Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Dear Supporter,
Welcome to our July 2022 eNews.
In this issue we’ve got details of our upcoming July walk in Epsom, July’s nature journaling session, a walk in Muckleford with CHIRP and advance notice for our September camping trip. We also report on the AGM outcomes and as always you can test your bird knowledge with the quiz, and meet Bird of the Month!
June Bird Walk – Saturday 2 July – Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant, Epsom
We are delighted to announce that the next BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch bird walk will be held on Saturday 2 July at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant, Epsom.
Regular birders will know how good water treatment plants can be for birding, particularly for water birds but also many bush birds. This can include various species of ducks, herons, egrets, crakes and waders, as well as the usual local bush birds.
We will be guided by the Coliban Water staff along with our walk leaders, Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly.
Note there are some restrictions to this outing; the most important one being that we are limited to 40 attendees. At the time of this eNews, we already have around 25 bookings, so get in early. Please preferably email your desire to attend to bobadawson@hotmail.com or if unable to email, text to 0417 621 691.
The terms of access are below. Rebecca and Lisa from Coliban Water will be there to greet you and will have parking areas set up. Please follow their instructions at all times.
• All participants will stay in the meeting area until the tour starts. • All participants must comply with instructions provided by the tour guide. These instructions are for your safety and enjoyment. • A maximum of 20 people can take part in the tour. (40 with two tour guides). • Participant names and contact numbers are to be provided at the beginning of the tour. • An adult must supervise minors. The adult is responsible for adherence to these conditions. • All sites are to be regarded as industrial sites. • Please ensure that you don’t leave anything behind when leaving the site. This includes personal belongings and rubbish. • Please wear clothing that is suitable for the conditions. This includes sun protection, closed-toe shoes, and a jacket if it is cold and wet. • If the tour leader considers that circumstances compromise the safety of the group at any stage, the tour will be modified or cancelled. • Please note that the primary function of site plant staff is to attend to the operation of the plant. Every effort will be made to facilitate tours, but operational demands may, in some circumstances, result in the cancellation of tours at short notice.
Note there are no toilets available at the site.
Where: The walk will begin at the entrance gate to Lagoon 6, accessible from Wallenjoe Road, Epsom. From Castlemaine travel to and through Bendigo on the Calder (M79) then Midland (A79) Highways. Around 7KM past the centre of Bendigo, (just past Bunnings) you will come to Howard Street. Turn left, drive around 500mtrs along Howard Street then turn right onto Wallenjoe Rd. The gate is approx. 1.3KM down Wallenjoe Road. GPS: -36.69360, 144.30807.
When: Meet at Wallenjoe Road at 9:00am.
Bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes. 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.
July’s nature journaling session will be held on Sunday 3 July at Hawkins Road, Campbells Creek. Jane has ordered a gorgeous and sunny day, but also has a contingency plan for inclement weather involving hot drinks and warmth!
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 July from 9:30am – 11:00am, Hawkins Road, Campbells Creek, 200m past junction with Arthurs Track. There is an obvious parking spot with plenty of room. (-37.1044954, 144.2208281).
Despite what Google may tell you, please do not drive down Arthurs Track, as it is steep and a bit rough.
A beautifully and expressively rendered drawing of a nest, by Ash Vigus.
At the recent Annual General Meeting of BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch the following people were nominated for the 2022/2023 committee: Bob Dawson, Mary Dunne, David Hewett, Judy Hopley, Jane Rusden, Bill Sampson, Rosemary Turner, Ash Vigus.
Jane Rusden, BCD Convener, congratulated and welcomed returning committee members and new member, Rosemary Turner. Retiring committee members Carol Barker, Clodagh Norwood, and Peter Turner, all inaugural committee members, were thanked for their contribution over the past four years.
If you would like a copy of the Convener’s report for the past twelve months, please email castlemaine@birdlife.org.au.
A reminder to all that we are going to have a campout at Hattah-Kulkyne National Park from Friday 9 – Sunday 11 September. Remember you will have to book your camp site before you go.
The main group and marshalling area will be at the Lake Hattah Campground and if that fills up then others will need to stay at the Lake Mournpall Camping area; we will take the travel time into account for the walks if that happens.
