The Rainbow Bird
Volume 5 Number 2 May 2016 (Issue 86)
YOUR RAINBOW BIRD PRINTED
COPY
For many years the Rainbow Bird newsletter has been
produced four times a year, usually in February, May,
August and November. We are now up to issue 86.
Prior to February 2008 the printed newsletter was produced
in black and white with no photographs. It was duplicated
for our club at no cost by MADEC. As technology advanced
we moved into producing an extended newsletter with colour
photographs.
With the amalgamation of BOCA and Birds Australia into
BirdLife Australia there was a requirement to produce our
newsletter in a format consistent with all other branches.
BirdLife Australia produced the templates that we now
follow.
It is a colourful format which is expensive to
reproduce. Until 2013 our newsletter was printed at no
charge in full colour by MADEC. In 2013 MADEC informed us
they could no longer print our news letter for free.
To continue to produce our newsletter our club purchased a
colour printer so we could do our own printing. The cost of
producing the newsletter has increased as the length of the
newsletter and the number of colour photographs has
increased. Members have indicated that they enjoy the
increased use of colour photographs.
Contents
1.
Your Rainbow Bird Printed Copy
At the moment we need to replace the toners in the printer
at least twice per year. This is a cost in excess of $800.
Add to that the cost of paper ($20 p.a.) and postage ($80
p.a.)
2.
Thegoa Lagoon Outing
3.
Barmera, Lake Bonney, Kingston Outing
4.
Allan Taylor's Older Photos
I would like the club to consider producing an electronic
(email) copy only. I know the committee will be considering
this at their next meeting, but this newsletter will be
produced before their opinion is known.
5.
A Surprise Outing
6.
A Trip to New Zealand
7.
What Bird is This?
We have several members who do not have an email
account so how do we cater for them?
8.
Birds at Puddles
For those with access to a computer we could use a USB
stick that they could view and copy the newsletter and then
return the USB at a meeting ready for the next issue.
9.
That Elusive Bird
10. Kestrels
Those without email or access to a computer may be able to
give us an email address of a friend or colleague who is
prepared to download/print a copy for them.
If none of these work a copy is always available on the
BirdLife Australia website (Mildura page) which can be
viewed for free at any library.
Len Jeffers
11. Birding in the Summer
12. Emus
13. Interesting Sightings
14. Club Calendar
BirdLife Mildura
The Rainbow Bird
P. O. Box 1722, Mildura, VIC 3502
Editor: Rae Jeffers, [email protected]
The Rainbow Bird
THEGOA LAGOON OUTING – FEBRUARY 7TH, 2016
A small number of members gathered at the Bike Hub at
8.00 am in the warm, clear sunshine, to travel to Lock 10 to
meet up with Leader Col Stewart. The numbers swelled at
the lock to 17, more than the number of inactive pelicans
perching on the railings of the lock. Apart from the idle
pelicans there were several cormorants, also inactive,
numerous Tree Martins flitting everywhere, a single Darter
and a Pacific Black Duck - not much bird life on the river
really.
we could see a wooden stick structure out in the water. Col
informed us that it was a "fish hotel" which provides a
refuge for fish. There are at least four of them in the lagoon
at various positions.
Col led the convoy to Thegoa Lagoon. The lagoon had
received environmental water some time ago but at this
point it had dried out considerably.
However at the first bird hide Col led us to there was plenty
of water and a good number of water birds. Young Yellowbilled Spoonbill perched in the dead trees opposite.
Australasian Grebe, Eurasian Coot, and Pacific Black Duck
were on the water.
Two Hoary-headed Grebe and a
Hardhead were added to the list. Closer examination of the
ducks on the water revealed two Pink-eared Duck, a first
sighting for Luka, and several Little Pied Cormorant. Three
Black-fronted Dotterels flew noisily over our heads and two
Black-winged Stilt fed along the water's edge.
In the surrounding black box and red gum were Red-rumped
Parrots, Brown Tree-creeper, Crimson (Yellow) Rosella and
White-plumed Honeyeaters to name a few. Also at this hide
As the convoy moved on we passed the second hide but the
water had receded from that area so Col selected an area
near a vine block to have morning tea. As everyone was
settling in the shade 13 Darters could be seen circling
overhead making use of a thermal to gain height. The bush
was alive with birds at this point. Over 20 Little Friarbirds
were seen plus 5 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Red
Wattlebirds, Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Noisy Miners, Striped
Honeyeaters and Australian Ringnecks. Most of the birds
kept flying back and forth from the black box trees to the
vines laden with grapes. The Little Friarbirds appeared to be
eating the grapes, however the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes
flew just above the vines hawking insects. On one occasion
a Little Friarbird was seen bashing a caterpillar on a branch.
The remainder of the lagoon was dry as we slowly followed it
around to return to the lock. We passed several large
patches of Darling lilies in full bloom - a wonderful sight.
As the day was forecast to reach 40°C most called it a day
when we returned to the lock and thanked Col for leading
the outing so capably.
Rae Jeffers
Sightings: 47 Species
Australian Wood Duck
Pink-eared Duck
Pacific Black Duck
Hardhead
Australasian Grebe
Hoary-headed Grebe
Rock Dove
Crested Pigeon
Australasian Darter
Little Pied Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Little Black Cormorant
2
The Rainbow Bird
Australian Pelican
Australian White Ibis
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Whistling Kite
Nankeen Kestrel
Eurasian Coot
Masked Lapwing
Silver Gull
Galah
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Rainbow Lorikeet
Crimson Rosella
Australian Ringneck
Welcome Swallow
Tree Martin
Blue Bonnet
Red-rumped Parrot
Laughing Kookaburra
Rainbow Bee-eater
Brown Treecreeper
Weebill
Striated Pardalote
Singing Honeyeater
White-plumed Honeyeater
Noisy Miner
Yellow-throated Miner
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Grey Shrike-thrush
Grey Butcherbird
Pied Butcherbird
Australian Magpie
Willie Wagtail
Australian Raven
Magpie-lark
The Rainbow Bird
BARMERA, LAKE BONNEY, KINGSTON OUTING – APRIL 8TH TO 10TH, 2016
Banrock Station Section:
Those of us staying at Lake Bonney Discovery Park met at
8.30 am for the 15 minute drive to Banrock Winery. We
spent some time waiting in the car park to confirm our
numbers. The Woods, based at Kingston, joined us as did
Ian & Brian from SA Field Naturalists who acted as guides
with local knowledge.
