July Bird Walk – Saturday 3 July – Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park, Kangaroo Flat

The next BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch bird walk will be held on Saturday 3 July at the Crusoe Reservoir and No.7 Park, Kangaroo Flat. The local history is of gold mining with the original reservoir set up to supply the early miners’ camps. The local ecology is largely box/ironbark with a variety of indigenous vegetation. Over 170 bird species have been seen at the reserve as well as other flora and fauna. Recent sightings include a number of species of Honeyeater including Scarlet Honeyeater, Great-crested Grebe, Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterel, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Little and Musk Lorikeet and Chestnut-rumped Heathwren. The track around the main reservoir is about 3.3KM and is largely flat and easy walking with plenty of seats along the way if needed, but there are shorter walks for those that may not want to go that far.

Our walk leader will be David Hewett. ALL WELCOME!

Note the area has all abilities access and there are toilets available. To discover more about Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park click here.

Where: The Crusoe Reservoir is located on Crusoe Road, Kangaroo Flat. From Castlemaine, take the Pyrenees Hwy (B180) to the Calder Freeway (M79). As you come into the built-up area, you will see on the left the big red and grey Bendigo sign by the Karinya Retirement Village (Aviva); just past that you will come to Furness Road (Harvey Norman is on the corner). Turn left and go to the end of Furness Road, then turn left into Crusoe Road. The gate to the reservoir is about 500M on the left. From Maldon, take the Bendigo – Maldon Road (C283) then left onto Calder Alternate Hwy (A790).  After 850M turn right onto Crusoe Road.  After 6.7KM, Crusoe Reservoir is on the right. We meet in the car park there. There is a small Crusoe Reservoir sign. GPS: -36.81677, 144.22310.

When: Meet at the Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park car park at 9:00am.

Bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, sunscreen, hat, sturdy 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 your email and our Facebook page the day before the event in case there is a cancellation.

Nature Journaling with BirdLife Castlemaine District

Rug up and let your creative juices flow while immersing yourself in nature, and join us for some nature journaling. All welcome.

When and where: Saturday 3 July, at Crusoe Reservoir from 11:30am to 1:30pm following the monthly bird walk. See item above for location details and click here for more information.

What to bring: Something to sit on, your lunch, drinks etc. Bring very warm clothing, rain gear, shoes suitable for uneven ground and binoculars if you need or have them, and most importantly, your creative materials – pen, paper, pencils, paint, camera, or whatever you need to get creative in nature. Guide books could be helpful to identify plants and animals.

Female Zebra Finch, watercolour and ink, by Jane Rusden.

Weekend Mallee Camp

A reminder to all that we are going to have a campout at Hattah-Kulkyne National Park from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 September. If anyone is not aware of it and is interested, or would like more details, please let Bob Dawson know via email.

We will have walks organised for Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning. For those that do not wish to camp, there are various other forms of accommodation at Ouyen, around a 30-minute drive from the park.

2021 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards

Entries for the third BirdLife Australia Photography Awards are now open.

There are nine categories, including one for Youth aimed at budding photographers under 18.

Entries close on 2 August. For more information, visit the Awards website.

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

Victoria has an abundance of Cockatoo species, many of who are resident in the Castlemaine district. From the four species listed below, which  is not resident in the state of Victoria?

1. Galah
2. Palm Cockatoo
3. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
4. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

Question 2 (Intermediate): Who am I?

• I’m a year-round resident in the Castlemaine district.

• I’m approx. 60 to 75 centimetres in length with a wingspan of approx. 100 centimetres.

• I’m commonly seen in shallow wetlands and farm dams, but I can also be found in wet paddocks, ovals, golf courses, tidal mudflats and the odd garden fishpond!

• I like to nest in trees, often some distance from water.

• I  have very long yellow legs, and a long-pointed bill.

• My diet consists of small marine invertebrates, fish and frogs.

• My colours are predominately blue/grey, but I have a distinctive white face, chin and upper neck.

• I’m generally a quiet bird, but I can let out a guttural graaw sound.

Question 3 (Advanced): Spot the Feathers

All four species pictured below are found in the Castlemaine district. What do you think these four birds are?

Bonus Question 4 (Obscure)

Gregarious and highly social, Australasian babblers (Pomatostomidae) are a family of four distinct species, found throughout various parts of mainland Australia. Name all four species that form the Pomatostomidae family.

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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: Palm Cockatoo, a species only found in far north Queensland.

Question 2: White-faced Heron.

Question 3: Clockwise from top left – Grey Shrike-thrush, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Galah, Spotted Pardalote.

Question 4: Grey-crowned Babbler, White-browed Babbler, Chestnut-crowned Babbler, Hall’s Babbler.