Australian banded stilt's nomadic path tracked for first time

By Nicky Phillips
Updated November 14 2014 - 10:38am, first published October 15 2014 - 2:21pm
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time.  Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time.  Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
The birds can sense that rain has fallen thousands of kilometres away. Photo: Roger Standen
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Mating behaviour relies on rare and shortlived flooding events. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
One bird journeyed more than 2200 kilometres in two and a half days. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time.  Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time.  Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Put a ring on it: banded stilts have been tracked for the first time. Photo: Ben Parkhurst
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen
Banded stilts travel vast distances to breed in desert salt lakes. Photo: Roger Standen

Some people claim to have a sixth sense for inclement weather, but no human can compete with a native Australian waterbird that knows when it has rained thousands of kilometres away.

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