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BirdLife Castlemaine District eNews April 2022

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

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Welcome to Castlemaine District eNews!

Dear Supporter,

Welcome to our April 2022 eNews.

In this issue we’ve got a summary of our March walk, details of our upcoming April walk at Taradale, an update on nature journaling, information on a bird walk around Castlemaine Botanical Gardens in partnership with Castlemaine Health and CHIRP, and the launch of ‘Bird walk for beginners’. And of course you can also test your bird knowledge with the quiz, and meet Bird of the Month!

March Bird Walk Summary – Sutton Grange

An enthusiastic group of birders joined leader Damian Kelly on our March bird walk along the Mount Barker Channel, Leanganook Track. By the time the group set off it was a bright, clear and refreshed autumn morning – perfect weather for birding! We were not disappointed with 28 species seen or heard including large numbers of Grey Fantails, Silvereyes and seven Mistletoe birds (one a juvenile). After returning to our starting point we were rewarded with the sighting of a Black Kite gliding nearby. Many thanks to Damian Kelly for leading the walk.

Photo by Ash Vigus

April Bird Walk – Saturday 2 April – Coliban Main Channel, Taradale

We are delighted to announce that the next BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch bird walk will be held on Saturday 2 April at the Coliban Main Channel, Taradale. This is another out and back walk that follows the same Malmsbury Reservoir to Bendigo water channel as the March walk, but much further south. The habitat is however quite different, being box and stringy-bark forest. The walk is along a relatively flat and easy pathway. Birds that may be seen include Scarlet and Eastern Yellow Robin, White-browed Scrubwren, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Dusky Woodswallows and a possible six species of Honeyeater. As with the March walk, this walk features in Damian Kelly’s book, “Castlemaine Bird Walks”. Our walk leaders will be Jennifer Rolland and Euan Moore.

Note there are no toilets available at the site.

PLEASE NOTE – AS PER THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT COVID-19 DIRECTIVES, ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED (2 JABS) ARE PERMITTED TO ATTEND FUNCTIONS. TO COMPLY WITH THIS, WE WILL ONLY BE ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO SHOW A VALID PAPER OR ELECTRONIC VACCINATION CERTIFICATE TO ACCOMPANY US, UNLESS YOU ARE AGED 16 OR UNDER OR HAVE A VALID MEDICAL EXEMPTION ISSUED BY A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER. WE WILL BE CHECKING CERTIFICATES AT SIGN IN.

Where: The Coliban Main Channel south of Taradale is accessed off Tyquins Rd, Taradale. From Castlemaine, take the Pyrenees Hwy (B180) towards Melbourne. Travel approx. 12KM and just before you reach the Calder Freeway, turn right onto the Calder Highway (C794), drive 7.1KM then turn right onto Martins Rd. After around 600 metres this becomes Conlans Rd, drive another 700 metres and turn left onto Tyquins Rd. Follow Tyquins Rd for 1.5KM and turn right onto the Channel Track.

Those coming from the south on the Calder Freeway should take the Malmsbury turn off, turn left on the Calder Highway and after driving for approx. 7KM turn left onto Conlans Rd. GPS: -37.16914, 144.34294

When: Meet at Coliban Main Channel access track at 9:00am.

Bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes. As it is still snake season, we also strongly recommend that you wear long trousers and closed-in shoes.

More info: Jane Rusden, 0448 900 896, Judy Hopley 0425 768 559 or Bob Dawson 0417 621 691.

Please note that walks will be cancelled if severe weather warnings are in place, persistent rain is forecast, the temperature is forecast to be 35C or above during the walk period, and/or a Total Fire Ban is declared. Please check our Facebook page the day before the event in case there is a cancellation.

Nature Journaling with BirdLife Castlemaine District

Please note that the dates for nature journaling have changed and it will now take place on the first Sunday of the month, from 9:30-11:00am.

What to bring:

– Something to sit on, your art materials and paper, writing materials, camera and binoculars if you have them.

– Water, snacks, sun hat and sunscreen.

– Please wear long sleeves, long trousers and sturdy shoes suitable for rough terrain. Rug up well in winter, you will be sitting still and will need very warm clothes.

– Your creativity.

All welcome – experience, or lack of, is immaterial.

Contact Jane Rusden on 0448 900 896 with any questions.

When and where: Sunday 3 April from 9:30am, Dog Rocks on Mount Alexander, Joseph Young Drive, Faraday VIC 3451. Car parking on Joseph Young Drive, then we will walk a short distance to a pretty spot to draw, write and be creative.

Drawing by Jane Rusden

Bird Walk for Beginners Launch

We’ve teamed up with Connecting Country and other partners to launch ‘Bird walk for beginners’ on Wednesday 6 April with an easy walk along Leanganook Track and Forest Creek in Castlemaine. The event and bird walk brochure aim to attract new birdwatchers, as well as celebrate the excellent restoration work that volunteers have achieved over the past few decades along Forest Creek.

Bookings are essential, and more details are available here.

Duck Shooting Update – Illegal Shooting Reported at Cairn Curran in First Days of 2022 Duck Shooting Season

Duck shooting was reported to have started at Cairn Curran well before this year’s legal start time of 8am, despite the Game Management Authority being warned days in advance of duck shooters’ plans to converge on the area.

Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting (RVOTDS) understands that locals are hesitant to report illegal hunting for fear it makes no difference. (The regulator’s lines are unattended after hours when most shooting occurs, and callers are directed to police who have been referred to as  “too busy to attend and if they do it’s after the fact”). RVOTDS is strongly encouraging the community to make reports to allow for accurate data on hunting issues, and also to take stories to the media at any time.

Notification of Annual General Meeting

The 2022 Annual General Meeting of BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch will be held on Saturday 4 June at 11.30am in Fryerstown, following the monthly bird walk. Location details will be confirmed nearer the date of the walk and meeting. BYO drinks and chair; food will be provided for morning tea.

A nomination form for committee positions will be available on the day or can be requested in advance by emailing castlemaine@birdlife.org.au. The positions vacant are Convenor, Secretary, Treasurer, and committee members.  Please consider nominating for the committee.

Nomination forms and proxy voting forms should be emailed to castlemaine@birdlife.org.au OR mailed to: Secretary, BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch, 25A Church Street, Maldon, 3463.

Nominations will also be accepted on the day of the AGM.

Know Your Birds Quiz

Test your bird knowledge in this month’s quiz with the four questions below, then check the answers at the end of this eNews. Big thanks as always to quizmaster Ash Vigus.

Question 1 (Beginner): Multiple Choice

From the four species of parrots listed below, which is considered to be the world’s fastest flying parrot?

1. Musk Lorikeet
2. Swift Parrot
3. Blue-winged Parrot
4. Crimson Rosella

Question 2 (Intermediate): Who am I?

• I’m a medium sized bird approximately 60cm in length with an approximate wingspan of 90cm.

• I’m found in every Australian state, as well as New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and some Pacific islands.

• I’m almost always found near or in water, (either fresh or saltwater) ranging from coastal estuaries and islands to rivers, lakes, and farm dams.

• I like to feed on a wide variety of aquatic animals, from insects to fish. On inland waterways and streams one of my favourite foods is freshwater crayfish (yabbies).

• I catch my prey by making quick deep underwater dives, with both feet kicking out in unison.

• I like to breed in colonies or less commonly in single pairs. My nest is a flat platform of sticks lined with leaves, usually placed in a tree.

• My colours are black upper parts, ranging from crown to tail. With white underparts from the face all the way to the rump, I have a stubby yellow-sided bill and black legs.

Question 3 (Advanced): Image Puzzle

The bird photograph below has been scrambled. Using your bird identification skills attempt to unpuzzle the image and identify the species. The unpuzzled image will be available with the solutions at the bottom of the newsletter.

Bonus Question 4 (Obscure)

As reported recently on ABC news, a species of critically endangered dryland bird had a captive release of ten birds near Hay in southern New South Wales. What is the species of bird released? Choose from the list below.

1. Inland Dotterel
2. Cinnamon Quail-thrush
3. Black-eared Miner
4. Plains-wanderer

Bird of the Month – Common Bronzewing

Common Bronzewings enjoying a spa bath and other antics of this unusual species. To learn more about their fascinating lives, click here.

Photo of Common Bronzewing by Jane Rusden

Follow us on Facebook

We have a BirdLife Castlemaine District Facebook page. Follow us for all the latest bird news and events.

Become a Member

Membership of BirdLife Australia is a great way to support a bright future for Australia’s birds – and it would also make a perfect gift for a bird-lover! Learn more about membership or other ways to get involved here.

Kind regards,

The BirdLife Castlemaine Committee

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Quiz Answers

Question 1: The Swift Parrot is the world’s fastest flying parrot, with one bird being recorded flying at 88 kilometres an hour.

Question 2: Little Pied Cormorant.

Question 3: Yellow-faced Honeyeater.

Question 4: The Plains-wanderer. As part of the Paddocks for Plains-wanderers Project, ten birds bred in captivity were released into the wild at Bedarbidgal Station near Hay in New South Wales. As reported by the ABC on 21 March 2022.

Photo of Yellow-faced Honeyeater by Ash Vigus

Walks Calendar

  • 3 April 2022
    Location: Coliban Main Channel, Taradale
    Leaders: Jennifer Rolland and Euan Moore
  • 7 May 2022
    Location: Wombat Forest
    Leader: Tanya Loos
  • 4 June 2022 (to be followed by Castlemaine District AGM)
    Location: Fryerstown
    Leader: Clodagh Norwood
  • 2 July 2022
    Location: TBC
    Leader: TBC
  • 6 August 2022
    Location: Private property in Strangways
    Leader: Andrew Skeoch
  • 3 September 2022
    Location: Crusoe Reservoir, Bendigo
    Leader: David Hewett
  • 9-11 September 2022
    Weekend Bird Camp – Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
  • 1 October 2022
    Location: Rise and Shine Nature Reserve, Sandon
    Leaders: Cheryl Taylor and Ron Westcott
  • 6 November 2022
    Location: TBC
    Leaders: Peter and Rosemary Turner
  • 3 December 2022 (to be followed by end-of-year morning tea)
    Location: TBC
    Leaders: TBC
BirdLife Australia, BirdLife Victoria Group, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053  | castlemaine@birdlife.org.au