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| and stars....Yeah! |
In September, we took a trip to the Mallee District of Australia. The Mallee includes an area that is east of Adelaide (South Australia), near the Murray River, and Northwest Victoria, south of the New South Wales border. Mallee is an aboriginal word for a group of Eucalypts that grow many stems from a basal lignotuber. So, the Mallee is a distinctive area defined by the presence of Mallee eucalypts. Much of the Mallee has been cleared for agriculture; it's estimated that around 25% of the Mallee in SA, and 35-40% of the Mallee in Victoria is left--and it doesn't cover a very big area. It's very flat, and dry, and sandy there, with delicate soil crusts of mosses and lichens (like cryptogamic soil). Its also an area that has been walloped by soil erosion caused by overgrazing by cattle grazing and lots of hungry bunnies. And lots of hungry foxes and cats (all non-native animals) have chowed on the native wildlife. A third of the Australian mammal species that did live in the Mallee have gone extinct since European settlement. All in all, it's a pretty hammered place, but complex and evolutionarily distinctive and well worth exploring. With GPS firmly in hand (it's notoriously easy to get lost in the mallee "scrub"!) we went there to explore because the countryside is fascinating, the birds are intriguing, and the stars are breathtaking. Though you can't see the countryside here, this headlamp-painting photo was taken at Pink Lakes, in the Murray-Sunset National Park.
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| Regent Parrot (harassed by miner) |
One of the main birds we wanted to find was the endangered Regent Parrot, beautiful birds that they are. Unlikely as it sounds, we're *sure* we saw Regent Parrots out back of the Pie Shop that is on the highway east of Waikerie. They were in the trees overlooking the Murray River. A kind soul saw us wandering around the neighborhood next to the river searching in vain for the parrots that had flown out of sight, rolled down his car window, and said hello. He offered to take us to where he always goes to find the parrots--but he had to go home first to drop his groceries, "just follow me." Huh?! Was he going to lure innocent birders into a trap to rob us of our earthly possessions and put our bodies in a trunk?! Turns out he really knew what he was talking about--his house was an island oasis of native plants that he had cultivated amongst a sea of agriculture. He then took us to his parrot area, but alas, no parrots, only more common yellow rosellas that could be mistaken for parrots for those with an unwary eye. The parrots need Red River Gums for nesting, and mallee for foraging. So on, we went, to Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, where happily we did find parrots, including youngsters (yay!). Regrettably, there were also nasty Noisy Miners harassing them, seen in the pic above. Although native to Australia, Noisy Miners are actually classified as an EPBC key threatening process due to their aggressive behaviour that excludes other birds from important habitat sites.
 | Yum! Those big bugs are good eatin'! |
| Red-capped Robin |
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Redthroat |
We were happy to find Redthroats, lovely birds that they are. They are one of the sweet singers among the Aussie birds. That’s how we found these birds in a little forest patch in Wyperfeld National Park—Dirk merrily followed them around as they would sing from an exposed perch. They are uncommon birds, so it’s a thrill to spot that red throat on a little brown bird. When we last saw them in the Flinders Ranges of SA a few years ago, it was totally unexpected. This time, we went specifically to this are where there is a known population.
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| Shy Heathwren |
Dirk would not rest until he found a Shy Heathwren. These birds are very timid
(who'd of thunk?!) and hard to find and even more difficult to photograph, so this was a
grand adventure and hard-won success. This bird was hanging out with some foraging Fairy-wrens, birds who always catch our eye because they are such "cheeky" characters. They bop about and chitter amongst themselves and are very prone to curiosity at our "pishing" attempts (although people also look at us oddly if they come across us making smooching noises at the bushes). Dirk noticed somebody was 'different'--and lo and behold, after much to-ing and fro-ing within the bush, he emerged triumphant. This Shy Heathwren lived in Wyperfeld National Park.
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| White-browed Babbler |
Dirk went back to the Mallee in South Australia in December prior to the Australia IS conference. He returned to the Gluepot Reserve in search of Gilbert's and Red-lored Whistlers. While there, he found Babblers--yay!! The babblers are still one of our favourite birds here in Australia. They just have such huge personalities.
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| White-browed Babbler |
Cooperatively building a communal nest, everybody chips in on the action. Dirk just stayed and watched them forever--these birds are endlessly entertaining with their antics. They don't seem to fly real high and direct. Instead, they like to stay under cover. These birds were flying in low to a tree, and hopping up from branch to branch to transport sticks up to the nest. Lovingly labour-intensive.
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| Splendid Fairy-wren (male and two females) |
Splendid Fairy-wrens, indeed! Here's the matriarch of the flock, accompanied by who looks to be her best guy dressed in his finest blue suit, and one of her female offspring.
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| Shy Heathwren |
Dirk managed to track down another Shy Heathwren at Gluepot! It was another case of watching fairy-wrens and noting a bird who tail was 'not quite at the right angle'. I bit of 'phishing' and walking and this guy popped onto a branch in front of me and sang away! Not shy at all.....
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| Regent Parrot |
Wow, what gorgeous birds! This portrait is of a female. How did we let
these parrots get so endangered? The world is a poorer place without
them as our companions...
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| Gilbert's Whistler (Female) |
Finally! A Gilbert's Whistler! We've been trying to find these birds for years... they're very elusive.
