Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary

Shed in the Xanthorrhoea BlockLast weekend we travelled to Linton to visit the Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary to attend a meeting of the Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group. PJ is interested in sound recording but I just went along for the birds.

The sanctuary is owned by the Bird Observation and Conservation Association and Trust for Nature and is adjacent to a Flora and Fauna Reserve. The sanctuary was purchased by Gordon Clarkesdale who created bird habitat by planting a wide range of native (but not necessarily indigenous) species. Gordon subsequently endowed the property to BOCA and TFN after his death.

We arrived in the afternoon, rain prevented us from exploring the property but we were lucky enough to be offered the use of an old shed by the ranger to shelter in for our evening meal. After building a fire in the old fireplace inside the shed we could enjoy our dinner in comfort. Afterwards Howard set up some deep cycle batteries to provide power for the computer, so that Fred could provide us with an incredible presentation of the birds of the Iron Range and their calls. All of the photos and bird calls presented were personally recorded by Fred on his trips to the Iron Range to band birds.

The following day the rain had cleared and it was a crisp sunny day, perfect for sound recording. The sound recordists were up before fist light to record the dawn chorus, this is when Paul made his wonderful recording in the Bird Paddock. By the time I was up at 6.30am the birdsong had begun to quieten down and the birds where beginning to become active and hopping around the camp. After a bit of help from the recordists (most who are excellent at identifying bird calls) I was able to hear just how many bird species were in the camp by their calls. I counted around 20 species within earshot including Fan-Tailed cuckoo, Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo, Rufous Whistler, Striated Pardalote, Buff-Rumped Thornbill and Olive-Backed Oriole.

Later we went for a walk in the bird paddock where we saw and heard Shining-Bronze Cuckoos, Jacky Winter, Sacred Kingfisher, Dusky Woodswallows and many others. On the way back we ran into Fred who taught us how to tell the difference between the call of the Shining Bronze and Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoos. In the afternoon I went for a quiet walk on my own (while the others were resting) to the Grantiella Block. I was able to either see or hear 54 species on that day, other members of the group could have added some additional species onto that list.The Bird Paddock

Some additional members arrived on Saturday afternoon. We all went into Linton for the evening where Jill had arranged to cook us dinner in the local fire station. The highlight of the evening was a presentation by Andrew of the sounds of the Thai rainforests recorded on his recent trip there, including a recording of the White-handed Languor. Andrew had managed to capture the calls of this beautiful creature and even came close enough to take some beautiful photos as well.

The next morning there was time for some more recording before the annual general meeting was held. After this we said our goodbyes for this year but not before agreeing to meet up in Leeton (NSW) the location of the Fivebough Wetlands next year for the 2009 Workshop.