Peter and Rhonda Barrand from
Heywood, friends with club members, also joined us and
contributed their birding knowledge.
We proceeded through the Banrock Visitor Centre to begin
the Mallee to Valley trail, through dry lightly wooded country
and along a creek gully; bird sightings were sparse initially.
This then led on to the Boardwalk at the north end of the
wetland. There was a good level of water as a result of an
environmental filling.
"…a wetland complex …which has been recognised of
international importance …under the Ramsar Convention …";
"…subject to an ongoing environmental restoration program
by a commercial organisation which manages the wetlands
and promotes ecologically sustainable land use practices …";
"…In 2002 ..received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation
Award in recognition of its conservation efforts …"; "In 1992
a program began to restore the natural hydrological regime
of alternate wetting and drying cycles that the wetlands had
before locks and weirs were installed …"; "…it supports
several regionally threatened animals, including the
southern bell frog, Regent Parrot and river snail …provides
habitat seasonally …offers a route for fish migrating around
Lock 3 on the Murray …provides spawning and nursery
habitats …"; (from Wikipedia).
There were common waterbirds such as Black Swans,
Eurasian Coots, Dusky Moorhens, Pacific Black Ducks, Little
Pied Cormorants and some smaller scrub birds.
We went along the boardwalk to the Shelduck Hide and
spent some time there viewing and photographing. We
retraced our steps and went around to the Black Swan Hide
on the west side of the wetlands. There was a distant
sighting of a Musk Duck and various other ducks. Overall
our sightings increased with the many "eyes" and experience
of our group and in total 39 species were sighted (see list).
We returned to the Visitor Centre for a light lunch and
socialisation (some indulged in a glass of the local product).
The weather conditions were pleasant being sunny and mild.
Sightings, while not out of the ordinary were sufficient to be
interesting. The walk took 2 ½ hours and we covered about
5 km.
"…the first internationally important wetland to be
designated in SA that is entirely located on private land ….It
is now one of only 20 sites in the lower River Murray that
has been returned to a near-natural water cycle …";
"..floodplain wetlands …dominated by lignum & sedge with
expanses of open water.
Adjoining …open mallee box
woodland community …provides habitat for a breeding
population of the vulnerable regent parrot. Approximately
159 bird species …have been observed at the site. During
dry periods the swamp acts as a drought refuge." (Aust Gov
Department of Environment website)
Some background information on Banrock (from various web
sources):
"What are Ramsar wetlands? ….a wide variety of natural &
human-made habitat types ….wetlands include swamps,
marshes, billabongs, lakes, salt marshes, mudflats,
mangroves, coral reefs, fens, peat bogs, or bodies of water
– natural or artificial, permanent or temporary. …static or
flowing, fresh, brackish or saline …" (Aust Gov Department
of Environment website)
Alasdair Campbell
Sightings: 39 Species
Black Swan 6
Pacific Black Duck 3
Grey Teal 15
Chestnut Teal 4
Musk Duck 1
Australasian Grebe 4
Hoary-headed Grebe 4
Little Black Cormorant 5
Little Pied Cormorant 1
Great Egret 2
Noisy Miner 5
Yellow-throated Miner 4
White-plumed Honeyeater 5
Striped Honeyeater 1
Little Friarbird 2
Striated Pardalote 2
Weebill 3
Grey Butcherbird 3
Pied Butcherbird 1
Australian Magpie 1
White-faced Heron 2
Australian White Ibis 4
Whistling Kite 1
Australasian Swamphen 2
Dusky Moorhen 2
Eurasian Coot 20
Crested Pigeon 2
Little Corella 2
Crimson Rosella (Yellow) 8
Mulga Parrot 2
Willie Wagtail 1
Grey Fantail 1
Magpie-lark 2
Restless Flycatcher 1
Australian Raven 1
White-winged Chough 5
Welcome Swallow 6
Australian Reed-Warbler 1
Little Grassbird 1
May 2016
3
The Rainbow Bird
Hart Lagoon Section:
An attractive area for bird watchers this one! Where is it?
Close to the riverfront near Waikerie, and adjacent to the
Waikerie Caravan Park. We had been alerted to the fact
that the lagoon had seen environmental flows recently, by
Chris Lill from the Riverland Field Naturalists Inc, who had
visited the area with her group. Hart Lagoon has a managed
wetting and drying cycle as part of the ecological function of
the wetland, and many water birds were taking advantage of
the wetting cycle during our visit.
I found the Australasian Shoveler's behaviour intriguing.
Dabbling, with head underwater, orange legs and powerful
feet scrabbling in the air, without completely submerging,
and more active than I had ever seen them. And more of
them!
We have generally only counted the odd pair among other
ducks on our outings and surveys and they were far less
active.
Those serious bills with their lamellae hair like structures on
the inside, described as acting like a whale’s baleen, lets
them filter the water from the side of their bill, and keep the
food inside.
The wetting/drying cycle helps the preferred menu of small
invertebrates, some plants, and insects in the fertile mud.
These ducks occur in the South East and South West of
Australia, and Tasmania as well as New Zealand. This year
they are a protected species during the duck shooting
season in Australia. A protection which may have operated
in the past, was a common name in usage by our colonial
forefathers, "Stinker", a reference to their culinary
characteristics.
Sightings: 21 Species
Australian Wood Duck 25
Australasian Shoveler 15
Pink-eared Duck 120
Australian White Ibis 6
Straw-necked Ibis 5
Brown Goshawk 1
Australasian Swamphen 4
Eurasian Coot 40
Black-winged Stilt 60
Red-necked Avocet 240
Black-fronted Dotterel 4
Silver Gull 4
Latham named them the "New Holland Shoveller" in 1801.
They were renamed the "Australasian Shoveller", but lost an
"L" in 1926. No one seems to know why.
The newly split Black-winged Stilt species was in good
numbers.
Peter and Rhonda Barrand, (described as
Travelling Twitchers on their business card), who were
accompanying us, alerted us to the division. The Blackwinged Stilt which occurs in Australia, will now be known as
the White-headed Stilt. The Asian version will be known as
the Black-winged Stilt. Anything in between will be damned
hard for even really experienced bird watchers to ID they
told me!
