Flights over Lake Eyre

Rick, thank goodness - some sense! And I would expect nothing less from you. When you are out there living amongst the 'excitement' it is so very difficult to make people understand that unless you fly over the Lake you won't really see anything. This goes also for the birds - the pelicans nesting as seen on ABC were not at Lake Eyre and I'm not giving away their location because it is a hatchery and the birds deserve peace and quiet and because it is extremely difficult to get to! These birds will find their way to the Lake eventually.
For those who have been ringing me and asking - there is a sight seeing plane based in Birdsville and in a week or two there will be a helicopter as well (nothing to do with me whatsoever) the contact number is (07) 46563214 for information about cost etc.
Please remember that Birdsville is a long way from Lake Eyre - cost will be a factor. There is plenty to see around the Birdsville/Big Red, Diamantina area though.
When we flew over Lake Eyre from Birdsville - we followed the flooded Diamantina, into the Warburton Groove, south down the Lake, west to William Creek - refuelled - east and followed the Cooper east to a point, turned left before Innamincka to head back to Birdsville and came to a point where the Cooper and the Diamantina were only 30 klms apart. We flew for 5.5 hours and did not see any birds - but I didn't expect to and the pilot was not allowed to fly low over any rookeries. I still can tell you though of the magnificence of the colours in the Lake from pure white to bright blue (like Tahiti waters) and the amazing shapes of the sand beneath the water - the way the light played over the Lake - the enormity of how the water arrived - flying in the middle of the Lake with the cloud formations and the endless sky (or was that Lake?) Stunning - it will be with me for all my life.
(Footnote - because we live so far from the Lake at Birdsville, we chartered and it was expensive, very, but once in a lifetime probably for me, wouldn't have missed it for the world).
Rick, I am a great believer in doing the research (not as thorough as you though, more's the pity) and I am constantly (still) surprised at the number of people who don't read a map, book, look up the internet (I'd rather read a book or ring someone!) and find out about the places they are going to see. They don't know whether they are east or west, north or south - they are missing out on so much.
However you travel - be safe and thoroughly enjoy.

Gidday

To add to the excellent information above, can i say that the ABC's Radio National program Bush Telegraph has been touring outback SA all week including a live broadcast from the shores of Lake Eyre near William Creek on Tuesday and from Marree today. They were at Roxby Downs on Monday, not sure where they were yesterday

The program has been full of useful information and interviews with interesting people, including a pilot who sounded like a good tour guide.

I just heard a professor whose name escapes me give a detailed summary of what is happening bird wise. The commodore of the Lake Eyre Yacht club was also on.

Smarter people than me should be able to find the Radio National website and have a listen.

Cheers


Rocco

Thanks Rick for the information as the chief and I are not far off departing for that area, we had done what we thought was sufficient research, but, it appears like we have a bit more work to do to ensure we enjoy the trip.

Being a photographer I don't want to miss out on too much detail.

Regards