New bird watchers guide for the Flinders
A brochure that provides a list of the most commonly sighted birds in the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park (VGRNP) is now available from the board’s website and is ideal for bird watchers, with images, descriptions and boxes to tick when the birds are sighted.
The Friends of VGRNP designed the brochure and received $5830 in the board’s 2022/23 Grassroots Grants program to assist its production.
It is also available in boxes at walk trailheads in the park and includes photographs of 59 birds that may be seen in the area, along with distinguishing features, expected size and the traditional Adnyamathanha name. The brochure also has notes about the seasonal and nomadic nature of the birds, hints for birdwatching and tips for identification.
The brochure includes hunting birds such as the Brown falcon (Adlanha) and Wedge-tailed eagle (Wildu); honeyeaters like the Singing honeyeater (Arndarnda) and the Yellow-throated Miner (Wilypu); birds found in creeks such as the Australian Ringneck parrot (Warturli), and the Black-faced Woodswallow (Valpulya); and birds found on plains such as Red-capped robins (Mali irta nha), White-winged fairywren (Yudu yudulya) and Emu (Warratyi).
As participants in Birdlife Australia’s Guardians of Key Biodiversity Areas program, Friends members are Guardians for the Gammon Ranges-Arkaroola Key Biodiversity Area, a role that involves them raising awareness of the park’s birdlife.
Follow the friends on Facebookor check out their website at https://friendsofgammons.org.au/
Take a look at the brochure on our website at https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/saal/plants-and-animals/native-plants-and-animals/native-animals/birds-of-the-vulkathunha-gammon-ranges-national-park
Background
Bird lists were started in 2020, when the area was still in the grip of a crippling drought with bird numbers recovering along with the landscape when rains began in 2021 and continued for 2022 and 2023. By May 2023 the bird count had increased to over 60 species with many of the birds not recorded in the area for several decades, corresponding with previous big rain events.
Bird lists were mostly compiled within the boundaries of the VGRNP and in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary to the North.
Sightings occurred in areas where there is a year-round water supply as well as on the dry grasslands, woody shrubs, and chenopod plains areas. It also included creeks and gullies.
Sightings were also recorded during Water Quality trips into the gorges in the foothills, including Weetootla, Italowie, including Dr Chewings Creek, Mt McKinlay walk, the Grindell Hut area and Nepouie Gorge.
