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This morning I attended a special Australia Day
breakfast get together with family at Featherdale Wildlife Park at Doonside
(approx. 45km west of Sydney CBD) and was surprised to see a small colony of
wild and nesting Cattle Egrets within the park. I counted at least 50 nests but
there would have probably been at least twice as more nests, and most of
the chicks appeared to be now well grown. Previously I thought that Cattle
Egrets only nested as far south as Newcastle with these birds mainly visiting
Sydney in the winter time. However I have been noticing more Cattle Egrets
hanging about in the summer time (and in their breeding plumage) in Sydney and
this may explain why. Are there any other Cattle Egret nesting colonies further
south than Newcastle? A few wild Great and Plumed Egrets, Nankeen
Night Herons and Sacred Ibis may also be nesting there.
It's been a while since I last visited Featherdale
and was impressed to see a few birds I have yet to tick in the wild such as
Chestnut Rails (one had a new born chick) and Rainbow Pitta. Other interesting
birds on display included lots of Crested Bellbirds, Chiming Wedgebills (these
aren't shy like the wild ones and were constantly calling "did you get drunk,did
you get drunk...."), Lesser Sooty and Rufous Owls, Splendid Wrens, Pied
Honeyeater, Hooded Parrot, White-browed Crake, Black Butcherbird, Black-breasted
Button-quail, Antarctic Skua (the only one you'll ever see in this part of
Syndey) and many more (probably more than 300 native species are on
display there at present). It was good to watch a male Regent Bowerbird display
at its small bower to a female and then mate in one of the enclosures. The male
made some very soft chatterings (not as louds as the Satin Bowerbird) while
displaying.
The new reptile enclosure hosts some very
interesting critters including the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog.
However, nothing beats seeing any of these animals in the wild.
A good way to spend the first few hours of
Australia Day.
Edwin Vella
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