Hattah-Kulkyne NP is approx. a four-hour drive from Castlemaine. The camping facilities are excellent and the park has a diverse range of birds and other flora and fauna. Possible birding highlights are Apostlebirds, Regent Parrot, Mallee Emu-wren, Striated Grass-wren, Chestnut Quail-thrush and if we are very lucky, Malleefowl.
We suggest driving up on the Friday to get settled in if you can. There will be no organised walks on the Friday, so people can wander around as they wish; there is normally good birding around the Lakes at Hattah-Kulkyne although there is not always water in Lake Mournpall. On the Saturday we intend running a morning walk, an afternoon walk and for those still willing, a night spotlighting walk. This means that people who cannot drive up until Saturday morning can still join in some of the organised activities. On Sunday morning we will also have an organised walk and possibly an afternoon walk, but as many may have to leave after lunch that may not go ahead.
For those not wishing to camp, there are three motels, a hotel and a caravan park with cabins at Ouyen (about 30 minutes’ drive from the Hattah-Kulkyne NP entrance/Visitor Centre).
Firm numbers are needed by the end of August so that the necessary arrangements can be made. If you are interested, please advise Bob Dawson, preferably by email to bobadawson@hotmail.com or text if you are unable to email, 0417 621 691.
For more information on Hattah-Kulkyne NP and to book camp sites click here: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/hattah—kulkyne-national-park
Photo of Hattah-Kulkyne National Park by Jane Rusden
Friday 12 August, 7.30pm by Zoom Speaker: Tanya Loos, Nature writer and science communicator “Window strike: when birds hit windows”
Window strike is a huge problem for common birds – as well as threatened species such as the Swift Parrot and Powerful Owl. Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of a thud or even a crash as a bird in rapid flight collides with a window at home. The good news is there are easy steps you can take to prevent this happening. The meeting will be held by Zoom. If you have not joined earlier webinars and wish to attend, please email Peter Turner at munrodsl@iinet.net.au.
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 Treecreeper listed below, which species is one of the feathered five group of BirdLife Castlemaine District’s mascots?
1. White-throated Treecreeper 2. Red-browed Treecreeper 3. Brown Treecreeper 4. White-browed Treecreeper
Question 2 (Intermediate): Who am I?
• I’m a small bird approximately 20 to 24 centimetres in length.
• I can be found in any treed habitat that contains hollows.
• I’m Australia’s smallest and most widespread nocturnal bird.
• My preferred prey are insects, grasshoppers, and ants.
• My nest consists of a bed of green leaves usually in a tree hollow or on a rock crevice.
• I’m sometimes seen during the day sunning myself in the entrance of my hollow.
• My colours are predominantly charcoal grey, with lighter underparts. I also have two distinctive black stripes running from above my eves to the back of my head.
• I have a tiny broad bill, with large brown oval eyes and cat-like whiskers.
Question 3 (Advanced): Spot the Feathers
All four bird species pictured below are found in the Castlemaine district; what do you think these four birds are?
Bonus Question 4 (Obscure)
All four Robins listed below are found in the district surrounding Castlemaine. Which of the Robin species listed is not a member of the Petroica genus?
1. Red-capped Robin 2. Eastern Yellow Robin 3. Flame Robin 4. Scarlet Robin
Both species of Corella are smart, cheeky and love to play. This month we look at how humans have encouraged them to adapt, sometimes to our own detriment! Enjoy reading more here.
Photo of Little Corella (with attitude!) by Jane Rusden
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Kind regards,
The BirdLife Castlemaine Committee
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Quiz Answers
Question 1: The Brown Treecreeper is a member of Birdlife Castlemaine’s Feathered Five, along with the Diamond Firetail, Jacky Winter, Hooded Robin, and the Painted Button-quail.
Question 2: Australian Owlet-nightjar.
Question 3: Clockwise from top left – Horsfield’s Bushlark, Caspian Tern, Black Kite, Varied Sitella.
Question 4: The Eastern Yellow Robin is a member of the genus Eopsaltria along with the Western Yellow Robin. The Petroica genus contains 14 species found across Australasia, with five species found on the Australian mainland, all with red or pink distinctive markings.
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