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Turquoise Parrot and other Goodies: Old Wallangarra Road

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Turquoise Parrot
The Old Wallangarra Road on the NSW-Queensland border near Girraween National Park has long been a top birding spot. I enjoyed 5 encounters with a total of 8-10 Turquoise Parrots there during a visit this week, along with a raft of other goodies including Diamond Firetail, Plum-headed Finch, White-browed Babbler and Southern Whiteface.

Turquoise Parrot

Turquoise Parrot
I saw my first Turquoise Parrot on the Old Wallangarra Road in 1973. It is encouraging that more than four decades on, this rare species is still to be found there. Much of the road is now closed, but the few kilometres south of Wyberba remains open and this stretch is never disappointing. I had 3 hours in an afternoon at this site and 3 hours the next morning, staying overnight at the nearby Ballandean Tavern. This visit was on the way home from a trip to coastal NSW (see next post). Most of the time was occupied around the intersection of the road with Hickley Lane, and along the creek a little to the south of there.

Turquoise Parrot

Turquoise Parrot female
My first encounter was a single male Turquoise Parrot flying up from the roadside in the afternoon. Then a pair flew overhead distantly. Early the next morning I watched a male feeding on the road before it was joined by 2 females. A little later I had stunning views of a single male parrot in a roadside tree which was unusually approachable. A single female was drinking at the creek an hour or so after that.

Quite a few species found reliably along the Old Wallangarra Road are scarce and difficult to see elsewhere in South-East Queensland. It is the best site in the state for Turquoise Parrot, and the eastern extremity of range for White-browed Babbler and Southern Whiteface. And this place is aesthetically something quite special as well.

Diamond Firetail

Diamond Firetail
Diamond Firetail is one of those species that is hard to come across elsewhere in Queensland. In 3 encounters during my visit, I found a single juvenile firetail; a flock of 6-7 adults; and a pair of adults.

Plum-headed Finch
I saw Plum-headed Finch twice: a flock of 6, and a pair. Red-browed Finch and Banded Finch were also about in small numbers.

White-browed Babbler

Habitat about Old Wallangarra Road
I found two parties of White-browed Babblers, another species that has been in residence here in the 40+ years I've known the place.

Southern Whiteface

Yellow-rumped Thornbill
A pair of Southern Whiteface was a treat, as this species is not quite so regular here. Yellow-rumped Thornbills were common.

Brown Treecreeper
Brown Treecreeper occurs here alongside White-throated Treecreeper.

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
The road is a mecca for honeyeaters. There were the usual large numbers of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Along with other honeyeaters that are generally scarce in South-East Queensland east of the Great Divide: Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, White-plumed Honeyeater and Fuscous Honeyeater.     

Pectoral Sandpiper, 100+ Latham's Snipe, Australian Spotted Crake, Australasian Shoveler at Yandina Creek Wetlands

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Pectoral Sandpiper
I found a Pectoral Sandpiper today at the Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast. The bird was associating loosely with a flock of Red-kneed Dotterels and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Pectoral Sandpiper is a rare visitor to south-east Queensland and this is the first record of the species for the Sunshine Coast region. The bird was in poor light and distant, so the images are not as sharp as I would have liked.

Pectoral Sandpiper
About 20 Red-kneed Dotterels were present, including several juveniles. As these birds have been in the area for two years now, it is likely they have bred. A single Red-necked Avocet was also about.

Latham's Snipe

Red-necked Avocet
Of particular interest was the large number of Latham's Snipe present. I counted 85 and estimate that given the extent of habitat favoured by the birds, a total of 120-150 snipe were there. I have not seen anywhere near this large a concentration of this species previously and would be interested in knowing of any sightings of comparable numbers in Australia. It is likely that numbers are building up at Yandina Creek for the northward migration.

Australian Pelican & Black Swan
Two Australian Spotted Crakes were heard calling. This species, another rarity in south-east Queensland, has been seen at the River Road end of the wetlands by other observers but not by me. The River Road section of the wetlands is the only area that is publicly accessible, but is presently dry. I am able to gain access to the edge of the main wetlands through two properties that I have permission to enter. Please respect the wishes of the property owners not to trespass on their land.

Australasian Shoveler
A pair of Australasian Shovelers was present today among large numbers of Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal and Chesnut Teal.

Black-necked Stork
Also of interest were two pairs of Black-necked Stork. This is an excellent site for this relatively scarce species, but I've not previously seen so many at one time there.

Varied Eggfly
Among other wildlife were plenty of butterflies, mainly Varied Eggfly and Swamp Tiger.

Efforts to persuade the Sunshine Coast Council to acquire these wetlands for a reserve continue. While the landholders are agreeable to selling, they intend to drain them for cattle pasture if an offer is not forthcoming. The discovery of Pectoral Sandpiper here and such a large number of Latham's Snipe further strengthens the conservation case. It also increases pressure on the Commonwealth Government to ensure that no development proceeds that could endanger the habitat of the large numbers of migratory waders that frequent the wetlands. The creation of a reserve would of course also allow public access to what is emerging as one of the most significant wetland sites in south-east Queensland. The case for protecting these wetlands is presented in detail here.

River Road - Flooding February 2015
During heavy rains in February, much of the area in the vicinity of the wetlands was extensively flooded, raising questions about the viability of raising cattle on this land.

Channel-billed Cuckoo juvenile
In other local picture opportunities, the juvenile Channel-billed Cuckoos have fledged and departed for greener pastures further north. This one was raised by a pair of Torresian Crows at Tewantin.

Australian Wood Duck family
A family of Australian Wood Ducks at the Maroochydore Sewage Treatment Plant.

Australian Hobby
An Australian Hobby was looking good at Paradise Waters.

Eastern Water Skink
This Eastern Water Skink was remarkably tame on the boardwalk in the Peregian Beach section of Noosa National Park.

Little Red Flying Fox

Eastern Whipbirds
It seems that Little Red Flying Foxes are presently invading coastal south-east Queensland, as they do from time to time. In the flying fox colony at Noosaville, this species greatly outnumbered the resident Black Flying Foxes, and I could not find any Grey-headed Flying Foxes.
In the home garden, Eastern Whipbirds are regularly coming to the birdbaths to bath and drink.

Richmond Birdwing on Comeback Trail

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Richmond Birdwing
The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly is one of the iconic wildlife species of the rainforests of south-east Queensland and north-east NSW. Once common and widespread, the destruction of lowland rainforest reduced its numbers so substantially that the species was once thought to be in seriously in danger of extinction. Its caterpillars feed on only two species of Pararistolochia vine.

Richmond Birdwing
The butterfly's favoured vines have been planted over much of its range - including the Sunshine Coast hinterland - by community groups and it appears that the species is on the comeback trail. I watched a couple of male Richmond Birdwings today in riverine remnant lowland rainforest at North Arm in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. It is the same spot where I saw the species in September 2013. The butterflies were behaving in the same manner: flying about in large circles over a concentrated area of vegetation, though there did not appear to be anything exceptional about the plants there. They were seen feeding several times on the flowers of introduced lantana.

I've long harboured concerns about the war against lantana being waged by often those same community groups that plant the butterfly's preferred vine. The weed needs to kept in check, but I think there is little doubt it replaces some of what was lost through the decimation of lowland rainforest, which survives today only in remnant patches. Butterflies love lantana flowers. The endangered Black-breasted Buttonquail - another rarity endemic to the rainforests of north-east NSW and south-east Queensland - is often found in lantana thickets. Other cryptic birds like Lewin's Rail and Pale-vented Bush-hen nest and forage in lantana. I have seen some of these birds disappear from places where lantana has been removed. Time for a rethink perhaps.

Tailed Emporer
It has been an excellent season for butterflies generally this year, with a selection of those about the North Arm-Ninderry area seen today shown here.

Brown Ringlet
Yellow Albatross


Long-tailed Pea-Blue

Blue Tiger



Fairy Gerygone
A pair of Fairy Gerygones are in residence at the North Arm butterfly spot. Numbers of this mostly tropical species appear to be on the rise in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, though their stronghold in the region is in coastal vine scrub.

Striated Heron
Elsewhere, I flushed a Black Bittern from a small tributary of Lake Doonella, Tewantin. The bird was seen twice more but (again) refused to be photographed. More co-operative was this dark phase Striated Heron in the Yandina Creek Wetlands.

Yandina Creek Wetlands: Important New Developments

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Mangroves in Yandina Creek Wetland
There have been significant developments in the campaign to protect the 200-hectare Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast from being drained since the publication of a report presenting the case for an application before the Sunshine Coast Council to acquire the wetlands for a reserve (see here). Although the report was updated last week, new information has come to hand.

Map of Yandina Creek Wetlands
It is useful to have a fresh look at a map of the wetlands. The bulk of the wetlands are on two properties (Lots 3 and 4 RP148079) owned separately by members of a Sunshine Coast family. As previously reported, the land was farmed for sugar cane until it was sold to the family about 10 years ago. Since then, floodgates on tidal waterways fringing the properties have fallen into disrepair, allowing the land to be inundated frequently. This has effectively restored an extensive area of the kind of wetlands that naturally were widespread on the Maroochy River floodplains before the development of the sugar cane industry many decades ago. The family has stated it is their intention to repair the floodgates to drain the wetlands so the area can be used for cattle grazing.

The wetlands are sustained by tidal water flowing through broken floodgates
The Commonwealth Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, has written to the landholders, advising them of their obligations to comply with federal law regarded the presence of an endangered species (Australian Painted-Snipe) and large numbers of migratory shorebirds on the properties. This appears to necessitate the compilation of an environmental impact study before the floodgates can be restored. At the same time, the Sunshine Coast Council has advised that early next financial year, it intends to make a decision on an application (Nomination Number 100) under its Environment Levy Land Acquisition Program to acquire the properties for a reserve.

The land was sold to the family by Scott Trevor, a doyen of the region's sugar cane industry, who resides on an adjoining property. Mr Trevor now tells supporters of efforts to protect the wetlands that he will be subleasing Lot 3 RP148079 from the family to restore sugar cane plantations. He believed that Lot 4 RP14809 would be utilised for cattle grazing, although some cattle would also be grazed on Lot 3. Significantly, Mr Trevor advised that the floodgates will be repaired later this year when drier conditions permit - probably in September - so that the wetlands can be drained. He said the substantial costs involved in repairing the floodgates would be shared between him and the landholders. Mr Trevor indicated that neither he nor the landholders were concerned about the potential implications of their plans under Commonwealth, State or council laws and regulations. However, Mr Trevor said no leasing agreement had yet been signed.

Uncertainty surrounds this development. The landholders may have legal advice indicating that continuing a technically existing use for the land (sugar cane growing) - instead of converting its primary use to grazing - may make it easier to avoid potential pitfalls in Commonwealth, state and council laws and regulations. Leasing the biggest property (Lot 3) to another title holder may make it more difficult for authorities to act. However, importantly, restoring the floodgates would appear to comprise an "action" in any event under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, triggering its provisions.


Yandina Creek Wetlands
A recent inspection from property boundaries has revealed the existence of several hectares of mangroves in the eastern sector of Lot 3. According to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, all marine plants growing on or adjacent to tidal lands are protected under Queensland law through provisions of the Fisheries Act 1994. The destruction, damage or disturbance of marine plants without prior approval from Fisheries Queensland is prohibited. Heavy penalties apply to any unauthorised disturbances that impact on marine plants on all private and public lands. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has been alerted to the presence of mangroves on the property and of plans to drain the area. The department has agreed to investigate the matter.

It has also been pointed out thacoastal wetlands on the east coast of Australia are underlain by estuarine sediments potentially containing acid sulfate soils. Drainage of the wetlands could lead to drainage of the groundwater and oxidation of acid sulfate soils, leading to acid discharge into Yandina Creek and the Maroochy River, potentially affecting water quality and fish habitat. Draining can also result in the development of acid scalds on the soil surface. Sunshine Coast Council maps show that much of the land in question is subject to an Acid Sulphate Soils overlay. The council has been asked to ensure that, in the event that the land is not acquired for conservation purposes, all of its planning regulations are complied with. 

