Bird of the month: Mistletoe Bird

Posted on 28 November, 2025 by Lori

Written by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden.

Male Mistletoe Bird showing off it’s gorgeous red chest. Photo by Damian Kelly

The high squeaky call of the Mistletoe Bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceaum) is what often signals its presence. Then the search is on to find the tiny bird, keeping a look out for the males vibrant fire engine red splash on its chest and under tail coverts. Given its name, it is not surprising that the Mistletoe Bird specialises in mistletoe – a plant that parasitises other plants. Specialisation in one plant may sound a little restricting until you find that there are about 75 different species of mistletoe in Australia. Clearly lots of variety is around.

The close symbiosis, a situation where two species “use” each other and both benefit, between mistletoe and the Mistletoe Bird possibly demonstrates the most highly developed example of this phenomenon amongst Australian birds. This bird is a major vector for the dispersal of the seeds of the plant, spreading them to potential new host trees. Timing of breeding tends to coincide with flowering and fruiting and so assists with cross-pollination and seed germination. The unusual structure of the birds’ digestive system emphasises the degree of specialisation that has evolved. The berries pass through the alimentary canal, but the structure of the digestive system allows for berries to be shunted from the oesophagus to the intestine whilst insect food is diverted to the stomach. Mistletoe seeds are passed about 15-20 minutes after ingestion. It appears only the skin of the berry is removed revealing the very sticky coating, this ensures that a lot of the seeds actually stick to trees as the bird moves about. A completely different take on plant fertilisation. Why the Mistletoe Bird wants to spread seed for the mistletoe plant seems to be a mystery, but perhaps it’s because it harbours so many insects, which are a mainstay food source for the bird?

The distribution of Mistletoe Birds is all over Australia except for some of the drier desert areas, but not Tasmania, and it is resident on some Torres Strait islands. Habitat type does not seem to matter as long as there are mistletoes and with 75 species chances are good that they are present. They also eat a range of insects gathered from foliage.

Female Mistletoe Bird, she is grey rather than black and lacks the bright red chest. Photo by Damian Kelly

Nests are precariously suspended from the end of a twig in foliage. It is an enclosed pear shape and is made from lots of soft materials such as wool, woollen threads and such like, and is held together with spiders’ web. A clutch of 2-3 eggs is laid and both parents feed the young – initially only on insects but then also with berries.

A largely sedentary species, they remain in an area all year round although some altitudinal migration has been demonstrated in NSW and Victoria over winter. Banding studies have recorded 98% recovered within less than 10km of the banding site. The oldest bird recorded was over 9 years old which is a fair age for such a small bird.

Mistletoe often gets a bad rap, …except at this time of year when apparently, it’s good for kissing under! But before you think badly of this parasitic group of plants, perhaps think instead of the huge number of species each plant supports, including the beautiful Mistletoe Bird.

A male Mistletoe Bird and it’s poo of mistletoe berries stuck to a branch. Photo by Jane Rusden

Bird of the Month is a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we take a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Nature Art Soundscapes presents The Feathered Five!

Posted on 30 October, 2025 by Lori

A truly special, immersive art and music event, celebrating some of our treasured local woodland birds.

Nature Art Soundscapes are musicians Hilary Blackshaw (violin, guitar and vocals), Joel Bloom (lap steel guitar), Clara Schutz (cello) and artist Jane Rusden. The quartet celebrates local woodland wildlife through weaving beautiful live art making with evocative musical soundscapes.

Audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the magic and wonder of local nature, through gentle relaxation (BYO cushions, blankets and/or PJs – we seriously don’t mind!), or you are welcome to bring your own art supplies and draw along with Jane.

When: Saturday 22 November 7-9pm

Where: Wesley Hill Hall, 149 Pyranees Highway, Castlemaine

Tickets: Adults $20, children (under 18) free. Book here or available at the door.

All proceeds generated from this performance will be donated to Connecting Country Castlemaine to assist their woodland bird monitoring project.

View article Comment on article | one response

Bird of the Month: Grey Fantail

Posted on 20 October, 2025 by Lori

Words by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden. Photos by Damian Kelly

Always a delight to watch, the Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) swishes its tail around directing insects into easier catching distance. And then there’s their tinkling call, often heard before the bird is seen. Luckily for us bird watchers, Grey Fantails can be very curious, which means they come much closer to us than many other species. They do have rather a disapproving look on their tiny faces, characterised by their drawn down white eyebrows.

A confiding and widespread species, the Grey Fantail can be found all along the wetter eastern and western areas of Australia and occasionally spreading into drier areas inland. Tasmania, New Zealand and other islands also have populations of this species.

Nest of a Grey Fantail (Damian Kelly)

Urban gardens are also utilised and here in Castlemaine, in our garden near the centre of town, a pair of Grey Fantails has successfully fledged young for the last two years. The nest is concealed in dense vegetation right next to a garden path, but human traffic does not seem to concern them. Whenever I walk past, a beady eye is watching me, but the bird never leaves the nest. Two young were raised each time which is quite a feat given the tiny size of the nest. Built from small twigs, grass and hairs and held together with spiders’ webs, the nest is a beautiful construction. The nest from two years ago was simply refurbished with more web prior to the second season of breeding (see photo).

