Dongara - Flora & Fauna 2

DONGARA FLORA & FAUNA

by Br W H van Veen sac

Part 2

Living at the Irwin River and Estuary.
Coot

There are not many coots at the estuary but the birds do breed here. In December and January they have their young.

Australia’s coots are opportunist in their movements. If food and breeding sites are available they will probably stay to breed, as at the clay pans in Tardun. If not, they become nomadic.

Black-winged Stilts

From November till February you can find the Black-winged Stilts feeding at the estuary but not in big flocks. The long legs of the Pied Stilt, another name given to this bird, give the bird its common name. The Stilts inhabit swamplands and lake margins like the clay pans in surrounded areas like Tardun.

Pelicans

During the spring and summer months there are about 10 pelicans at the mouth of the river and at the estuary at any one time. Pelicans have lived in Australia for a long time. Their fossil remains have been found in deposits between 30 and 40 million years old. The prehistoric pelicans were very similar to the present-day ones, but probably had shorter legs and were slightly smaller.

Hoary-headed Grebe

The Hoary-headed Grebe breed at the Irwin river and estuary. The Grebes fly mainly by night, especially when traveling long distances. The head of the hoary-headed grebe looks hoary only in the breeding season.

Red-capped Dotterel

Their name, Red-capped Dotterel is derived from the rusty-red crown and hind neck of the species, but from a distance the colour is not particularly noticeable.

The nest is little more than a shallow depression in the sand scratched by the birds claws. I only have seen the birds on a number occasions moving with great rapidity along the beach.

Wood Duck

The only time I have seen the Wood Duck was in Mach. In the catchment area the birds are much more common. And at the cay pans in Tardun the birds breed. The wood ducks are shy and wary and are certain to spot an observer first. The birds’ habit of grazing on green crops may be a reason that the ducks are more common in Tardun.

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Black-winged Stilts
		From November till February you can find the Black-winged Stilts feeding at the estuary but not in big flocks. The long legs of the Pied Stilt, another name given to this bird, give the bird its common name. The Stilts inhabit swamplands and lake margins like the clay pans in surrounded areas like Tardun.

Pelicans
During the spring and summer months there are about 10 pelicans at the mouth of the river and at the estuary at any one time. Pelicans have lived in Australia for a long time. Their fossil remains have been found in deposits between 30 and 40 million years old. The prehistoric pelicans were very similar to the present-day ones, but probably had shorter legs and were slightly smaller.

Hoary-headed Grebe
		The Hoary-headed Grebe breed at the Irwin river and estuary. The Grebes fly mainly by night, especially when traveling long distances. The head of the hoary-headed grebe looks hoary only in the breeding season.

Wood Duck
		The only time I have seen the Wood Duck was in Mach. In the catchment area the birds are much more common. And at the cay pans in Tardun the birds breed. The wood ducks are shy and wary and are certain to spot an observer first. The birds’ habit of grazing on green crops may be a reason that the ducks are more common in Tardun.