Several supporters have suggested that notwithstanding Mr Hunt's intervention, legal action should be initiated in the Federal Court to ensure that the drainage plan does not proceed. It has been pointed out that the wetlands are a nationally significant site under Commonwealth law, and are potentially an internationally significant site. Any such legal action is outside the resources of supporters of the conservation plan. However, the Queensland Environmental Defenders Office has been asked to consider the matter.

The landholders have opted to end communication with supporters of the conservation plan after refusing permission for a scientific survey to proceed. The landholders appear to believe that environmentalists are responsible for vandalising fences on a nearby property that they own, and of chaining open floodgates. No evidence has been provided to support those assertions and the landholders have been assured that those interested in protecting the wetlands would deplore any such acts. The family has left open the possibility of accepting an offer to acquire the properties,  however.









  

Kayaking & Red-tailed Black Cockatoo in Sunshine Coast Hinterland

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Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is a scarce bird in south-east Queensland but they are attracted to fruiting white cedar Melia azedarach in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, especially in riverside valleys in the eastern and northern slopes of the Conondale and associated ranges. During a three-day camp this week at SEQ Water's Borumba Dam campsite, Red-tailed Blacks were flying about in small numbers, feeding on cedar fruits.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo was common as usual, on this visit feeding on the ripe pine cones of introduced Pinus radiata trees, and unusually in the same general area that the Red-tailed Blacks were present.

Yabba Creek
I spent a morning kayaking 14km down the Yabba Creek from the sixth to the first crossing along the Imbil-Bolumba Creek Road. Long, calm stretches of deep water are interspersed with stretches of up to 200m of Grade 1-2 rapids. It's a bumpy ride in places, with the kayak having to be hauled out several times to get around tree blockages or tricky-looking bits of white water. A mix of remnant lowland rainforest (vine scrub), eucalypt forest and grazing country lines this scenic watercourse. Wildlife seen included White-eared and Spectacled Monarch, good numbers (20+) of Azure Kingfishers, a Freshwater Snake and a Platypus.

Whiptail Wallaby
Other wildlife about the camping ground included good numbers of Whiptail Wallaby. The population has been resident here for many years, although the species is rare elsewhere in the Conondale Range area, and seemingly is absent from the Blackall Range.
A number of butterflies associated with vine scrubs were close to the camping ground, including the species depicted here.

Yellow Albatross

Fuscous Swallowtail

White-banded Plane
Elsewhere, a Bush Stone-Curlew was seen near home at the foot of Mt Ninderry. The birds have been heard from time to time but not seen here previously; the species generally is quite rare in the Sunshine Coast region.

In the garden, the transformation from summer to winter is in full swing with autumn-winter visitors like Golden Whistler and Rufous Fantail turning up in small numbers. Still plenty of butterflies about, including this Orange-streaked Ringlet.

Golden Whistler

Rufous Fantail

Orange-streaked Ringlet

Drainage Works Begin at Yandina Creek Wetlands

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Drainage Works Underway at Yandina Creek Wetlands
Work has begun to drain the Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast, notwithstanding federal and Queensland government investigations into the potential implications of such a move under environmental protection laws. The move comes as the Sunshine Coast Council continues to consider a proposal to acquire the wetlands - regarded as nationally and, very likely, internationally significant under federal guidelines - for an environmental reserve.  The purpose of this post is to explain why drainage work has begun; the implications of the work; and what government authorities are doing about it.
Drainage Works Underway at Yandina Creek Wetlands
A decision on a proposal to acquire three properties totalling 200 hectares under the council's Environment Levy Acquisition Program will be made later this year. The properties were formerly used for sugar cane production until they were sold about a decade ago. Since then, they have been inundated by tidal water from the Maroochy River as canal floodgates fell into disrepair - a development which effectively restored an excellent example of the wetlands that were naturally widespread in the area before the development of the sugar industry last century.

Royal Spoonbill at Yandina Creek Wetlands 
The wetlands are home to a large population of waterbirds of many varieties, including endangered and threatened species, and migratory shorebirds which are protected under international treaties to which Australia is a signatory. As was reported last month (see here) the landholders of the largest property - Lot 3RP148079 - leased their land recently to the sugar cane growers who owned it originally; the growers said then that they plan to again grow cane on the land after draining it later this year, probably in September. This was a significant change of plan by the landholders, who had indicated their intention to graze cattle on the land - a move which would have required considerable land-filling and flood mitigation operations.

Yandina Creek Wetlands
The landholders were advised earlier this year by the federal  Environment Department that redevelopment of the land would potentially breach Commonwealth laws relating to protecting endangered species and migratory shorebirds. The move to lease the land for sugar cane production is presumably intended to bypass those laws because although no sugar has been grown there for many years, a "continuing use" for the property could potentially be claimed by the landholders, thereby exempting the cane growing plan.

Last week, the cane growers abruptly moved their drainage plans forward, constructing a 300-metre long wall of compacted mud and dredge spoils along the eastern boundary of Lot 3RP148079. The move is intended to prevent inundation at high tide, effectively assisting to drain the wetlands so sugar cane can again be grown. At the same time, pipes and other equipment have been moved to an area adjacent to the major floodgate on Yandina Creek that had fallen into disrepair, signalling that work may be planned to restore the floodgate to prevent further inundation of tidal water.

Yandina Creek Wetlands
It is not certain that the landholders and cane growers can avoid potential implications under the federal Environment Protection and Diversity Conservation Act. The Environment Department is investigating whether in fact the drainage works presently underway are exempt. What is certain is that neither the landholders nor the cane growers sought clearance from the department before proceeding with the drainage works.

At the same time, the new Queensland Environment Minister, Steven Miles, is examining whether the works have implications under the Nature Conservation Act for endangered and threatened species. The minister has also been asked to take urgent steps to determine if the landholdings should be designated a Wetland Protection Area - a move that would require state intervention to protect the wetlands.

Pipes and Other Equipment in Place - Yandina Creek Wetlands
Fisheries Queensland is also negotiating with the landholders to determine if the drainage works breach the provisions of the Fisheries Act. Drainage would kill a substantial area of protected mangroves at the eastern end of Lot 3RP148079.

However, while stopping all drainage works is the priority of those concerned with protecting the wetlands, regrowing the area with sugar cane is a better option than cattle pasture development.  Retaining walls can be dismantled and land can again be inundated. Restored floodgates can be removed. Even if government investigations suggest that a "continuing use" prevents intervention at this time, moves to acquire the properties for an environmental reserve would not necessarily be affected adversely. While those efforts continued, ongoing monitoring could ensure that more serious land use options (such as cattle grazing) were not pursued in future.

Google Earth View of Yandina Creek Wetlands
Meanwhile, the landholders have not made clear their long-term plans for this land. It is presently zoned rural and cannot be subdivided under local council planning rules or under the state's South-East Queensland Regional Plan. Companies owned by the landholders of the two main properties covering the wetlands are associated primarily not with cattle or farming, but with property development and investment.

Long Term Plans for the Wetlands - Another Maroochy River Canal Estate?
The landholders may be hoping that the land has a future in the long term as a canal estate or similar development if the council and Queensland Government have a change of heart. Government and council sources familiar with a long-standing debate surrounding the future of the Maroochy River canelands stress that this is highly unlikely. Importantly, the landholders have left the door open to an acquisition offer from the council.

Many of those concerned about the future of the wetlands have written to various authorities. Now is the time for those efforts to be escalated. A more detailed report on the case for protecting the wetlands can be found here.

The federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt - Greg.Hunt.MP@aph.gov.au - can be congratulated for his interest in the matter to date, but again be asked to ensure that the requirements of Commonwealth law relating to endangered species and migratory shorebirds are complied with. Mr Hunt could also be asked to order an inspection of the wetlands by departmental officers.

The Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles (environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au) - with any communication copied to his electoral office (Mount.Coot-tha@parliament.qld.gov.au) - can be asked to ensure that the provisions of the Nature Conservation Act are complied with, and to launch an immediate investigation into the potential designation of the wetlands as a Wetland Protection Area.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson - mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au - can be again asked to approve Nomination Number 100 under the Environment Levy Plan. If cost is an issue, Lot 4RP148079 - which presently is unaffected by drainage works - contains the best wetlands and could be considered for acquisition in isolation.  

Finally, the local state MP and Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, Peter Wellington - Nicklin@parliament.qld.gov.au - can be asked to use his influence with the minority Labor Government to move to protect the wetlands.

North-East India Part 1: Kolkata to Dirang

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Greater Adjutant
A three-week trip to the north-east Indian provinces of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in May 2015 by myself, Tony Palliser and Bill Watson was organised through locally based company Jungle Travels India - http://jungletravelsindia.com/. Our guide was Abidur Rahman and we can highly recommend the services of this capable and affable young man.

Streetside Kolkata

Access to the region is reached most easily through Kolkata, and we arrived a day early to recover from jetlag before the trip and a have a quick look at India's most populous city, visiting local attractions such as Victoria Museum and the Eden Garden Cricket Ground.
Victoria Museum, Kolkata



Coppersmith Barbet


Indian Pond-Heron
Coppersmith Barbet and Indian Pond Heron were among the common south Asian species we saw in the museum gardens. We took an early morning flight to Guwahati, where we were met by Abid and taken to the local rubbish tip - a traditional first port of call for these trips.

Greater Adjutants at Guawahit Rubbish Tip
Here, standing incongruously atop huge piles of rubbish, were 300+ Greater Adjutants - an endangered species for which this unlikely site has become a major stronghold. Foraging in the refuse for saleable scraps alongside the adjutants were a large number of poor villagers, mostly from Bangladesh. The adjutants were oblivious to these folk but quaintly were quick to fly away when we westerners approached. Also at the dump were Striated Grassbird and Citrine Wagtail.

The Show Gets on the Road - Greg, Tony, Bill

Nameri Eco-Camp
We moved on to Nameri National Park and the pleasant Nameri Eco Camp. On the way, birds
seen included the only Black-bellied Terns of the trip and several Lesser Adjutants among the numerous Asian Openbills in the wetlands, grasslands and paddy fields of the Assam lowlands. In and around the grounds of the camp were some nice critters including Asian Barred Owlet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Great Hornbill and Capped Langur.

Capped Langur


Great Hornbill
In the afternoon we strolled to the nearby Jia Bhoreli River, which borders the national park. Indian Cuckoo was common. Nice birds at the river included River Tern and River Lapwing. Birds in the camp that evening included Spotted Owlet and Brown Hawk-Owl.

Nameri National Park
Early the next morning we crossed the fast-flowing river in a canoe. Present on the stony river flats and along the river edge were Great Thick-knee, Little Ringed Plover, Bengal Bushlark and Sand Lark.


Bengal Bushlark
We headed into the lush green sal forest, accompanied by an armed park ranger, to the well-vegetated pools that were the habitat of our main target here: another endangered species, White-winged Duck. We managed to find one of these large ducks at the first pool, with most of the group securing good, close views. We heard but failed to see White-cheeked Partridge here, our efforts frustrated by the arrival of a group of wild (and potentially dangerous) Asian Elephants, which necessitated a quick retreat.
White-winged Duck Pool - Nameri
Other nice birds that morning included Greater and Lesser Yellownape, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, White-throated Bulbul, Puff-throated and Abbott's Babblers, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Ruddy Kingfisher (heard), Vernal Hanging-Parrot, Hooded Pitta (heard), and Velvet-fronted and Chesnut-bellied Nuthatches.
Tokay Geckos
Also of interest were some big tokay geckos. We also came across the fresh footprint of a tiger, while fresh elephant droppings were everywhere.


