BIRDS CAUSING PROBLEMS IN AUSTRALIA’S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY SHOULD BE KEPT IN CHECK
WELL the verdict is in. For the third year in a row the magpie goose is the most seen bird in NT backyards followed by red collared lorikeets and little corellas.
Then how is that so that the scientists believe the magpie goose is in such decline in the Territory? Some may say that the amateur birdwatcher only sees big birds and they are easily recognisable. But the lorikeets are so small and the corellas could be mistaken for sulphur crested cockatoos if that was the case.
One thing is common to all of them and that is that they are all problems for horticulture.
The magpie geese and corellas damage melons and mangoes. The lorikeets are a pest on rambutan crops. That is how well all these birds have adapted to agricultural development in Australia.
When I was a young boy back in the 70s the only place I ever saw rainbow lorikeets was Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Now they are in the top three birds recognised in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count everywhere but the ACT and Tassie.
My hunting mates around Australia frequently send me photos and videos of magpie geese in all other states. Birds are on the move and breeding in droves everywhere due to a combination of better farming practices, greater supply of stored water and conservation efforts by groups like Field and Game Australia among others.
Hopefully the propeller heads will accept citizen scientists’ report and understand we are more attuned to waterfowl populations in Australia than they are, simply because we care more.
I got a little exotic last weekend watching the cricket and made up some goose tender pakoras. They are the ideal snack between sessions. I used goose tenders but any goose breast strips will work. Get a pack of Gits Pakora Mix from the NT Oriental Emporium and follow the instructions. I added a dessert spoon of brown sugar and a fair shake of Mexican chilli powder to the mix. This spiced and sweetened the batter. Dip the goose strips and any vegie pieces you have into the batter and deep fry. They go with red/white wine and especially cold beer off ice. That’s the way to watch cricket. In the words of the King, “Merry, merry Christmas Baby, you sure did treat me nice”.
Friday practice at NT Field and Game is finished for the year and will resume on January 12 with the first competition 50T event on Sunday, January 21 from 8am.