Author: mittavalleylandcare445025682

The Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

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By JJ Harrison

The Australasian Grebe is a small waterbird, about 23–25 cm in length. It’s sometimes called a Dab chick. The Grebe has a compact body and a relatively short neck. It has dark brown upper plumage, a glossy black head, and yellow eyes. During breeding season, it displays a yellow patch near the bill and a chestnut stripe from the eye to the neck. Outside of breeding season, its colors are dull. There’s usually a pair on Phillips Condon’s dam on the Mitta North Road.

HABITAT

This species of Grebe is found in freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds, slow rivers and dams. They also prefer areas with dense aquatic vegetation.

FOOD

Australasian Grebes feed on small aquatic creatures, including insects, crustaceans, fish, and tadpoles. They are adept divers, catching prey underwater.

DISTRIBUTION

The Australasian Grebe is widely distributed across Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands and is mostly sedentary however some populations move in response to environmental changes.

By Keith Lightbody – Own work. (copied from english Wikipedia)

BEHAVIOUR

These birds are shy and quick to dive at signs of danger. They build floating nests in vegetation, laying 3-5 eggs. Their vocalizations are high-pitched trills, particularly during breeding season (Sept-Mar). Both parents care for the young.

INTERESTING FACTS

  • Grebes have lobed toes, not webbed aiding in efficient swimming.
  • They cover their eggs with wet vegetation when leaving the nest to protect eggs from predators
  • They eat their own feathers and feed these to their young to protect their stomachs from sharp fish bones.
Juvenile Australasian Grebe

Juvenile

By Grahame CC BY-SA 3.0

MATING

They perform elaborate courtship displays, including synchronized swimming and diving.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as the Australasian Grebe has a stable population. Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetland habitats and ensuring clean water sources.

REFERENCES

Australian Bird Life website. Wikipedia. Chatgpt. EBird. Australian Birds by George Adams

Satin Bower Bird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus 28-34cm)

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Satin Bowerbird

Photography by Joseph C Boone

DESCRIPTION

  • Male: Striking glossy blue-black plumage with violet and turquoise iridescence, contrasting with bright blue eyes. 
  • Female: Subdued olive-brown colour, providing camouflage for nesting.
  • All Bower birds are olive-brown until the males reach maturity at age 7 and change to the glossy blue-black plumage.

LOCATION

Native to eastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

Male

Photo by JJ Harison

Female

Photo by Tatiana Gerus

BEHAVIOUR

  • Bower Building: Males construct elaborate bowers (avenues of sticks) on the ground, adorned with blue items (flowers, feathers, berries) to attract females.
  • Courtship Displays: Males perform intricate dances and vocalizations to court females.
  • Intelligent Mimicry: Known for mimicking sounds from their environment, including other bird species and mechanical noises.

FEEDING

  • Omnivorous diet includes fruits, insects, and nectar.
  • They may raid crops or orchards, causing occasional conflicts with farmers.

BREEDING

  • Polygynous mating system, where one male may mate with multiple females.
  • Mating occurs at the bower, but the actual nest is built by the female in a nearby tree or shrub.
  • Clutches usually consist of one to three eggs.

Photo by Summ – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

HABITAT

  • Prefers wet forests, rainforests, and areas with dense vegetation.
  • Thrives in both natural and modified habitats.

CONSERVATION STATUS

  • The Satin Bowerbird is not currently considered globally threatened.
  • However, local populations may be impacted by habitat loss and human activities.

INTERESTING FACTS

  • Bower Decoration: Males are meticulous decorators of their bowers, often preferring blue items, and have been known to steal objects from neighbouring bowers.
  • Longevity: Satin Bowerbirds can live up to 11 years in the wild.
  • Learning and Memory: These birds demonstrate impressive learning abilities, both in terms of acquiring complex songs Top of Form

The Mitta Valley has had large populations of Bower Birds for many years.

Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax Caledonicus)

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Nankeen Night Heron

Photography by JJ Harison

Medium-sized heron with cinnamon-brown plumage. Red eyes, black cap on the head, yellow legs.

HABITAT

Found in wetlands, mangroves, estuaries, and riverbanks.  Both coastal and inland habitats.

BEHAVIOUR

Nocturnal hunter.

Solitary or in small groups.

Patient and stealthy approach to hunting.

BREEDING

Colonial nesters.

Nests in trees, shrubs, or reed beds.

2-4 eggs, incubation by both parents.

FEEDING BEHAVIOUR

Diet includes fish, crustaceans, insects, and amphibians.

They use their sharp bills to snatch prey, and their nocturnal habits gives them an advantage in capturing unsuspecting prey under cover of darkness.

