Hi All
Visited Minnippi Parklands early (6.15) this am to find the park
'closed' at the Bulimba creek bridge crossing (from Mansfield end) due
to 'bushfire'. Ignoring the red tape and sign, as one does, I went on in
to find large areas around the pond burnt and still smoking.
If you imagine the pond runs North-South with Bulimba creek at the South
end - then the large thick grass area on the West side is completely
gutted, but only some of the riparian vegetation is damaged - the
paddocks on the other side of the creek are completly burnt out.
On the East side the 'forest' area appears to be burnt right thru to the
freeway. Tall trees appear OK, but all the underbrush is burnt out - I
didn't venture in. Ariund the lake most of the dry reed beds have gone,
patches of green reeds survive.
Despite this I still had a Baillon's Crake and a Buff-banded Rail and
the Jacana's 2 chicks pranced happily around on the lily pads. I also
had 2 family parties of Red-backed Wrens and 1 of Superb but the two
Tawny Grassbirds I saw looked a little dazed and sort of lost as they
hid in thge riparian vegetation - trees and bushes, an unfamiliar
habitat I would think.
Hopefully long term damage has been minimised. I would think the park
will be reopened at the weekend.
More info on Crakes? Email me before 6.30 tonight or call.
Colin
0412 522 962
--
Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
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