Tuesday, 25 October 2022
Dear Supporter,
Welcome to our November 2022 eNews.
In this issue we’ve got details of our upcoming November walk at Pennyweight Flat, and November’s nature journaling session. There’s also a heads’ up for our December bird walk at Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant, and of course you can test your bird knowledge with the quiz, and meet Bird of the Month!
November Bird Walk – Pennyweight Flat Cemetery and Forest Creek, Moonlight Flat (Castlemaine)
The November BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch bird walk will be held on Saturday 5 November at the Pennyweight Flat Cemetery and Forest Creek, Moonlight Flat. We had intended on going to Warburton’s Bridge, Glenluce but due to weather and other concerns it has been changed. Apologies if this affects people in any way.
The area offers mixed habitat with mature trees along the creek, edge, shrub and grassed areas. Species recently seen in the area include Common and Brush Bronzewing, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Spinebill, along with various Honeyeaters, Robins, Thornbills, Pardalotes etc. As we are now well into spring, many birds should be showing courting and nesting behaviour.
Our walk leaders are Rosemary and Peter Turner. ALL WELCOME!
Be aware that due to the nature of the weather we have been having that conditions will be damp to say the least so make sure you are prepared.
Please note there are no toilets at the site.
Where: Pennyweight Flat Cemetery is located off Colles Road, Moonlight Flat. From the roundabout at the corner of Forest Street (Pyrenees Hwy B180) and Hargraves Street, Castlemaine, drive along Forest Street toward Melbourne for 1.6KM and turn left onto Murphy Street. After 450 metres turn left onto Colles Road; 400 metres along Colles Road on the left you will see the carpark for the Cemetery. After birding around that area, we will travel back to the corner of Colles Road and Murphy Street for a walk along Forest Creek. GPS: -37.067447, 144.241550.
When: Meet at Pennyweight Flat Cemetery 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.
Advance Notice of December Bird Walk – Saturday 3 December – Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant, Epsom
Our December Bird Walk has now been confirmed and due to the July visit to the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant being such a success, we have decided to do it again. As there is a restriction of group sizes at the Plant of 20, and we can have two groups, we will again need to limit numbers to 40 attendees. Please email your desire to attend to janerusden@icloud.com.
November’s nature journaling session will be held on Sunday 6 November at the northern end of Porcupine Ridge Road, Tarilta, just north of Italian Hill Track.
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 6 November from 9:30am – 11:00am, at the northern end of Porcupine Ridge Road, Tarilta, just north of Italian Hill Track. Please note there is no access via Vaughan Springs; the bridge is closed and the ford a raging torrent and quite likely closed.
GPS:-37.1667520, 144.2091098
Zebra Finch painted with watercolour and ink by Jane Rusden
During Seniors Week, 2022, BirdLife Castlemaine District Branch was invited to participate in an Information Expo held in conjunction with the community lunch at the Castlemaine Town Hall. Many in attendance visited our display and expressed interest in observing our local birds, and signed up to receive our monthly eNews. A successful and enjoyable event that allowed us to showcase our birds and encourage people to become involved in our events.
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 Crow or Raven listed below, which species is not endemic to Australia?
1. Australian Raven 2. Forest Raven 3. House Crow 4. Little Raven
Question 2 (Intermediate): Who am I?
• I’m a medium-sized bird approx. 30 to 34cm in length.
• I’m found in all the eastern states of Australia, from southern Queensland to southeast South Australia.
• My diet consists mainly of seeds, fruits, buds, flowers, and nectar.
• I’m found in open woodlands, grasslands, farmlands, and remnant bushland.
• I have vivid plumage, with yellowish to greenish upper parts, a yellow underbody and a yellow-green to blue-green rump, with a red undertail, and bright blue shoulders.
• I mainly feed on the ground, especially amongst grasses in lawns and pastures, where despite my bright colours my camouflage can make me very difficult to see.
• My nest is usually built in a hollow in a eucalypt tree, where the eggs are laid on a decayed wood bed.
• I have a bright red head, neck, and breast with very prominent white cheeks, and a white bill.
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)
From the four species of Cockatoo listed below, which species uses a stick to bang out a rhythm to attract a mate?
1. Red-tailed Black Cockatoo 2. Gang-gang Cockatoo 3. Palm Cockatoo 4. Glossy Black Cockatoo
Damian Kelly writes about the fastest aerialist in town, accompanied by his stunning photos. Enjoy reading it here.
Photo of Peregrine Falcon by Damian Kelly
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Kind regards,
The BirdLife Castlemaine Committee
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Quiz Answers
Question 1: The House Crow – a Corvid native to South Asia and subcontinental India.
Question 2: Eastern Rosella.
Question 3: Clockwise from top left – Varied Sittella, Welcome Swallow, Rainbow Bee-eater, Pallid Cuckoo.
Question 4: The Palm Cockatoo. A male Palm Cockatoo will bang a stick against a hollow tree in order to attract a mate.
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