Storms in Newcastle and Sydney
No Comments »11th June, 2007; Category: General
Last week there were severe storms and heavy rain in the Sydney area, and particularly around the city of Newcastle, north of Sydney. Extreme weather conditions can adversely affect the wildlife, and the bird-life in particular.
If any of my readers come from that area, please use the comments section to let us know how the birds are coping – and how you are coping with this disaster.
Meanwhile here in South Australia we have had excellent opening rains to the winter season. The reservoirs are steadily filling but we will still need much more rain over the coming winter months and again next year to get back to anything like normal. We are still on severe water restrictions due to the lack of rain over several years.
More worrying is the state of the River Murray. South Australians rely heavily upon the river for irrigation and for domestic use. The catchment areas of the river system have had some rain but not enough to create the necessary flow the fill storage dams. Everyone is hoping for excellent winter rainfall plus a heavy snowfall in the mountains of the eastern states.
UPDATE: The storms and heavy rain have caused major flooding in the Newcastle area. Thousands of homes and shops have been flooded. At this stage at least 9 people have lost their lives in the floods. Our condolences to all those who have lost loved ones, and our thoughts are with those whose property has been damaged or have been forced to evacuate their homes or businesses.
The Birds of the Mannum district
I’ve been a little distracted in recent days by a writing project that I’ve been asked to undertake. It involves the birds of the Mannum district. Mannum is a small country town on the banks of the River Murray about a half hour drive north of where I live. It was once a bustling river town in the heyday of the river boat trade. It then progressed to become a centre for the nearby farming community. In more recent years it has been promoted as a tourist destination for those wanting a quiet time relaxing by or on the river.
Some time ago I was approached by a local committee, Friends of the Mannum Walking Trails. This group has been very active in setting up a series of walking trails in the town and along the river. One of their aims is to encourage both locals and visitors to take a greater interest in the bird life of the town and the wetlands associated with the river. That’s where they needed my help.
Over the last week I have been busy preparing a mock-up of a pamphlet that can be placed in tourist centres in order to encourage people to go birding. This has required some writing about the birds of the area and the inclusion of a selection of bird photos illustrating the text. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this and I was quite pleased with the result. The committee was most impressed too, so I must be on the right track.
Interestingly, my research has shown that there is precious little in the way of resources like this in South Australia. Perhaps there is a writing niche waiting to be filled.
Time for a game about birds
1 Comment »5th June, 2007; Category: General
Making a list:
When I go out birding I usually make a list of the different species of birds I observe or hear. I also record the number of each species seen and this goes in my database records. On most occasions this has to be an estimate. Rarely do I get the chance to actually count the individual birds unless the number is in single figures where it is relatively easy. The larger the flock, the harder it is to get a reasonable estimate.
Counting sheep:
My father was very skilled at counting sheep as they moved through a gate from one paddock to another. In this way he could tell in an instant if there were some missing, such as a group of stragglers left over a hill or behind a patch of scrub. He counted by “chunking” into groups of five or ten or twenty. This works quite well with flocks of birds but it is still somewhat of a rough estimate.
Counting birds:
On a few occasions I have seen a flock of birds feeding on the ground and done a quick estimate by grouping them like my father would with his sheep. I’ve then gone back over the flock counting more accurately. On most occasions I’ve been surprised that my estimate was as much as 25 or 30% below the actual number. My counting by estimation is almost always in error on the conservative side.
A bird counting game:
I recently found out about a game that’s been devised to test a birder’s ability to count a flying flock of birds. It only takes a few minutes to play and it ranks your ability against everyone else in your country. The last time I played I was ranked 11th in Australia. (Not sure how many had played before me.)
Here is the link:
- Irania Bird Counting Game (SORRY -this link no longer works)
Enjoy.
Singing in the rain
Winter is finally here in South Australia. The nights are cool – even a little chilly and the mornings are damp with dew and a lovely crispness in the air. We haven’t had a frost yet which is rather unusual for this time of the year. By the end of May we’ve usually had several – perhaps three or four – but the temperature hasn’t yet dropped below about 6C. Plenty of time for frosts later.
Over recent weeks we have had some reasonable falls of rain. For most of this week we have had periods of light drizzle, several heavy showers and other times of steady light rain for extended periods. Yesterday it rained steadily from about 4am to mid-morning.
Everything looks clean and fresh. A green tinge of grass can be seen everywhere. When the sun emerges like it did this morning, the birds come out to sing. Thornbills twittering everywhere. I heard several Mallee Ringnecks calling as I walked down the driveway to collect the paper. A Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike glided overhead giving its churring call. Honeyeaters are busy collecting their breakfast from the few flowers out at this time of the year. Small flock of Galahs fly overhead and the mournful cry of a Raven can be heard in the distance.
The only downside to all this rain and cooler weather is that few birds come to visit the bird baths. My chief source of photos has dried up, so to speak. I guess I’ll just have to get out there in the bush or down by the river and see if I can get some photos.
Meanwhile, I invite you to head over to another blog I write, Trevor’s Travels. Over the next three weeks or so I am featuring a series of articles on the birds and animals of Nepal.
As Free as a Bird
This week’s idiom: As free as a bird.
Most birds are free to go where they please. Unless they are in a cage or aviary, in which case they are not as free as a bird.
Meaning:
If someone is said to “be as free as a bird” they are able to go wherever they please without any restrictions or worries.
Example:
When Jenny left home and travelled through Europe without her parents, she was as free as a bird.
King Parrot at Adelaide Zoo
The bird shown in the photo above is not as free as a bird. The photo was taken inside a walk through aviary at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia. King Parrots are found as free as a bird in the forests and woodlands of eastern Australia.
Click on the photo to enlarge the image.