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.
Interesting sightings of Brolgas and Sarus Cranes are on the Sightings page»
Crane Count 2008
Over 150 people joined Crane Count teams on October 4th to survey roost sites from Townsville/Giru in the south, north through Ingham right up to Lakeland Downs, and west across the Atherton Tableland to Mt Garnet. Others helped beforehand by checking sites, talking with landowners, and recruiting and training teams – thankyou all!
← As the sun sets, Brolgas land in a farm dam located in swampland at Tumoulin, N Qld (Sandy Carroll)
Some very interesting results were quickly messaged through on the night to the Tallyroom Dinner at Malanda Hotel, where Atherton Tablelands counters gathered to recover and socialise.
One Tumoulin site had 723 cranes landing, including 100 Sarus Cranes. Unusually high numbers of Sarus were also recorded in other sites on the drier margins of the Tableland including Mareeba and Walsh River, while long-term renowned roost Bromfield Swamp near Malanda had unusually low numbers, under 450.
← Sarus Cranes landing at Bromfield Swamp (David Stowe)
Townsville/Giru had over 420 Brolgas, the highest total since October counts began in 1997. Other significant Brolga totals came from Ingham and Innot Hot Springs.
Two sites were affected by fishing boats (Tinaroo and Quincan Swamp) and it's so far unclear whether the Sarus Cranes disturbed from those roosts, were picked up by counters at other sites nearby. Results are still coming in, more news soon.
Bird Week success
Cairns Highlands Bird Week at Jabiru Safari Lodge concluded with a successful Crane Count at Mareeba Wetlands. A total of 405 cranes landed to roost with 156 Sarus, 134 Brolgas and 115 unidentified.
Brolga breeding wetlands: free booklet
Landowners in Brolga breeding areas can receive a free booklet on managing farm wetlands. Based on the successful ‘Nest Egg’ scheme in the Riverina district of SE Australia, it includes brief advice on vegetation, grazing, fire, and water storages together with some magnificant photos. Email Ozcranes southern Australia contact Matt Herring for your copy.
TOPWildlife-friendly fencing news
Latest on the Wildlife Friendly Fencing website: a twice-yearly html Newsletter, with many fencing ideas and news from around Australia; and split polypipe to mark fences. Ozcranes strongly supports moves for fencing funded by environmental 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.
Wingspan issue with fences, and Brolgas
Birds Australia's quarterly magazine Wingspan December, 2007 features birds and barbed wire, plus two articles on Brolgas.
Diary
Please contact us to post your project or event in the Diary.
Crane Counts
Ongoing Brolga counts, SW VictoriaContact: Philip DuGuesclin, (03) 5522 3468
Next North Queensland Crane Count – Sat 3 October 2009An annual Birds Australia North Queensland (BANQ) research activity, across the Atherton Tableland, Upper Herbert, Townsville-Giru, Ingham, Gulf country, Cape York. North Queensland residents and visitors count Brolgas and Sarus Cranes as they fly in to roost for the night, at many wetland locations. Enquiries: Email Crane Count Co-ordinator Elinor Scambler. Postal enquiries and completed forms to – Australian Crane Network, PO Box 59, Atherton Qld 4883.
Northern Gulf Resource Management Group
11 – 12 November 2008AGM, project updates and celebration, Normanton Library, RSVP Monday 3 November. Contacts –
- Website: NGRMG Ltd
- Email NGRMG
- Phone: (07) 4062 1330 Fax: (07) 4062 1488
- Mail: Savannah House, PO Box 63, Georgetown Qld 4871
More..
View the whole Ozcranes site using our Site Map»