Although not fully understood, the movements of Grey Fantails are a mixed bag. In some areas populations are partly or fully sedentary, whilst in other areas migration takes place. Movements can be driven by food availability and temperature. There seems to be a whole east coast movement of birds. All in all, a mixed bag of movements. I can report that the birds who breed in our garden are not present over winter but have returned now as spring advances.

Some of the Tasmanian birds migrate to the mainland over winter. Groups of Grey Fantails have been regularly recorded moving across King and Flinders Islands on the way to the mainland. There are probably some altitudinal movements, but this is often confused by other movements occurring. At times small groups up to 30 birds can be seen moving through areas.

Feeding tends to be arboreal, often catching prey in flight, although they will also feed on the ground. Food consists mainly of insects, but they occasionally take fruit or seeds. Often associated with mixed feeding flocks moving through vegetation.

Grey Fantail utilising prickly cover of Gorse, (an invasive weed), with its tail characteristically fanned. Photo by Damian Kelly.

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Great Southern Bioblitz – Castlemaine Region 24-27 October

Posted on 16 October, 2025 by Lori

It’s the beginning of October and so wonderful to see the new growth and increasing activity in bushlands and gardens after so many months of challenging conditions. Trees, shrubs and other understorey plants are putting out new leaves and foliage, and canopies are becoming denser. Birds are calling and nesting. Frogs are croaking. Thankfully insects are about again, albeit not in good numbers yet, but Painted Ladies and some day moths are about. And we are already being treated with the bright colours of Myrnong, Waxlips, Leopard orchids and Caladenias, with scattered clusters of emerging leaves promising Helmet and Gnat orchids.

Hopefully while all of this is happening those of you who live in or visit the Mount Alexander Shire will be getting ready for the Great Southern Bioblitz 2025,which runs from midnight October 23 to midnight October 27. This is your opportunity to join other citizen scientists to help build the scientific databases that increase the knowledge and understanding of our bushlands and their biodiversity. These annual Bioblitz surveys collect vast amounts of data on species and distribution that would otherwise be unavailable.

The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club are again hosting a count in this region and they’d love your contributions! If you can contribute, all you need is a camera or phone and enthusiasm!

You’ll find lots of information, including deadlines, tips on uploading your images to iNaturalist, the online global databank for observations of biodiversity and more on the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club Great Southern Bioblitz webpage.

Images: Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Bird of the month: The Corvids – Ravens and Crows

Posted on 18 August, 2025 by Lori

Article by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden

Little Ravens (most likely) at Coliban Waters Castlemaine Water Treatment Plant Bird Hide. (Photo Jane Rusden)

At the brand new bird hide put in by Coliban Water at the treatment plant in Castlemaine *, waterbirds and waders are the obvious focus when bird watching. However, a pair of what I believe are Little Ravens were caught goofing around in a very silly display, quite unlike the often cooler demeanor we usually see in this species. The sighting led us down the Corvid “rabbit hole”. Reading on, you’ll discover why I have not definitively stated which of our two local species the photos are of.

Although ravens are not always popular with people for various reasons, it is important to acknowledge that they perform an important scavenger role in cleaning up dead wildlife as well as eating a variety of agricultural insect pests as well as seeds. They are omnivorous and feed mostly on the ground. Ravens have adapted to a wide variety of habitats and are common around farms as well as cities, and obviously Water Treatment Plants.

Australia has five species – Australian Raven, Little Raven, Forest Raven, Torresian Crow and Little Crow. To quote the Handbook of Australian and New Zealand Birds (HANZAB): “All Australian Corvus are very difficult to distinguish and great care is needed to identify species.” Even the experts can be confused!

Whilst on the face of it all species look similar, in reality it is fairly easy to identify a species based on location – in most areas only one or two species are present. Around the Mount Alexander region we only have two species – Australian Raven and Little Raven and the Little Raven is far more common. Travelling further afield of course can be tricky. And unless you want a bird identification head ache, you don’t want to be in the north coast of NSW where all five can be found.

Locally the Little Raven is the most common and can be seen in large groups out of breeding season. Calls of our two local species are quite different with the Australian Raven tending to be longer and more drawn out than the Little Raven. You are best to listen to the calls on a birding app on your phone to become familiar with each, as trying to describe sounds in words is often not a lot of use.

Working out the age of a bird can be done by checking out the iris of the eye: adults are white with a bluish ring around the pupil, immatures are brown and juveniles blue-grey. Other indicators sometimes used to aid identification such as the throat hackles or colour at the base of feathers are often not much use in the field.

Pairs of Australian Ravens are generally sedentary and defend their territories all year round whereas Little Ravens move a lot, only defending small territories during breeding season and then joining large mobile flocks after breeding. These movements have been recorded over distance of several hundred kilometres at times, specially with juvenile and immature birds.

Nests are usually an untidy collection of sticks with a softer internal lining high up in large trees. Both parents build the nest and feed the young, but only the female does the incubation. Currently there is a pair either renovating or building a nest high up in the Big Tree in Guildford.

