2022 Waterbird Survey Map

Date Location Description
10/11/2022 Day 24, Griffith to Sydney

 

Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis. We depart Griffith and set our GPS to the great Cumbung Swamp, which is a large freshwater marsh at the junction of the Lachlan and lower Murrumbidgee rivers. 

 

09/11/2022 Day 23, Bourke to Griffith

 

Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Departing Bourke we head to the internationally recognised Macquarie Marshes.

 

08/11/2022 Day 22, Moree to Bourke

 

Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis.Once again bad weather seems to have followed us and we wake to steady rain. 

 

07/11/2022 Day 21, Sydney to Moree

 

Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Heading north west out of Sydney our first objective for the day is the Gwydir wetlands near Moree, which include several internationally significant Ramsar wetlands.  

 

04/11/2022 Day 20, Traralgon to Sydney

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. Following the apparent pattern we've had on this survey, we got up to fly north from La Trobe airport with low cloud and limited visibility. 

 

03/11/2022 Day 19, Goolwa to Traralgon

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. We started early on our way south to Survey Band 2 of the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey. 

 

02/11/2022 Day 18, Goolwa to Goolwa

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. Today was the day for two counts down the Coorong and completing our second count of the two big lakes, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert. 

 

01/11/2022 Day 17, Mildura to Goolwa

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. We got into the plane to take off early from Mildura under leaden skies with light drizzle. Not a good sign. 

 

31/10/2022 Day 16, Sydney to Mildura

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. We headed for Albury under oppressive skies. It looked like it was going to be a miserable day of survey. 

 

28/10/2022 Day 15, Mildura to Sydney

 

Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Leaving Mildura we make for the Kerang Lakes system south of Swan Hill. 

 

27/10/2022 Day 14, Naracoorte to Mildura

 

Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Bad weather again prevents survey work on the 26th forcing a days unplanned stop in Naracoorte. 

 

25/10/2022 Day 13, Sydney to Naracoorte

 

Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Our week does not get off to a good start! A group of low pressure systems swirling over the continent ensure that our planned departure on Monday is delayed.

 

19/10/2022 Day 12, Griffith to Sydney

 

Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis. We departed Griffith with the ever present cloud cover keeping things interesting, to head westward and complete our surveys between Hay and Griffith

 

18/10/2022 Day 11, Broken Hill to Griffith

 

Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Heavy cloud and rain greeted us the next morning as we fired up the aircraft engine and headed back to Menindee Lakes and Talywalka Creek to complete our surveys.

 

17/10/2022 Day 10, Sydney to Broken Hill

 

Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis. The skies were heavily overcast as we departed Sydney and flew direct to Burrendong Dam, the first wetland in this part of Survey Band 4. 

 

12/10/2022 Day 9, Bourke to Sydney

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Knowing we had a long day, we were up early, taking off over the Darling River. Our first few wetlands were small flooded claypans and a series of farm dams.

 

11/10/2022 Day 8, Tibooburra to Bourke

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Up early to head north for a flight over the Strzelecki Desert and its temporary lakes. They were nearly all dry. 

 

10/10/2022 Day 7, Thargomindah to Tibooburra

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Today we had a short day to catch up. It was a stunning morning surveying some of the best wetlands in eastern Australia.

 

09/10/2022 Day 6, Maroochydore to Thargomindah

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. The rain finally caught up with us or we caught up with the rain. It poured overnight in Maroochydore and we woke to a leaden sky and rain. 

 

08/10/2022 Day 5, Birdsville to Maroochydore

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Once again the weather forecast was grim as the massive low pressure system made its way through a large part of the inland. 

 

07/10/2022 Day 4, Rockhampton to Birdsville

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We headed out of Rockhampton with some concern about the weather. The front was heading our way.

 

06/10/2022 Day 3, Mt Isa to Rockhampton

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We had to get up really early and pack the plane ready for the long day ahead. 

 

05/10/2022 Day 2, Mackay to Mt Isa

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. It was hard to get a taxi or food this morning in Mackay – delaying us more than we hoped. 

 

04/10/2022 Day 1, Sydney to Mackay

 

Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We were in the air by about 8am on our 40th year of survey. There has been talk of t-shirts! 

 

04/10/2022 Aerial Survey 2022, it's our 40th!

 

Right before embarking on the 40th Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey, project lead Prof. Richard Kingsford expresses his excitement...

 

  • Date
    10/11/2022
    Location
    Day 24, Griffith to Sydney
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis. We depart Griffith and set our GPS to the great Cumbung Swamp, which is a large freshwater marsh at the junction of the Lachlan and lower Murrumbidgee rivers. 

