And All The Rivers Run!

And All The Rivers Run!

There are strong runs in most creeks, rivers and channels in Western Queensland at the moment..........for the second time in as many months. These frequent flush outs are important for the health of the river.

Ecologically, these strong river flows not only clean out the waterholes that make up the main waterway, however they also flood out onto floodplains and wetlands. These floodout areas are often called the 'kidneys' of a river as they play a purifying role by filtering dirt and toxins before they reach the lakes, rivers and aquifers.

The water spreading across the wetlands and floodplains aids the growth of healthy vegetation which provides habitats for animal communities in the area, and this water also forms part of the natural filtration and balancing system of the ecology of an area.

Incidentally - did you know that forests are the lungs of the water system, as they absorb pollution and prevent flooding?

What was whistling in the trees?

WHAT WAS WHISTLING IN THE TREES?


Last night about 9.30 pm I was sitting outside and heard this most distinctive high pitched, almost shrill sound coming from the Eucalyptus trees.

After a brief discussion, we decided the sounds belonged to Whistling Ducks. These ducks prefer to feed by eating aquatic vegetation, grass and pasture seeds and other herbage, rather than diving for their food source in water bodies.

The sound of the Whistling Ducks is not common to my area, so one surmises that they may be moving west to inland floodplains and waterholes following recent rains. These ducks breed from January to March. May these ducks successfully and safely lay and incubate their eggs, so yet another generation of Whistling Ducks can visit my garden. This image depicts Kyabra waterhole which feeds into Cooper's Creek. I wonder if my visitors might be headed to a waterhole like this?