2022 Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey Daily Blog

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. 

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

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

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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

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

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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

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