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BirdLife Castlemaine District eNews April 2023

Tuesday, 28 March 2023

  • Estimated reading time 10 minutes

Welcome to Castlemaine District eNews!

Dear Supporter,

Welcome to our eNews for April 2023.

In this issue we’ve got a wrap-up of our March walk at Malmsbury Reservoir, details of our upcoming April walk in Fryerstown, and April Nature Journaling. And don’t forget to check out Bird of the Month and test your bird knowledge with the quiz!

We’re also very excited to be able to publish our walks calendar for 2023.

March Walk Wrap-up

Thirty four birdwatchers enjoyed a beautiful autumn morning at Malmsbury Reservoir for our March walk. Many species of water and bushland birds were seen or heard, including a Caspian Tern and several Black-fronted Dotterels. The full list can be found here.

Many thanks to Bob Dawson for choosing such a great spot and leading the walk.

April Bird Walk – Spring Gully, Fryerstown

We are delighted to announce that our April BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch bird walk will be held on Saturday 1 April 2023 at Spring Gully in Fryerstown.

This is yet another great part of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. We’ll walk north along Old Coach Rd (Goldfields Track) for as long as people want. It is easy walking with gentle slopes and most of the track is wide enough for people to walk side-by-side. Birds that have been seen here in recent times are Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Common Bronzewing, Brown and White-throated Treecreepers, Rufous and Golden Whistlers, Dusky Woodswallow, Eastern Spinebill, Scarlet and Eastern Yellow Robin, Speckled Warbler, Silvereye, various Thornbills and Honeyeaters. Our walk leaders will be Jenny Rolland and Euan Moore.

Please note there are no toilets at the site.

Where: The Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, Spring Gully, Fryerstown. From Castlemaine centre take the Pyrenees Hwy (B180) towards Melbourne. Drive 3.8KM then turn right at Chewton onto Fryers Rd (this becomes Vaughan-Chewton Rd). Drive 4.1KM then turn right into Spring Gully Rd; after 1.3KM turn left into Old Coach Rd, then drive 140 Metres and park at the Spring Gully Mine site (sign posted). Alternatively, from Campbells Creek, take the Campbells Creek – Fryerstown Rd, turn left into Spring Gully Rd then right into Old Coach Rd. There is plenty of parking at the Spring Gully Mine.

GPS: -37.116262, 144.240916.

When: Meet at Spring Gully Mine parking area at 9:00am.

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

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

To discover more about Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, click here.

Birdlife Castlemaine acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we are holding our walk, the Dja Dja Wurrung people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We recognise and are grateful for the immense contribution of Indigenous people to the knowledge and conservation of Australia’s birds.

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

This month’s spot high up on Arthur’s Track has great views through the trees, interesting vegetation, ironbark trees, beautiful lichen covered rocks, and hopefully some mixed bird flocks will pass through.

Be prepared to sit quietly in the bush, to observe the comings and goings of nature, and draw, paint, photograph, write about your experiences. No experience necessary, but you will need to be self-sufficient.

What to bring:

– Sunhat, long sleeves and long trousers, sturdy footwear suitable for uneven ground.

– Sunscreen, water and snacks.

– A small selection of art materials such as paints, pencils, pens, coloured pencils, pastels, paper, water container if applicable, camera or phone and binoculars if you have them. A bag to put it all in.

– Something to sit on, such as a camp chair or rug.

– Your sense of curiosity.

Contact Jane Rusden on 0448 900 896 with any questions.

When and where: Sunday 2 April from 9:30am – 11:30am, at the highest point on Arthur’s Track, 150 Metres from Dingo Park Rd junction, (and a short distance east of JIRRAHLINGA DINGO CONSERVATION & WILDLIFE CENTRE) in Campbells Creek.

GPS:-37.1028135, 144.2357291

Approach from Dingo Park Rd not Arthur’s Track because it is steep and rocky. Park along the track.

Please note there are no toilets or shops available nearby.

GPS: -36.9907965, 144.3086956

Beautiful ink drawing by talented Ash Vigus, at Mount Alexander on last month’s Nature Journaling outing.

Bird and Wildlife Documentaries

Tavish Bloom, a keen young birder and wildlife observer who regularly attends BirdLife Castlemaine District monthly bird walks, and his friend Luca, both aged 12, have begun making mini bird and wildlife documentaries. Take a look at Birds of Wheatsheaf and for more of their films check out Pardalotus Films on YouTube.

Bird of the Month – Silvereye

Tiny and often seen in gardens with water or food resources, who’d have guessed the Silvereye can take on flights covering huge distances over perilous terrain. A big surprise in a small package.

Find out more here.

Photo of Silvereye by Damian Kelly

Know Your Birds Quiz

Test your bird knowledge in this month’s quiz with the 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

What is Australia’s largest bird of prey? Choose from the four listed below.

1. White-bellied Sea Eagle
2. Wedge-tailed Eagle
3. Powerful Owl
4. Black-breasted Buzzard

Question 2 (Intermediate): Spot the Feathers

All four bird species pictured below are found in the Castlemaine district; what do you think these four birds are?

Question 3 (Advanced)

What is Australia’s heaviest species of flying bird? Choose from the six species listed below.

1. Australian Pelican
2. Brolga
3. Wedge-tailed Eagle
4. Black Swan
5. Australian Bustard
6. Black-necked Stork

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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Walks Calendar 2023

1 April
Leaders
: Jenny Rolland and Euan Moore
Location: Spring Gully, Fryerstown6 May
Leaders:
Cheryl Taylor and Ron Wescott
Location: Black Hill Reserve, Edgecombe3 June
Leader:
Andrew Skeogh
Location: Private Property, Strangways1 July
Leader:
Bill Sampson
Location: Cave Gully Walk, Guildford5 August
Leader:
Tanya Loos
Location: Bald Hill Reserve, Kyneton
2 September
Leaders:
Bob Dawson and Coliban Water staff
Location: Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant, Epsom (TBC)7 October
Leaders:
Rosemary and Peter Turner
Location: Pennyweight Flat, Castlemaine (TBC)27-29 October
Weekend Bird Camp – Lower Glenelg National Park and surrounding area
4 November
Leader: Damian Kelly
Location: Drury Lane, Clydesdale2 December
Leader: David Hewitt
Location: Crusoe No.7 Park, Big Hill (followed by end-of-year morning tea)

Quiz Answers

Question 1: The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey.

Question 2: Clockwise from top left – Jacky Winter, Silvereye, Grey Fantail, Fuscous Honeyeater.

Question 3: The Australian Bustard is Australia’s heaviest flying bird. Some males have been recorded weighing between 10 to 14 kilograms.

BirdLife Australia, BirdLife Victoria Group, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053  | castlemaine@birdlife.org.au