Debbie Wortland is an inspiration and a reminder that citizen-scientists can make significant contributions, even with an endangered species. Her obsession (her word) with Swift Parrots Lathamus discolor, a species that breeds in Tasmania and migrates each year to mainland Australia and is listed as Endangered by BirdLife International, led to some interesting observations and now a 25-minute DVD, Swift Parrots of Muckleford.
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
Thank you so much for this Corey!
Sorry to be pedantic but Tasmania is Australia – it is an island state. The Swift Parrots migrate to the mainland.
Thanks Corey, i appreciate your kind words. The Swifties have returned to Muckleford again this year, approx 11th year in a row. This morning there were approx 40 Swift Parrots feeding in Grey Box, Sugar Gum and the Ironbarks are just starting to flower. HEY!!!!
@Brenton: No problem.
@Marj Kibby: You are absolutely correct and the post has been updated. I’m not sure how I did that…
@Debbie Worland: No problem. Thanks for all the good work you do!