Western
Red Survey
The
south west corner of Ethabuka
Reserve is incredible: isolated and beautiful. We will be using this trek to conduct a
comprehensive bird survey for Birds Australia and to locate stands of the culturally
important narcotic Pituri bush (Duboisia hopwoodii).
Pituri from this part of the Simpson Desert was highly prized and traded by the
traditional owners. Our survey efforts in 2010 were instrumental in locating large groves
of the fabled plant.
The
south west of Ethabuka is poorly surveyed and our intended traverse will cover country
that has rarely, if ever been visited in the last 150 years. The trek will pass from east
to west over the red dunes (average height 11 metres) and although we are travelling
'against the grain' of the land, the camels should have no trouble negotiating the dune
field. Due to prevailing winds, the western face of a dune is the steep side, and the
cameleers will have to pick their way carefully to find suitable crossing points. This
large dune field was burnt by wildfire in 2002 and is an area of utmost interest. Data
gathered on this trek will be catalogued by Birds Australia, who have been surveying other
parts of Ethabuka in recent years.
BHA Ecologist Max Tischler (right) takes
measurements of a pituri bush
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The trek
will finish at the Field River near the reserve boundary. This small (dry) river is
heavily timbered with eucalypt and will make a welcome change from the red dune fields.
The Field River flooded in 2010 and our ecologists intend to document the resulting
rejuvenation of this small but important desert river ecosystem.
Trek Details
Difficulty: 4 3 (2 Moderate) 1
Dates: July 25 to August 9 2011 - survey
completed
Total days: 16
Trekking days: 12
Further
information...
Departure point: Brisbane
Finish point: Brisbane
Tour price:AUD$5767 per person
Repeat trekker price: AUD$5478
Cameleers: Andrew Harper, Christy Van Der
Heyden, Andrea Hennings, Shaun Young, Sean Micallef
Survey ecologists: Jen Silcock, University of
Queensland/Queensland Herbarium: Anthony Molyneux, Alice Springs Desert Park
  
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to 2011 Program
Time frame not quite right? Looking for
something more challenging? The camels used on this survey are owned by the Outback Camel
Company who operate longer, more remote treks & expeditions in August and September in
Queensland and the Northern Territory. www.camelexpeditions.com
Along the Field River
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