In many Aboriginal language groups, the raven is seen as a trickster or hero. Ravens have been recorded using tools such as sticks to retrieve food such as larvae from logs or dropping items on hard surfaces to crack them open. They also store food in caches for later use and can remember the location for long periods. Hikers’ packs are also fair game as ravens have learned to open small pockets and even sealed bags. Some field zoologists have had to stop nest monitoring surveys of threatened bird species (or at least their route between nests) if an Australian Raven is in the area, as they learn to follow the researchers, find the nests and predate the chicks.

A pair of what we believe are Little Ravens, goofing about … perhaps strengthening their pair bond, at Coliban Waters Castlemaine Water Treatment Plant Bird Hide. (Photo by Jane Rusden)

* Note: to access the birdhide at the Coliban Water Treatment Plant, email communications@coliban.com.au to sign the access agreement form and apply for a key.

View article Comment on article | 4 responses

Bird of the Month – Weebill

Posted on 22 July, 2025 by Bonnie Humphreys

Weebill ‘shouting’, Photo by Damian Kelly

Written by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden

In the local Box-Ironbark forest it’s fairly rare to go for a walk without hearing the Weebill. Although seeing it can be tricky, as typically they are in constant motion as they forage in amongst foliage. A give away is their hover, similar species don’t exhibit this behaviour. The best interactions I’ve had with Weebills, is when I’ve been sitting quietly nature journaling in my sketchbook, and a flock moves through the scrub around me. In these instances they can come very close to you and no binoculars are required to get fantastic views of the tiny but sometimes bold bird.

Measuring from bill tip to tail at 80mm and weighing in at just 6 grams, the Weebill is Australia’s smallest bird, but not by far with the Brown Thornbill just 1 gram heavier on average. As its name implies the bill is also very small and and stumpy which makes it easy to distinguish in the field from other Thornbills that invariably have longer, pointy thorn-like bills. It has been placed in a different genus to the other Thornbills.

Weebill foraging in a stunted Box tree, at the Ochre Pits. Photo by Jane Rusden

A glance at the distribution map for the Weebill shows that it is widespread throughout Australia apart from some inland deserts and tropical rain forest areas. Detailed banding studies have shown the Weebill is a sedentary species with little local movements. Recoveries of banded birds have shown the 99% were recorded less than 10km form original locations. And surprisingly for such a small bird, some recoveries have been of birds over 7 years old.

Weebill foraging, perhaps for lerp. Photo by Jane Rusden

Food is mostly insects of various kinds, although at times seeds are also taken. Breeding usually occurs August-December, although nesting has been observed at any time of the year when conditions are suitable. Nests are dome-shaped and are built mainly in eucalypt foliage. Clutch size ranges from 2-4 eggs. Both females and males incubate and feed the young.

Calls are quite loud for such a small bird with a whistled song that is quite distinctive and can sound like it’s calling its own name, “Weebill”.

View article Comment on article | one response

Bird of the Month: Brown Quail

Posted on 19 June, 2025 by Bonnie Humphreys

Written by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden

Brown quail is an elusive bird that prefers to skulk rather than fly, but with patience they can be found in their preferred habitat. This species is best summed up as widespread but cryptic. They are actually fairly common around Castlemaine but are not often observed. Preferred habitat includes moister areas along water courses and swampy areas where there is good ground cover with taller grasses. They will venture into woodland but prefer areas with grassy tussocks. They can also be found in cultivated fields such as grain areas feeding on spilled grain and even in potato crops.

Photo by Damian Kelly

They are active during the day and usually move about in small groups on the ground. However their streaked brown colouration blends in with the terrain and they are hard to spot. If surprised they will fly up with a whirring of wings but land quickly in the nearest dense vegetation patch.

Within Australia, Brown Quail can be found right across northern and eastern Australia, south-west Western Australia, Tasmania and some Bass Strait Islands. They are absent from the very dry interior of Australia as they prefer dense grasslands, often on the edges of open forest. Their range also extends north of Australia into Papua-New Guinea and other islands off the northern coast. They have been introduced into New Zealand.

Little is know of their movements but they tend to be resident in wetter areas, whilst movements vary in drier regions depending on moisture. Bird banding records confirm this. Food includes some insects but the seeds of grasses and herbs are the main items in their diet, generally gleaned from the ground and low foliage.

Nesting occurs on the ground in dense foliage usually in a depression in the soil that is lined with grass and leaves. Clutch sizes recorded have ranged from 4-12 eggs. The female does all the incubating but both parents feed and brood the young away from the nest.

This species can sometimes be found with Stubble or King Quail as they share similar habitat preferences. Brown Quail are also captive bred and kept in aviaries. In this situation they are sometimes known to cross-breed with King Quail and produce young.

Brown Quail in a hurry, photo by Damian Kelly

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Bird of the Month: Australian Hobby

Posted on 26 May, 2025 by Lori

Article by Damian Kelly with a small addition by Jane Rusden

Australian Hobby at Welford National Park in outback Queensland. Photo by Jane Rusden

My research for this article quickly found that the Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) has been little studied and there are some gaps in its background. This is surprising as it is fairly common in cities and towns including Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra as well as being found around Castlemaine. Just the other day a Hobby swept across in front of me as I drove down Urquhart Street near the centre of town. They have a preference for using old raven nests when breeding. Once, up near Kerang, I watched an epic battle between a pair of Little Ravens and two Hobbies over the possession of a nest high in an old River Redgum. In this case the hobbies appeared to win the day and at least one raven egg was removed from the nest and smashed on the ground.

