Royal Spoonbill, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Royal Spoonbill, Lake Hattah, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
During our holiday in Victoria last year we visited the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in the north west part of the state.
Over recent years this system of lakes has not had much – if any – water due to the drought. This has resulted in poor flows in the nearby River Murray, the only source of water for the lakes. This is disappointing, because when filled with water – or even partially full, the lakes are a haven for water birds in their thousands.
Last year a special partial filling of the lakes was authorised and so it was with a high level of anticipation we spent several hours in the park on our way to Mildura.
One species I have only occasionally recorded in these lakes is the Royal Spoonbill, shown in the above photo. This is always a pleasing species to encounter. In my experience the Yellow-billed Spoonbill is far more common. This one was feeding in the shallows near where we had morning tea.
Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery, Kerang, Victoria
Kerang Bird Hide, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
From Gisborne we travelled north to Bendigo. This is a beautiful city in the gold fields region of Victoria. There are many historic buildings and places in this rural city, but we had only enough time to visit a native plant nursery – my wife’s passion – and to have lunch in one of the parks.
The historic heritage of this city and the natural beauty of the area deserve more than just a quick drive through. It deserves a week or two of exploration, camera in hand. We did have an extended holiday there many years ago. I must have some photographic slides of the city that will be worth digging out and showing here sometime.
As we drove north from Bendigo we were stunned by how the drought had affected the northern parts of the state. A few kilometres out of Bendigo it was as if someone had drawn a line across the road. The rain stopped at that line. Vegetation in the paddocks north of there were bare of feed for the sheep and cattle, despite it being the middle of spring. The fields should have been lush with pasture.
Just out of the town of Kerang we stopped for a half hour to visit the Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery. Every time we use this road I make a point of stopping here for a cuppa and a spot of birding.
Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery, Kerang, Victoria
Dangerous Birds in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
No Comments »28th October, 2007; Category: Birds, Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Sydney
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
I was intrigued by the signs in one part of the Royal Botanic Gardens during our recent visit to Sydney. The signs were encouraging – instructing – visitors NOT to feed the birds. People often think it is great to have flocks of Silver Gulls, for example, crowding around them while they throw out scraps of food to the birds. Human food is not good for the birds and it just encourages them to become reliant on these handouts. Some species can also become very aggressive. One such species is the White Ibis in Sydney and the Straw-necked Ibis elsewhere. (I believe the latter has been a problem in Brisbane parks for example.) An Ibis can be very frightening for a two or three year old child, and potentially dangerous if the bird starts pecking the child trying to get food.
In one part of the botanic gardens there was a small flock of about a dozen Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feeding on the grass. I was able to get a number of good photos because they were quite tame. A group of tourists (possibly German) had either not seen the signs or were ignoring them. They started feeding the cockatoos who became very aggressive, landing on the woman with the food (see photo below). I tried to warn her about their potential to give a nasty bite but she either didn’t understand or didn’t hear me. I was not surprised when one cockatoo gave her a nasty bite on the arm.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
Going Batty – in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
No Comments »13th October, 2007; Category: Animals, Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Sydney
Grey-headed Flying Foxes
Our holidays in New South Wales
September 2007
Grey-headed Flying Foxes, a species of fruit bat, have formed a large colony in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens in the heart of Sydney.
I must say that the presence of these bats adds a certain interesting aspect to the wildlife of the gardens. The truth of the matter, however, is far different. This colony has caused enormous problems for the gardeners trying to protect the heritage trees of the Botanic Gardens. These trees were planted in the early days of settlement and make a very valuable and quite rare collection of plants. The Flying Foxes, by their sheer numbers, have been destroying these trees. Consequently, attempts are being made to discourage the bats from roosting there.
Grey-headed Flying Foxes
Flying foxes are large bats, weighing up to 1 kg, with a wing span which may exceed one metre. They sleep during the day and feed on pollen, nectar and fruit at night. In the wild they are important pollinators and seed dispersers of native trees. Seeds are discarded in the faeces or fall where the fruit is being eaten. These seeds germinate when conditions are suitable and ensure that dispersal occurs in a wide area. (Quoted from the Botanic Gardens Trust website).
For more information about the Flying Foxes and the struggle to protect the trees click here.
Grey-headed Flying Foxes
Chatting at Cowra
Touring New South Wales
September 2007
From Grenfell we drove on to the small town of Cowra. We had hoped to get there early enough to look around the town but a short detour into the Conimbla National Park west of the town prevented that happening. We were not all that impressed with what little we saw of this park. To be fair we only had a short time there and only drove through a small portion of the park. Both the park and the town deserve further investigation on another trip.
Cowra Caravan Park, New South Wales
We checked into the caravan park about four kilometres to the east of the town and settled in for the night. It was a restless night because of the cold and the constant passing of transport trucks and other vehicles on the highway next to the park.
Next morning before leaving we spent about a half hour chatting to a lady who is a permanent resident of the park. She occupies one of the cabins. She spends her day writing poetry and short stories and working in her small garden. This is what attracted us to her in the first place. Then we found out she is familiar with the local birds.
Red-browed Finch
These Red-browed Finches were feeding on the seed inside the cage of these two cockatiels. They were wild finches that came in for a free feed in the cage then they would fly straight out through the wide bars to freedom again.