Durikai State Forest sightings

Same rules as for past seasons i.e. sightings anywhere within a 250 km radius of Toowoomba, but excluding the local survey area (see above), for the period 1 Mar - 31 May 2008.

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Wes & Norma Sturdee
Posts: 86
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:43 pm

Durikai State Forest sightings

Post by Wes & Norma Sturdee »

A recent outing to Durikai State Forest produced the following:-
White-winged Chough
Noisy Friarbird
Noisy Miner
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
Dusky Woodswallow
Striated Pardalote
Fuscous Honeyeater
Eastern Yellow Robin
Weebill
Speckled Warbler
Golden Whistler
Diamond Firetail
Jacky Winter
Wedge-tailed Eagle
It also produced 2 very itchy and uncomfortable bird observers for the following two weeks, either from bites from sandflies or very tiny ticks. Has anyone else had this experience there recently?
Sandra
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:55 am
Location: Yeronga, Brisbane

Scrub itch

Post by Sandra »

You may have had scrub itch. Is is caused by the bite of a small
mite. The larvae are on vegetation and drop onto clothing then
scramble to secluded areas or high perspiration zones of the body. It
is usually found in wetter areas though, such as rainforests.
Favourite sites for bites are armpits, groin, and lower torso. Red
itchy lumps keep coming up over a few days as the mite relocates.
After a few days of feeding the larva drop off. The itch persists for
up to 2 weeks and increases with perspiration. Does this sound like
it? My husband and I had a good dose of it recently after Mt
Glorious, which was dry at the time.
Cheers Sandra
Wes & Norma Sturdee
Posts: 86
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:43 pm

Scrub ticks

Post by Wes & Norma Sturdee »

Sounds spot on, Sandra, many thanks for your reply.
We've never heard of it previously, but will certainly remember it now!
As you mentioned, it is normally found in wetter areas than Durakai, but the forest had apparently had recent rain as there were quite large pools of water everywhere and normally dry gullies were full. Will take better precautions in future such as spraying ourselves with Aerogard etc. and hope for the best.
Cheers, Wes & Norma
Sandra
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:55 am
Location: Yeronga, Brisbane

Scrub Itch

Post by Sandra »

This is an article I found when doing a Google search re the topic. For all rainforest walks we spray around our boots and sox up to the knees with Aerogard and try not to touch the vegetation , which is naturally difficult.
For the bites we use Aqium, which is an alcoholic hand wash found in pharmacies. I carry a small bottle in my backpack. Don't just spot the red lumps, apply to the whole area as the larvae seem to spread quickly!!
It was dry at Mt Glorious and so we were not careful enough, and suffered for the next 2 weeks.

.://..sgapqld.org.au/article39.html

Cheers Sandra
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