Bird Watching: More birds from Down Under, 1 by MargaretK

MargaretK wrote:
Thanks Resin. No, I think we have accepted that drought or at least extremely dry conditions, are an ongoing part of life. Perth has a series of wetlands in a chain along the flat area between the Darling Escarpment, hills which run north south for about 200km, and the coast. Some of the larger wetland areas have permanent water, but others, such as our small local swamp, Lake Claremont, completely dry up by early summer.

We've been on water restrictions for more than two decades and the parameters of the limits are becoming more stringent as water becomes an even more precious commodity than it ever was. We can only water our gardens on two allocated watering days a week and that has to occur between 6 & 9am and 6 & 9pm. Heavy fines for those found breaching the restrictions. Householders generally are becoming more aware and take measures to conserve water wherever possible and there are government incentives for water saving devices, even a 10% rebate on soil wetting agents as the soil is sandy and water repellent.

There are a few massive aquifers in the state, but I think management of these precious reserves are generally poorly understood. I include myself in that. The far north of the state "The Kimberley", has more water than could be dreamed of in a lifetime, but huge controversies rage about how best to transport the water the several thousand kilometres south to Perth and areas even farther south than that., whilst maintaining the ecological and cultural purity of the source. I'm not sure just what environmental impact studies have been carried out. The cost, no matter what they decided on would be astronomical.

Now this winter, Perth has had better rains than in many years past, but the rainfall has still fallen below average. At the local swamp this afternoon, it's already showing signs of evaporation. Where I took the photos of the Dotterel was 6" deep in water only a week or so ago: now it's an inch or so deep, at best and the edges have already dried. By mid December, the lake has all but dried up, save for a few puddles at the southern end.

I could go on and on. (I'll bet you find that hard to believe). It's so complex and is affected by so many things. Western Australia is hugely mineral rich and is booming at present. Bring more and more people into a desert, this most fragile of environments, and it's going to have far reaching and long term consequences.

On a cheerier note, here's a Singing Honeyeater in the shrubby trees in the swamp. I love the lichen on the branches.