yowiebrother wrote:It was almost dark, and my mate was looking into the pitch black of the bush in front of us and saying how he though he could see little 'pin pricks' of light coming and going…
When all of a sudden, from quite far in the bush, something big took off at a super fast speed…
only to see what looked like a running hunched figure disappear behind a tree. It all happened so fast and this thing was running and made louder than human steps or thuds as it past us.
G’day Don,
Thanks for your report.
Regarding the photo of the damaged tree (IMG 8097), was there any “unusual” indication that the damage could have been made by teeth or claws, assuming that cockatoos, or other animals, weren’t responsible?
Do you think that the “pin pricks” of light might have been eyeshine? If so, did your mate comment on any observed colour or height?
We often saw small, singular, red / orange points of light in the bush for about a decade before we became yowie aware. During that time, we thought that we were seeing cigarette glows from local children, because the height seemed consistently correct and would occasionally intensify and/or change colour, as if a cigarette was being inhaled. The only problem was that we tended to observe these cigarette “glows” (reflections) regardless of the weather and for many years.
Also, we could not resolve two eyes at that distance, until we started using night vision binoculars. In any case, unless you are close, the eyes appear as one because they dilate to a very large diameter and with an interpupillary distance (IPD) similar to ours, it makes it extremely difficult to resolve the two eyes.
Interestingly, a healthy adult human pupil will dilate to about 9 mm when fully night adapted. That is equal to 62 square mm per eye. If the maximum dilation of a dooligahl is 30 mm, then this is equal to an area of 707 square mm, which is 11.4 times greater. Regardless of any other special night vision adaptations, that is a considerable optical advantage. Must turn night into day!
Can you estimate the km/h speed of movement when it “took off at a super fast speed”? The “run past” seems to be a typical intimidatory response.
Disappearing by stopping behind a tree, bush, depression or other obstruction is also a typical stealth behaviour although, for the casual witness, this might be interpreted as “vanishing”?
The foot thumping is also very interesting. From the coastal regions of NSW, I have been told that this behaviour is called “burminsticka” by a tribe, which seems to mean, “strikes the ground”. Clearly, it is used mostly as a warning to keep away but, in unique circumstances, it is used to gain attention. Another possibility is “this is how big and powerful I am?” which seems to require an implied response! Interestingly, all Australasian marsupial macropods “foot thump”, for a variety of behavioural and environmental reasons.
The height that you indicated would again suggest that it was a dooligahl (do you know the West Australian indigenous name?) Regarding the colour, as Ian would say, “everything appears grey at night, actually, it’s sepia.”
Following is another common behaviour. They rarely track directly from behind, even when there is a well established trail. Typically, it is a flanking movement from behind. In addition to the predatory pursuit, the burminsticka tends to get things moving along even quicker.
I have enjoyed comparing the many similarities between Eastern and Western dooligahl. Interesting that they seem similar physically and behaviourally. Opportunities for these comparisons don’t present that often. Thanks very much.
Neil
do you know what area the farm is in? 