Tiger Paw Print


Puff-throated Babbler
Late that afternoon, while Abid and I were strolling near the lodge, another White-winged
Duck (most unexpectedly) flew close overhead. The next morning, we headed north towards the Eastern Himalayas, crossing the border from the state of Assam to Arunachal Pradesh at Bhalukpong. As we headed slowly uphill, passing through an area of bamboo we saw a group of (Indian) White-hooded Babblers and the often difficult Rufous-faced Warbler. Other welcome additions to a rapidly growing trip list were a singing Yellow-vented Warbler and a White-breasted (Greater Rufous-headed) Parrotbill. Soon after, a skulking Long-billed Wren-Babbler showed well by the road.


White-breasted (Greater Rufous-headed) Parrotbill
The birds of the Himalayan foothills did not disappoint along the road to our destination - the hill town of Dirang. Those bird groups for which the Himalayas are renowned were well-represented this day: laughing-thrushes (Bhutan, Striated, Chesnut-capped and White-crested) ; yuhinas (Striated, White-naped, Whiskered and White-bellied); niltavas  (Large, Small and Rufous-bellied) and babblers (Golden and Grey-throated). A party of Coral-billed Scimitar-Babblers (this race soon to be split) put on a show while the first of many Rusty-fronted Barwings seen on the trip was impressive. More common fare included Himalayan Black Bulbul, Short-billed and Grey-chinned Minivets, and Great and  Golden-throated Barbets.

Himalayan Black Bulbul
We were pleased to see our first Blyth's Swift, Yellow-throated Fulvetta and Beautiful Sibia, the latter proving to be one of the most numerous birds of the Eastern Himalayan forests. A Blanford's Rosefinch was an unexpected find while Grey Peacock-Pheasant was heard only.


Beautiful Sibia
Other birds included Chesnut-bellied and Blue-capped Rock-thrushes, Common Green Magpie,
and more of the numerous small warbler species we were to see over the next three weeks: Lemon-rumped, Blyth's, Large-billed, Yellow-bellied, Grey-cheeked, Grey-hooded and Black-faced. Many of the Phylloscopus warblers were nesting and vocal during the trip. Rufous-fronted and Rufous-capped Babblers were both chalked up during the drive to Dirang, as was Plumbeous Water Redstart and Nepal House Martin. A White-tailed Robin flicked across the road. We arrived at Dirang (altitude 1400 metres) at our accommodation, the adequate Hotel Pemaling, early that evening, looking forward to heading higher into the mountains in the coming days.

North-East India Part 2: Sela Pass to Sangti Valley

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Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler
As the sun rose early (4-4.30am) it became the habit on our trip to north-east India to rise at an ungodly hour each day, especially when we had to drive some distance to birding destinations. So it was for our visit to Sela Pass from the Himalayan hill town of Dirang (see following post). We were blessed with a bright sunny morning on this day as we had breakfast by the road a few hundred metres below the pass. Our driver flushed a male Himalayan Monal which offered dazzling views as it flew a short distance below us, calling loudly.

Below Sela Pass
Other birds about included Grey-sided Bush-Warbler, Indian  Blue Robin, Rufous-breasted Bush-Robin, Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood-Pigeon, Dark-breasted and Himalayan White-browed Rosefinches, Himalayan Griffon and White-winged Grosbeak.

Himalayan Griffon
We were pleased to find a group of Crimson-browed Finches foraging in the small pine trees.

Crimson-browed Finch
We headed on up to the pass, where prayer flags and the physical features of local folk reminded us that we were not that far removed from the border with Chinese Tibet. This spot is a major site for Grandala and dipping this species was the major disappointment of our trip. Tony managed to glimpse a Snow Partridge.

Sela Pass
We checked out the western slopes on the other side of the pass but the presence of the Baisakhi Army Base limited birding opportunities.

Our guide, Abid, at Sela Pass
Nesting Rose Pipits were common along with White-collared Blackbird, Black-faced Laughingthrush and White-capped River-Chat, while Blood Pheasant was heard.

Rosy Pipit
We saw a Winter Wren of the distinctive regional race, Red-billed Chough, Plain Mountain-Finch and Rufous-breasted Accentor. The weather fogged up by late morning and we were forced to retreat lower down to the subalpine area where we had breakfast earlier. Here we had excellent views of a male Fire-tailed Myzornis - one of the major targets of the trip.

Fire-tailed Sunbird
Other birds here and lower down the road included Blue-fronted Redstart, Whistler's Warbler,  Brown-throated (Ludlow's) Fulvetta, and Rufous-vented, Green-backed and  Coal Tits - the latter of the distinctive regional race. The spectacular Fire-tailed Sunbird was common and a showy male Golden Bush-Robin was appreciated.

Golden Bush-Robin
By now we were beginning to become accustomed to the unnervingly steep slopes that dropped dramatically below most of the narrow roads we were to traverse in the Eastern Himalayas. We lunched on noodles in the roadside home of a local family and birded some bamboo lower down before returning to the hotel in Dirang, where a Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo called continually but refused to show. Like most meals on the trip, dinner was a combination of rice, dahl, and a couple of curries, usually including chicken and vegetables of some sort.

Spotted Laughingthrush
The next morning saw another early departure, this time for the Mandala Road. Birds in the forest at lower and middle elevations included some of those that we saw the day before such as Grey-winged Blackbird, Chesnut-tailed Minla, and Rufous-vented and Stripe-throated Yuhinas. The first of numerous Hill Partridges to be heard throughout the trip were calling.

Chesnut-tailed Minla
We headed up to the pass at 3300 metres, seeing Spotted Laughingthrush below it, while Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler and Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler showed nicely in bamboo clumps at the summit. Chesnut-capped Bush-Warbler was an unexpected find while Russet Bush-Warbler was more anticipated.

Mandala Road Locals
The first of many Gold-naped Finch and Green-tailed and Gould's Sunbirds to be encountered on the trip were seen. We saw our first Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie for the trip before having breakfast in another roadside home of a local family, where we were to return for lunch that included a serving of yak.  In the higher altitude forests, Skulking White-browed Shortwings, Chesnut-headed and Grey-bellied Tesias put in brief appearances, while Golden-breasted and Rufous-winged Fulvettas were more co-operative. Cuckoos were vocal throughout the trip in the mountains - with Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Himalayan Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo and Lesser Cuckoo all calling commonly. Spotted Nutcracker and White-throated Needletail showed near the summit, which was just 30 kilometres from the Bhutan border.

Darjeeling Woodpecker
We saw a Darjeeling Woodpecker and an unexpected Dusky Thrush at the summit. As we began our descent, a Bar-winged Wren-Babbler showed nicely while a skulking Blue-fronted Robin took more effort to see briefly but well.

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher
A pair of Ultramarine Flycatchers were seen along with Slaty-blue and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers. Black-throated and Yellow-cheeked Tits were added to the list and Grey-sided Laughing-thrushes were common.

Arunachal Macaque
We were happy to connect with a family of Arunachal Macaques - a scarce primate discovered relatively recently.

Marijuana - Sangti Valley
Our third morning in the Dirang area saw us in the Sangti Valley, where we looked unsuccessfully for Black-tailed Crake in a marshy area from the roadside, but saw a Slaty-breasted Rail, while a Long-billed Plover was found in fields nearby. We finally scored with the crake after moving to another site that Abid knew about, obtaining excellent views. Less expected in the area were extensive clumps of marijuana growing wild.

North-East India Part 3: Eaglehawk Wildlife Sanctuary

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Ward's Trogon
After checking out the Sangti Valley (see following post) we began our much anticipated week-long visit to the famed Eaglehawk Wildlife Sanctuary. From the town of Tenga, we wound our way up yet another steep mountain road before birding a nice area of bamboo and mossy forest a few hundred metres below Lama Camp - our destination for the first two nights in the reserve. We were in the forest a short time before we saw at close range the recently discovered Bugun Liocichla, endemic to this region and a major target for birding tours. At the same time, we saw a party of its cousin, the Red-faced Liocichla, foraging in a gully below. We were astonished when a little while later, we stumbled upon another Bugun Leiocichla right by the track; this species is usually cryptic and difficult to find.

Lama Camp
We were fortunate to secure good views of another elusive species - Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush. Other birds chalked up before we arrived at Lama Camp (altitude 2300 metres) included White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Scaly Laughingthrush, Black-throated Prinia and Striated Bulbul. Like Bompu, the other camp in the sanctuary, Lama was comprised of a line of suitably comfortable tents with camp beds; outside toilets and bathing cubicles; and a built dining room.

Below Eaglehawk Pass
The next morning saw us up early at Eaglehawk Pass (altitude 2750 metres) where Temminck's Tragopan was heard. In dense stands of bamboo and pockets of mossy forest we saw Black-headed Shrike-Babbler and Rufous-fronted Tit. The bamboo had seeded and died, so we failed to see Brown Parrotbill. A pair of Mountain Hawk-Eagles soared overhead. Signs of elephant were everywhere; this is the highest site anywhere frequented by Asian Elephants.

Eaglehawk Wildlife Reserve near Lama Camp
Back around Lama Camp, we had fine views of two skulkers - Blue-winged Laughingthrush and Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler. Yellow-throated Marten was a nice find at the camp. More common species around Lama included Green-tailed Sunbird, Scarlet Finch, and Bhutan and Grey-sided Laughingthrushes.

Green-tailed Sunbird
The scenery along the road was spectacular, with clouds swirling between and around the forest-clad Himalayan peaks amid a landscape that was a kaleidoscope, ablaze with an abundance of glorious flowering Rhododenron and other flowers.

Flowering Rhododendron
The following day saw us shifting camp and heading south along the road - built in 1962 by the Indian Army during a time of border tensions with neighbouring China - to Bompu Camp (altitude 1900 metres), our stop for the next three nights.

En route between Lama and Bompu Camps
On the way (again doing our best to ignore the huge roadside drops)_we were pleased to connect with a Long-billed Thrush, a rarity in this region, while other goodies included Broad-billed Warbler, Streak-throated Barwing, Brown Bullfinch and Yellow-browed Tit. Probably the commonest bird in the area was Stripe-throated Yuhina, followed by its close relative, Rufous-vented Yuhina.

Stripe-throated Yuhina
Shortly before Bompu, we stopped at a gully to play the tape for our Number One target for the trip - Spotted Elachura. This bird was wanted especially by Tony and I as we are both keen on ticking families; the species had been split recently from the wren-babblers and put in its own family.

Spotted Elachura - Pic by Tony Palliser
We had an immediate response and were soon enjoying close views of a  Spotted Elachura singing loudly a couple of metres above us in a small gully. This species is often missed on trips so we were mightily relieved.

Bompu Camp
Soon after, just below the camp, we had close views of another prime target - Blackish-breasted (Sikkim Wedge-billed) Wren-Babbler, also by the road. We then had close but brief views of a skulking White-gorgeted Flycatcher. Late in the afternoon we headed into an area of bamboo where we managed just brief glimpses of another target - Blyth's Tragopan.

Rufous-vented Yuhina
The next morning, we headed downhill, birding bamboo and forest above and below the old camp of Sessne (1200 metres). We had fine views of a Pale-headed Woodpecker in the bamboo along with a party of Black-browed (Lesser Rufous-headed) Parrotbills and a Large Blue Flycatcher. Lower down, around Khelong (700 metres) we saw a Spot-throated Babbler at a place evidently once visited by the Dalai Lama.

Plaque commemorating Dalai Lamai visit - Khelong
Lowland species such as Blue-throated Barbet, that we first encountered at the beginning of the trip, put in further appearances.

Blue-throated Barbet
On the way back we had close views of a Long-billed Wren-Babbler, again right by the road. A male Rufous-necked Hornbill flew close overhead when we stopped again at Sessne. Shortly afterwards, we enjoyed the sight of a pair of Beautiful Nuthatches foraging along a moss-laden branch. Other birds seen or heard this day included Kalij Pheasant, Rufous-throated Partridge, Red-headed Trogon, Pin-tailed Green-Pigeon, Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Nepal Fulvetta , Rufous-backed Sibia, Long-tailed Broadbill, Black-chinned Yuhina, Rufous Sibia, Sultan Tit, Long-legged and Himalayan (Common) Buzzard.

