Since 2008, Charles and Jenny Ivin have been coordinating and leading at least ten bird walks each year in set locations selected as being representative of bird habitats along Kedron Brook.
…This project aims to accumulate data on bird life along Brook, specifically those variations in birds species noted together their distribution…
A similar program has been set up each year but it is based upon a randomisation of actual sequence of locations to be visited over year. This step is to minimise any seasonal effects on number and type of birds species to be found at a particular location. The apparent absence of a particular species of bird at such a location for one or so years may possibly be explained by a migration influence.
Although we have a number of catchment members that are experienced birders, leadership of Dawn Muir, supported by Esther Townsend (both experienced birders in Birds Queensland) has been vital. Their contributions to success of this project have been most appreciated.
The program for 2017 is available now. Interested persons should also check events listing on Facebook page to keep up to date on next walk and possible changes due to poor weather or leadership availability.
General precautions to be used during these observations
These outings need to be carried out in a rather small group to reduce disturbance of, often, quiet elusive birds. It takes members of reasonable experience to be able to observe and identify birds correctly. However, there has been occasional opportunity for a new keen birder to join and learn ropes on most of our outings. Please check our executive team in Contact section below for further information.
Birders should bring their own personal food and water requirements and sun and skin protection (sunscreen and insect repellent). Although most outings are conducted along made paths, sometimes it is necessary to move carefully into bushland to more closely observe bird movements. Clothes and footwear should be chosen to suit these conditions, where possible. Traveling through natural flora and fauna habitats is usually of relatively low risk (compared risk of crossing busy roads) but skin irritations from harmful plants or tick bites can occasionally concern sensitive individuals.
Nudgee Waterhole, Nudgee Wharf and Beach – 5 February 2017
At our first birding for 2017 we welcomed newcomers, Josh and Barb, and also Anne’s sister Ellen, visiting from Daintree. It was a pleasant start to morning, but much heat was promised later in day.
There was great excitement when we first met at waterhole to see a Wandering Whistling Duck; first sighting for most of us. The great thing about waterbirds is that they tend to stay in same place and give everyone opportunity of a good sighting. Also at waterhole were Darters (including one on a nest), Little Pied Cormorants, Little Black Cormorants, an Intermediate Egret, a Little Egret and a Cattle Egret as well as Dusky Moorhens, Eurasian Coots and Purple Swamphens. A total of forty-nine species were observed (at Waterhole, Nudgee Boat Ramp and Nudgee Beach combined).
Excessive traffic at beach forced us to park a block away from our usual parking place – but great rewards. The tide was well out and we were able to venture through mangroves in search of waders. A first for our group (in this location) was a Pacific Golden Plover (more sighted later towards dog off-lead area), a Bar-tailed Godwit and in mangroves themselves, four Collared Kingfishers. An excellent morning’s birding indeed.
Bellbird Grove, Brisbane Forest Park – 5 March 2017
Eight members met at Bellbird Grove on a cool and cloudy morning. We were saddened to see Brush Turkeys turning over some rubbish left by a thoughtless polluter. Then we saw a Bush Stone_curlew join in and picking amongst rubbish. Mary kindly cleared up rubbish before leaving at end of our walk.
A total of 33 species were seen, much interest given to relatively large number of Varied Trillers, Brown Thornbills and White-throated Treecreepers. Eastern Yellow Robins were present along Large-billed Scrubwrens and White-browed Scrubwrens. Of particular concern was development of roads being pushed around dam area on an adjoining private property; particularly as there were at least two fences dropped down leading directly into adjacent National Park.
Kalinga Park – Cressey St. Wetlands – 2 April 2017
Eight enthusiasts gathered in carpark on a fine sunny morning; three days after remnant Cyclone Debbie passed through area.
Kalinga Park and its surrounds had had some extensive flooding and suffered from strong winds of Thursday, 30th March. Most noticeable was absence of small birds, wrens and honeyeaters. However, a count of forty-three species for area was quite a respectable number given aforementioned conditions.
Cedar Creek – 7 May 2017
A fine sunny but cool morning set scene at our starting area at Nelson Place, Ferny Grove. Despite fine sunny weather there
was only a total of thirty-six species observed on this morning. This may have been influenced by a steady reduction of forest area about this location.
