290 CHURCH, Birds of Burketown, N. Old. [ 7ap?“ u 
Birds Observed at Burketown, North 
Queensland 
P,y A. E. CHURCH, E.R.G.S., R.A.O.U. 
To the bird lover, Burketown presents a very depressing pic¬ 
ture ; built on the banks of the Albert River, about 40 miles from 
the Gulf of Carpentaria. Flat sandy plains stretch as far as 
the eye can see in every direction. The low fringe of mangroves 
that line the winding banks of the Albert give the only touch of 
colour to this apparently desolate country. 
I journeyed here from Thursday Island on the “Kalatina” in 
'November last year. This district is one that gives small scope 
for compiling a large list of birds, but it can at least offer one 
feature of interest. The migratory birds use these vast plains 
as camping grounds during their long and arduous flights to 
and from their northern homes. 
On first acquaintance these vast plains appear to be entirely 
devoid of bird life. I have ridden many miles and not seen even a 
bush or tree that might offer a shelter to our feathered friends. 
I was perhaps unlucky in timing my arrival, for a long drought 
had left the sandy plains burnt and bare. Not a vestige of green 
broke the glare of the fierce sun on the parched ground. 
It was not until December (after the first rain fell) that 1 
had an opportunity of noting in my diary more than half a dozen 
specimens. Perhaps the commonest bird is the graceful Brolga, 
or Native Companion. These rnay.be seen in fairly large flocks 
along the river bank. Hawks and Falcons also are common, and 
act in the useful capacity of scavengers around the few houses 
that form what was, I believe, once a prosperous town. 
A small lagoon about six miles away proved my most fertile 
hunting-ground, and here I noted many of the birds on my list. 
Often 1 have crept on all fours for hundreds of yards in the 
vain hope of securing a photograph of a flock of Brolgas or 
White Ibises, but the absolute lack of cover (the lagoon could 
only boast a scant dozen shrubs and trees) must be my excuse 
for the absence of pictorial record with these notes. 
An artesian bore with its attendant “drain” gave me an oppor¬ 
tunity to observe some of the smaller birds; but, alas! I must 
admit that Burketown cannot be classed among the districts rich 
in bird life. 
Rain at the end of December soon covered the bare plains with 
long waving grass, and almost immediately my note book was 
called into use. In January heavy rains caused a flood, and for 
many miles the flat, low-lying plains became a huge inland sea. 
It was then that I noticed several of the sea birds mentioned in 
my list. 
Geopelia placida. Peaceful Dove. — I noted a pair of these flying 
among the mangroves on the banks of the river, but was unable to 
locate a nest, and concluded they had travelled farther inland. 