The other quite large groups, (colonies, rafts, or as a certain
gentleman in the club calls them "bloody great mobs"?),
consisted of Pink-eared Duck and Red-necked Avocet, who
were also feeding enthusiastically.
Hart Lagoon has provided a great feeding ground for water
birds for the last 10 years, with their managed wetting and
drying cycle. Project officer Emily Hoffmann from South
Australian
Murray-Darling
Basin
Natural
Resources
Management Board, wrote that the cycle, "aerates the soil,
encourages the germination of emergent and dry wetlands
bed vegetation and consolidates wetland bed sediments".
She also said that, "Drying a wetland may also be used as a
Carp management strategy, as many large Carp can be
trapped in the wetlands at this time". They are a species
there is no joy in seeing!
Evelyn Williams
Caspian Tern 1
Galah 2
Crimson Rosella (Yellow) 6
Red Wattlebird 1
White-breasted Woodswallow 1
Pied Butcherbird 2
Australian Magpie 1
Little Grassbird 1
Common Starling 40
Dinner on the River
While most of us on the Riverland weekend took accommodation at the Barmera Caravan Park, Doug, Betty and Chris Woods
had previously stayed in accommodation at Kingston-on-Murray. We were pleased they hired it again, as they generously
hosted us Saturday evening.
Sightings at dinner:
Australasian Darter 2
Australian Pelican 5
Peregrine Falcon 1
Regent Parrot 4
4
The Rainbow Bird
The Rainbow Bird
Loch Luna Cruises, Kingston-on-Murray
Our small group from Mildura departed for a cruise from
Kingston-on-Murray along the Murray to Lock Luna, a game
reserve, aboard the little flat-bottomed M.V. Lock Luna, in
glorious sunshine with Carl, an avid "birdo" as captain.
The short section on the Murray had big groups, up to 250,
of Little Black Cormorants and up to 100 Great Cormorants
flying overhead frequently from their feeding grounds at
Lake Bonney. As Lock 3 came into view dead trees, created
85 years ago by the establishnent of the lock, made side
wetlands where pelicans, Darters, cormorants and swans
took refuge.
Island which has 4 species of snake including the Murray
Darling python.
Here we encountered Sulphur-crested
Cockatoos with a few Little Corellas just before we navigated
a narrow channel between dead trees which were festooned
like Christmas bells with Little Black Cormorants.
Following narrow waterways covered with red, yellow and
green water weeds and fringed with reeds we crossed into
Chambers Creek which would take you to Lake Bonney, if
you had had another 3 hours or more! This area is a game
reserve and gun shots were heard as duck hunting season
was still on.
In a group of willows Carl speeded up his boat to grant Rae
her wish to see a Nankeen Night Heron. Going close he
flushed out approximately 8 of them.
This, probably, accounts for the lack of seeing the hundreds
of ducks, coots, swamphens, grebes, and cormorants that
we saw a year ago in this delightful area. Never-the-less it
was a great 3 hour cruise with a good 45 species seen.
Photos: Chris Woods & Alasdair Campbell
At this point Carl turned up into Nockburra Creek which is 6
km long. This created a crescent shaped island called Snake
Sightings: 45 Species
Black Swan 30
Australian Shelduck 2
Australian Wood Duck 8
Pacific Black Duck 5
Grey Teal 10
Australasian Grebe 4
Little Black Cormorant 600
Great Cormorant 110
Pied Cormorant 25
Australasian Darter 20
Australian Pelican 30
White-necked Heron 2
Great Egret 1
Nankeen Night-Heron 8
Australian White Ibis 6
Yellow-billed Spoonbill 1
Whistling Kite 8
Australasian Swamphen 1
Eurasian Coot 45
Silver Gull 3
Caspian Tern 1
Rock Dove 2
Galah 2
Little Corella 50
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 20
Regent Parrot 4
Crimson Rosella (Yellow) 6
Red-rumped Parrot 4
Brown Treecreeper 5
Superb Fairy-wren 1
Noisy Miner 3
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater 1
Red Wattlebird 1
White-plumed Honeyeater 12
Dusky Woodswallow 2
Grey Butcherbird 3
Betty Woods
Pied Butcherbird 1
Black-faced Cuckooshrike 1
Willie Wagtail 1
Magpie-lark 2
Little Crow 30
Australian Raven 4
Welcome Swallow 20
Tree Martin 50
Common Starling 6
May 2016
5
The Rainbow Bird
ALLAN TAYLOR'S OLDER PHOTOS
I haven’t anything to report by way of details of trips away,
outings or special places in the district so I have resorted to
looking back at some of my old photos for inspiration. I
have chosen a few that are a little different to the ordinary.
I focussed, firstly on the front bird and then on the second
bird – getting, I think, two very unique shots. Unfortunately
I didn’t manage to get the two birds in sharp focus in the
same shot.
Photo number one is an old photo taken with a film camera.
On an impulse, I called in on the Kelso block on the way
home from work.
Number three was taken at Mourquong Swamps.
It was a very hot afternoon and quite late in the year and I
didn’t expect to see anything. As luck had it, I heard a
young bird calling and ended up with the photo of a poor
little Chestnut-rumped Thornbill feeding the Horsfield’s
Bronze Cuckoo. The hot, glary day caused dark shadows in
the picture but the picture, still, was quite acceptable.
Photo number two was the result of birdwatching at the
eastern swamp on Little Cowra Road.
I had sighted the Marsh Sandpiper some distance away on
the shore of the main swamp. It was joined, for a very
short while, by the Wood Sandpiper. I managed to get a
couple of shots in before the Wood Sandpiper flew past me
to the swamp that is nearest the entrance gate.
The
interesting thing about this photo is that Wood Sandpipers
are a freshwater species and this one must have dropped in
at the swamps to investigate them. I didn’t see it, or any
other Wood sandpiper for that matter, again at the swamps.
The Mourquong Swamps, apparently, are too salty for them.
Number four was taken seven or eight years ago on
Meridian Road.
I took a chair to the side of the drain which leads out of the
swamp and after sitting for a short while, watched as a
Spotted Crake walked from the reeds to the mud at the side
of the drain. I saw it jump at the shutter click as I shot the
first photo but from then on it ignored me. It wasn’t long
after that that the Spotless Crake sidled out from the reeds.
I took a couple of shots as the Spotted Crake walked in front
of the Spotless Crake.
