There are four races of Splendid Fairy-wrens and while the nominate race splendens is found in SW WA the other three are found in arid country. While camped at Hell Hole Gorge National Park a family of Splendid Fairy-wrens (Malurus splendens melanotus) were resident in the area of our camp site and after a couple of days they became accustomed to our presence and often visited the camp site on their foraging forays. The male in breeding plumage was particularly bold and by luck one morning as we set off on a birding walk he perched and posed for photos.
Please click on photos to enlarge.
The subject ended the portrait photo session - he had the serious business of finding food and living in this challenging environment to get on with.
Hell Hole Gorge NP is remote – to give the reader an idea of how remote, it is 180km by road north from Quilpie, 253km west by mostly dirt road from Charleville and 297km by mostly dirt road south from Blackall. Hell Hole Gorge NP is within the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre catchment. The park is mostly mulga woodland with two significant water courses, Powell Creek and Spencers Creek which join in the park, passing through the park on the way to eventually join Cooper Creek.
The Powell and Spencer creeks have cut deep and scenically impressive gorges through ancient rocks where permanent water holes provide an oasis for water dependent species. So the environment in the park is very arid and often extremely harsh, especially during summer, and yet small birds such as Splendid Fairy-wrens can live here - their insectivorous diet provides all the moisture they require, they do not need water, even during summer – their adaption to life here is truly impressive.
No comments:
Post a Comment