I recall visiting Homebush Bay as a young keen learner with two fabulous
mentors, Keith Hindwood and Ern Hoskin (how lucky can a young bloke be!?).
I recall it as broad tidal samphire flats and ponds behind mangroves; and while
there was certainly environmental damage from dumping and industrial
encroachment, It was still a very interesting and rich habitat.
So I just delved into old card index files and in September '64 the first
record I find is seven active nests with up to 4 eggs, Black-winged Stilt.
I dont have a species list readily available - I kept only a card index file by
species in those days, but a "ghastly wasteland" at that time? - certainly not!
Sadly my records from those less enlightened times and pre Atlas dont help me
on numbers.
Regards
Graeme Stevens
St Ives NSW
> From:
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Who is saving the great birds of Sydney?
> Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:30:36 +1100
> CC:
>
> Not true!
>
> Twenty to thirty years ago there was a large salt pan type of pond
> that held significant numbers of waders, particularly at high tide! we
> used to squeeze around the gate and walk around it. (None of this
> insurance rubbish then)!
>
> I'd say the waders at Homebush are reduced by about 80 - 90% now! It
> was never a healthy habitat though for humans and it still had the
> bell frogs across the road a bit too!
>
> It went downhill dramatically when they "improved the habitat" just
> before the Olympics. It did improve it for Aus White Ibis though!
>
> Alan
>
>
> On 18/03/2009, at 09:04 , Graham W wrote:
> Hi
>
> I suppose everyone has read this article.
>
> I am a frequent visitor to the Sydney Olympic Park but had little idea
> of this issue until I started investigating it after reading a letter
> in the last issue of Wingspan.
>
> John Dengate's statement designed to cover the lack of action of the
> NSW State Government --"Twenty years ago the place was some sort of
> ghastly wasteland. Birds couldn't live there at all."
>
> --is probably a fabrication and not true at all. Twenty years back is
> not so very long ago - does anyone here remember birds there at that
> time?
>
> GrahamW
>
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