6
The Rainbow Bird
I remember that it was a few days after Christmas and very,
very hot. In fact, I saw a Willie Wagtail go down a rabbit
burrow to escape the heat. Despite this, the Black-faced
Woodswallows cuddled up to each other and the photo is the
result.
The Rainbow Bird
The photo of the Sacred Kingfisher was the result of a little
patience.
The Mulga Parrot family was taken on a trip up to Wamberra
with Pauline Follett and Jayna Podgorski.
At the time I didn’t have a digital camera so every shot
counted due to the limited number of photos on a roll of
film.
I wasn’t quick enough to capture the Kingfisher
entering the nesting hole but took this photo as soon as I
saw movement when it came out of the hole. The shot was,
in truth, a fluke.
They had had a long stint on the ground feeding. It was
getting slightly dark when all the family flew up to the
branch and posed for me. The photo was very dark and, I
thought, too dark for any reasonable photo but I managed
to lighten the image and got an acceptable result.
The Restless Flycatcher photo was taken on Danson Road in
the mallee before you go through the gate into Linklaters’.
The photos of the Little Button Quail and the White Browed
Treecreeper were taken on film.
I had spotted the nest so I came back the following day with
a step ladder in order to get a view closer to the eye level of
the bird. The patch of mallee is no longer as productive for
birds due to, I think, it being reduced slightly in size to make
way for the sowing of wheat.
The photo of the White Breasted Woodswallow is, I think,
very unusual because of the fact that the bird was using a
Magpie Larks’ nest to breed in.
I feel sure that this was the case because the two adults
were taking it in turns to sit in the nest.
Both were the result of a lot of walking – much more than I
would care to do now. The Quail would flush from a small
section of roadside adjacent to wheat land on Meridian Road
but I was never quick enough to get a good photo before it
would melt into the dried grass. I used the ladder again to
take the Treecreeper photos at a better level.
The photo shows the nesting hole and the bird has a meal
for its chicks.
May 2016
7
The Rainbow Bird
The photo of the two Splendid Fairy-wrens was taken when I
went down to Colignan, partly to try to get my first sighting
of that species.
I was coming out of the Hattah Kulkyne NP on the way home
when I spotted the flash of blue.
I had very little film left but went back the next day with
more film and was very excited to see that they were still at
the same spot. In fact, they must have had a nest nearby
because they were feeding a juvenile. The picture shows
the pair, unfortunately, in shade. They had been leapfrogging sideways over one another. I am told that this
activity is favourite of Splendid Wren pairs.
I have closed with three photos of mating birds. These were
the result, more, of good luck rather than good
management, although you increase your chances of good
luck the more you are out in the field.
Allan Taylor
A SURPRISE OUTING
When you are invited out for a drive you don't know where you may end up. On Thursday, 24th January, Helen and Bob
Walton asked me to go to Manangatang with them to see the monument the town has erected. It is made out of mallee
stumps. After seeing the town over we travelled to Hattah Lakes for lunch. The main lake was up but receding. Hardly any
birds were on the lake, only five Australian Pelicans. A few Galahs had nested in the gum trees as well as Sulphur-crested
Cockatoos which we could tell by the feathers on the ground.
After lunch we travelled on the road past the Parks headquarters to visit some of the other lakes. The best lake for birds
was Lake Wolerap where we saw 39 Australian Pelicans, one Australian ringneck sleeping, 3 Rainbow Bee-eaters, one
Restless Flycatcher calling and flying away from us. There were also 2 Pacific Black Ducks.
Whistling Kites were calling on the edge of Lake Hattah. When we left the park to return home we saw 3 Emus and about 20
White-winged Choughs. There was also plenty of water lying around on the roadside from Robinvale to Hattah.
Judith Petschel
8
The Rainbow Bird
The Rainbow Bird
A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND
With some birding highlights
We had a 25 day trip to New Zealand which was primarily
general sight-seeing but which had a few "birdlife"
highlights. Our time was spent mainly in the South Island,
although we flew in to Auckland and travelled by rail and
ferry to Wellington then on to Christchurch, spending one or
two days in each of these cities. We also did the Tranzalpine
rail trip to Greymouth, before travelling by car to Aoraki (Mt
Cook), Queenstown, Te Anau and the fiords of Milford and
Doubtful Sounds then on to Stewart Island. From there we
returned via Dunedin, visiting the Otago Peninsula, to fly out
from Christchurch.
We experienced a range
of weather conditions,
from warm sunshine in
Auckland to drizzle in
Wellington, quite wintry
conditions at Kaikoura on
the Pacific coast. Aoraki
gave us blue skies and
sunshine with clear views
to the high alps, while at
the fiords of Milford and
Doubtful we had typically
wet and misty conditions
– good for waterfalls, with
sunny breaks allowing
sightings of the mountain
tops
in
cloud
and
sunshine. The crossing to
Stewart Island was rough, and the weather there wet and
windy although, again with some breaks to allow activity. In
all, a variety of conditions, not unpleasant, but noticeably
cooler than the equivalent season in Australia.
Kereru (NativePigeon)
We didn’t have time to do a walking tour of the sanctuary,
but it would be worth a further longer visit of at least half a
day.
A few birds had been sighted at this stage: a Skylark
(singing but not sighted) in a grassy suburb of Auckland,
some Variable Oystercatchers on a shoreline, a few pukeko
(Purple Swamp-hens) from the train as well as several
Australasian swamp harriers (with white rump).
Albatross
At Kaikoura I took a three hour "Albatross Encounter" in a
small vessel that went 3 or 4 kilometres off-shore in rough
conditions and put out a lure of fish-livers which attracted a
gathering. Our official list at the end of the trip included
thirteen species; I felt confident that I had seen some
albatross - Royal Northern or Southern, several Salvin’s
Albatross, possibly also a Wandering, many Giant Petrels
(which seemed more like albatross), many Cape Petrels and
there were others such as shearwaters in the mix. While we
had close-up contact with many birds, it was an artificial
situation with much squabbling over the food and I found it
more interesting to "stand-back" and take my chances
photographing the soaring of these magnificent birds in a
wintry landscape.
Tui
Our first bird "site" we discovered by accident. We took a
small shuttle bus from the top of Wellington’s Cable Car to
Zealandia - a sanctuary surrounded by 8km of high predator
protection fence.
