeched and fought in thousands 
in the eucalypts, while honey-eaters of many kinds 
added their voices to the din. As the seeds ripened on 
the eucalypts, large flocks of Banks’ black cockatoos 
feasted on the nuts. 
In those days the bush was a babel of bird notes. 
Sit beside a small waterhole anywhere, and observe the 
numbers of birds coming to drink. One was never lonely 
in the bush, there was so much of interest. 
Now this is all changed- Gone are the large flocks 
of birds, and in their place only odd specimens (or none 
at all 'l will be observed. 
What is the cause of this calamity? We have not 
far to seek. There are two main factors — “Man, and 
Nature.’’ Of these two factors. T think we must place 
man first; or should T say “civilized man,” for man in- 
terfered with nature. You are. all aware that when the 
first white man landed in Australia it was peopled by 
blacks. All over Australia they were divided into groups 
or tribes, and each group had a certain amount of terri- 
tory over which to wander in providing for their needs. 
To go beyond their boundary meant death. Therefore 
it was essential the tribe was limited to a certain number, 
and means were taken to prevent over population. What 
