Re: FW: [canberrabirds] the crake package

[Megan Mears <>]

Hi there,

After sighting a Baillon's Crake in late November at North Watson Wetlands, I was keen to know whether it stayed around or was a fly by nighter. I have since seen a Baillon's Crake at that wetlands on 3 subsequent occasions, presumably the same crake. Each of the subsequent sightings have been extremely brief with weeks between each sighting. The first time I saw the crake, it was visible for quite a while.  

North Watson wetlands is about 7 years old, as far as I know. As it is fed by stormwater,  the water levels  can rise dramatically. The day after I saw the crake for the first time, there was heavy rain and the area the crake was initially seen, was underwater by about 10 or more cms. I'm really happy to think the crake has stayed around.

I find it pretty interesting to observe the various birds that visit that wetlands. This year swans bred there but most of them left recently. I thought it was interesting that the Hardheads and Black Ducks co-existed happily with the swans, as well as coots, however the Wood Ducks did not. They are almost rare visitors!

Megan Mears
http://majurabirds.blogspot.com.au/

PS, I saw another  Baillon's Crake at Forde Wetlands earlier this week, when my family took a walk around there.

On Mon, Jan 7, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:

The Cth Lewins appeared to be a committed earthworm seeker.  It was feeding (confidently, in the open) over lawn moistened by a leaking tap and sprinkled with dead leaves.  [Picture from video frames]

 

 

From: John Leonard [
Sent: Monday, 7 January 2013 9:40 AM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] the crake package

 

Interesting that several different spp of Rails/crakes are being observed at the dam at Namadgi Visitors Centre (Buff Banded Rail/Lewin's Rail/Spotless Crake).

 

Along with my memories of reported observations at various wetlands in the ACT, this suggests that the spp in the ACT "crake package" (the above spp plus Spotted and Baillons Crakes), are equally likely to turn up in suitable wetlands, that is once a wetland becomes suitable (enough mud &c) then any or all of the five can be expected.

 

Or does anyone have any observations that suggest that these spp have slightly different requirements?

--
John Leonard