Thousands of brilliant budgerigars are flocking to the Australian outbackthanks to perfect breeding conditions across the country.
Mark Carter, Alice Springs bird watcher and trained zoologist, said that theregion has not had a budgie event this big in 10 years.
“There was an event in 2016 which was localised to certain areas,” Mr Cartersaid
“This event involves huge number of birds across the landscape,” he said.
Mr Carter said it was hard to comprehend how many birds there were out thereat the moment.
“If you do the maths on how many budgies are out there across the landscape,it’s mind-boggling,”
He said that there are a few factors as to why the numbers have exploded.
“It’s a combination of things: We had rain at the perfect time here and theybred up in other parts of Australia and gathered here,” he said.
Mr Carter said that those budgies subsequently have stayed and continued tobreed resulting in extraordinary numbers across the region.
He said that there was an abundance of food thanks to low cattle numbers andthe budgies have “cashed in on that”.
“The amount of grass seed out there has helped.
“I really do think that it was that the fact that the grass wasn’t being eatenstraight away, it was allowed to seed,” he said.
Natural wonders of the world
At dawn, budgies are flocking in their thousands to drink at water holes ordams across the red centre.
“It’s got to be one of the most iconic sights in the outback… one of the greatnatural wonders of the world is these huge budgie flocks,” he said.
Mr Carter said that these parrots were very intelligent were at their mostvulnerable when they were drinking.
“They feel a lot of safety in numbers.
“Any predator that decides to turn up here to try an ambush, [the budgies]have got a real advantage.”
He said that budgies were extremely paranoid.
“They’re in this group, they’re really relying on the birds around them tospot trouble.
“If a bird of prey does come through and give them a fright, they react in theblink of an eye.”
Once the food resources start to dwindle, the numbers of budgies will drop.
“The budgies are just going to move on. They’re going to go and look forpastures new.”
Image: Budgies are at their most vulnerable when drinking in the earlymorning. (ABC Alice Springs: Emma Haskin)
Source: ABC News
Previous 13 largest pet cat populations in Europe 2020, Russia #1
Next Test your baking skills this RSPCA Cupcake Day