We looked through the impressive
exhibition which gave a good summary of how European
(and Maori) "colonisation" had brought specific challenges
for New Zealand’s endemic species, such as the predation of
rats, stoats and possums especially on the native flightless
birds.
Salvin’s albatross
The Fiordland of Milford and Doubtful Sounds in typical wet,
misty conditions gave a wilderness atmosphere, but apart
from Australian fur seals and a brief sighting of a dolphin,
not many birds nor much wildlife.
May 2016
9
The Rainbow Bird
In Doubtful Sound we were assured that we were seeing the
endemic Fiordland crested penguins, based on very brief 2
second surfacing
with no time to
identify features,
or to direct a
camera lens to
the right spot.
Our
drive
to
Milford Sound and
parking near the
Homer
Tunnel
brought us into
close contact with
a
number
of
inquisitive Kea –
endemic
Alpine
parrots.
They
Kea
flew down to inspect our car, and allow close-up
photography.
At our Fiordland base of Te Anau we stumbled on a small
sanctuary whose main exhibit, a takahe, is a seriously
endangered flightless endemic bird thought at one time to
be extinct but now being re-introduced to a few (mainly
island) locations
Kaka Parrot
Stewart Island
They are scarce on the main NZ islands but seem to thrive
on Stewart Island. We participated in a small group tour (4
people) of the small island of Ulva, led by a knowledgeable
birdwatching guide, who was able to locate interesting birds,
as well as give good information of how the island had
become a protected "sanctuary".
We came across a weka that wandered within a metre of the
group without fear (a member of the rail family).
Takahe
Weka
Variable Oystercatcher
Stewart Island provided the birding highlights. In the small
township of Oban we could see on the beach endemic
Variable Oystercatchers (similar to Australian Sooty
Oystercatchers) as well as being visited on the hotel balcony
by kaka – a forest parrot similar to kea.
10
The Rainbow Bird
Stewart Island
We had several very friendly South Island Robins come close
to seek food in disturbed soil and make close-up
photography easy. There were sightings of a NZ fantail,
brown creeper, NZ bellbird, a nearby morepork (resting up)
as well as the prized sighting of yellow-heads (mohua) high
in the tree canopy and also of an elusive saddleback (tieke).
My skills were not adequate to photograph them all.
The Rainbow Bird
Ulva had the feel of a secluded sanctuary where a variety of
birds were safe from predators.
visit had more
experience.
to
commend
it
as
a
"conservation"
These were our main bird highlights. I was also regularly
aware of introduced species such as blackbirds, chaffinches
and song-thrush (all quite common) and I observed several
endemic tui (a honeyeater) and kereru (native wood pigeon)
in populated/city areas.
A pair of endemic paradise
shelducks was seen in Queenstown feeding in grass oblivious
to the people around.
Stewart Island Robin
Our final birding location was at the Royal Albatross Colony /
Centre on the tip of the Otago peninsula (near Dunedin).
Here northern royal albatross nest on the mainland, but not
in large numbers. The viewing of their nesting area is
carefully controlled. There were many visitors to the centre
and you could take a short tour to a bird-hide. Close
contact with the nesting birds was not permitted so they
could only be viewed from a distance with a few solitary
birds flying off the headland. It was close to a large colony
of nesting red-billed (silver) gulls and to a colony of
(endemic) Stewart Island shags. While not as immediate an
experience as the Albatross Encounter at Kaikoura, the RAC
New Zealand gives the impression of a "clean and green"
country with considerable wilderness areas. While that may
be substantially true, I became aware of the many
challenges it faces to retain its endemic birdlife, especially
the flightless birds. It has a history, possibly worse than
Australia’s, where introduced species have created
unforeseen problems. It is making use of habitats where
they are safe from predators such as in protected
sanctuaries or on off-shore islands. I learned of some of the
birding locations from an on-line booklet (in Australian
Birdlife) Birding New Zealand on www.birdingnz.co.nz The
small handbook by Geoff Moon, Birds of New Zealand, gave
guidance for the majority of birds we saw, although prior to
the trip I borrowed The Field Guide to the Birds of New
Zealand by Heather, Barrie (et al) from the local library and
a smaller Hand Guide by the same authors also exists. New
Zealand may not have the same number or as diverse a
range of birds as Australia, but its endemic birds and the
locations where they are found are certainly of interest. Our
birding, however limited (in being mainly on "commercial"
tours) added a dimension.
Alasdair Campbel
WHAT BIRD IS THIS?
The National Birdlife magazine runs a feature whereby a
photo of a mystery bird is shown and the name of its species
is revealed in the following edition.
The rufous strip along its outer tail feathers is diagnostic.
I thought that I might do the same, although I am sure that
our editor will not prolong the agony of deducing its
identification and will reveal the details elsewhere in this
edition of our newsletter. (p17, same page as club calendar)
The photo was taken, perhaps, three years ago at
Mourquong swamps. I would not have expected to see this
species around a swamp, although they can be found in
most types of woodland, usually adjacent to a patch of open
country over which it can gaze in search of its food caterpillars. It migrates to this district, usually around June,
but will only stay if food conditions are suitable.
In this photo, part of its beak is obscured but it is slightly
down-curved.
It might help you in identifying it to know that the bird in
the picture is immature.
It will, soon develop barred
markings across its breast and its wings will have a slight
iridescent green sheen. Its call will become a descending
high pitched whistle. Occasionally it uses a contact call that
is a little reminiscent of the chirruping of a house sparrow.
Allan Taylor
It is raised, not by its natural parents, but by foster-parents
such as thornbills and wrens.
May 2016 11
The Rainbow Bird
BIRDS AT PUDDLES
Around a week ago, towards the end of January, I went
down to the Sunset NP with a view to photographing birds
drinking at rain puddles on a track. There had been a heavy
rain a few days earlier and I waited three days until, I
guessed, my 2 wheel drive vehicle wouldn’t get bogged and
then went down Meridian Road to the Murray Sunset NP. All
the tracks were practically dry until I got part-way down
Midnight Tank Track. At that spot, water was still lying for
perhaps 30 metres of clay pan.
Spiny-Cheeked, Striped, Yellow-Plumed, Brown-Headed,
White-Eared and White-Fronted plus Yellow-throated Miners.
It amazes me where these species come from as, travelling
along the tracks, I usually only see the occasional YellowPlumed and Spiny-Cheeked Honeyeaters. I don’t know how
they locate the isolated puddles of water or what they do for
moisture when the puddles dry up. Moisture would have to
be obtained from nectar and insects after that time.
