21/09/2018 Hattah-Kulkyne National Park Victoria
Had a great time visiting the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in Victoria, it lies in typical mallee country with extensive low scrub and open native pine woodland. Superbly adapted birds, animals and vegetation thrive in the poor, sandy soils and searing summers.
The freshwater Hattah Lakes is seasonally filled by creeks connected to the Murray, providing food and shelter for waterbirds and fish. These lakes can remain full for up to ten years without flooding, but flooding generally occurs once every two years.
Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee Maluridae (Male)
Though confined to the Murray Mallee region of South Australia and Victoria, the range of the Mallee Emu-wren has shrunk in recent years after fires destroyed much of its restricted areas of habitat. There is now a concerted conservation effort underway to save the species, as another bushfire could see the Mallee Emu-wren edge closer to extinction.
Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee Maluridae (Male)
Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee Maluridae (Female)
Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee Maluridae (Male)
Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus Psittacidae
Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus Psittacidae
Mallee Ringneck Barnardius zonarius
Mallee Ringneck Barnardius zonarius
Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus
Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus
Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus
Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus Psittacidae
Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus Psittacidae
Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Columbidae
Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens Maluridae
Chestnut-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus ruficeps Pomatostomidae
White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus Artamidae
White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus Artamidae
Yellow Rosella Platycercus elegans
Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala Meliphagidae
Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea Corcoracidae
The Hattah-Kulkyne National Park is about 450km from Melbourne off the Calder Highway, between Ouyen and Mildura. The Park is 35km north of Ouyen and 74km south of Mildura.
More images to come….