By THOMAS O'BYRNE
March 15, 2013, midnight
NOBODY is completely sure why the threatened Malleefowl is showing signs of resurgence according to Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group secretary Ross Macfarlane, but this bird-buff has a theory of his own.
Mr Macfarlane said the recovery group, which annually monitors the nesting sites of the local bird, had recorded dramatic increases in its population across the past 12 months.
"It's quite extraordinary," he said.
"We've had reports of people who have seen up to 88 [Malleefowl] counted along a 10km stretch of road."
Mr Macfarlane said an upcoming presentation in Ouyen by Malleefowl authority Dr Joe Benshemesh would likely shed more light on the increase in bird sightings, but that hasn't stopped the feather-fanatic from putting forward a theory of his own.
"My speculation is that along with dry winter there was good soil moisture, so the birds have had a good few seasons," he said.
For more on this story, see Friday’s edition of The Guardian (15/03/13).
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