Wildlife

Outback Rush

Vast numbers of coastal birds have flocked to Western Australia’s northern desert region after record rains filled some lakes to their highest levels in 30 years.

After noticing in satellite images how much the Outback had been transformed by torrential January rains, wildlife experts launched an aerial survey that found tens of thousands of birds had flown across the country to nest around the new inland sea. One lake was hosting about 90,000 birds.

The coastal birds may not breed for years during dry times in the interior, but appear to have an uncanny ability to sense major rainfall events in the Outback.