Breeding generally occurs in spring and the female lays 2-4 eggs. Both sexes incubate and feed the young. After fledging the family group stays together for up to 12 weeks. Often the parents will do food transfers in flight to improve the abilities of the young.

The Hobby is sometimes confused with the far more charismatic Peregrine Falcon it resembles. It is distinguished from the Peregrine by its smaller size and slighter build with only a partial “helmet” compared to the Peregrine. It also tends to have a brownish breast.

Interestingly, the Latin name ‘longipennis’ comes from the birds long primary wing feathers. Penna singular and pennae plural, is feather in Latin. In ornithological terms, penna refers to a contour feather.

Outside of urban areas the Hobby can be found all over the country from coastal areas to the dry interior and Tasmania. Nesting generally occurs near water. In some areas it is resident but birds often move about with some evidence of north-south and altitudinal movements. Quite an adaptable bird.

They catch birds, bats and insects on the wing often via fast contour hunting hugging the treetops, along creek lines, between buildings or by direct diving from a perch. Diet is primarily birds (70%), with parrots and starlings more common, along with dragonflies. Surprisingly they also are known to take the fast-flying White-throated Needletails. As a crepuscular (at twilight) species it can be observed feeding towards dusk and around dawn, hence the appearance of bats in their diet. It is not unusual to see a Hobby sitting high in a tree watching and waiting for prey.

Australian Hobby on a fence post along Rodborough Rd, on the Moolort Plains. Photo by Ash Vigus.

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Bird of the Month: Brown Thornbill

Posted on 18 March, 2025 by Anna

Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)

Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.

Brown Thornbill with its distinctive red eye. Photo by Damian Kelly

The Brown Thornbill is one of the typical “little brown birds” that are always moving fast in foliage and thus hard to identify. It is the only Thornbill species found locally with a red eye, which is a helpful distinguishing feature to look out for, though tough to see in certain light conditions.

The Brown Thornbill can be found in a wide variety of habitats along the east coast of Australia from northern Queensland around to South Australia as well as Tasmania. This adaptable species occurs in a range of habitats with a dense shrub layer, including wet and dry eucalypt forests, as well as heathlands and rainforests. Brown Thornbills have been recorded as high as 1200m in Victoria down to coastal areas. They can also be found in suburban gardens – in fact as I type this I am watching one have a good splash in a water bowl near my window.

A predominantly insectivorous species, it gleans most of its food from foliage and tree trunks as well as foraging on the ground. Occasionally it has been observed eating seeds, fruit and nuts when available.

Long term banding studies have shown that adults are predominantly sedentary although some movements occur from high zones to lower areas in winter. Young birds, however, do disperse to new areas when full fledged. Unlike some Australian species, Brown Thornbills do not have helpers at the nest and broods are raised by the pair. Nesting can occur from June to January, depending on the season and nests are built quite low down in dense shrubbery or even in grass tussocks. Nests are rounded, oval and domed with an entrance near the top. Materials include grasses, lichen, moss, and wool if available, bound together with spider web. Males and females appear very similar and juveniles are equally hard to separate from their parents once fully fledged.

The red eye of the Brown Thornbill is more difficult to see in these conditions. Photo by Damian Kelly.

View article Comment on article | 3 responses

Bird of the Month: Jacky Winter

Posted on 17 February, 2025 by Anna

Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)

A pair of Jacky Winters. Photo by Damian Kelly.

The Jacky Winter is one of the “Feathered Five’ indicator species selected by Connecting Country for their detailed 10-year Woodland Birds Action Plan for the Mount Alexander region. There have been noticeable declines in this species’ with the clearing of woodland in many parts of Australia. A handy way to find them, is to look along fence lines where paddocks butt up to bushland, as they love to perch on the fence wires preening or keeping an eye out for insects to eat for lunch.

Although it is a member of the generally colourful family of robins, the Jacky Winter has a more subdued colour palette of pale grey, white and brown, which allows it to blend in to the environment. Males and females are very similar in appearance. Also both sexes can be easily confused with female Hooded Robins, but the Jacky Winter is paler on the chest, it’s bill is slightly shorter and the white stripe down the side of the tail is continuous. To add to the confusion, both species’ distributions overlap considerably. Jacky Winters prefer areas of open woodland, and can be found over large parts of Australia, as well as extending into Papua New Guinea.

In suitable habitat it can be easily observed with its typical feeding behaviour of hawking for insects using the ‘sit and pounce’ tactic typical of several different robins, where it sits on a low branch and then dives down to catch prey on the ground. They can often be seen in pairs whilst feeding. Food includes a range of insects and arachnids. Given the chance they are also known to be partial to cheese. Not unusual as I have experienced similar behaviour from a Brown Treecreeper pinching cheese from my lunch.

Jacky Winter sits on a nest. Photo by Damian Kelly.

In their breeding season they build a very small, cup-shaped nest mainly composed of twigs and bark and held together with spiders’ web. Clutch size is usually 2 eggs. Only the female incubates the eggs, but both parents feed the young. Unlike other Australian species, there is no evidence of helpers at the nest – all work is done by the breeding pair.