INTERESTING FACTS

Juvenile Nankeen Night Heron

Photography by Fir002 from Wikipedia

Found in Australia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and southwestern Pacific islands.

“Nankeen” refers to the pale-yellow colour of their plumage.

Not globally threatened, but susceptible to habitat loss.

Distinctive booming “wok” call during the breeding season.

There has been a recent sighting of the ‘Nankeen NightHeron’ near the ‘Witches Garden’ in the Mitta Valley.

Mitta Valley Landcare Bird Project and Walk

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Mitta Valley Landcare organised a bird walk led by Ben Humphries from Birdlife Australia on May 2nd  2024 . This event aimed to enhance community knowledge and involvement in conserving woodland birds. Funding for this event was provided by a 2023 Landcare Victoria Grant.

Our First Stop was Hugh and Judy Giltrap’s Farm

Ben Humphries is the southern NSW Woodland Bird Project Coordinator and discussed the threats to woodland birds and the importance of identifying these birds and the resources they depend on. Ben also talked about the Birds on Farms Monitoring Program, which gets people excited about birds they have on their properties. This is 4 times a year commitment, for 20 minutes, on a 2-hectare area. Hughie then spoke to the group about creating his woodland along the Mitta River 20 years ago and how this initiative increased both the number of native birds and their varieties. Hughie passion for birds and the success of this initiative was both inspiring and motivating. We went on an Interactive Bird Walk along the River woodland, where despite strong wind and some group chatter, 8 different species were identified. It was a great way to bring people together in a fun, educational and inclusive way whilst connecting with nature and building community capacity.

Our second stop was Mill Park

Doris Razeng spoke to the group about the creation of the ‘Down Hill Bike Track’ at Mitta Mitta, and how the project had to adhere to high standards of conservation when creating the track. We then wandered around and observed and identified sixteen woodland bird species with help from Ben Humphries. We were now much more focused and excited birdos who asked, discussed, and learnt how to observe and identify woodland bird species, as well as learning about bird behavior, diet, and nesting habits. Seeing this special woodland by the river and how it has been recently enhanced, was exciting. The Mill Park is a great place to observe birds and take in nature.

Acanthorhynchus_tenuirostris_

Our third stop was the ‘Deep Gully’ Walking Track

Opposite the Mill Park site. The walk was led by Jo Otto   whereby we observed 9 different bird species, with the highlight being the Wonga Pigeon. The day was concluded with a BBQ Lunch at Bharatralia Jungle Camp, hosted by Jo and Nancy Otto. Everyone relaxed and shared experiences in the sun on this beautiful autumn day.

Ben’s Post-Lunch Talk

Mentioned our birds’ needs for food and shelter just like human beings and therefore hoping to inspire us and for us to inspire the next generation to create, protect and enhance woodland habitat – be it on farm, conservation property or residential.

Thank you to our landholders, Judy and Hughie Giltrap and the Otto family for sharing your properties with us.

Recommended Resources (Recommended by Ben)

APPS

Merlin Bird ID App by Cornell Lab: Free on the app store. (Ben highly recommends this resource)

Morcombe’s Birds of Australia: $30.

Pizzey and Knight’s Birds of Australia: $50.

Grey Fantail
Grey Fantail

Books

The Australian Bird Guide: Revised Edition By Menkhorst, Rogers, Clarke, Davies, Marsack and Franklin

Field Guide to Birds of Australia- by Simpson and Day

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia – by Pizzey and Knight

Mitta Valley Landcare Logo
Landcare VIC logo

Mitta Valley Landcare Fungi Workshop and Guided Walk

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Mitta Valley Landcare hosted a presentation by ecologist Audrey Beard on 18th June 2023, discussing the wonderful world of fungi, their role in our environment, and the diversity of fungi species present in the Mitta Valley and surrounds. Audrey started with a slideshow presentation talking about the different types of fungi, the ways some species have been used by humans for food and medicine, and how they interact with plants and animals in our ecosystems.

In particular, the presentation discussed how ‘mycorrhizal’ fungi form partnerships with native trees to provide them with extra nutrients and water, and how looking after these fungi improves soil health, saves water, and boosts plant health, in the bush as well as on farms. In addition to the talk, Audrey and helpers had set up a colourful display in the centre of the room showing specimens of many of the types of fungi found in the Mitta Valley region.

Fungi Guided Walk Mitta Valley Landcare

Following the presentation, the 40 attendees went on a guided walk in the Fern Gully looking for local fungi and found many different species, learning their names and what their role in the environment was. Afterwards everyone shared a delicious lunch and got to ask Audrey all the questions they had about fungi.

Thanks to the Mitta Valley Landcare volunteers who hosted the event  and to the Murray Darling Healthy Rivers Program (funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) for funding this event.

Author: Audrey Beard