Long-billed Wren-Babbler
During our second full day in the Bompu area, above and below the camp, a Chesnut-breasted Partridge was seen nicely on the road, while Himalayan Cutias showed somewhat distantly. A party of Black-throated Parrotbills put in an appearance while another search for Blyth's Tragopan was again frustratingly fruitless (this problem would be resolved later in the trip). We opted to do this trip in May largely because Spotted Elachura and other birds would be singing; May is the beginning of the wet season, which coincides with their nesting. However, the cost was that some time was lost due to rain and fog, including this day.

Grey-sided Laughingthrush
We returned from Bompu to Lama Camp for our final night in Eaglehawk, adding Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-bellied Fantail and Ferruginous Flycatcher to the list. Leaving Lama on our last morning in the reserve, we retraced the road we had traversed when driving from Nameri to Dirang. At a roadside stop, we were pleased to find a  Blyth's Kingfisher on a branch above the rapidly-flowing stream.


North-East India Part 4: Karizanga to Tinsukia including the Mishmi Hills

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Black-breasted Parrotbill
Following our visit to Eaglehawk Wildlife Sanctuary (see following post) we embarked on a long drive -  stopping for lunch at Nameri Eco Camp (our first stop for the trip - see here) - to Kaziranga National Park. The contrast between the cold uplands of Eaglehawk and the steamy lowlands was stark. From the roadside shortly after crossing the park boundary, we saw a total of 8 Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros over a stretch of 2 km in grassland to the north of the road; the animals were uncomfortably close to villagers who were tilling fields to the south of the road. Also in the grassland were large numbers of Hog Deer and smaller numbers of Swamp Deer and Asian Water Buffalo.

Indian One-horned Rhinoceros with Hog Deer
Our accommodation for two nights was the delightful Jupurighar Resort. The park is closed at this time of year so we birded second-growth scrub around the resort. Birds included Hair-crested Drongo, Large Cuckoo-shrike, Greater Necklaced Laughing-Thrush, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Striated Swallow. We searched unsuccessfully in the morning for Blue-naped Pitta - the star avian attraction for this site - only hearing it call. In the afternoon, after climbing a hill to an area of bamboo, we finally nailed a calling pitta.

Brahmaputra River Vehicular Ferry
The next day we embarked on another long drive, stopping en route for a couple of nesting Slender-billed Vultures, to Saikhowa Ghat - the crossing of the mighty Brahmaputra River. Birders regularly report great difficulty negotiating the crossing as watercourses and sand bars are constantly changing, making the river difficult to negotiate for the armada of small vehicular ferries.

Brahmaputra River Ferry
There was plenty of water in the river for our visit, however, so we had no such trouble, although driving on and off the ferries on planks of wood was.... interesting. The great expanse of river was criss-crossed by a colourful flotilla of ferries. We added Oriental Pratincole to the list on the way.

Mishmi Hills
We arrived in the town of Roing for an overnight stay in the basic but homely guesthouse. The next morning saw us heading into the Mishmi Hills, part of the Eastern Himalayas - and up there with the Eaglehawk Wildlife Sanctuary as a magnificant wilderness with a dazzling array of birdlife and spectacular montane scenery.

Pygmy Blue Flycatcher
As we entered the bamboo zone not far from Roing, we were surprised to encounter another Blue-naped Pitta, this one offering much better views roadside than the Kaziranga bird. Soon after, a feeding party included a pair of Pygmy Blue Flycatchers, which had been something of a bogey bird for me. Then we had a nice Chevron-breasted (Cachar Wedge-billed) Wren-Babbler by the road.

Oriental Honey-Buzzard
Oriental Honey-Buzzard perched nonchalantly during a roadside lunch while Ashy and Mountain Bulbuls and Thick-billed Green-Pigeon were added to the list. We were pleased to see a male Yellow-rumped Honeyguide guarding a bee nest on a small cliff face. High up the road we encountered our first Hume's Bush-Warbler of the trip.

Gaur-Cattle Crossbreeds
An interesting side attraction in the Mishmi Hills is the population of semi-domesticated crosses between gaur and cattle. These animals keep strictly to the roadside, unless anywhere else in India where cattle roam, rest or do whatever  they like on the roads.

Mayodia Guesthouse
We checked into the Mayodia Guesthouse - another basic but adequate lodge, at 2300 metres - for a two-night stay, before heading further up the road to Mayodia Pass(2650 metres).

Bar-winged Wren-Babbler
A Bar-winged Wren-Babbler performed nicely in a gully below the road - this one a different race with a distinctive call from the bird we saw earlier along the Mandala Road (see here).

Manipur Fulvetta
Another welcome addition to the list was Manpipur (Streak-throated) Fulvetta - quite common in the shrubbery and a specialty of the region.

Mishmi Hills Road (car circled top centre)
Once again, the road had been precariously built into extraordinary steep mountain slopes and nerves were slightly frayed as we negotiated our way back to the guesthouse. We noticed thrashing movements in bamboo by the road and a guide in our vehicle saw an animal briefly which almost certainly was a Himalayan Black Bear; so near yet so far.

Hoolock Gibbon
The next morning saw us below the lodge where we tried to see a Mishmi Wren-Babbler we had heard the day before; two of us saw the bird well and the others managed just glimpses. We heard a much sought after Purple Cochoa and pinpointed a vociferous male cochoa after some effort. We set about searching for Blyth's Tragopan, which we dipped on in Eaglenest, in the mid-elevation bamboo. After a good deal of effort, most of us were rewarded with awesome views of a male tragopan - a stunning species. We also obtained excellent views of a pair of Himalayan Cutias. A good day continued when we saw our second Spotted Elachura of the trip, with the bird singing loudly from its perch; a couple of others were heard elsewhere in the Mishmi Hills. Then we came upon a a group of Hoolock Gibbons (2 males, 1 female, 1 juvenile) a short distance down the road; this species is India's sole primate.

The First Bengal Florican Spotted
We left the cold climes of Mayodia to return for two more nights in Roing. As it was raining in the morning, we headed downhill, seeing small numbers of Rufous-necked Laughingthrush near the township. In the afternoon we visited an area of privately owned grassland, Ninizam Ghat, seeing a Hooded Pitta on the road in. In the grassland, Abid spotted a male Bengal Florican, another species high on our wish list. We eventually had excellent flight views of a total of 4 floricans - 3 males and 1 female. Other birds included Barred and Yellow-legged Buttonquail, Zitting and Golden-headed Cisticolas, Slaty-breasted Rail,and Blyth's and Paddyfield Pipits. Pale-headed Woodpecker was again seen, this time in bamboo on our way back to the lodge.

Bengal Florican
Thefollowing day was essentially rained out. We returned to higher elevations on the road, trying unsuccessfully both to connect with Rusty-bellied Shortwing and to score better views of the wren-babbler. Conditions were miserable. That evening we heard Hodgson's Frogmouth and Mountain Scops-Owl lower down the road but failed to see them.

Elephant at Work near Roing
Also near Roing we saw an elephant being used to haul logs during roadworks.

In the boat at Maguri Beel
Leaving Roing, we were off for another long drive and another precarious crossing of the Brahmaputra before arriving in the bustling town of Tinsukia, the nicely appointed Hotel Centre Point our base for the final two nights of the trip. That afternoon we were off to Maguri Beel, an area of wetlands and reedbeds adjoining the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. We sat on plastic chairs in a canoe as we were rowed to an area of reeds where we scored Jerdon's Babbler - one of the targets of these grasslands. In another area of reeds, some of us had brief views of a skulking Marsh Babbler - another target. Other birds included Cinnamon, Yellow and Black Bitterns; Indian Spot-billed Duck; calling Swamp Francolin; and Chesnut-capped Babbler. As were were rowing back to the shore in the early evening, a White-winged Duck flew overhead; this was a real surprise as we had looked hard (and successfully) for this rarity at Nameri.

Black-breasted Parrotbill
We returned to Maguri Beel the next morning, this time scoring much better views of the Marsh Babbler and unexpectedly seeing a Baikal Bush-Warbler. The distinctively pale throat and relative absence of spotting led us to identify the bush-warbler as Baikal and not the very similar Spotted, which also occurs here. In another area of reeds, we tracked down one of the stars of the trip - a vocal and much wanted Black-breasted Parrotbill. It was pleasant birding as we rowed between the reedbeds; Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Watercock and the distinctive regional race of Cotton Pygmy-Goose were among the birds about.

Asian Water Buffalo
A wild male Asian Water Buffalo looked intimidating as it studied us from a small island when we rowed past. We wondered what might happen as we watched it swim towards the populated shoreline of the "mainland". We learned later that the animal wreaked havoc, charging people and vehicles before being chased back to the wetlands.

Chesnut-tailed Starling
The next morning saw another early start to drive to Digboi, an area of second-growth forest outside Tinsukia near an oil refinery. Commoner species included Ruby-cheekd Sunbird, Dark-necked Tailorbird and Chesnut-tailed Starling. Two of us had brief views of a pair of Chesnut-backed Laughingthrush and better views of a Collared Treepie. It was then time to begin the drive to Dibrugarh Airport and the long journey home.










Yandina Creek Wetlands Update: Council Rejects Pleas for Protection

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Royal Spoonbills at Yandina Creek Wetlands
The bad news at hand is that the Sunshine Coast Council has rejected numerous appeals to acquire the nationally significant 200ha Yandina Creek Wetlands for a reserve under its Environment Levy Plan. The council is not interested in purchasing even one of the three properties containing the wetlands and has declared that their protection is not a matter of “high priority”, although work began at the site recently to drain the area (see here). The Mayor of the Sunshine Coast, Mark Jamieson, has refused requests to meet a delegation of concerned citizens to discuss the proposal.

The good news is that both the Commonwealth and the Queensland governments are showing an active interest in the wetlands. Following intervention by federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, a team from his department recently inspected the wetlands to determine if the drainage works presently underway breached Commonwealth laws that protect the endangered species and migratory shorebirds that frequent the area. The department continues to consider its position.

Yandina Creek Wetlands
Following a recent meeting with local state MP Peter Wellington - the Queensland parliamentary Speaker, who holds the balance of power in the Queensland Parliament - state Environment Minister Steven Miles has agreed to inspect the wetlands. Mr Miles has also requested a briefing from his department. The minister has been asked to ensure that state wildlife protection laws are complied with; to assist the council with funding to acquire the wetlands; and to have the wetlands formally assessed by his department. (The council has indicated it is open to offers of funding from other sources to acquire the wetlands.) 

The regional Sunshine Coast councillor, Stephen Robinson, has advised that the council believes that other areas have greater priority for the council. It is uncertain what the council needs precisely to determine what constitutes high priority. The Yandina Creek Wetlands as a site ticks all the boxes: extraordinary diversity; the most extensive and diverse wetland of its kind in the region; a host of rare and threatened species; enormous potential as an ecotourism attraction; and an obvious way of helping to mitigate against the widespread flooding that occurs with regular monotony in the area.

Work to Drain the Wetlands has Begun
The rejection came on the same day that the council approved funding of $7.7 million for the Environment Levy Plan in 2015-16.

As has been reported (see here), the wetlands were created because floodgates on canals on former sugarcane land have fallen into disrepair since the properties were sold by the cane farmers more than a decade ago. This has allowed the area to be inundated twice daily with tidal water from the Maroochy River. Although in a sense this means the wetlands are artificially created, the result has been the restoration of a habitat that occurred widely in the area before the development of the sugar industry, but which is today naturally almost non-existent in the Sunshine Coast region. Yet the council appears to have seized on the "artificial" source of the wetlands as a reason to dismiss their importance.

Organisations which have written to the council and state and federal governments in support of the campaign to protect the wetlands include BirdLife Australia, BirdLife Southern Queensland, Birds Queensland, Protect the Bushland Alliance, Noosa Parks Association, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, NSW Field Ornithologists, and National Parks Association of Queensland. Numerous individuals have also lent their support. That campaign continues and has recently been intensified.


