The current status of waterbirds on Lake George

[Michael Lenz via Canberrabirds <>]

As most readers will be aware, Lake George has filled and reached water levels not seen since 1990. On Wednesday (15 March) Julienne Kamprad and I surveyed the eastern shores for waterbirds, and on Thursday (16 March) I checked accessible sections on the western side.

In summary, very few waterbirds were present in the East ( see checklist: https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S130947521) and West, except for the SW corner of the lake where the water has flooded grassland. There was a good concentration of a variety of species of waterbirds (https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S131014115). Many birds were hidden among the vegetation. I have no idea how many there might be in total. I counted/estimated about 1700 birds.  For example, it took quite a while before egrets appeared in the open (Great and Intermediate). Other species: 40 Pelicans, 8 Royal Spoonbills, 1 Blue-billed Duck, and notably 127 Australasian Swamphens feeding in the open etc.

For proper viewing of the birds a telescope is needed.

Based on past experience, we have to wait until the inland waters dry up and waterbirds start moving eastward before we will see larger numbers of waterbirds at Lake George.

Michael Lenz

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