Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015
Project: Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey
Observer: Terry Korn
Much like yesterday’s early morning start in Cunnamulla, the drive to the White cliffs airport in the dawn light was a “dodge the kangaroo” affair. The local landholder who was driving explained that the last two years had been good for plant growth and kangaroo numbers had increased. Also there was little or no kangaroo harvesting in the area and so the high numbers made for slow driving. “Tourists love them as they hop through the town and they also love seeing the emus and chicks stroll down the streets”, he said.
At the airport, a tourist plane was being prepared for its passengers by the pilot and tour operator as we loaded our gear in the dawn light. The owner of the plane was fascinated with the 33 year old bird survey, making the comment that you do not hear about the good ways in which taxes are spent such as with the survey. Positive feedback is always pleasing! It makes starting the day without breakfast two days in a row worthwhile.
The first wetlands today were my favourites – the lower Paroo wetlands which in a flood are beautiful to behold. Extensive, varied in type and with names like Gilpoko, Poloko, Yantabangee, Mulawoolka , Yammarramie and Tongo - how could you not be smitten by this wonderland which pulses with life when in flood. Today only some lakes held water but one in particular was a surprise. Tongo Lake held good water from local January rains and those birds of inland waters, pink-eared ducks, were there in their thousands, far outnumbering the ubiquitous grey teal. There were even some freckled ducks which I often find difficult to identify from Pacific black ducks when travelling at almost 200km per hour. Muloowoolka Basin held very shallow water around which small migratory waders skittered and red-necked avocets floated with their characteristic flight.
On the track to Bourke for brunch, many wetlands were empty or near empty and our run up the Darling river near Louth was over a river about 50% full with extensive surface growth of what looked like the aquatic plant Azolla, but I couldn’t be sure. Whatever it was it wasn’t worrying the pelicans and cormorants as they were all working the river vigorously.
South of Bourke we re-joined Band 5 for our run east, over the dry mulga lands, to the Macquarie Marshes where a recent flow had activated the runners in the lower end of the Northern Marshes and topped up some of the wetlands so egrets, grey teal, Pacific black duck and white-necked herons dominated. We will be doing a more comprehensive survey of the rest of the Marshes later this month so it will be interesting to see the effect of the recent environmental flow.
Flood runners in the Northern Macquarie Marsh, carrying environmental flow. Photo: Mark Ziembicki
A quick run to south of Narrabri had us counting farm storages on the Namoi floodplain prior to being confronted with the huge Maule’s Creek coalmine near the Laird State Forest. Here protesters have been ensconced for a couple of years opposing both the expansion of the mine and the coal seam gas industry. One famous arrestee has been David Pocock, the world’s best open side breakaway who is presently in England helping the Wallabies to win the Rugby World Cup. I am told the All Blacks have asked that he be extradited to Australia immediately to face charges.
Maule’s Creek mine. The small specks are the huge dump trucks. Photo: Mark Ziembicki
On our way to Armidale we counted Split Rock Dam which was 8% full. Here we saw pelicans evenly spaced 10 metres apart for about a kilometre along both shores giving the appearance of water safety buoys. A first time for both counters!