Birdlife Southern Queensland convenor Judith Hoyle has pointed out to Councillor Robinson the council's own assertion that priorities for Environmental Levy funds are determined through a technical assessment process. However, there has been no effort on the part of the council to formally assess the value of the wetlands. The Protect the Bushland Alliance has offered the services of a qualified multidisciplinary scientific team to undertake a formal assessment of the flora and fauna of the wetlands - at no cost to the council – but the council has not had the courtesy even to respond.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Yandina Creek Wetlands
The properties containing the wetlands are presently zoned rural. They are zoned Regional Landscape and Rural Production under the South-East Queensland Regional Plan. It has emerged that the Sunshine Coast Council is now reviewing zoning in the canelands surrounding the Maroochy River - a region that includes these properties.

The landholders had indicated their intention to use the land for cattle grazing, but have leased it back to the original owners to re-establish sugar plantations. Their objective evidently is to establish an “existing use”, thereby circumventing Commonwealth environmental laws. The long-term intentions of the landowners are uncertain, but these people include well-known figures in the Sunshine Coast property development industry who have substantial holdings in the Maroochy River canelands.

The Queensland Deputy Premier and Planning Minister, Jackie Trad, has been asked to affirm that there will be no changes to the SEQ Regional Plan that might allow the destruction of the wetlands. Ms Trad has also been asked to ensure that any attempt by the council to rezone the properties in question to allow their development for real estate is prevented.

Those agreeing with this position may wish to write to Ms Trad:
Hon Jackie Trad,
Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning,
PO Box 15009,
City East. 4002.
deputy.premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Work on the drainage plan that began recently appears appears to have been stepped up, with the movement this week of large concrete pipes near one of the main broken floodgates. It would be timely to again write to the Queensland Environment Minister asking him to do all in his power to intervene to protect the wetlands:

Hon Steven Miles,
Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection,
GPO Box 2454,
BRISBANE QLD 4001.

Finally, it is worth increasing the pressure on the Sunshine Coast Council by writing again to the mayor, urging him to do the right thing by his ratepayers and ensure that the properties are acquired for conservation purposes:

Councillor Mark Jamieson,
Mayor,
Sunshine Coast Council,
Locked Bag 72,
Sunshine Coast Mail Centre QLD 4560.
mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Yandina Wetlands: Pink-eared Duck, Lewin's Rail, Kites Feasting on Swamphens

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Whistling Kite Feeds on Purple Swamphen
I accessed the eastern edge of the Yandina Creek Wetlands after taking my kayak up Yandina Creek. Creek banks can be accessed by the public but note that the landholders have denied entry to this superb wetland to birders, so entry by foot or vehicle is unfortunately not possible. I was immediately struck by the superabundance of waterbirds and other birds during this visit. They included a relatively large number of Whistling Kites (20+) and it soon became apparent what they were feeding on - the even larger number of Purple Swamphens.

Whistling Kite
Several Whistling Kites were feeding on bits and pieces of swamphen, suggesting that they were killing the birds and not just scavenging. Other raptors about included a Swamp Harrier and a Black Kite. Black Kite was common around the Sunshine Coast for quite awhile after an influx began in August 2012, but they have been generally absent in recent months.

Black Kite
A pair of Lewin's Rails were calling loudly and closely - unusually for winter - but they failed to appear, as did a calling Spotless Crake. Waterfowl were in good numbers - an estimated 600-800 birds.

Grey Teal, Chesnut Teal, Pacific Black Duck
Most were Pacific Black Duck, Chesnut Teal and Grey Teal, but I saw a pair of Australasian Shovelers and 2 Pink-eared Ducks; this is the first record of Pink-eared Duck for the Yandina Creek Wetlands.

Black Swan on Nest
Black Swans were in unusually large numbers (60+) and about 10 pairs were attending recently constructed nests - seemingly a little early for the breeding season.

Black-necked Stork
 A male Black-necked Stork looked glorious as usual in the morning sunlight.

Australian Pelicans
More common fare included the usual assortment of Australian Pelican, 4 species of egret and 4 species of cormorant.

Sacred Kingfisher
Sacred and Azure Kingfishers were about the wetlands. Little Grassbird and Tawny Grassbird were both present. Also of interest were huge flocks (several thousand) of mixed Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin and Fairy Martin, the latter generally being scarce in south-east Queensland in winter.


Elsewhere around the Sunshine Coast, I saw a Square-tailed Kite quartering over open forest along the Tewantin-Cooroy Road, near its junction with Beckman Road. While nearby at Noosaville, near the shopping centre, a male Glossy Black Cockatoo was feeding in one of its favoured Allocasuarina haunts.

  

Water Flow To Yandina Creek Wetlands Plugged

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The extent of the Yandina Creek Wetlands is revealed by this image taken from Mt Ninderry
Works have been completed to plug the major source of tidal water flowing to the Yandina Creek Wetlands, ensuring that at least half the 200-hectare site - which is of national significance according to federal Government guidelines - is in the process of being drained.

New Floodgates on Yandina Creek
The wetlands are comprised primarily of two large adjoining properties - Lots 3 and 4 RP148079 - which abut the Coolum Creek Conservation Reserve. They were replenished twice daily from tidal flows from the Maroochy River through broken floodgates connecting Yandina Creek, a tributary of the river, to canals that criss-cross land formerly used for sugarcane production. New floodgates have now been installed - along with the construction of levy banks and other works - to block the main canal flowing to Lot 3. This will have the consequence of draining Lot 3 and will have unknown consequences as well for the wetlands on Lot 4, as the two properties are connected by canals.

Drainage Works at Yandina Creek
The landholders of Lot 3 had indicated their intention to fill the wetlands for cattle pasture, but they are instead leasing the property to its former sugarcane farmer-owners, who intend to replant cane as soon as the wetlands are drained (see here). This move was evidently intended to circumvent possible action by the federal Government to block the landfill plan, as the wetlands are habitat for the endangered Australian Painted-Snipe and large numbers of protected migratory shorebirds, including the critically endangered Curlew-Sandpiper. The federal Environment Department has inspected the area to determine if Commonwealth law may be breached by drainage work. However, the department refuses to reveal the outcome of its investigation, suggesting that the Commonwealth has come to the conclusion that its hands are tied, at least while the landholders keep to the sugarcane plan.

Yandina Creek Wetlands on Lot 4  - looking east to Mt Coolum
The Sunshine Coast Council has rejected proposals to acquire the wetland properties under its Environment Levy Plan (see here - this post includes links for protest emails) but other possibilities remain for funding, including grants from the Commonwealth and/or Queensland governments. Bushcare Australia is also considering acquisition.

Wetlands photographed from Mt Ninderry - Lot 4 on left, newly drained Lot 3 on right
In one encouraging development in an otherwise bleak picture, the landholders of Lot 3 have indicated a willingness to discuss the long-term future of the area, and as the drainage works undertaken recently on their behalf by the sugarcane farmers are reversible, it is worth considering. The landholders have suggested a mixed development of wetlands protection, farming and ecotourism. The idea has merit, although the viability of any such scheme would be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of - or at least access to - Lot 4, which contains the most significant wetland habitat.

The owners of Lot 4 have declined to discuss the matter. The address of the family trust that owns the property is the same as the office of Vantage Building Group, a big Sunshine Coast property development company. The degree of co-operation between the owners of Lots 3 and 4 is uncertain; the two properties are presently being patrolled jointly by men riding quad-bikes to deter trespassers.

Yandina Creek Wetlands 
Images of the wetlands taken from nearby Mt Ninderry reveal the impressive extent of the habitat. Though several kilometres distant, extensive areas of open water and swampland are clearly visible against the backdrop of the coast and Mt Coolum. The water in these images, taken this week, is largely on Lot 4. The water in Lot 3, immediately to the east, appears from the images to have already been drained; access to Lot 3 is not allowed so it is is not possible to know for certain.

Where to next? It is worth pursuing the idea of the Lot 3 landholders in the absence of anything else on the table, though the attitude of the council, and of the Lot 4 owners, needs to be determined. The council has been asked to clarify its position, while efforts to connect with the Lot 4 owners continue.

At the same time, pressure needs to be increased on the federal and state governments to come up with the goods and provide funding to the council so that it can acquire the area. The Queensland Environment Minister, Steven Miles, is set to visit the Yandina Creek Wetlands soon. The minister told Peter Wellington, the local MP and parliamentary Speaker, that he was interested in the wetlands. But at the same time, his department was telling the media that the wetlands are only of "local" importance because they are "highly modified". These assertions are as misplaced as they are irrelevant. Wetlands around the world are being created artificially because there is precious little of them remaining in a natural state. Moreover, the conversion of fallow caneland at Yandina Creek has re-established a habitat that was there naturally.

Critically Endangered Curlew-Sandpiper occurs at Yandina Creek Wetlands
The Sunshine Coast Council also needs to be persuaded to depart from its view that the wetlands are not "high priority". The mayor, Mark Jamieson, has told ABC Radio that although acquisition had been ruled out this financial year, the prospect remained of acquisition in future years. The mayor said the existence of three separate titles over the wetlands (a small section occurs on a third property) made acquisition difficult, but the council has been told that protecting even one of the major properties (Lot 3 or Lot 4) would suffice to protect much of the habitat.  The mayor said the proposal had been assessed by the council, but there has been no assessment of any substance. It did not go unnoticed that while the council has no funds to save wetlands, it is spending $260,000 to scare flying foxes away from populated areas.

Talk to Noosa Parks Association on Yandina Creek Wetlands
The campaign to protect the wetlands is in full swing. BirdLife Australia has urged its thousands of members and supporters to become involved. Several people have expended considerable energy in getting things moving. I gave a well-attended talk on the wetlands to the Noosa Parks Association. Media coverage is picking up. ABC Radio ran an extensive interview (scroll down on this link for sound); an online story can be found here. The Sunshine Coast Daily has run a series of good articles - see this piece for coverage of  Canberra's interest; state government involvement is reported here; and the paper ran an extensive weekend edition report.

As reported in the following post on this blog, there is presently an abundance of birdlife on the wetlands of Lot 4, which have yet to be drained. Several hundred ducks of various species are feeding in the shallows. At least 10 pairs of Black Swans are sitting on freshly built nests. Dozens of raptors are patrolling the skies. Many thousands of swallows and martins are hawking for insects. It's quite a sight.



  

Sunshine Coast Pelagic Trip July 2015

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Soft-plumaged Petrel
An unusual mix of warm water and cold water seabirds was the outstanding feature of our pelagic trip off Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday July 11. As the subtropics met the subantarctic, the highlights were sightings of Soft-plumaged Petrel and White-chinned Petrel - two species that are very rarely recorded in Queensland.

Australasian Gannet
Our departure from the Mooloolaba Marina at 7am on a perfect winter morning was preceded by several days of strong south-easterlies off the east Australian coast. A formidable front from the Antarctic was moving north towards the south-eastern states, promising the coldest conditions for several years. As we headed out to sea, large numbers of Australasian Gannets were feeding on what appeared to be an invasion of bait fish in Sunshine Coast waters. Quite a few Humpback Whales were seen, with one or two breaching on the horizon.

Providence Petrels
We arrived at the edge of the shelf in just under 2 hours, cutting the engine 35 nautical miles offshore in 345 metres at 26'36'479'S; 153',43',165' E. A barely discernible swell was the order of the morning with a gentle northerly breeze of 4-6 knots. The wind picked up a little as the day progressed, reaching about 12 knots by lunchtime, and with the temperature hovering between 18 and 22 degrees all day, it was a comfortable outing.

Antarctic Prion
As soon as we reached the shelf we saw what was probably a second-year Black-browed Albatross, but it didn't wait around. The first of many Providence Petrels appeared and the birds were clearly hungry as we began laying a trail of shark liver berley; an exceptionally large number of this species was recorded for the day.

