Birdlife at Willinga Park

Birdlife at Willinga Park

Birdlife at Willinga Park

Every quarter, Margaret Hamon and Maggie Mance from the Milton Ulladulla District Birdwatchers group visit Willinga Park to survey the birdlife.

As well as personal enjoyment and curiosity, their findings from two of the five sites surveyed are used to support bird research for BirdLife Australia as part of their Atlas project. For the purpose of the Atlas, the standard preferred survey by BirdLife Australia is to spend 20 minutes in a 2ha site and record all species sited.  The Atlas of Australian Birds was first published in 1977 and is one of Australia’s most successful and enduring bird research projects.

The Shoalhaven is home to an amazing array of birdlife and is a mecca for birdwatchers. The drought and the bushfires, however, have had a noticeable effect on bird numbers.  ‘In January it was shockingly dry, with nothing much flowering, so it was quiet.’ Says Margaret. ‘We did however see a White-Winged Triller at one of the sites in Willinga Park. We’ve seen them before here and they’re not common along the South coast.’

The Willinga Park gardens are usually home to a colourful medley of native birds. Hopefully, the recent rain will help attract a lot of our feathered friends back to the area.

View the complete list of birds sighted during the Willinga Park Bird Survey January 2020 here.

Photo: Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, taken by Ginette Snow