  • Date
    09/11/2022
    Location
    Day 23, Bourke to Griffith
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Departing Bourke we head to the internationally recognised Macquarie Marshes.

  • Date
    08/11/2022
    Location
    Day 22, Moree to Bourke
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis.Once again bad weather seems to have followed us and we wake to steady rain. 

  • Date
    07/11/2022
    Location
    Day 21, Sydney to Moree
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Heading north west out of Sydney our first objective for the day is the Gwydir wetlands near Moree, which include several internationally significant Ramsar wetlands.  

  • Date
    04/11/2022
    Location
    Day 20, Traralgon to Sydney
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. Following the apparent pattern we've had on this survey, we got up to fly north from La Trobe airport with low cloud and limited visibility. 

  • Date
    03/11/2022
    Location
    Day 19, Goolwa to Traralgon
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. We started early on our way south to Survey Band 2 of the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey. 

  • Date
    02/11/2022
    Location
    Day 18, Goolwa to Goolwa
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. Today was the day for two counts down the Coorong and completing our second count of the two big lakes, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert. 

  • Date
    01/11/2022
    Location
    Day 17, Mildura to Goolwa
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. We got into the plane to take off early from Mildura under leaden skies with light drizzle. Not a good sign. 

  • Date
    31/10/2022
    Location
    Day 16, Sydney to Mildura
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. We headed for Albury under oppressive skies. It looked like it was going to be a miserable day of survey. 

  • Date
    28/10/2022
    Location
    Day 15, Mildura to Sydney
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Leaving Mildura we make for the Kerang Lakes system south of Swan Hill. 

  • Date
    27/10/2022
    Location
    Day 14, Naracoorte to Mildura
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Bad weather again prevents survey work on the 26th forcing a days unplanned stop in Naracoorte. 

  • Date
    25/10/2022
    Location
    Day 13, Sydney to Naracoorte
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Our week does not get off to a good start! A group of low pressure systems swirling over the continent ensure that our planned departure on Monday is delayed.

  • Date
    19/10/2022
    Location
    Day 12, Griffith to Sydney
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis. We departed Griffith with the ever present cloud cover keeping things interesting, to head westward and complete our surveys between Hay and Griffith

  • Date
    18/10/2022
    Location
    Day 11, Broken Hill to Griffith
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis. Heavy cloud and rain greeted us the next morning as we fired up the aircraft engine and headed back to Menindee Lakes and Talywalka Creek to complete our surveys.

  • Date
    17/10/2022
    Location
    Day 10, Sydney to Broken Hill
    Description

    Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis. The skies were heavily overcast as we departed Sydney and flew direct to Burrendong Dam, the first wetland in this part of Survey Band 4. 

  • Date
    12/10/2022
    Location
    Day 9, Bourke to Sydney
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Knowing we had a long day, we were up early, taking off over the Darling River. Our first few wetlands were small flooded claypans and a series of farm dams.

  • Date
    11/10/2022
    Location
    Day 8, Tibooburra to Bourke
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Up early to head north for a flight over the Strzelecki Desert and its temporary lakes. They were nearly all dry. 

  • Date
    10/10/2022
    Location
    Day 7, Thargomindah to Tibooburra
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Today we had a short day to catch up. It was a stunning morning surveying some of the best wetlands in eastern Australia.

  • Date
    09/10/2022
    Location
    Day 6, Maroochydore to Thargomindah
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. The rain finally caught up with us or we caught up with the rain. It poured overnight in Maroochydore and we woke to a leaden sky and rain. 

  • Date
    08/10/2022
    Location
    Day 5, Birdsville to Maroochydore
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Once again the weather forecast was grim as the massive low pressure system made its way through a large part of the inland. 

  • Date
    07/10/2022
    Location
    Day 4, Rockhampton to Birdsville
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We headed out of Rockhampton with some concern about the weather. The front was heading our way.

  • Date
    06/10/2022
    Location
    Day 3, Mt Isa to Rockhampton
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We had to get up really early and pack the plane ready for the long day ahead. 

  • Date
    05/10/2022
    Location
    Day 2, Mackay to Mt Isa
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. It was hard to get a taxi or food this morning in Mackay – delaying us more than we hoped. 

  • Date
    04/10/2022
    Location
    Day 1, Sydney to Mackay
    Description

    Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We were in the air by about 8am on our 40th year of survey. There has been talk of t-shirts! 

  • Date
    04/10/2022
    Location
    Aerial Survey 2022, it's our 40th!
    Description

    Right before embarking on the 40th Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey, project lead Prof. Richard Kingsford expresses his excitement...