Hi Philip
A post at http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/birding-aus/1997-08/msg00048.html gives 1997 as the date of arrival of a pair of white-bellied sea-eagles at Gum Swamp, and describes the impact on other bird species (as deduced by the poster). Depending on the age of the swamp, of course, and whether it was enlarged or had its hydrology changed by human intervention, sea-eagles may have been present many times in past millennia.
Steve
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Wednesday, 10 September 2014 3:32 PM
To: 'Steve Read'
Cc:
Subject: A few hours to the west
Yes that has been a regular spot to stop. I stop there on most of my drives from or to Brisbane from Canberra or Melbourne, over the last 40 years. In particular the white-bellied sea-eagle on nest has likely been there for most of that time or maybe longer, I have certainly seen this nest and the owners over at least the last 20 years, although it may have been more than one nest. The local peregrine and all the pigeons- surely a connection there, are also regulars, as are the ducks..........
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Read [m("aanet.com.au","steve.read");">]
Sent: Wednesday, 10 September 2014 6:49 AM
To: 'COG List'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] A few hours to the west
And if you’re out west, it’s worth stopping at Gum Swamp, a couple of km SW of Forbes:
http://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/f.ashx/docs/Gum_Swamp_RENEWED_2013.pdf
I was there only for an hour or so at dusk at the weekend, but there were birds in abundance and variety, including numbers of pink-eared ducks, hardhead and shovelers, and a couple of freckled duck. Highlight was a white-belied sea-eagle on (on, better, in) an enormous nest. Interestingly, large numbers of feral pigeons were roosting on dead redgums and flying around, unperturbed by the local peregrine. Several fantailed cuckoos were moving quietly through the bush around the swamp.
Steve
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8179 - Release Date: 09/09/14
