Yesterday afternoon my wife and I joined two friends on a pontoon boat
cruise up the Hacking River past Grey's Point to Audley Weir and back. The
cruise was a very slow dawdle between 5.30 and 6.30pm and we were most
interested to see the impact of the containment burn in this area.
This burn was put in to protect the hamlets of Bundeena and Maianbar and to
create a barrier between the fire and the unburnt bush below Grey's Point.
In some areas the canopy is intact and in many places the fire took out that
as well. There were some places where fire was still active, especially in
hollow trunks.
We found one Swamp Wallaby scurrying along the burnt ridge ... some distance
from swamp and it would appear some distance also from new shoots ... but
otherwise healthy.
We also saw, from the boat, 26 species of bird. Most were waterbirds (Great
Egret, three types of Cormorant. Australian Pelican, Masked Lapwing, Wood
and Black Duck, White Faced Heron, Silver Gull), the various birds that seem
to thrive in human settlement (Pied Currawong, Magpie Lark, Willy wagtail,
etc) and just a handful of bush birds. We saw a Golden Whistler, several
clusters of active Dollarbirds, and ... on its usual perch ... a White
Bellied Sea Eagle.
I will be looking forward to getting into the patches of bush to see what is
left there and will make a report. I have not noticed any unusual birds in
my own garden here in Engadine as a consequence of the fires so do not know
about that theory that birds will find refuge in neighbouring gardens. We
are not too far away. Any other comments from people who live by would be
welcome.
Meanwhile for those who are following the deer control plan ... a draft plan
is now out and available on
http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/pests/deer/royal_plan.html. Comments
from the public are sought and the due date is 31st January. This might be
the last opportunity to control this pest species. I urge you all to act.
all the best
Brian
Brian Everingham
PO Box 269
Engadine
NSW 2233
Australia
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