Antarctic Prion
Fairy Prion - Pic by Rob Morris
The petrels were soon joined by a smattering of Fairy Prions. This species also was about the vessel for the whole time we were off the shelf.  The Fairy Prions were joined soon after by the first of a few Antarctic Prions - the first record of this species for the Sunshine Coast - to be seen as the morning progressed. The occasional Hutton's Shearwater put in an appearance along with a few Wilson's Storm-Petrels.
Common Noddy
A Sooty Tern was an unexpected visitor at this time of year. A Common Noddy was another subtropical species we did not anticipate seeing in winter.

Kermadec Petrel
We were wondering what other petrels might be among the hordes of Providence Petrels when an intermediate phase Kermadec Petrel appeared late in the morning. Things were looking up.

Kermadec Petrel
Soon after, a Tahiti Petrel joined the show. While common in summer, this species is rarely seen in winter. Then a Soft-plumed Petrel turned up, performing nicely for the cameras as it hung about the boat for about 15 minutes. This species has been recorded in Queensland perhaps on just two or three occasions previously. Another unexpected winter visitor was a single Wedge-tailed Shearwater.

Soft-plumaged Petrel
Soft-plumaged Petrel
A second Common Noddy showed, as did a first-year Black-browed Albatross. (We had expected to see more albatross on this excursion after the good numbers seen off the Gold Coast a couple of weeks earlier.) With a change for the worse in the weather looming, we were thinking of turning around when a White-chinned Petrel appeared behind the boat; another species known from Queensland from just a handful of records. Then a second Kermadec Petrel flew in.

White-chinned Petrel
We had drifted almost 10 nautical miles in a south-easterly direction to a depth of 580 metres when we turned around at 1.45pm after 4.5 hours on the shelf. We arrived back at the marina a little after 3.30pm, pleased with our efforts for the day.

Species (Total Maximum at One Time)

Black-browed Albatross 2 (1)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 10 (4)
Antarctic Prion 8 (2)
Fairy Prion 50 (6)
White-chinned Petrel 1 (1)
Soft-plumed Petrel 1 (1)
Kermadec Petrel 2 (1)
Providence Petrel 250 (60)
Tahiti Petrel 1 (1)
Hutton's Shearwater 6 (2)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 1 (1)
Australasian Gannet 200 (20)
Sooty Tern 2 (1)
Crested Tern 20 (4)
Common Noddy 2 (1)
Silver Gull 8 (2)
16 species

Humpback Whale 15 (4)
Risso's Dolphin 6 (2)

Participants

Paddy Dimond (skipper),  Greg Roberts (organiser), De-Anne Attard, Ralph Brown, Phil Cross, Robyn Duff, John Gunning, Nikolas Haass, Elliot Leach, Rob Morris, Brian Russell, Andrew Stafford, Raja Stephenson, Paul Walbridge.



  

   

Yandina Creek Wetlands Have Been Drained

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The nationally significant Yandina Creek Wetlands - habitat for rare and endangered wildlife and large numbers of threatened migratory shorebirds - have been drained in recent days. Many waterbirds were nesting at the time. Although alerted to the drainage plans, the federal Government, the Queensland Government and the Sunshine Coast Council have collectively done nothing to try to protect the area.

Many hundreds of waterbirds that were present on the wetlands just a few days ago are gone. The entire wetland area of 200 hectares has been drained. Yet if action is taken soon, the drainage works can be reversed. Below is a series of before and after snaps to demonstrate what has transpired.


(A1) Here is a recent image of the wetlands with the backdrop to the west of Mt Ninderry.


(A2) This is what that area of deep freshwater lakes looks like now.


(B1) This image shows how the wetlands appeared looking east, towards Mt Coolum.


(B2) This is what that area looks like now.


(C1) This area was favoured by the endangered Australian Painted-Snipe and large numbers of migratory Latham's Snipe.


(C2) This is what that habitat looks like now.


(D1) This area was frequented by hundreds of ducks and other waterfowl.


(D2) About 20 pairs of Black Swan were sitting on nests last week, including this bird. Pacific Black Ducks, Purple Swamphens and Pied Stilts were also attending nests in this part of the wetlands.


(D3) This is what that spot looks like now.


(E1) This area of sedges and rushes was the habitat of skulking birds such as Lewin's Rail and Spotless Crake.


(E2) Here is what is left of it.

How did it come to this? The 200-hectare Yandina Creek Wetlands ticked all the boxes. This wetland was without equal in terms of biodiversity in the Sunshine Coast region. It was one of the finest wetlands of its kind in the whole of Queensland, embracing a wide range of habitats including mangroves, sedges, grasslands, mudflats and deepwater pools. It harboured rare and threatened species including the endangered Australian Painted-Snipe, and provided habitat for hundreds of migratory shorebirds protected under international treaties. The wetlands had enormous value for flood mitigation in a highly flood-prone area. They had great potential as an ecotourism destination.

Trees destroyed during drainage works 
Yet the federal Government, the Queensland Government and the Sunshine Coast Council did nothing to stop the drainage works, ignoring representations from numerous individuals and organisations over the past six months.

Their reasoning?  Firstly, the powers-that-be concluded that drainage works are part and parcel of an existing land use. The wetlands are comprised of properties where sugarcane was grown before they were sold 10 years ago. The new landholders, who include wealthy Sunshine Coast property developers, failed to maintain floodgates that controlled tidal water flows from the Maroochy River to drainage canals on the properties. That meant the land could be inundated twice daily by tidal water through broken floodgates (see here for more), thereby creating the wetlands.



F(1) Tidal waters had flown through broken floodgates, replenishing the wetlands.


F(2) New floodgates have flocked the water flow.

The wetlands were able to be drained now because the landholders - aware of mounting public pressure on governments to do something - repaired the floodgates, thereby legally continuing - in the eyes of government - an existing land use.

Secondly, governments decided at all three levels that the wetlands are unimportant because they had been "modified" by humans. In a sense, according to public officials incapable of thinking outside the box, the wetlands are of no significance because they were created artificially. This blinkered view ignores three fundamental points.

Firstly, artificial or not, the wetlands attracted an extraordinary variety and abundance of wildlife, much of it protected under state and Commonwealth law. Secondly, the Yandina Creek Wetlands resemble habitat that was widespread in the Maroochy River flatlands before the development of sugar cane plantations many decades ago; what has occurred essentially is that natural habitat was restored. Thirdly, governments around the world are spending large sums of money creating wetlands because there is so little of the habitat remaining in its "natural" state.

None of that rings any bells  for our governments. Where to now? The Sunshine Coast Council and the federal and Queensland governments can be lobbied to reverse the drainage works by insisting that the floodgates be opened or removed. One or other governments can come up with the funds necessary to acquire the wetlands for a conservation reserve. The Queensland Environment Minister, Steven Miles, plans to visit the site soon. However, landholders have refused the minister access to the properties. News of his pending visit is believed to have triggered the move to drain the wetlands.

At the request of Peter Wellington, the local MP and parliamentary Speaker, Mr Miles has taken an interest in the wetlands, even though his department is on the record as dismissing the area as unimportant because it is "modified". Mr Miles can be asked to provide funding to the Sunshine Coast Council to help acquire the wetlands, and to ensure that state laws protecting important wetlands and threatened wildlife are complied with:

Hon Steven Miles,
Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection,
GPO Box 2454,
BRISBANE QLD 4001.

View over Yandina Creek Wetlands from Mt Ninderry before they were drained 
A petition has been launched calling on the federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, to provide funding to the Sunshine Coast Council to enable it to acquire the properties:  see here for the link .  Mr Hunt can be written to and asked to provide funding and to ensure that Commonwealth laws are complied with, whether or not the habitat of endangered, protected wildlife has been "modified":

Hon Greg Hunt,
Minister for the Environment,
PO Box 274,
Hastings, VIC, 3915.
Greg.Hunt.MP@aph.gov.au



Councillor Mark Jamieson,
Mayor,
Sunshine Coast Council,
Locked Bag 72,
Sunshine Coast Mail Centre QLD 4560.
mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

BirdLife Australia has produced an online letter that can also be forwarded to the mayor: see here for access to the letter.




 



Wetlands Drained but in the Spotlight

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Scott, Anna and Sam at the wetlands. Pic by Glenn Hunt
Here is a transcript of my feature and news story in The Weekend Australian about the drainage of the wetlands (see here for before-and-after images of that, and links at the bottom for further action options). I try to explore here the wider implications of this disastrous (though reversible) move for environmental decision-making in Australia.  Glenn's picture (above) made the front page.

Wildlife left high and dry


Inquirer Section.

Hundreds of ducks, herons and other waterbirds jostled for space in the calm waters of the Yandina Creek Wetlands in the heart of Queensland's bustling Sunshine Coast, as stately black-necked storks and brolgas patrolled the shoreline. That was the scene until the entire 200 hectares of wetland, regarded as a site of international importance, were drained in just 48 hours last weekend.

Swans and other protected waterbirds were attending nests at the time; an unknown number of stranded chicks are likely to have starved or fallen prey to dogs and foxes. The area provided refuge to federally listed endangered and critically endangered wildlife, along with numerous migratory shorebirds protected under three treaties to which Australia is a signatory.

The wetlands had great potential, according to expert analysis, to mitigate the consequences of flooding in low-lying parts of the Sunshine Coast - one of Australia's fastest growing cities – that are highly flood-prone. Ecologists and wildlife experts who viewed the site regarded it as having outstanding biodiversity value. Community groups say that in a region which trumpets its appeal as an ecotourism destination, the wetlands could have been a big drawcard.

In the end, none of these arguments counted. In a move that highlights fundamental pitfalls in environmental decision-making in Australia, the federal and Queensland governments, along with local authorities, made no effort to prevent the wetlands from being drained. Why? Environmental regulators concluded that the Yandina Creek Wetlands were unworthy of protection because they were unnatural.

Until this week, the wetlands were a mosaic of mangroves, reed-beds, grasslands and deep-water pools. Today, what remains is a two kilometre-stretch of mud and sludge wedged between the imposing peaks of Mt Ninderry and Mt Coolum. Close by are the Sunshine Coast's sparkling beaches and the Palmer Coolum Resort, owned by local federal MP Clive Palmer, who has added his voice to a growing chorus of criticism being directed at federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt and state and local authorities for failing to protect the wetlands.

Controversy over the fate of the wetlands raises wider issues about political correctness and public service mindset. The wetlands could be drained, according to government correspondence, because they had been “highly modified” by human intervention; they were therefore not regarded as being a “high priority” for conservation. Endangered wildlife and other attributes were irrelevant because the wetlands did not fit the regulatory definition of “nature”.

It is the same mindset that says the rangelands of inland Australia, or the savannah woodlands of the tropical north, can be protected not by good management practices on grazing properties, but only by locking up extensive “natural” areas in national parks. The parks are then left largely to manage themselves, notwithstanding a host of human-related problems ranging from plagues of feral animals and exotic weed invasions to out-of-control wildfires.

It is not just governments that resonate with this mindset. The country's peak conservation body, the Australian Conservation Foundation, ignored repeated pleas from residents and wildlife experts to support efforts to protect the Sunshine Coast wetlands.

The wetlands occurred on two properties that grew sugar cane before the nearby Nambour sugar mill closed in 2003. Much of the 10,000ha of Sunshine Coast cane land was acquired at the time by property developers as long-term investments. The owners await the seemingly inevitable time when authorities, under pressure from the housing needs of South-East Queensland's booming population, rezone the land from rural so that real estate projects can proceed.

The Yandina Creek landholders had over the past decade left their property to fend for itself. The cane lands are criss-crossed by drainage canals connected to the tidal Maroochy River, with water flow being formerly controlled by floodgates. The floodgates fell into disrepair, allowing low-lying land to be inundated by millions of litres of water twice daily at high tide.

The result was the fortuitous creation of a wetland which had the bonus of being self-managing; the regular flow of saline water ensured that weeds and vegetation regrowth were kept under control. The resilience of Australian wildlife was reflected in the way in which the artificially created wetlands were embraced quickly and comprehensively by large numbers of waterbirds, native rodents, frogs and other wildlife.

Importantly, old aerial photographs suggest that the new wetlands closely resembled natural habitat that occurred widely in the Maroochy River lowlands before the development of the cane industry last Century.