Long-term studies indicate that Jacky Winters are generally sedentary and remain in an area throughout the year. There is very little evidence of migration apart from some local seasonal movements. This sedentary aspect of their behaviour makes this species more vulnerable when habitat is cleared.

Jacky Winter. Photo by Jane Rusden.

View article Comment on article | 2 responses

Seeking data entry volunteer – and our sincere gratitude to the invaluable, Vicki Ryan

Posted on 5 February, 2025 by Anna

Connecting Country benefits from the dedication of many wonderful volunteers who collect data for our two long-term monitoring projects; woodland bird and nest box monitoring. For the last three years, one woman has been diligently working away in the background collating and entering these data, Vicki.

Vicki is a retired director of resources and planning at a major Uni and has a wealth of experience in developing administration systems and processes, making her the perfect fit. Vicki joined us in the covid years, seeking some intellectual stimulation and to contribute positively. She had this to say about her time volunteering with CC:

“I enjoyed my time volunteering with Connecting Country and having the opportunity to work with such a dedicated and supportive team. It has been a privilege to provide support to this valuable organisation. I strongly encourage anyone who is considering volunteering to contact Connecting Country and take the opportunity to work with such an amazing team. Not only will you be contributing your services, you will also learn the nesting habits of phascogales and gliders, and become familiar with the many bird species found in this region.”

Vicki is sadly leaving Castlemaine and will be moving on to other things. She has been an incredible asset for us, and we will miss her greatly.

Thank you for everything, Vicki!

Our wonderful data entry volunteer, Vicki Ryan.

Would you like to volunteer with us?

We are on the lookout for a data entry volunteer for our bird survey and nest box monitoring projects.

Who we are looking for:

Ideally you will have some data entry experience – No prior knowledge of fauna is required – although we promise you will inevitably pick up some bird names!

You will be looking for a longish-term volunteer experience (at least 12 months).

You are able to come into our office (Castlemaine) to complete the data entry (ascending two flights of stairs)

Hours/days are flexible.

Bird data: data entry is concentrated in the winter and spring months, when you will process the bird data coming in from our survey team in the field. A commitment of 1-2 hours per week during these seasons would be ideal, however this is flexible.

Nest box data: data entry monitoring happens every two years (next in 2026), and will require a commitment of a 2-3 hours per week during autumn into winter.

Responsibilities include:

Entering data from hardcopy datasheets into a database.

Generating summary reports and emailing/posting to landholders.

Collating and filing datasheets.

If you are interested, please email anna@connectingcountry.org.au, with some info about yourself and your experience.

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Bird of the month: Wedge-tailed Eagle

Posted on 30 December, 2024 by Anna

Bird of the month: Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. This article was written by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden from BirdLife Castlemaine District, accompanied by photos from them both.

Photo by Damian Kelly

Wedge-tailed Eagles, or ‘Wedgies’ as they are often known, can be seen all over the Mount Alexander region, usually soaring on thermals at great heights, identifiable by their characteristic wedge shape tail and broad up-swept wings. A common enough, though still awe inspiring sight when I’m doing Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Survey on private land, on a peak along Fogarty’s Gap Road. Recently a pair cruised over the Campbells Creek bush, just high enough to clear the ridges, sending some of the local birds into a panic of alarm calls. Interestingly, wedgies don’t always illicit alarm calls from other bird species. My best guess is that potential prey bird species know if a Wedgie is on the hunt or not, and therefore if they are in danger of becoming a meal.

Australia’s largest bird of prey and one of the largest eagles in the world, it is more common across the inland plains and it tends to avoid human habitation when building a nest. Wedge-tailed Eagles are quite adaptable when breeding with nesting sites ranging from large trees on hillsides, low trees in desert areas, on cliffs, in rain forests and even on the ground on islands. Density of bird territories varies widely. In years of abundant rabbit populations pairs may nest within 700m of each other. In more difficult years a territory may be several square kilometres and some pairs will not breed. Nest are seemingly enormous heaps of messy sticks.

Photo by Damian Kelly

Diet is varied with rabbits composing a significant proportion when available, but the eagles are known to take a variety of carrion and road-kill when available as well as wood duck, ibis, raven, galah, cockatoo and even other raptors. They are also known to harass other predators such as other raptors and even foxes to steal food.

The colour of their plumage varies – very dark birds are often older adults, but this is not always the case, with some lighter coloured birds recorded breeding. At times, fledglings can even be darker than their parents. So you cannot reliably rely on colour to estimate age.

There is a lot of misinformation prevalent about eagles and bounties were paid to exterminate them up until quite recently. They are now a protected species, but sadly there are still cases of eagles being shot and poisoned with some recent high profile court cases in Gippsland. Detailed studies have shown that in reality eagles take a very small proportion of lambs lost each year.

Wedge-tail Eagle on a road side. Note the ‘trousered’ legs and powerful talons. Photo by Jane Rusden.

Incredible ‘Wedgie’ portrait by Damian Kelly

View article Comment on article | 5 responses

This Christmas, support landscape restoration and habitat creation in Central Vic

Posted on 28 November, 2024 by Anna

In this season of giving, please consider donating to Connecting Country and help support our vision for landscape restoration across the Mount Alexander region of central Victoria.

