In North Queensland this week people have been looking expectantly into the sky for welcome arrivals . Not Santa and his reindeers- flocks of Torres Pied Imperial Pigeons which have flown down from places as far away as Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and possibly the Territory. Longtime environment activist , natural history educator and benefactor, Ms Margaret Thorsborne , and her late husband, began counting the birds back in the 196os. The birds come in waves during the months of October to December to nest in the most southern colony , the Brook Islands , north east of Hinchinbrook Island.
In November the count was 21,500; the count for this month ,organised by Queensland wildlife rangers , had to be delayed until next month because rough weather prevented a barge from reaching North Brook Island.
There are believed to be about 95 colonies of the pigeons between Cooktown and the tip of Cape York . In earlier days the birds were in much larger numbers, over 100,00 in some colonies, but many were shot for food.
Little Darwin this year entertained a friend from Magnetic Island who has taken part in pigeon counts . Through her , a bird carer, we were introduced to a Wampoo Pigeon, probably from PNG , she nursed back to health . She got us involved in protecting fabulous Curlews and their vulnerable chicks and, of course, Torres Pigeons. At her request , we made contact with Ms Thorsborne , recipient of the Queensland Natural History Award for 2006. As this writer had a Pied Imperial Pigeon nest close to his front door until two weeks ago, there has been much bird watching . The nest is a bare platform of sticks ,usually for one egg. According to Ms Thorsborne, birds nesting on North Brook Island usually take turns to fly to the mainland to get food and bring it back .
The observation has been made that some of Darwin’s pigeons seem to spend all year here, rather than make long migration flights like the ones seen in Queensland.
In November the count was 21,500; the count for this month ,organised by Queensland wildlife rangers , had to be delayed until next month because rough weather prevented a barge from reaching North Brook Island.
There are believed to be about 95 colonies of the pigeons between Cooktown and the tip of Cape York . In earlier days the birds were in much larger numbers, over 100,00 in some colonies, but many were shot for food.
Little Darwin this year entertained a friend from Magnetic Island who has taken part in pigeon counts . Through her , a bird carer, we were introduced to a Wampoo Pigeon, probably from PNG , she nursed back to health . She got us involved in protecting fabulous Curlews and their vulnerable chicks and, of course, Torres Pigeons. At her request , we made contact with Ms Thorsborne , recipient of the Queensland Natural History Award for 2006. As this writer had a Pied Imperial Pigeon nest close to his front door until two weeks ago, there has been much bird watching . The nest is a bare platform of sticks ,usually for one egg. According to Ms Thorsborne, birds nesting on North Brook Island usually take turns to fly to the mainland to get food and bring it back .
The observation has been made that some of Darwin’s pigeons seem to spend all year here, rather than make long migration flights like the ones seen in Queensland.