Of recent years I have worked more on the theory of having
birds come to me, rather than me walking rather aimlessly
around the scrub. The way to do this is to park the car near
a water source, food source or nest site. Warm days make
parking near water most productive. This particular day’s
temperature got to around 37 degrees.
I parked my car mid-way between the ends of the stretch of
water and waited. The Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters that
were gracing the area with their presence began to sidle
down from higher branches to the lower ones and then
eventually make some swoops towards the water. I fancied
that I was a bit close to the end of the paddle where the
activity was taking place so I moved a couple of metres
towards the other end. This appeared to do the trick and
the more adventurous birds went down to drink.
It was interesting that some species in the area at that time
didn’t go in to drink.
The most notable were Striated
Pardalotes and Brown Treecreepers. I think that there were
Whistlers and Crested Bellbirds in the general area but they,
also, didn’t come in to drink. These species are insect
eaters and I wonder whether that has a bearing on their
need for water.
I have noticed that the more timid birds and bird species
hold back until a braver bird goes down to drink. In this
regard it is always good to have a bird like a Willie Wagtail
at the water to lead the way.
I have, in recent years, made use of a drain near the river at
Dareton to get photos of birds drinking. The drainage water
comes from a pipeline that goes under the vineyards higher
up the slope. After irrigations and heavy rains water comes
out a pipe that feeds into the drain. Birds love this water,
even though the river is less than 50 metres away.
Honeyeaters, Silvereyes, Rufous and Gilbert’s Whistlers,
Peaceful Doves, Zebra Finches, choughs, Willie Wagtails,
wrens and thornbills frequent that spot. The finches and
doves, which are seed eaters, drink the water but, I fancy,
the insect eaters are more interested in either bathing or
feeding on the insects that gather around the water and
surrounding weeds.
On this outing I got photographs of 7 honeyeater species:
12
The Rainbow Bird
Allan Taylor
The Rainbow Bird
THAT ELUSIVE BIRD
It seems that most bird enthusiasts have difficulty in getting
a first sighting of a species of which many other birdos have
little difficulty in spotting. My nemesis, for many years, was
the Striated Grasswren.
about it but the country was under the prolonged drought of
several years back so I had never been all that optimistic
about seeing much. I think that Bob said we had driven 180
kms, starting at Berri that day.
They are, supposedly, easy to spot on the Nowingi Track
where the Mallee Emu-wrens are most commonly sighted.
Some eight years’ago I had seen the emu-wrens quite a few
times at that location but hadn’t seen the grasswren so I
tried other areas. I remember, once, Michael Mack had
reported that he saw one on Rocket Lake Track so I went
there but didn’t see a grasswren.
Having still not seen a grasswren, I asked a member of the
visiting Riverland Field Nats whether he knew of a location of
Striated Grasswrens. Yes, around the area adjacent to the
entrance to the Cooltong Conservation Area between
Renmark and Berri. I went there and it certainly appears to
be good birding country but still no Striated Grasswrens.
Later, one of the NSW National Park rangers said that
Striated Grasswrens are "everywhere" at Tarawi Nature
Reserve.
Tarawi is situated adjacent to the Scotia
Sanctuary. I drove to the southern entrance of the Tarawi
property. Near the gate there are four posts with symbols
on them which indicated that there was no camping, no
dogs, no shooting and no something else – I can’t remember
what. Although feeling slightly uneasy about going through
the gate, because I felt that there may have been
restrictions on entry, I blundered in. Prior to going up to the
property I had seen on the NP website a map that showed
the location of all the birds in the Reserve and the map had
shown several potential locations of the grasswren. So I
headed for one of those spots.
To cut a long story short, I got bogged.
I walked 9 kms back to what used to be the station
homestead but is now the ranger’s quarters. I finally raised
an indignant ranger from whatever he was doing and was
told that the property is a Nature Reserve and not a National
Park and that I shouldn’t have been in it.
Incidentally, the map with the bird locations on it has since
been pulled from the National Parks website – which makes
me wonder why anyone took the trouble to pinpoint the bird
locations in the first place.
Bob Goodfellow used to advertise guided tours of the Mallee
country north of Berri, SA., in the BOCA magazine. So Bob
kindly took me on a tour of Calperum Station. We stopped
numerous times at his pet Striated Grasswren sighting spots
but still no grasswrens. Bob seemed a little embarrassed
Striated Grasswren
Photo: Allan Taylor
Eventually, some three Junes ago, I saw the grasswren on
Konardin Track, just after seeing a Mallee Emu-wren. They
were within 25 metres of each other. It never rains but it
pours! I have since seen the Striated Grasswren another
four times – twice near the Konardin Track spot and twice
on Pheeney’s Track.
In my quest for the elusive bird I had spoken to several
people who had seen it at the first visit. Once I had spoken
to a member of the Horsham Birdlife group and he had seen
it on the way up to Mildura when he and his wife stopped at
the Hattah truck stop for a bite to eat.
Allan Taylor
May 2016 13
The Rainbow Bird
KESTRELS
For the past four years I have noticed a pair of Australian
Kestrels nesting on a window ledge of the old Mildura Cooperative Fruit Co Ltd’s (Coomealla Branch) building.
Feeling very clever in making this discovery, I mentioned
this fact to Joan Rodoni, my neighbour. She replied that the
office staff at the Co-op, of which she was one, used to
watch the kestrels on their lunch breaks when she was
working there in the 1960’s. So this raised a couple of
issues, the first being that I wasn’t as clever as I thought I
was and the second being that kestrel families can, most
probably, usually go back to their favoured nesting spot for
many years.
On the face of it, the ledge of building that is frequented by
humans seems an odd place to raise a kestrel family but
after driving past the building on frosty mornings I realised
the attraction. I would often see a kestrel on one of the
ledges, pressed against the wall. The brick wall, because it
faces north, was trapping the warmth from the sun on the
sunny days that follow frosts and the bricks were radiating
the heat back on the kestrel.
The kestrel pair raised five chicks to fledging stage this
season. Unfortunately, one of the fledglings was hit and run
over by a vehicle.