We can’t wait for governments to act! We need to build resilience in our local landscape in the face of climate change. As a local, not-for-profit, community-based organisation, we work at the grassroots to protect, restore and enhance biodiversity to help threatened species, like the Brush-tailed phascogale and our wonderful woodland bird community, to thrive.

Over the past 15 years we have:

Restored over 15,000 ha of habitat across the Mount Alexander region, which equates to around 8% of the shire.
Delivered more than 245 successful community education events.
Installed more than 480 nest boxes for the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale
Maintained a network of 50 long-term bird monitoring sites
Secured funding to deliver more than 65 landscape restoration projects.
Supported an incredible network of over 30 Landcare and Friends groups.

We should all be proud of what we’ve achieved. However, there’s much more to do.

You can be assured that any financial support from you will be well spent, with 100% invested into our core work of supporting and implementing landscape restoration in our local area. We run a lean operation and our small team of part-time staff attracts voluntary support that ensures every dollar goes a long way.

Donate here

View article Comment on article | one response

Connecting Country AGM: Growing our Future Together

Posted on 1 November, 2024 by Lori

After 16 years of influencing positive environmental change on 500+ properties in the region, it’s time to look forward and help shape the future of Connecting Country!

We want to hear from you – our members, supporters and the wider community – about what is important to you in supporting local biodiversity and connection with nature.

Following brief AGM formalities, we will delve into an informative and interactive plenary discussion with a diverse panel:

Brendan Sydes – ACF Biodiversity Policy Advisor and Connecting Country President.

Ian Higgins – local ecologist and founding member of Friends of Campbells Creek.

Ann-Marie Monda – landowner (with Carla Meurs) from Wooroomook property in Sutton Grange integrating environmental improvements within agricultural farmland.

Chaired by Sharon Fraser from the Castlemaine Institute, the panel will discuss the current state of the environment and why conservation is so important – from the grassroots level upwards – now more than ever.

You will be invited to contribute your ideas and help shape the future direction of Connecting Country, its advocacy and support for grassroots conservation in our region. We will celebrate some of the local achievements to date and consider future opportunities for continuing positive environmental change, under changing financial, environmental and climate conditions.

Please join us for this special event on Saturday 23rd November 2024:

Campbell’s Creek Community Centre
60 Elizabeth St, Campbells Creek VIC 345 VIC 3450

1:15pm – lunch and sharing of ideas

2-2:20 pm – AGM formalities including a summary of 2023-24 achievements, review of the years financials, and election of office bearers

2:20-4pm – plenary session, discussion and workshop

For catering and logistical purposes, please register your attendance – click here

AGM formalities

View Connecting Country’s 2023-24 Annual report – click here

View Connecting Country’s Financial audit 2023-24 – click here

Connecting Country constitution

Consumer Affairs made changes to the model rules for Constitutions and recommended organisations review their own constitutions in light of these changes.

As such, Connecting Country’s Constitution has been updated in alignment with the model rules including:

Updated language to support the flexible use of technology (Rule 9, 35 and 62).

New processes for disciplinary appeals where members have been suspended or expelled by a disciplinary subcommittee (Rule 23).

Changes to grievance procedures regarding mediation (Rule 27 and 28).

Stronger disclosure requirements for a conflict of interest (Rule 65).

See attached (with track changes) draft for review/endorsement.

These changes are required to be voted on and adopted by the organisations membership at the AGM as a special resolution. To view a DRAFT updated Connecting Country Constitution (with track changes) – click here

Nominate for the Committee of Management

Want to be more involved with Connecting Country? Why not consider becoming a committee member. We are actively looking for new committee members to broaden the skills of our Committee. The positions require 2 hours per month to attend committee meeting plus small amounts of reading or work time as required to keep the organisation rolling. If this sounds like you, please complete a nomination form or contact our office to discuss via info@connectingcountry.org.au.

View article Comment on article | be the first!

BirdLife Castlemaine’s Mid-Week Bird Walk – Wednesday 20th November 2024 – Garfield Water Wheel, Chewton

Posted on 28 October, 2024 by Anna

Our friends at BirdLife Castlemaine District are holding their next mid-week bird walk on Wednesday 20th November at the Garfield Mine Water Wheel site in the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park (Northern section), Chewton.

ALL WELCOME!

Recent species seen in the area include Painted Buttonquail, Olive-backed Oriole, Scarlet and Yellow Robin, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Fan-tailed, and Shining-Bronze Cuckoo, Rufous Whistler and in previous years at this time, Pacific Koel and Square-tailed Kite. Other species likely to be seen include a variety of Honeyeaters, Thornbills and Pardalotes. Your walk leader is Bob Dawson.

Shining Bronze-cuckoo Photo by Geoff Park

Where: We will meet at the Garfield Water Wheel car park, Chewton. From the Hargraves St roundabout Castlemaine, take the Pyrenees Hwy (B180) toward Chewton. Drive 3.8k and turn left at North St. Drive 800mtrs along North St and you will see the turn off to the Water Wheel. There is no street sign but there is a large sign saying “Garfield Wheel Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park”. Turn right and the carpark is about 300mtrs along this road. GPS: -37.07279, 144.25929.