Commonwealth guidelines indicate that the wetlands are internationally and nationally significant - a point not disputed by government. Under the Ramsar Convention on wetlands protection, the numbers of Latham's Snipe and other migratory shorebirds that find refuge in the area were sufficiently large to warrant that status.

Greg Hunt was alerted last December to plans by landholders to drain the wetlands so the area could be converted to cattle pasture. The plans faced hurdles under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The wetlands harboured two federally listed bird species: the critically endangered Curlew-Sandpiper and the endangered Australian Painted-Snipe. They were the refuge of internationally protected shorebirds. Either issue is regarded as a matter of national significance under the EPBCA and could trigger Canberra's intervention, in much the same way that the Rudd Government blocked the Traveston Dam in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in 2009.

Hunt ordered the department's Compliance and Enforcement Branch to investigate. At the time, Hunt insisted it did not matter if the wetlands were created artificially. “The EPBCA applies on the basis of consequences,” Hunt said. “If an action is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national importance, then the Act will apply.”

Following Hunt's move, the landholders changed plans. They leased the land back to the cane farmers who had sold it to them a decade earlier. The farmers signalled their intention to proceed with drainage plans by repairing the damaged floodgates, but that instead of cattle pasture, the properties would again be planted with sugar cane. The new plan was evidently intended to circumvent Commonwealth law by continuing a legally existing land use.

As evidence mounted in recent weeks that drainage was imminent as the floodgates were repaired, hundreds of residents and several community groups wrote to Hunt, asking for federal intervention. Hunt ignored them.

Late last week, the wetlands were drained after newly installed floodgates were opened at low tide. More than 1000 people have since signed online petitions and letters calling on Hunt to order that the floodgates be opened again tp allow water to return to the wetlands. Yesterday, in response to questions from Inquirer, Hunt said through a spokesman that his department was seeking further information to determine if the drainage may have breached the EPBCA.

Governments around the world spend large sums creating artificial wetlands because so little of the habitat survives naturally. BirdLife Southern Queensland convenor Judith Hoyle describes the
drainage of the wetlands as “tragic”. Says Hoyle: “Any notion that wetlands are of less value because they are deemed to be highly modified or whatever is nonsense. Wildlife doesn't care one iota about that.”

Environmental consultant Brett Lane says the fate of the wetlands reflects the narrow view of environmental values held by Australian regulators: “To claim that "unnatural wetlands" are irrelevant ignores that nature can adapt to human changes to the landscape. Given the loss of natural habitats, unnatural ones are increasingly important in preventing extinction and offer a way forward to sustainable development.”

Canberra's indifference was echoed by the Queensland Government. State Environment Minister Steven Miles referred in correspondence to the wetlands as a “highly modified system that had previously been used for sugar cane production”. His department publicly dismissed the wetlands as being only of “local” significance, although wildlife there included species listed as vulnerable and near-threatened under the state laws. A departmental spokesperson conceded the assessment was made on the basis of a single site inspection; no surveys were conducted or commissioned.

The wetlands include an extensive stand of mangroves, which are protected under the state Fisheries Act. Heavy penalties apply to “unauthorised disturbances” that impact on mangroves on private land. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries investigated the drainage plans but took no action to block them.

The CSIRO conducted a scientific investigation of land use options for the Maroochy River cane lands following the closure of the Nambour mill. The CSIRO warned that the area was flood-prone and poorly drained, and its future rested in part with the conversion of former cane land to wetlands. “Maintaining or restoring wetlands is an important opportunity associated with any future land use change,” the CSIRO report says.

While Canberra and Brisbane were sidestepping the issue, the Sunshine Coast Council was under pressure to acquire the properties under its environmental levy program so they could be protected as a reserve. However, the council determined that the wetlands were not a high priority. The council insists that acquisition proposals are subject to technical assessment, but no assessments were made of the Yandina Creek proposal. Council sources say wildlife surveys and other assessments are made after, not before, property acquisitions. Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson declined to meet with community groups to discuss the proposal.

Jamieson did not respond to an offer from the Protect the Bushland Alliance for a team of scientific experts to examine the wetlands, at no cost to the council, to determine their full environmental value. The council also ignored an offer from a community group to fund a $4,500 bird-watching hide on the site.

While three levels of government signalled disinterest, the landholders had gone to the council with a scheme that would have addressed competing interests. The proposal would have protected some wetlands. Farming would proceed on part of the area and a site would be developed as an ecotourism destination; levy banks in the wetlands provided excellent conditions for viewing wildlife for cashed up wildlife enthusiasts from interstate and overseas. Nothing came of the plan; the council declines to comment on its merits.

A similar site in north Queensland, Tyto Wetlands, attracts 21,000 visitors annually and employs more than 20 staff. Federal, state and local governments have collectively poured $15 million into the development of Tyto as a reserve and ecotourism destination. The contrast between government perspectives of the two areas could not be more stark.

Steve Miles, Peter Wellington, Narelle McCarthy, Judith Hoyle, Greg Roberts
The publication coincided with a visit to the site by state Environment Minister Steve Miles and local MP and parliamentary Speaker Peter Wellington. More on that later. Dr Miles and Mr Wellington are mentioned in the news story, the transcript of which follows.

‘Artificial’ wetland drained

A wetland on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, regarded as internationally significant and home to endangered wildlife, has been drained because authorities deemed it as artificially created and not natural.
Federal and state authorities, along with the Sunshine Coast Council, rejected pleas from residents, wildlife experts and community groups to protect the 200ha wetland after regulatory officers determined that it was unnatural.
The controversy has sparked debate about a fundamental principle at the heart of environmental decision-making in Australia: whether or not an area that may have outstanding conservation value should be protected if it has been shaped or enhanced by human activity.
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt yesterday ordered his department to establish whether the draining of the wetland late last week breached Commonwealth law.
Farmers who drained the wetland insisted that federal officers had indicated the move could proceed without fear of Commonwealth intervention.
The draining has left a stark, bleak landscape where once there were hundreds of migratory and resident waterbirds nesting and wading through the shallow waters that flowed into the area through compromised tidal floodgates.
Local resident Anna Dwan said she was distressed many protected waterbird chicks had been left stranded by the draining. “I am mortified that governments stand back and do nothing to prevent a wonderful area such as this from being destroyed because they think it is artificial.”
“It is a desolate wasteland out there now,” Ms Dwan said.
Mr Hunt’s Queensland counterpart, state Environment Minister Steve Miles, has also intervened in the wetland controversy after being urged to do so by the parliamentary Speaker, Peter Wellington, whose support is needed by the minority Labor government of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Dr Miles had previously dismissed the wetland as unimportant on the advice of his department but yesterday he visited the site behind Coolum Beach with Mr Wellington.
It had been decided that the wetland should not be protected because it had been “highly modified” by human intervention.
The wetland provided refuge to wildlife listed as endangered and critically endangered under commonwealth law.
The wetland is on land formerly used to grow sugarcane. Farming ceased when the land was sold following the closure of the Nambour sugar mill in 2003. Floodgates that controlled flows from the Maroochy River to drainage canals on the land fell into disrepair, allowing tidal water to inundate the area and create the wetlands.
The floodgates were repaired recently by cane farmers who had leased the land. The area was drained over 48 hours last week.
Acting federal Greens leader Larissa Waters said it was “deeply alarming” that state and federal governments failed to intervene.
Mr Hunt said yesterday that he had not given approval for the wetland to be drained. “In order to determine if the action is compliant (with commonwealth law), the department is seeking further information,” his spokesman said.
The Queensland Environment Department admitted its conclusion that the wetlands were not worth protecting was based on a single site visit, and that no scientific studies had been conducted.
Mr Wellington, who is the local MP, said he asked Dr Miles to intervene because he was convinced of the case to protect the wetlands.
“Since the demise of the sugar industry, these areas now have a significant role as reserves for wildlife,” Mr Wellington said.

  


Camping at Amamoor and Local Bird Bits

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Noisy Pitta
Amamoor State Forest seemed like a good place for a winter camp after our last campout there in 2012. Since then the area has seriously flooded a couple of times and the Cedar Grove camping ground has been reconstructed. No sign of the Powerful Owl seen during the last camp or the Masked Owl seen in the area since, but lots of nice birds about anyway. Quite a few Noisy Pittas were surprisingly vociferous for this time of year.

Amamoor Creek
Amamoor Creek was as delightful as always. No platypus this time though the Azure Kingfishers were frequent. A fruiting tree by the creek was very active, with 20+ Wompoo Fruit-Doves in attendance along with Australasian Figbird, Regent Bowerbird and Satin Bowerbird. Paradise Riflebird, Russet-tailed Thrush and White-eared Monarch were among other good birds in the rainforest, while White-throated Nightjar, Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook were calling at night; again it is early for the nightjars to be vocalising.
Wompoo  Fruit-Dove

Azure Kingfisher
Spotted Pardalotes were nesting in tunnels in the creek banks, shifting nesting material seemingly late in their breeding season. While on the long ridge circuit, a pair of Glossy Black Cockatoos was a nice find. New Holland Honeyeaters, here evidently at the northern end of their range, were very common. Dusky Honeyeater was also common.

Dusky Honeyeater

New Holland Honeyeater

Spotted Pardalote
The full list of birds seen can be seen here. A sluggish Red-bellied Black Snake was making the most of the winter sun.

Red-bellied Black Snake
Closer to home, a Brown Falcon was attending a nest in the cane lands near Bli Bli.

Brown Falcon on nest
While at the Parklakes Wetlands, Spotless Crake and Wandering Whistling-Duck were seen on consecutive visits.

Spotless Crake

Wandering Whistling-Duck

Black Swans appear to be nesting early. These birds were at Lake Macdonald.

Black Swan on nest
Quite a few raptors are still in the vicinity of the recently drained Yandina Creek Wetlands, including Swamp Harrier and Grey Goshawk.

Grey Goshawk

Swamp Harrier


This Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo was cracking a pine cone close to home at Mt Ninderry.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo



Yandina Creek Wetlands: Further Media Coverage

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The wetlands were first drained in the mid-1920s": pic provided by Audienne Blyth
Here is the transcript of the fully story submitted to The Weekend Australian. An edited version of the story was published today.

An internationally significant wetland on Queensland's Sunshine Coast that was drained after government authorities dismissed it as unimportant because the area was created artificially was formerly a natural wetland.

Historical records show that the Yandina Creek wetland, which was drained two weeks ago leaving nesting protected waterbirds stranded, closely resembled the area before it was developed for sugar cane plantations almost a century ago.

The Weekend Australian reported last week (see here) that the wetlands were drained by farmers to replant cane that had not been grown on the properties concerned for more than a decade. In that time, tidal water inundated the low-lying area through broken floodgates on farm drains, creating a 200ha wetland that was home to large numbers of birds including federally protected species.

The federal and Queensland governments, along with the local council, made no attempt to block the drainage plans, with authorities dismissing the wetland as being of no significance because it had been “highly modified” by human activity.

The move sparked debate about a key principle at the centre of environmental decision-making in Australia: whether an environmentally significant area deserves protection if it has been shaped by human activity.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt is under pressure to act under Commonwealth law to order that the wetland be refilled before protected migratory shorebirds return to Australia from their Asian breeding grounds in the weeks ahead to spend the northern winter here.

Wildlife experts claim the Abbott Government could be in breach of six international agreements protecting shorebirds if it fails to act to protect the wetland, which harboured species listed as endangered and critically endangered.

Sunshine Coast historian Carolyn Slade that it was clear from historic records that the Yandina Creek wetland, before it was drained recently, resembled closely the area as it appeared before first being drained to make way for cane plantations in the mid-1920s.

“That entire area in the vicinity of Yandina Creek was naturally tidal mudflats, ti-tree swamps and other wetland,” Ms Slade said.

“Even as cane land the area was extremely wet and muddy, with heavy machinery being continually bogged. It is appalling that government used the excuse of it being artificial to destroy the wetland. It wasn't artificial; it had been returned to its natural state.”