A week or so after fledging there
appeared to be only two kestrels inhabiting the building. I
guess that these were the parents. This raises the question
as to where the young birds go. The field guides state that
kestrels are nomadic. However, the mortality rate must be
very high amongst the young birds because there was no
explosion of numbers after the breeding season this last 12
months.
At the time that birds fledged, two of the young birds were
on the ground and seemed to be having difficulty returning
to the nest.
Their attempts fly up to the ledge were
unsuccessful as they were trying to go straight up instead of
approaching the wall at an angle. I could see that these two
birds weren’t being fed by the parents and had presumed
that their siblings might have forced them off the ledge. I
was about to take some processed ham to them when my
mother said that the salt in the meat would kill them. I,
then, rang the animal rescue hotline and a recorded
message advised me that fledglings are often on the ground
during the breeding season. Common sense, then, prevailed
and I left the birds to their own devices. The next day all
the young birds were on the ledge again.
Allan Taylor
BIRDING IN THE SUMMER
With the spell of hot weather early December 2015 Pauline
Follett and I decided to try and get a few hours watching
done early in the morning, starting at 6.00 am. We started
in Mildura to head to Wentworth via Dareton. At that tiime
the temperature was 14°C but the expected high for the day
was 37°C.
As we crossed the bridge Pauline saw a Peregrine Falcon at
the top of a tree so we turned to go below the bridge near
the river where it sat. Pauline took photos and I scanned
with my binoculars. We continued under the bridge and
back around to the highway to a factory where some
Nankeen Kestrels had nested (see Allan Taylor's Kestrel
article). Driving very quietly and carefully, and not too
close, we saw one young kestrel sitting on a ledge. Pauline's
camera was in action again. We didn't see the parent
however.
We went through Dareton to Wentworth golf course where
an Australian Hobby had a nest. En route we saw Black and
14
The Rainbow Bird
Whistling Kites. We parked the car in the shade of a
peppercorn tree beside the Old Wentworth Gaol and walked
onto the golf course. There were many Australian Wood
Ducks on the course. Pauline pointed out the tree with the
hobby's nest. We could see two young flapping their wings
in the nest but no parents around. We settled to wait and
before long the parents returned to feed their chicks.
We moved on to look for the Laughing Kookaburra's hollow.
We found it with one kookaburra sitting on a relatively low
branch near it. No-one was playing golf as yet. We decided
to go to the lock. The sprinklers were on there and we
watched the birds flicking back and forth from the spray.
Few water birds were there but Pauline wanted to get photos
of Blue-faced Honeyeaters. The day was warming up so we
proceded home via Merbein and Seventeenth Street.
Susan Fisher
The Rainbow Bird
EMUS
Late last year a group of us went to a book launch at Neds
Corner. After passing Lake Cullulleraine, we began to see
dozens of Emus in every paddock.
Sometime later Pauline Follett, Jayna Podgorski, Sue Fisher,
Finley Japp and I went to Lake Walla Walla with the idea of
spotting a Latham’s Snipe that had been seen there. Barely
a single Emu was seen. They had all left in the few weeks
since the earlier visit.
I mentioned this to a grazier friend of mine and said that it
was a bit of a mystery. He answered that it wasn’t really a
mystery because Emus migrate north each year.
The owner of Coleraine Station, Alistair Baird, quoted one of
his neighbours who, when a group of station owners
organised a programme on their properties to get rid of
rabbit habitat by ripping the warrens, insisted that some
burrows be left untouched so that snakes and small reptiles
wouldn’t lose their homes.
Sheep and cattle, when they congregate at the same spot
for several years, can compact clay pans so that vegetation
ceases to grow. I know of a few graziers who plough
furrows across those clay pans in order for the wind to
deposit various seeds (they usually hope for saltbush seeds)
in those furrows.
Sometimes, according to the whim of nature, seeds will
germinate in those furrows prior to becoming bushes and
the clay pan, therefore, is eventually reclaimed.
Alistair said that he had a raptors’ nest on his property that
hasn’t been used for some thirty years. The raptor that he
described sounded like a sea-eagle, although the nest was a
little distance from the Anabranch and, in any case, it
seemed an unlikely location for a sea-eagle to call home. I
guess that it left as there would be nothing to keep the
raptor in the area once the Anabranch had been closed off at
the Menindee Lakes.
He is the owner of Coleraine Station near the Bunnerungee
Bridge, north of Wentworth.
He said that he has a fence line that runs east/west. At a
certain time each year, there are Emu tracks all along the
southern side of the fence where the Emus have been trying
to find a gap to pass through the fence. Later each year
there are tracks on the northern side of that fence where the
Emus are trying to get through to go south.
Over the years I have decided that farmers are as varied in
their love of nature as are people from any walk of life.
There are those who farm purely to exploit the land, those
who are apathetic and do little to manage or develop their
properties and others who are students of the weather and
the land and the creatures that live off and on that land.
The attitude of graziers and farmers to Wedge-tailed Eagles
seems to have changed markedly over the past 50 years.
Alistair and most other graziers leave them alone because
they believe that any loss of lambs due to eagle predation is
tiny and usually only applies to weak lambs. Those lambs
are often twins or triplets that have received inadequate
nutrition from their mothers. Eagles, of course, have a
beneficial effect on a property if they feed on rabbits.
Allan Taylor
On returning to Mildura from the Riverland on March 10th I
counted appoximatly 200 emus in the area mentioned in
Allan's article. They have been there for several weeks
seemingly feeding in the wheat stubble.
Ed
Photos: Chris Woods
May 2016 15
The Rainbow Bird
INTERESTING SIGHTINGS
20/12/2015
26/12/2015
08/01/2016
09/01/2016
10/01/2016
11/01/2016
11/01/2016
12/01/2016
15/01/2016
17/01/2016
23/01/2016
24/01/2016
25/01/2016
25/01/2016
26/01/2016
30/01/2016
30/01/2016
30/01/2016
31/01/2016
31/01/2016
01/02/2016
12/02/2016
13/02/2016
13/02/2016
13/02/2016
13/02/2016
16/02/2016
18/02/2016
20/02/2016
23/02/2016
25/02/2016
26/02/2016
01/03/2016
14/03/2016
21/03/2016
21/03/2016
26/03/2016
26/03/2016
26/03/2016
26/03/2016
26/03/2016
26/03/2016
28/03/2016
28/03/2016
30/03/2016
30/03/2016
30/03/2016
03/04/2016
03/04/2016
03/04/2016
03/04/2016
04/04/2016
04/04/2016
04/04/2016
05/04/2016
16
Superb Fairy-wren (2)
Etiwanda Wetlands - land bridge. Twittering and playing
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (5)
McEdwards St. Cabarita. Six visits in Dec.
