Bureau bombs out again on Nino

The rains are starting to abate on what was another stellar wet season. Despite the BOM’s prediction of an El Nino, the NT and almost the entire north of Australia received “highest on record”, “very much above average” or “above average rainfall” for the months critical to magpie goose habitat of December through to March.

Jo Laverty asked me the question in an interview to mark the start of the 2023 waterfowl hunting season if I was concerned about the BOM’s prediction for future seasons, and I replied at the time that in my 30 years’ experience, every time the BOM predicted an El Nino the Top End received a drenching.

And so it was again.

The Top End has been blessed recently, having few if any cyclones cross the mainland coast in recent years and none of any destructive force, albeit Groote Eylandt had some damage this year.

Despite this the rainfall has been spectacular.

The wetlands that stretch to the horizons are now full and the goose factory will be in full production with nesting.

The hay and crop farmers of the Douglas Daly region will soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief when the magpie geese that have been decimating their fields move to the swamps.

The ABC Rural NT Country Hour had a special feature on the damage that tens of thousands of geese were doing to those crops and the enormous effort the staff had to put in to move them on.

I was down that way in early March and I saw up to 40,000 geese in the paddocks.

It may be time to forget about the aerial goose survey, save some money and just set the season and bag limit at four months long, seven geese and 10 ducks.

NT Field and Game have the Blaser 75tgt Sim Field event from 8am on Sunday. All are welcome.