When: Meet at the Garfield Water Wheel carpark at 9:00am.

Bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, sunscreen, hat, and we also strongly recommend that you wear long trousers and closed-in sturdy shoes.

More info: Bob Dawson, 0417 621 691. Note, there are toilets at the site.

Birdlife Castlemaine acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we are holding our walk, the Dja Dja Wurrung people and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We recognise and are grateful for the immense contribution of Indigenous people to the knowledge and conservation of Australia’s birds.

Please note that walks will be cancelled if severe weather warnings are in place, persistent rain is forecast, the temperature is forecast to be 35°C or above during the walk period, and/or a Total Fire Ban is declared. Please check the BirdLife Castlemaine Facebook page the day before the event in case there is a cancellation.

View article Comment on article | 2 responses

Bird of the Month: Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Posted on 21 October, 2024 by Anna

Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by their stunning photos.

Photo by Damian Kelly

Whilst doing quiet activities in the bush, like walking or bird surveys, it’s often possible to hear and maybe see, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters. Anecdotally, I often associate them with Fuscous Honeyeaters because they visit the bird bath together, but they are frequently to be found on their own or in twos and threes as well. You may find their call is quite familiar.

The Yellow-faced Honeyeater is possibly one of the most widespread of the honeyeaters. It ranges from far north Queensland along the east coast across to South Australia. There have also been occasional records in Tasmania and even vagrants on Lord Howe Island and in New Zealand. This species is partly migratory with significant movement northward in autumn and returning southwards in spring. Migration has been observed in daytime with both small and large flocks on the move. This migration does not include all birds, with some remaining resident and sedentary in parts of their range. They can be found all year in our local bush.

Long term studies of migration have not shed a lot of light on overall patterns. Banding studies have proved inconclusive and we still know little about their movements. This is interesting given that are a relatively common bird. You’d think we’d know more about them!

An active and noisy bird, they can be seen in local gardens feeding on pollen, nectar, fruit, seeds, manna and insects along with lerp. They occupy a wide range of habitats ranging from woodlands to heath, mangroves, parks and home gardens. In short a very adaptable species. Locally they can be seen in any of the Box-Ironbark forests and in gardens.

A Yellow-faced Honeyeater as it decides if the bird bath is safe to have a drink. Photo by Jane Rusden

Nesting usually occurs in spring-summer with 2-3 eggs being laid in a nest composed of bark and grass fibre held together with spider web. Generally this nest in placed in the fork of a tree. Young are fed by both parents.

Find our more about Yellow-faced honeyeater, including their call:

https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Lichenostomus-chrysops

The bright yellow gape of a young Yellow-faced Honeyeater begging for food from a parent. Photo by Damian Kelly

View article Comment on article | be the first!

2024 Great Southern BioBlitz – 20-23 September

Posted on 10 September, 2024 by Anna

Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is again hosting the Great Southern Bioblitz for the Castlemaine region. GSB24 runs from September 20 to 23 2024 with citizen scientists from across the Southern Hemisphere photographing and audio recording as many living species as possible within their regions.

Get involved and help showcase all the amazing forms of wildlife living in our own Castlemaine region and help build the scientific databases that increase knowledge and understanding of our bushlands. These annual Bioblitz surveys collect vast amounts of data on species and distribution that would otherwise be unavailable.

To join the fun take photographs or make sound recordings of flora, fauna and fungi between 20-23 September. You have until 7 October 2024 to upload them to iNaturalist from your phone app or computer. iNaturalist is a global databank for observations of biodiversity made by scientists, naturalists and citizen scientists. Then skilled naturalists, scientists and other citizen scientists will help you identify as many of your observations as possible. If you’re unsure on how to use iNaturalist, the Field Nats will be running a Beginners Guide to iNaturalist on Wednesday 11^th Sept at 7pm (bookings required at https://www.trybooking.com/CUPWG )

There are a series of events hosted by Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club, as part of the Bioblitz. See below for details.

Yellow-footed Antechinus. Photo: Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club

Friday 20th – Monday 23^rd September – make your observations and attend the following special events. Observations must be from the Mt Alexander Shire or the eastern half of Hepburn Shire including Daylesford and Trentham.

Friday 20^th Sept from 7pm: Moth Night

Moths hold vital roles in ecosystem biodiversity. They are an important food source and great pollinators. The majority of species are nocturnal and most of these are attracted to light. Come along to watch these moths flying onto illuminated moth sheets and be amazed at the variation in sizes and colour of these beautiful creatures. A moth scientist will be on site to help with identification.

We will set up the lights and moth sheets at the southern end of the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens near the Walker St bridge (Opposite The Mill).

Sunday 22^nd Sept. 1:30-3:30pm, followed by afternoon tea. Bioblitz Afternoon in the Bush. All Welcome

As part of Bioblitz 2024, we are offering the opportunity to spend a very special afternoon in the bush with four of our highly regarded local wildlife experts. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the bush and record what you see and hear with photos or audio.

Bring your phone, camera, binoculars, magnifying glass and unbridled, childlike curiosity! And a cup for afternoon tea. If you wish, bring something for afternoon tea to share afterwards.

Meet at the Red White and Blue Picnic Area in Muckleford Forest – click here for directions.