Nevertheless, well-watered creek area at this point attracts most of common birds from along Kedron Brook. Striated Pardalotes have always been a consistent species, Honeyeaters are well distributed in area and Eastern Whipbird cracks its whip in thicker scrub close to creek south of Upper Kedron Road. Another welcome call was that of a juvenile OIlive-backed Oriole practising its calls.
Bob Cassimaty, Thomsett and Arbor Parks – 4 June 2017
We gathered on a fairly cool clear morning in car park at Cassimarty Park, Ferny Grove. Opposite on a dead tree a pair of Galahs bright pink chests were just catching first of morning sun and positively glowed. Although species numbers were somewhat down on previous surveys, it may be that time of year and fairly cold conditions prevailing was cause.
However, we had great interest in large number of Scarlet Honeyeaters seen flitting between two flowering paperbarks in Arbor Park.
Pony Club Bend, Mitchelton and Teralba Park – 2 July 2017
Six brave souls nearly froze before start of walk but then gradually warmed as they walked under rays of sun fighting away clouds. We walked usual track but didn’t go all way along close to creek as it was heavily overgrown and long grass was very wet dew. A meagre twenty-five birds were counted during morning; mainly regular park birds and smaller birds such as honeyeaters.
The brook has changed its course considerably in places lots of gravel washed into it last floods. However, there’s been some new plantings along Osborne Road section and heaps of bark mulch are awaiting spreading. A generous sized garden bed of bush plants is being prepared in front of mosaic chair along to and past steps down to brook.
Grinstead Park and Sparkes Hill Reserve – 6 August 2017
Our catchment bushcare group members have seen night owls reported over years but this was first time that a Southern Boobook was sighted in this programmed series of observations. Despite bright lighting, we still found it rather difficult to see one owl camouflaged high in leafy tops of Sparkes Hill Reserve forest. On other hand, a huge flock of Scarlet Honeyeaters took over entrance section of forest entrance showing off their brilliant red colouring; particularly by males.
Zion Hill, Nundah, and Kedron Brook Wetlands – 3 September 2017
It was a fine, warm, sunny morning for our eight attendees. We ended up a satisfying record of forty-nine species spread over areas visited.
A large flock of Great Comorants flew overhead on our way through Albert Bishop Park towards Kedron Brook Wetlands. This was a first time for us during our formal catchment surveys conducted since 2008. Likewise, we had a close look at only raptor seen; a Black-shouldered Kite searching for prey close to Nundah Lake.
Grange Forest Park – 8 October 2017
An enthusiastic group of fourteen birders gathered on a fine, somewhat cloudy, morning for this survey. A total of forty-five species were seen.
three common types of Fairy-wrens were sighted as well as Tawny Grassbirds, many Australian Reed Warblers, and Silvereyes. We all enjoyed sighting of Mr. and Mrs. Pacific Black Duck their brood of little ducklings. It was good to have found such a variety of small birds in survey; possibly recent rains had rejuvenated them and their habitats.
Over recent years, there has been an an up-to-date classification of Australian birds carried out in relation to their taxonomic units. At least a dozen have been found to be considered to be in a new order and continued studies no doubt will justify more changes time. For example, Pacific Black Duck has now been renamed ‘Maned Duck’. The Australian Reed Warbler was originally classified as being included as part of Clamourous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentorius) section of Old World warblers, but is now considered to be a separate species (Acrocephalus australis).
Wahminda Grove and Maureen Lawrence Park – 5 November 2017
Eight birders set off on a fine, though warm, morning cloud developing. A welcome total of forty-three species were seen or heard.
In addition to maintenance activities conducted on public land, local Wahminda Grove Bushcare Group is also responsible for a large bushland restoration project funded by Powerlink on unusable portion of their Ferny Hills sub-station site. It was very gratifying to find upper pathway adjoining this area was suitably slashed along Wahminda Grove perimeter. This allowed us safe access to adjoining bushland out disturbing actual habitat of groups of smaller birds.
We enjoyed sight of an Eastern Yellow Robin whacking a caterpiller for its breakfast; closely watched on by two of its mates. Also in Maureen Lawrence Park, we saw a pair of Spangled Drongos building their nest. Then, as we leisurely strolled back to our cars, a pair of Eastern Whipbirds raced across path in front of us giving everyone a good sighting.