World Wetlands Day 2007

Friday February 16th

Murrumbidgee Irrigation with the assistance of the Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust held a very successful free family film night at Leeton’s Roxy Theatre. With Storm Boy the feature attraction, around 200 people came along and enjoyed the evening.

Dry conditions

Friday February 16th

Fivebough is showing the signs of the extreme dry conditions with approximately 95% of the wetland now completely dry. Numbers of birds declined greatly since December 2006 and with the continuing drought conditions only 500-800 waterbirds remaining. Most birds are present in the south-west portion of Fivebough.

Today there are 25,000 - 30,000 waterbirds at Fivebough

Monday November 06th

The abundance of waterbirds has increased over the past three weeks, with Glossy Ibis numbers rising from a few hundred in early October to over 6000 at present, and for the time period numbers are similar to 2004. Little Bitterns have arrived with the season’s first record noted on October 30, by Keith Hutton, and 5 birds were calling November 5. Migratory shorebirds present in Fivebough over the past month are Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Latham’s Snipe, and Curlew Sandpiper. One female Painted Snipe was recorded September 3. Grey Teal have been very numerous and Anthony Overs et al recorded 15,000 October 28.

Arrivals recorded at Fivebough and Tuckerbil

Wednesday August 30th

Arrivals recorded at Fivebough and Tuckerbil to date during August:

Fivebough

• Fairy Martin [10+] August 1
• Whiskered Tern [1] August 1, [11] August 26, Iain Taylor some in breeding plumage.
• Black-tailed Godwit [1] August 1.
• Marsh Sandpiper [4] August 8.
• Baillons Crake [1] August 8. [5+] August 27/28 David Egan.
• Black-winged Stilt breeding [5] nests August 12. [20] nests August 27.
• Glossy Ibis [1] August 27/28 David Egan.
• Latham’s Snipe [1] August 27/28 David Egan.
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper [35] August 27. [70+] August 27/28 David Egan.

Tuckerbil

• Glossy Ibis [10] August 28.
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper [11] August 28. [1] August 27/28 David Egan.

Elsewhere

• Masked Woodswallow [1] August 20, Galore Hill.
• White-browed Woodswallow [4] August 20, Galore Hill.
• Banded Lapwing [2] small downy chicks August 20, The Rock.
• Tree Martins nest building August 20, The Rock.

Black swans

Monday July 31st

Twenty eight nests of Black Swans were recorded at Tuckerbil today, and is the first Black Swan breeding attempt in the wetland since July 1997. Many Brolgas are still present, with birds moving back and forth from surrounding farmlands to Tuckerbil. With reasonable rain during July the extent of water in Tuckerbil has increased slightly.

Brolgas at Fivebough

Tuesday July 25th

Following the environmental watering of Tuckerbil in late May-early June Black Swans have now commenced breeding. Large numbers of Brolgas (60+) are present at Tuckerbil, with a small number still at Fivebough. There have been no arrivals to date. Condition of habitats for northern migrants are very good in both Fivebough and Tuckerbil. Clamorous Reed-warbler and Little Grassbirds have commenced singing. De-stocking of the wetlands for 2006 will be completed by July 28. of northern migratory waders, or others eg Glossy Ibis, Whiskered Tern observed in the wetlands.

Wetlands filling

Sunday June 18th

Both Tuckerbil and Fivebough have received an allocation of environmental water over the past three weeks, with inflows commencing on May 26, 2006.

Tuckerbil has until now not received adequate water for the past eight years. Within 10 days of water beginning to enter Tuckerbil, 18 additional waterbird species arrived.

Tuckerbil has approximately 100% of its normal flooded area covered, while Fivebough continues to fill.

Fivebough Swamp has 1000’s of waterbirds present

Monday September 12th

Fivebough Swamp has 1000’s of waterbirds present with many migrants arriving during the past 3 weeks. The wetland is in excellent condition with the best water levels for the past 7 years. Australasian Bitterns have been present throughout winter and their numbers have increased over the last few weeks.

A good autumn beginning for Fivebough Swamp

Sunday April 17th

Currently Fivebough Swamp has the greatest amount of water present in April for the past 10 years, with water now covering ~90% of the wetland.

Numbers of Brolga are at their highest for many years, and Australasian Bitterns have returned early. Very few northern migrants are still present, with 31 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers recorded during the last wetland survey April 24, 2005. Glossy Ibis to have diminished from a height 15,000 present during November 2004 to 4 birds remaining today, and they can be expected to become absent during May.

Glossy Ibis

Monday January 24th

Numbers of Glossy Ibis using Fivebough Swamp reached 15,000 in late November 2004. This is the highest number at Fivebough since December 1995 when 20,000 were present. Just over 1,000 were still present January 22, 2005. The decline in numbers is consistent with their seasonal cycle, and normally they become absent during autumn.