Common Greenshank (3)
Cowanna Billabong - Merbein Common.
Grey Shrike-thrush (1)
At home, Irymple. Calling
Swamp Harrier (1)
Yelta.
Gang-gang Cockatoo (4)
Bogong Road, Tumbarumba. Flying over
Noisy Friarbird (2)
Road to Tumbarumba. Sitting in tree
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (3) Near Tumbarumba. Flying over
Fork-tailed Swift (400)
Over Darling River at Wentworth. A great rolling ball of birds
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (2)
Near Wentworth. Flying over
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (3)
At home, Irymple. Flying over
Cockatiel (1)
At home, Yelta.
Striped Honeyeater (2)
At home, Yelta. In flowering gums
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (5)
McEdwards St. Cabarita. Seen 5 nights since 25th
Eastern Barn Owl (1)
Arumpo Road. Flying out of hollow
Red-browed Finch (1)
Leongatha. Flying between trees
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (5) Leongatha. Flying over
Striated Grasswren (1)
South of Pheeney's Track. Feeding with Variegated Fairy-wrens
Black-winged Stilt (30)
Brickworks B'bong - Merbein Common. Many other birds here also
Yellow-billed Spoonbill (10) Brickworks B'bong - Merbein Common. Many other birds here also
Australian Ringneck (5)
At home, Irymple. Flying over
Long-billed Corella (4)
Cavendish cemetery. In pine trees
Grey Currawong (2)
Halls Gap. Flying over
Little Corella (5)
Cavendish cemetery. In pine trees
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (2)
Halls Gap. In gum trees
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (4)
Cavendish cemetery. In pine trees
Black-breasted Buzzard (1)
Fletchers Lake Road. Soaring near Fletchers Lake
White-breasted Woodswallow (15) Merbein main street. Catching insects
Australian Hobby (1)
At home, Irymple. Sitting in tree
Striated Pardalote (1)
At home, Irymple. Sitting in tree
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (60)
Langkoop, VIC. Watering at trough
Variegated Fairy-wren (4)
At home, Irymple. In back yard
Spotless Crake (1)
Etiwanda Wetlands.
Zebra Finch (2)
Sylvia St. Yelta. Flying over
Cape Barren Goose (1)
Port Augusta. Walking along waters edge
Emu (100)
Nth of Sturt Hwy 65km W of Mildura. Feeding in stubble
Elegant Parrot (3)
Mamjimup WA. Feeding on lawn
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (20)
Mamjimup WA. Flying over
Splendid Fairy-wren (10)
Pemberton WA.
Golden Whistler (1)
Ngarkat Conservation Park. In mallee scrub
Purple-gaped Honeyeater (2)
Ngarkat Conservation Park. In mallee scrub
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater (2)
Ngarkat Conservation Park. In heathland
Eastern Yellow Robin (1)
Castlemaine. In Botanical Gardens
Striated Thornbill (1)
Castlemaine. In Botanical Gardens
Superb Lyrebird (1)
Noojee Trestle Bridge. Male walking across track
Australian Hobby (1)
Walnut Ave..
White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1)
Lake Boga. Flying over road and lake
Golden Whistler (1)
Midnight tank track.
Tawny Frogmouth (1)
At home, Nichols Point. Nearly trod on - in dark
Peregrine Falcon (1)
Mildura Plaza carpark.
Peregrine Falcon (1)
Cowanna Billabong - Merbein Common.
Blue-faced Honeyeater (1)
At home, Birdwoodton. In cherry tree
Grey Fantail (1)
At home, Birdwoodton. On birdbath
Brown-headed Honeyeater (6)
Sylvia St. Yelta. Flying towards billabong
Grey Butcherbird (1)
At home, Birdwoodton. In gum tree
The Rainbow Bird
L Modica
P Doering
L & R Jeffers
A & S Hawtin
L & R Jeffers
C MacGillivray
C MacGillivray
C MacGillivray
K Job
S Fisher
A & S Hawtin
L & R Jeffers
L & R Jeffers
P Doering
H Devilee
C MacGillivray
C MacGillivray
F Japp/I Japp
A Campbell
A Campbell
A & S Hawtin
J Petschel
J Petschel
J Petschel
J Petschel
J Petschel
B MacMillan
L & R Jeffers
A & S Hawtin
A & S Hawtin
Brian Witford
A & S Hawtin
J Podgorski
L & R Jeffers
L & R Jeffers
L & R Jeffers
L & R Jeffers
L & R Jeffers
L & R Jeffers
P & C Dunstan
P & C Dunstan
P & C Dunstan
J Podgorski
J Podgorski
C MacGillivray
J Podgorski
J Podgorski
A Taylor
C Woods
J Podgorski
M Mack
G & M Preisig
G & M Preisig
L & R Jeffers
G & M Preisig
The Rainbow Bird
CLUB CALENDAR
Tues 3rd
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sat 7th
Outing - Yarrara & Mallanbool Flora & Fauna Reserves - Leader: Alec Hawtin
Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am
Tues 7th
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sun 12th
Outing - Nurnurnemal Nature Conservation Reserve & Castles Crossing
Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 9:00am - Leader: Bill Williams.
Tues 5th
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sat 9th
Outing - Ned’s Corner including survey - Leader: Len Jeffers
Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:00am
Thurs 28th
Committee Meeting
Tues 2nd
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sun 7th
Outing - Wandown Nature Reserve & Margooya Lagoon
Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am - Leader: George Kerridge
Tues 6th
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sat 10th / Sun 11th
Campout at Nelson. Leader: Peter Dunstan (details TBA)
Tues 4th
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sun 9th
Outing - Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am - Leader: George Kerridge
Tues 11th
Ned’s Corner survey
Thurs 27th
Committee Meeting
Tues 1st
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sat 5th
Outing - Australian Inland Botanic Gardens
Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am - Leader: Pauline Follett
Sat 3rd/ Sun 4th
Challenge Bird Count
Tues 6th
Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm
Sun 11th
Outing - Christmas Get-together
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
What bird is this answer:
That crazy equine area between the stone and iron ages
May 2016 17