Terrible tragedy in Victoria
No Comments »8th February, 2009; Category: Victoria
My deepest condolences to all the people in Victoria who have lost loved ones and homes in the wild bushfires that have devastated that state over the last 48 hours.
Over 700 homes have been destroyed. At least 76 people have died and it is feared that this might rise to over 100.
You can read more on my birding blog here.
Views of Murray-Sunset National Park, NW Victoria
Murray-Sunset National Park, NW Victoria
Murray-Sunset National Park begins only about eight kilometres east of where I grew up. My father’s farm was just over the border in South Australia. From the slight rise near the house we could see the tree line in the distance which was the Victorian border. In fact, Dad called his farm “Border View.”
In those days, the 1950s, this scrub land was a sheep station called Sunset Station. We rarely visited the area, despite it being so close. Because it was privately run public access was limited. I remember visiting several spots a few times for Sunday School picnics.
Murray-Sunset National Park, NW Victoria
In the 1990s this station was changed to national park status. The sheep were rounded up and taken away elsewhere. The national parks people established several campsites and took over the maintenance of the few dirt tracks through the park. Today it is popular with four wheel drive enthusiasts, campers and birders. The range of birds in this park is amazing, with several significant threatened species found here.
Murray-Sunset National Park, NW Victoria
As we were leaving the park to drive home we saw several large flocks of feral goats. This is rather disturbing as they can do a great deal of environmental damage. The flocks looked very healthy and included many kids, so they are breeding well. We must have seen several hundred in a ten kilometre stretch. How many more are hidden in the thick scrub away from the track is a disturbing thought.
Bearded Dragon lizard, Murray-Sunset National Park
Bearded Dragon lizard, Murray-Sunset National Park
While travelling through the Murray-Sunset National Park last year during our holiday we came across this lovely Bearded Dragon, one of many species of lizard common here in Australia. He stopped and posed beautifully for me in the late afternoon sun.
Click on the photos to enlarge the image.
Bearded Dragon lizard, Murray-Sunset National Park
Below is a photo of the track we were following when I saw the lizard. The plants are predominantly mallee trees which are species of eucalyptus. The bush here stretches in every direction for many kilometres. It would be very easy to get lost in thick scrub like that, so one does not wander far from the track.
Murray-Sunset National Park, NW Victoria
Emu and chicks, Murray-Sunset National Park, Victoria
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Emu, Murray-Sunset NP, Victoria
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I was quick enough to get a photo of the male, but the chicks were too quick for me and disappeared into the bushy undergrowth before I could photograph them..
For those readers who may not know, the male Emu is the one who sits on the eggs once the female has finished laying the clutch. The female lays between five and eleven eggs in one clutch. Once hatched, the male then cares for the chicks for up the eighteen months.
Kangaroo and joey, Murray-Sunset National Park
Kangaroo and joey, Murray-Sunset NP, Victoria
As we travelled through Murray-Sunset National Park on our holiday last year we saw quite a few Eastern Grey Kangaroos. This one had a large joey which jumped into the pouch as we approached. Mum then posed beautifully for my camera. Even though he couldn’t see us, we could see him because he left his tail and one leg sticking out. Click on the photo to enlarge the image.
That is one mother who will be pleased when joey no longer hides in the pouch. By the look of it, there is not much room left in there.