Plains-wanderer (female)
Pedionomus torquatus
Critically Endangered in Victoria & Australia
Winter 2019
Patho Plains of Victoria, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
Canon 600EX II-RT flash
One of Australia's rarest & most quirky birds - the Critically Endangered Plains-wanderer. These tiny birds measure only 15-19cm tall, with the male being noticeably smaller than the female (pictured). The female also has a wonderful orange colouring on her chest & the unmistakable black & white checkered neck feathering.
These birds are so unique that they are categorised in an entire family of their own, Pedionomidae, derived from the word Pedionomus, which is Greek for "haunting the fields".
Plains-wanderer habitat is sparse native grasslands, located on the Northern plains of Victoria & the Riverina region of NSW. They are very particular about their environment, & with much of their original grasslands no longer suitable due to over-grazing, they are now only found in a few remote locations. Further impacting their survival is predation by the introduced Red Fox & feral cats - there is estimated to be fewer than 1000 Plains-wanderers remaining in the wild.
Thankfully there is hope for these wonderfully unique birds. There are several partners involved in the conservation efforts to protect the Plains-wanderer, including Trust for Nature, Zoos Victoria, Parks Victoria, DELWP, North Central Catchment Management Authority, universities and private landholders. Efforts include monitoring, managing & protecting suitable habitats, predator eradication, as well as a tri-state (Victoria, NSW & South Australia) captive breeding program aimed at boosting wild population numbers.
May these little ghosts of the night continue to haunt the fields for many more years to come.
Tags: Plains-wanderer birds bird Pedionomus torquatus
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Plains-wanderer (male)
Pedionomus torquatus
Critically Endangered in Victoria & Australia
Winter 2019
Patho Plains of Victoria, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
Canon 600EX II-RT flash
One of Australia's rarest & most quirky birds - the Critically Endangered Plains-wanderer. These tiny birds measure only 15-19cm tall, with the male (pictured) being noticeably smaller than the female. The female will lay four eggs which the male will then incubate & raise the young on his own.
These birds are so unique that they are categorised in an entire family of their own, Pedionomidae, derived from the word Pedionomus, which is Greek for "haunting the fields".
Plains-wanderer habitat is sparse native grasslands, located on the Northern plains of Victoria & the Riverina region of NSW. They are very particular about their environment, & with much of their original grasslands no longer suitable due to over-grazing, they are now only found in a few remote locations. Further impacting their survival is predation by the introduced Red Fox & feral cats - there is estimated to be fewer than 1000 Plains-wanderers remaining in the wild.
Thankfully there is hope for these wonderfully unique birds. There are several partners involved in the conservation efforts to protect the Plains-wanderer, including Trust for Nature, Zoos Victoria, Parks Victoria, DELWP, North Central Catchment Management Authority, universities and private landholders. Efforts include monitoring, managing & protecting suitable habitats, predator eradication, as well as a tri-state (Victoria, NSW & South Australia) captive breeding program aimed at boosting wild population numbers.
May these little ghosts of the night continue to haunt the fields for many more years to come.
Tags: Plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus birds bird
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Comb-crested Jacana mating
Irediparra gallinacea
September 17th, 2019
Kununurra, Western Australia, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens
Canon EF 1.4x III Extender
One of my most wanted targets on our trip to The Kimberleys were these Comb-crested Jacana. Lily Creek Lagoon is well known for its bird life, particular these peculiar waterbirds & I'd seen many wonderful images of them from this lagoon, so I was hopeful for success.
I had no idea what I would witness on our first evening at the lagoon!
I was watching one particular Jacana fuss about a specific spot on the lagoon. After a few minutes, she started calling. Within seconds, her partner was on the scene & ready for action! Over the next minute or two I watched the male awkwardly try & stabalise himself on his partner's back, which was clearly a tall order with those fantastic feet! While those feet are an asset for walking over lily pads, they present somewhat of a challenge when attempting to reproduce!
After a couple of very awkward (& hilarious!) attempts, the male finally managed to do the deed. And the circle of life continues! Such a thrill to capture this behaviour!
Tags: Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea birds bird jacana
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Orange Chat (male)
Epthianura aurifrons
November 4th, 2019
Lake Tyrrell, Sea Lake, Victoria, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens
Canon EF 1.4x III Extender
This little Chat was an absolute beauty. I spent a few days targeting this species in Victoria's North last year. Spending some time with these birds, I was able to observe their behaviours. Each evening, just before sunset, this particular male would choose a staging area & proceed to call for several minutes, which I presume was to his mate whom was often in the same area. I was able to set myself up in the general area as the sun began to set & wait patiently for him to fly in & choose his perch. These birds are often very skittish, but during this evening routine, if I was very quiet & kept very low, I was able to get reasonably close without disturbing him.
Tags: Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons birds bird chat
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White-quilled Rock-pigeon
Petrophassa albipennis
September 20th, 2019
Kununurra, Western Australia, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens
Canon EF 1.4x III Extender
These secretive Pigeons live within rocky formations in the North of Western Australia & the Northern Territory. They blend in beautifully with their surroundings & unless they are heard are quite challenging to locate.
This particular individual was part of a flock of 30-odd birds that were feeding on the grounds of Mirima National Park. The birds were slowly making their way to one of the cliff faces. After a few birds crossed the road ahead of us, I lay down on the side of the road hoping to catch a straggler. Thankfully this little stunner came wandering through & even paused for a few moments while I took its picture!
Tags: White-quilled Rock-pigeon Petrophassa albipennis birds bird rock-pigeon
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