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Date:ÌýFriday 4th October 2024

Project:ÌýEastern Australian Waterbird Survey

Observers: Richard Kingsford (UNSW),ÌýChris Sanderson

Pilot:ÌýThomas Clark

Today was a long leg, demanding an early start with a plane load up before dawn.Ìý

We went past the smokestacks of Mt Isa, heading down towards the Georgina River waterholes, about 200 km to the south.

Mount Isa

Just after we left Mt Isa, we found where the ash and smoke all over town the previous night had come from – a very large fire just south of town. Ìý

South of Mount Isa

Flying past fire south of Mount Isa

Once we were through the smoke, the sun coming up created ‘shadow lines’ across the vast western Queensland landscape.

Our first survey today was on the survey Band 9, the Georgina River waterholes. These permanent parts of the river channel are really important during dry times for waterbirds. Today, they had just over a hundred waterbirds, mostly Pelicans, cormorants, Darters, spoonbills and Pacific Black Ducks. Ìý

Georgina River

Surveying Lake KatherineÌýon the Georgina River

Heading east straight into the sun was difficult as it rose but a lovely golden light across this arid landscape.

Golden morning light

There were only a few patches of water in the creeks and rivers out here, but not enough to support more than the odd waterbird, usually herons or spoonbills.

Patch of water in creek, arid landscape

We flew over lots of creeks and rivers, nearly all dry before landing in Winton to refuel. ÌýBefore landing, we had to get thirty Black Kites sitting on the airstrip to move.ÌýÌý

Winton, Black Kites on airstrip

West of Winton, we surveyed about twenty dry creeks and farm dams, most of which were less than half full.ÌýÌý

Our first ‘big’ survey was of Lake Dunn, a large freshwater lake near Aramac. There were more than a hundred waterbirds on the lake, mostly Grey Teal but also Brolgas and Pied Stilts. Ìý

Surveying Lake Dunn

We then flew up to one of the more special lakes on the aerial survey - Lake Galilee, a massive salt lake which rarely fully floods. I think I have only seen this in a couple of times in the last four decades. When it does it is amazing for waterbirds. Today only a small eastern portion had water. But it was buzzing with waterbirds. Even this small flooded area had more than a thousand waterbirds, mostly Grey Teal but also Black Swans, Pink-eared Ducks, Brolgas and Pelicans. Ìý

Lake Galilee, Qld

A flock of the thousands of Grey Teal, Lake Galilee

Flying up the creek supplying Lake Galilee, with thousands of waterbirds

We then surveyed farm dams all the way east to near the coast. As usual, there were large numbers of Brolgas out here in a couple of patches. One small area of water in a wheat field had hundreds of Brolgas – a fantastic sight. Ìý

Today we had to go further east than we normally do, picking up our survey from two days ago when we were flying up the coast and doing the ‘edges’ of the survey bands. At the time, we got a rude shock that some of the key wetlands we always survey had been incorporated into a military training zone. Shoalwater Bay is well known but had expanded. We hadn’t been able to survey the wetlands. Over the past two days, corresponding with the Australian Defence Force, we had managed to get permission to enter to do our surveys. One of the little unexpected challenges overcome.ÌýÌý

Shoalwater Bay, Qld

We got in there eventually which was great. The freshwater area is always important for a large range of waterbirds, including Pacific Black Duck, Black Swans, Brolgas, Hardhead and coot. In the past we have seen large numbers of Magpie Geese and Radjah Shelduck but it has been a few years since we have seen them. There were up to a thousand waterbirds on the wetlands and so important to keep surveying.ÌýÌý

Surveying the wetlands of the Glenprairie Station

We finished a long day at Rockhampton. Because of the amount of flying, Tom, our pilot needs to have a rest day and so we will be back in the air on Sunday. Ìý