I believe it is Gum Swamp, rather than
"Gunns Swamp". Over several years back, I
have been astounded at the number of pigeons that inhabit the trees in the lake.
Good falcon food. Whether that is five years or 15 years I am not sure but it is
my usual impression, as well as all the waterbirds there. I have been there many
times over the past 20 or more years during my many travels from Brisbane to
Melbourne or Canberra or Warrumbungles or just Forbes or whatever.
Philip
-----Original Message----- From:
Bob & Sadhana Cook <> To:
Birding-aus <> Date:
Thursday, 23 May 2002 19:51 Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Gunns
Swamp
We are on a trip through Central NSW to Qld and
stopped at about 4.00 p.m. yesterday at Gunns Swamp just south of Forbes
in NSW. Highlights were perhaps 20 Pink-eared Ducks and at least 6
Freckled Ducks.
Also of note was the abundance, maybe 200, Feral
Pigeons occupying most of the dead trees across the water. I
remember visiting here about 5 years ago and seeing the same trees
literally dripping with Cormorants, Darters, Ducks and Egrets. This
time we saw only a single Cormorant, no Darters and no Egrets.
Is
anyone else aware of whether this is a total "taking over" by the
pigeons or is the abundance of one and absence of the others just a
coincidence??
Bob Cook
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