Lord Howe Island Birds

This is a Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
"Has been breeding here now for about 20 years, over the last 10 years their numbers have exploded almost to becoming a pest. Not a good bird to have in your garden they will eat anything."

Birds are fascinating on the island. Because of the size of the island there were no large vertebrates hence quite a few species of ground birds. With the plundering of many of these by whalers, feral pigs and cats and rats many of these have been lost forever. These threats have now been eradicated so the remaining bird populations are growing. Clive, our tour guide yesterday said he was involved in the eradication of the pigs; they killed 185. At the time 'authorities' said it couldn't be done but the then New South Wales Premier, Neville Wran, said if the locals believe they can do it then I will back them.

We were to go for a boat trip today but it was cancelled as we were the only booking, we heard that another trip this morning was also cancelled as there were only two people booked; a pity they didn't work together and combined the two as the next trip is after we come home. (Apparently they would have run with four.)

Enjoy your weekend!