Friday 20^th Sept to Monday 7^th October. Load and Identify

During this time, load your observations made between 20^th and 23^rd Sept to the iNaturalist platform. They will be automatically included in our GSB24 project. https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/great-southern-bioblitz-2024-castlemaine-region. You can also help identify the observations that others have made.

Want a challenge? Can you make and load more observations than our very own “Babblerboy” who in 2023 recorded 799 observations of 256 species – no. 17 globally!

View article Comment on article | be the first!

One week to go: Feathery Festival kicks off with film night Thursday 5th September

Posted on 28 August, 2024 by Anna

The Feathery Festival kicks off next week, Thursday 5th September, with a screening of multi-award-winning documentary, ‘The Message of the Lyrebird’ at Theatre Royal Castlemaine @ 7:30PM

This is a special fundraising event also featuring live music by Joel Bloom and Hilary Blackshaw, artwork by Jane Rusden, and a conversation with local Landcarers and ecologists.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go towards Connecting Country’s Conservation Program and Balangara Films Education Distribution Program.

Tickets $25 or $20 concession. Make sure to get your tickets here as they won’t be available at the door.

Doors open 6pm for pizza and drinks.

Superb Lyrebird, from ‘the Message of the Lyrebird’. Photo: Balangara Films

Bird Walk at Rise and Shine Nature Conservation Reserve in Newstead.

Saturday 7th at 9am

Join us on a free guided bird walk in one of the regions bird watching hot spots!

This event is filling up so click here to reserve your place.

On Wednesday 11th at 7PM, the festival will wrap up with ‘Birds and Beers’, a talk by local author, Tanya Loos at the Taproom, Shedshaker.

Tanya will bring her wealth of experience living with wildlife, providing practical tips on how to make sure our homes and backyards are a haven for birds.

Come down earlier for dinner and beers.

For more info visit our events page here

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Feathery Festival – September 2024

Posted on 21 August, 2024 by Anna

Connecting Country, Birdlife Castlemaine District and Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group are excited to present:

Join us for a series of events in celebration of woodland birds

September 2024 on Djaara Country

The Message of the Lyrebird Film Fundraiser

Thursday 5 September 7:30pm (doors open at 6pm for dinner and music)

Theatre Royal Castlemaine

Tickets $25/$20 concession HERE (tickets not available from the Theatre)

This is a special fundraising event also featuring live music by Joel Bloom and Hilary Blackshaw and a conversation with local Landcarers and ecologists.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go towards – Connecting Country’s Conservation Program and Balangara Films Education Distribution Program.

Guided Birdwalk

Saturday 7 September 9am

Rise and Shine Nature Conservation Reserve, Newstead

Join expert bird watchers from Birdlife Castlemaine District on a free guided walk in one of the region’s bird watching hotspots, including a ‘how to identify birds’ session, followed by a delicious brunch in the outdoors with entertainment from the Chat Warblers. Kids welcome.

Reserve your spot HERE

Birds and Beers

Wednesday 11 September

Talk starts at 7pm (come down earlier for dinner)

Shedshaker, Castlemaine

Enjoy a beer and some delicious grub, and Join Tanya Loos, author of forthcoming book Living with Wildlife: a guide for our homes and backyards, while she delves into the delights of our local bird fauna. As well as describing commonly seen birds of the Castlemaine region, Tanya will provide tips on how to make sure our homes and backyards are havens for birds.

Practical advice will also include addressing some of the more maddening aspects of our feathery friends such as birds attacking windows and cockatoos destroying houses!

View article Comment on article | be the first!

Bird of the Month: Blue-faced Honeyeater

Posted on 20 August, 2024 by Anna

Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by his stunning photos.

Adult Blue-faced Honeyeater. Photo by Damian Kelly

When we first moved to Castlemaine about 14 years ago, the Blue-faced Honeyeater was almost unknown in the local area. Fast-forward to the present day and now it is not unusual to hear and see these birds around town. They range from northern Australia along the east coast to South Australia. They can be found in a wide range of habitats from open forests to orchards, banana plantations, parks, golf courses and home gardens. To me they are a bit of a ratbag of a bird – often in groups and always noisy, diving in and out of foliage in the quest for food, even right in the centre of town.

In the breeding season they rarely build their own nest, preferring to take over the abandoned nests of a variety of species ranging from Red Wattlebirds to Noisy Miners, Magpies and Magpie-Larks. In some areas Babbler and Friarbird nests are also used. Often they don’t bother modifying these nests but may re-line them if needed. Occasionally they will build their own nests. In this case it is a neat cup-shaped construction of bark and grass. Usually 2-3 eggs are laid.

Like several other Australian species the Blue-faced Honeyeater is a co-operative breeder and immature birds may help at the nest to feed the young.

In feeding they are quite adaptable, consuming insects and invertebrates along with nectar and fruit when available. This may be sourced from native and introduced species – as an adaptable species they get food wherever it is available. Occasionally they are known to be orchard pests and are not popular in this regard.

Identification of adults is easy with their distinctive blue face. Immature birds, however, lack the blue and instead have green around the eyes.

Immature Blue-faced Honeyeater with green around the eye, as it matures it will turn vibrant blue. Photo by Damian Kelly

View article Comment on article | 3 responses