Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast Floodwaters are filling Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, creating rare outback spectacle
May 20, 2025
In this discussion, river ecologist Richard Kingsford sheds light on the rare phenomenon of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre filling with water for only the fourth time in 160 years. He shares fascinating insights on the cascade of ecological transformations, as floods breathe life into the desert, attracting migratory birds and reviving plant life. Kingsford also explores the complex signals of bird migration in response to environmental cues, and emphasizes the urgent need for conservation of vulnerable river ecosystems in the face of climate change.
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Slow Floodwaters Trigger Bird Feast
- The flood's water moves slowly, sometimes you can walk in front of it.
- Water birds feast on terrestrial animals erupting from dry cracks as the landscape transforms.
Birds Detect Floods Remotely
- Migratory water birds likely detect storm events using air pressure and conduct reconnaissance flights.
- They use a stepping stone approach flying between wet areas, following floods to feed and breed.
Life Dormancy in Dry Floodplains
- Microscopic crustacean eggs and plant seeds lie dormant in dry floodplains.
- When water returns, these tiny life forms hatch rapidly and start an ecological frenzy.