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2023 Waterbird Survey Map

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Date Location Description
08/11/2023 Day 24, Bourke to Griffith

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, Jody O'Connor

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

We took off from Bourke and flew over the Darling River on our way to the Macquarie Marshes.Ìý

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07/11/2023 Day 23, Moree to Bourke

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, Jody O'Connor

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

We headed off west of Moree, beginning with a flight down the Gwydir River where The Raft, as it is called has built up over the years...

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06/11/2023 Day 22, Sydney to Moree

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, Jodi O'Connor

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

We headed out from Sydney to Moree in northeastern NSW. It was first a straight transport flight north before surveying the Gwydir River and its wetlands.Ìý

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03/11/2023 Day 21, Swan Hill to Sydney

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, John Porter

Trainee: Ashwin Rudder

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Leaving Swan Hill early we made a beeline north to the wetlands of the lower Lachlan. First up was the Great Cumbung Swamp...

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02/11/2023 Day 20, Goolwa to Swan Hill

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, John Porter

Trainees:ÌýShelley Thompson (MDBA), Ashwin Rudder

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

We headed northeast as the sun rose over the Lower Lakes, on our way to do a second count on the lower River Murray.Ìý

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01/11/2023 Day 19, Goolwa to Goolwa

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, John Porter

Trainees: Simon Toop, Shelley Thompson,ÌýKarl Hillyard, Allira Taylor-Wilkins, Ashwin Rudder

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

This was a spectacular day on an amazing system of wetlands with tens of thousands of waterbirds.Ìý

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31/10/2023 Day 18, Mildura to Goolwa

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, John Porter

Trainees: Simon Toop, Shelley Thompson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Today we ran down the River Murray from Wentworth, past Renmark, Loxton and on to Berri, surveying the Riverland and then on to survey the two Lower Lakes, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.

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30/10/2023 Day 17, Sydney to Mildura

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, John Porter

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Departing Sydney we headed south to Albury to count along the wetlands of the River Murray and its floodplain.

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25/10/2023 Day 16, Griffith to Sydney

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, Heath Dunstan

Trainee:ÌýKurt Murphy

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

We headed south from Griffith to pick up our usual Survey Band 4 and continue heading east along the Band.

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24/10/2023 Day 15, Broken Hill to Griffith

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, Heath Dunstan

Trainee:ÌýKurt Murphy

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

We left Broken Hill to finish off the southern part of the Menindee Lakes. First up was Lake Menindee.

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23/10/2023 Day 14, Sydney to Broken Hill

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Observers:ÌýRichard Kingsford, Heath Dunstan

Trainee:ÌýKurt Murphy

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Today was my first leg of this 41st aerial survey of waterbirds. I was keen to see where the water was and whether the numbers of waterbirds had built up after La Niña years.Ìý

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19/10/2023 Day 13, Wangaratta to Sydney

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Observers: John Porter, Paul Wainwright

Pilot: Thomas Clark

From Wangaratta we continued eastward, counting along sections of the King, Ovens and Kiewa River valleys.

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18/10/2023 Day 12, Narracoorte to Wangaratta

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Observers: John Porter, Paul Wainwright

Trainee: Scott Henshall

Pilot: Thomas Clark

Departing Narracoorte on another perfect day for waterbird survey, we tracked north...

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17/10/2023 Day 11, Warrnambool to Narracoorte

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Observers: John Porter, Paul Wainwright

Trainee: Scott Henshall

Pilot: Thomas Clark

The weather gods seem to have heeded our pleas and Tuesday dawned bright and clear with almost no wind, providing perfect waterbird counting conditions!

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16/10/2023 Day 10,ÌýSydney to Warrnambool

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Observers: John Porter, Paul Wainwright

Trainee: Scott Henshall

Pilot: Thomas Clark

Departing Sydney we headed south to Avon and Cordeaux Dams near Wollongong.Ìý

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12/10/2023 Day 9,ÌýArmidale to Sydney

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Departing Armidale we headed to some large dams near the coal fired power station at Lake Liddell.Ìý

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11/10/2023 Day 8,ÌýThargomindah to Armidale

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Eventually we departed Thargomindah and headed west along the water holes of the Bulloo River.

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10/10/2023 Day 7,ÌýCharleville to Thargomindah

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Flying east from Charleville we surveyed a series of small farm dams and drainage lines which have low numbers of waterbirds

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09/10/2023 Day 6, Windorah toÌýCharlevilleÌý

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Lake Machattie was almost full of water and was teeming with waterbirds, it is genuinely a spectacular sight to see...

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08/10/2023 Day 5,ÌýRockhampton to Windorah

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

From Rockhampton we headed south to Callide Reservoir near Biloela which had low numbers of waterbirds...

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06/10/2023 Day 4,ÌýMt Isa to Rockhampton

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Today is one of the longest legs of the survey so we decided to get going early and depart in the pre-dawn darkness.

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05/10/2023 Day 3,ÌýAirlie Beach to Mt Isa

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

After departing Airlie Beach we head west across the floodplain of the Proserpine River...

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04/10/2023 Day 2, Maroochydore to Airlie Beach

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Rain showers greet us on day 2 of the survey as we head into the hills west of Maroochydore...

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03/10/2023 Day 1, Sydney to Maroochydore

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Observers:ÌýJohn Porter, Shannon Dundas

Trainee:ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

The forty-first year of waterbird aerial surveys departs Sydney into clear skies but a gusty north westerly.Ìý

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