Frances Wildolf, who documented the history of the region in a book, An Island Surrounded by Land, said the area was natural wetland until a contractor, Harry Dobe, was hired to dig drains
so cane could be planted on newly drained farmland. The drains, two metres deep and a metre wide, had to be dug by hand.

Australia has signed agreements to protect migratory birds with Japan, China and South Korea. Australia is also a signatory to the Ramsar Convention and two other treaties requiring Canberra to act to “restore and enhance” the habitat of migratory shorebirds. Twelve species of shorebird numbering hundreds of birds had sought refuge in the Yandina Creek wetland.

BirdLife Australia spokeswoman Judith Hoyle said Mr Hunt should intervene to order that the wetland be refilled, which can be done by the farmers opening recently installed floodgates. If the minister considered that his powers were insufficient, the Commonwealth should apply for a Federal Court injunction. The farmers who drained the wetland declined to comment.

Birgita Hansen, a migratory shorebird expert with Federation University Australia, said there was a sound case for refilling the wetland.

Migratory shorebirds would begin returning to Australia this month. “I understand that the predictions for the coming austral summer are a return to El Nino conditions,” Dr Hansen said. “Therefore, if action is left too late, the wetland may not refill.”

However, Mr Hunt ruled out any move while a departmental investigation he has ordered was under way.

“The department has advised that no permission was sought, no application has been received and no permission has been given in relation to the action that was undertaken,” Mr Hunt said.

“I have written to the Queensland Government seeking clarification on what steps and investigations they have carried out as this is primarily a local and state land planning matter. The advice from the department is absolutely clear in that we are upholding all international obligations.”

Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles, who had previously dismissed the wetland as unimportant because it was artificial, visited the site last week at the urging of local MP Peter Wellington, who holds the balance of power in state parliament.

Reversing his earlier position, Dr Miles said yesterday that several proposals to protect the area would be further explored.

The Sunshine Coast Council, which had also dismissed the wetland as unimportant, signalled that it too was open to proposals. “If the Commonwealth and state governments indicate they would consider partnering with other stakeholders for the purchase of the land, the council would be happy to be part of those negotiations,”said Councillor Steve Robinson.

Mangroves in Yandina Creek Wetlands
Mangroves on private land are protected under state law. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries had previously investigated whether the recent drainage of the wetlands breached the Fisheries Act as an extensive area of mangroves had developed in the eastern portion of the wetlands. The department refused to reveal the outcome of its initial investigation, Now, following intervention by the Minister for Agricultural and Fisheries, Bill Byrne, a new investigation has been launched. We await the outcome with interest.

Night Parrot: Exciting Developments

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Night Parrot
It doesn't get much more exciting in the birding world than this: publicly released photographs and a video showing that the Night Parrot is hanging in there, albeit probably by not a great deal more than a thread. Researcher Steve Murphy and his colleagues have established that the Night Parrot has been recorded from several sites in the same area where it was discovered by John Young in 2013.

Moreover, Bush Heritage Australia has come on board to assist in endeavours to protect the area and put in place a management plan to secure the future of the bird. This saga could easily have panned out differently. It is a tribute to Steve Murphy, Bush Heritage Australia and John Young that a sensible solution was arrived at in a timely and orderly manner.

Young discovered the Night Parrot on a remote grazing property south-west of Winton in far western Queensland following a six-year search. The area is sparsely vegetated gibber country interspersed by spinifex patches - some quite extensive - on the slopes and around the base of red rocky ridges, with denser vegetation and low trees in gullies and on ridge tops. It was in the general region that a dead Night Parrot was discovered in 2006 and relatively not too far removed - as the Night Parrot flies - from where a road-killed Night Parrot was found in 1990.

The mist-netted Night Parrot. Pic Rachel Barr
These records suggest that the species may be persisting in small numbers across quite an extensive range in south-west Queensland, with Murphy's research indicating the birds move about frequently - as far as 8 kilometres - while feeding. Murphy and Young have both testified to the difficulty of locating the species: between the two of them, together or separately over several years involving many hours of effort and research, the parrot has been seen on just a handful of occasions. It does not call frequently and evidently does not flush readily during the day. So it is indeed the proverbial needle in the haystack.

Murphy and his assistant, Rachel Barr, managed to mist-net a Night Parrot last Easter. They attached a tiny radio transmitter to the bird before releasing it. The video of the bird disappearing into the spinifex is exquisite - a link to the video is here. Murphy's research was funded by Fortescue Metals as an offset for a company mining project in the Pilbara of Western Australia, where 3 Night Parrots were seen in 2005. Some doubt had been cast on that sighting, but the appearance and behaviour of the bird in the video is a good fit with the notes provided by the observers - especially the way the parrot moved across the ground. So Murphy's find may indirectly provide further evidence that a population of Night Parrots could be extant in the Pilbara as well as in south-west Queensland. Incidentally, Fortescue's funding for the Queensland research is scheduled to expire at the end of 2016.

Steve Murphy
At the time of the mist-netting, Murphy had heard birds calling from multiple sites within a 10-kilometre radius, indicating the presence of a well-established population. However, one bird was heard at another site 40 kilometres away, suggesting that the population could be more widely distributed. Birds called from relatively small and isolated spinifex patches as well as more extensive spinifex areas. Some of the areas where birds were present had been grazed by cattle.

Until his success with the nets, Murphy had seen just one Night Parrot in the area: a bird that was probably sub-adult flew into view quickly in response to playback. Many other calling birds failed to respond to playback. Murphy has recorded several Night Parrot calls which demonstrate some variation in pitch and composition. An important question now is whether recordings of those calls will be distributed so that others can search for further populations. The present site in south-west Queensland understandably is not being revealed, but there is a strong case for recordings to be made available to assist in finding more Night Parrots.

Feral Cat caught on camera near Night Parrot site
The mist-netted bird has been seen since once since it was captured and its transmitter is believed to have subsequently fallen off. Interestingly, 15,000 hours of camera trapping have not recorded any Night Parrots, although vocalisations indicate the birds are more widespread than the camera trapping suggests. The camera trapping did reveal other birds and mammals, including feral cats. Feral cats constitute perhaps the biggest threat to the birds; they are known to have been voracious predators of Night Parrots elsewhere in inland Australia.

Bush Heritage Australia, which has an excellent reputation for acquiring and managing environmentally sensitive areas, is negotiating with the owners of the 1 million-hectare property to acquire about 5 per cent of the holding - 56,000 hectares including the known Night Parrot sites. The organisation hopes to raise $400,000 to fund the acquisition. Anyone wishing to assist in the acquisition can do so  through this link.

A recovery team has been established comprising Murphy and experts from Bush Heritage Australia, Charles Darwin University, the Australian National University and the CSIRO. The federal and Queensland governments are both involved in planned management activities including the mapping of Night Parrot habitat, securing the site, mitigating wildfire risk and feral animal control.

John Young had once vowed to exclude government agencies from any role in protecting the area. Young had been offered on ongoing role in management but elected not to be a participant. Young was not involved in preparations for the latest announcement and in fact has distanced himself from the project in recent months. It is to Young's credit, however, that he recognised that the future of the bird lay beyond his limited resources and that the task required major input from government and non-government agencies alike. That's been the fortunate outcome, and the future of the Night Parrot is looking brighter as a result.

Last Gasp for Yandina Creek Wetlands

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Yandina Creek Wetlands: Last Gasp
Last night I gave a talk on the Yandina Creek Wetlands to the Maroochy Wetlands Support Group at Bli Bli. I have decided it will be my last talk on the subject, and this will be last public comment about the wetlands unless the unexpected happens and governments get serious about protecting this place.

This morning I hiked to the summit of Mt Ninderry, which is near where I live. I looked eastwards from the summit towards the coast, where the wasteland that was until recently a biodiversity hotspot - with few if any equals in the region - was clearly visible. I recalled how the Queensland and Commonwealth governments stood by and did nothing to prevent the wetland from being drained  (see here) for sugar cane plantations, notwithstanding the presence of wildlife listed as endangered and threatened under state and federal laws.

With the council's Bill Haddrill at the Bli Bli meeting
In similar fashion, the Sunshine Coast Council decided that the properties containing the wetlands were not worthy of acquisition under its Environmental Levy program. The primary reason for inaction on the part of all three levels of government was essentially that the wetland was created artificially through broken floodgates on fallow caneland, although the result was the recreation of a habitat that was there naturally, as I have commented on at length elsewhere.

After confirming through my optical gear this morning that none of the hundreds of waterbirds that were thriving on the wetland until a few weeks ago were still there, I hiked around the summit of Mt Ninderry to look westward. Below me was a property acquired recently by the council under the levy program for $2.6 million - roughly the estimated cost of acquiring the wetland properties, and of similar size to them. I knew a thing or two about the Mt Ninderry property. Most of it was regrowth, including extensive stands of introduced Pinus and camphor laurel. It had been significantly modified by human hands; the acquisition had aesthetic appeal, to be sure, but there was little value in terms of biodiversity and wildlife.

Unlike the Yandina Creek site, Mt Ninderry was not regarded as nationally and internationally significant under Commonwealth guidelines and the provisions of international conventions to which Australia is a signatory. Yet in the view of council, Yandina Creek was not worthy of a cursory scientific assessment, while according to Mayor Mark Jamieson, Mt Ninderry was a "piece of paradise".

The Bli Bli meeting last night was attended by Bill Haddrill, the council's senior environmental officer who has charge of the property acquisition program. I  knew that either Bill or Councillor Stephen Robinson were likely to in attendance. I had hoped that either of them might be a tad impressed by the images presented during my talk that illustrated the richness, beauty and variety of the wetland and the birds that lived there.

I was wrong. At the end of my talk, Bill restated the council's position: the council would not be spending any money on acquiring the wetland properties, although it was open to offers from the Commonwealth and/or state governments. Bill repeated that the wetland was not a high priority for the council, althought no studies were undertaken to assess its value. It is true that the council's hands were tied to an extent as the property owners had refused permission for a team of experts to conduct a study at no expense to the council. However, there is no evidence indicating that the council urged the landholders to co-operate with a study.

I knew it was the case that the council commissioned studies AFTER acquiring properties, not before. When I suggested that this might not be regarded by the public as a reasonable approach - that it should be the other way around - Bill responded that sometimes there was no choice because landholders refused permission for studies prior to acquisition, and the council considered it was important for acquisition to proceed anyway. Inconsistency in approach is evident here; as they say, what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.

Bill told those at the talk that the council is swamped by proposals for acquisition, with each applicant insisting that their particular proposition is more worthy than any other. The implication is that the hundreds of people who have unsuccessfully urged the council to protect the Yandina Creek wetland are essentially selfish. The argument ignores the point that the worthiness of any proposal should be determined by expert scientific assessment; those of us who have urged the protection of the Yandina Creek site have never asserted that our views should be taken forgranted.

The wetlands can still be saved. The newly installed floodgates can be reopened. However, I am now convinced that the only way this will happen is if the Queensland Government provides the necessary funding (an estimated $3-4 million) to the council to acquire the area.

The council has made it clear it will be not be contributing any of its (read ratepayers) money. The federal Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, has indicated he will not only fail to enforce Commonwealth laws protecting federally listed endangered species, but his government will not be contributing acquisition funds. Bush Heritage Australia and the Queensland Trust for Nature have expressed interest in helping, but the price tag is outside the resources of these worthy organisations.  


Environment Minister Steve Miles and MP Peter Wellington at the wetlands site recently
That leaves just one option in my view: state government involvement. The local MP and parliamentary Speaker, Peter Wellington, is onside. His support facilitated a recent visit to the site by the state Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Steve Miles. The minister and Peter Wellington both said during that visit that no state funds were available to help with acquisition, but unless they are persuaded to change that view, the fate of the wetlands is sealed.

To that end, I have established yet another petition, this one asking Peter to use his good offices to push for state funding at this link. It would of course help the funding cause if the council desisted from publicly denigrating the site.

Fingers crossed, but I'm not holding my breath.

  





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