News | Diary
Ozcranes News has the latest from our four sections (Info, Research, Australia-New Guinea Cranes and Conservation). Our Diary lists crane-related events plus Natural Resource Management meetings in the Northern Gulf Region, which includes the main known Australian breeding area for Sarus Cranes.
Please contact us with your news items and events for the Diary.
Note: Don't miss the latest Research update: Ozcranes Research» features Kristie King's habitat and flock movement research for threatened Brolgas in SW Victoria.
Brolgas and wind farms
Proposed major wind farm develoments raise serious questions for the Brolga's survival in SW Victoria, where numbers of immatures in flocks are already low at 3% and existing threats include wetland degradation and foxes. The South West Victoria Brolga Project is now underway. Ballarat University PhD student Inka Veltheim and her support team have begun capturing and tracking SW Victoria's Brolgas as they move between winter breeding areas and summer flocking sites.
← Inka Veltheim's PhD project will study potential wind farm impacts on the threatened Brolga population in SW Victoria. Windfarm image by Rob Gray.
The project has funding from DEWHA, the Victorian Government and representatives of the wind industry, and is supported by BOCA. To volunteer for Brolga monitoring and other work with Inka, email her or phone BOCA National Office on 03 9877 5342. The ‘Friends of the Brolga’ group in SW Victoria has been revived, for more on this and other project news, visit the greatly-enhanced new BOCA website regularly to read the Conservation section of the monthly ‘Bird Observer’.
Sarus Crane blog: India
Gopi Sundar's blog Sarus Scape documents his wildlife and community experiences, as he continues his PhD on Sarus Cranes in Uttar Pradesh, India. Superb photographs with progressive updates on the Sarus Crane project.
Cranes on the Tablelands
Some Sarus Cranes were still present on the Atherton Tableland on 18 December 2009, feeding in cane (or wheat?) stubble in Northey Rd, Tolga (h/t: Colleen Watson). At least 18 birds were present, including adults accompanied by young. On the same day, two visitors staying at Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers' Lodge reported 2 Sarus in an irrigation area on the road to Emerald Creek Falls near Mareeba. Both very late sightings for the Tablelands after a very dry season. Colleen's photos will soon be posted on Ozcranes, check for updates. Some Brolgas also remained on farm dams in the Tumoulin area.
↑ Brolgas fly in to roost near Tumoulin, N Qld (Sandy Carroll)
TOPWildlife-friendly fencing news
↓ Brolga killed by fence collision, far Nth Qld, 26 Dec 2009. Larger image and more details in Ozcranes Fencing » (P. Merritt)
Fencing over water is a difficult issue for stock and wildlife, some ideas are in Water Note 19 from the WA Department of Water (find the brochure by typing ‘WRCWN19.pdf’ into the Search box). Also, visit Wildlife Friendly Fencing for recent major updates.
Ozcranes strongly supports moves for environmental fencing grants (eg Landcare) to include wildlife safety features and our Crane-friendly fencing pages have extensive information on fence planning and construction for wetlands and crane sites.
Diary
Please contact us to post your project or event in the Diary.
Crane Counts
Next Atherton Tablelands Crane Count – Sat 4 September 2010An annual Birds Australia North Queensland (BANQ) monitoring activity to count Sarus Cranes in the Atherton Tablelands IBA (Important Bird Area). Enquiries: Email Crane Count Co-ordinator. Postal enquiries and completed forms to – Australian Crane Network, PO Box 59, Atherton Qld 4883.
↑ Sarus Crane landing (Ian Montgomery)
Ongoing Brolga counts, SW VictoriaContact: Richard Hill, (03) 5554 2302. Also, South-West Victoria Brolga Research Project: 2009-2011. Report sightings of banded Brolgas to Inka Veltheim or BOCA National Office ph. 03-9877 5342.
2010 Cairns Highlands Bird Weeks
2-9 May & 26 Sept-2 October Jabiru Safari Lodge, Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve. The Sept-Oct program includes Gouldian Finch release (Endangered Species Program) and a Crane Count. Contacts –
- Website: Mareeba Wetlands Jabiru Safari Lodge
- Email Jabiru Safari Lodge
- Phone: 1800 788 755 (Freecall within Australia)
Northern Gulf Resource Management Group
22-23 June General Meeting, Mareeba Memorial Bowls Club
9-10 Nov AGM and General Meeting, Karumba Civic Centre
Contacts –
- Website
- Phone: (07) 4062 1330 Fax: (07) 4062 1488
- Mail: Savannah House, PO Box 63, Georgetown Qld 4871
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