And They Racing...................!

The town of Birdsville is currently welcoming many visitors who are arriving for the annual Birdsville Race meeting. These visitors come from all over Australia, as well as from overseas, and include a large field of horses. The many horse yards build down on the Diamantina River will not only be filled with horses, however also will be surrounded by the trainers, owners, strappers and jockeys who camp in this picturesque spot.

Opportunism Outback!

For many years, it was thought that the numerous fish species in the Lake Eyre Basin rivers would breed in summer. However, recent research (undertaken by Wendy Pyper) has shown that a number of species breed right through winter as the floods come through. If the fish have a chance, they will breed and produce good offspring rather than wait for another ten years for a summer flood.

This abundance of fish provides for the many species of birds that gather in good seasons in Western Queensland. Truly, this is a prime example of opportunism on behalf of mother nature............and every fisherman who throws a rod in this winter.

Crisp, Clear and Cold

Imagine a 360 degree space with an abundance of fresh, crisp, clear, cold air. Ah - the beauty of mother nature in Winter in Western Queensland.

Eyre Creek Birdlife

Check out the busy life of birds at this permanent waterhole in Eyre Creek.

Even the Galahs Look Great!

The birds in Western Queensland are looking fabulous - sleek, healthy and almost plump. In periods of prolonged dryness, one forgets that the bird life suffers. The everyday birdlife that abounds just looks so much healthier at the moment.

Why not check it out?

Winter Storms - What a Surprise!

There are unusually unstable weather patterns over Western Queensland at the moment, as we are experiencing thunderstorms and even hail............in the middle of winter. There has even been reasonable although patchy rainfall. This is great for soil moisture levels, however the anticipated cold snap and frosts that will follow in the next few weeks will be sure to zap some of the nutritional value from the pastures.

The thunder rumbles - a most amazing winter surprise!

Paddy Melon

The Paddy Melon (also known as a pie melon) is an introduced species that can be found growing in the wild in Western Queensland. The vine is rather similar to that of a watermelon, and the fruit has the same smooth, thick skin. However, the inside of the melon is totally different. It has a non sweet, white flesh which is firmer than that of a water melon. People have been known to make jams, chutneys and puddings from the melon......however it is not a taste sensation that is overly thrilling, as it has a bitter taste. The seeds inside the melon are yellow, small and numerous.

This plant is considered a weed and is grazed by camels and cattle. The seeds are also eaten by birds, which are capable of spreading them. The plants are drought tolerant and often can be seen growing on the sides of roads - as well as in sandy soils, plains and clay soils.

The Pea with Personality

Does this plant suggest a personality to you? These Sturt Desert Peas have a alien humanoid suggestion to them. Go on - really look at those flowers.

Did you know that this Australian native plant actually is a member of the pea family? Sturt Desert Peas appear after good rainfalls and can be found in Western Queensland right now.

The Swarming Masses

The Swarming Masses

Locusts continue to move around Western Queensland in significant numbers. Locusts are a type of grasshopper that tend to migrate in large numbers, known as swarms. As they travel, they eat huge volumes of food. Locusts can eat up to half their body weight each day, and they aren't overly fussy as to what they munch on.

This swarm of locusts was seen recently between Bedourie and Boulia, and are part of the 'booom and bust' cycle of seasons.

Does this sky remind you of the scales and markings of a fish known as mackerel?

These skies have been a frequent sight over the Channel Country in the last 2 weeks, and this cloud formation is an indicator of moisture in the lower atmosphere. This formation is a common sight in winter and there is an old rhyme that does "Mackerel sky, Mackerel Sky. Never long wet and never long dry".

The Mackerel clouds can lead to some amazing colours in the evening sky, and we have been privileged to see these wonderful sunsets most evenings of late.

The Red, Blue and Green Beckons!

The rich red dirt, vast blue skies and green vegetation of the Channel Country beckon. The Western Rivers Carer will be out and about over the next week having adventures. I promise to share lots of interesting insights and images once I return.

Solar Farm - So Far, So Sustainable and Oh So Good!

Today, I heard that the Australian Conservation Foundation has released its inaugural Sustainable Cities index, which ranks Australia's 20 largest centres to come up with our 'greenest' city. I would like to nominate a town in the Channel Country for what could possibly be the smallest and most sustainable town.

And that nomination would be for Windorah!

As you drive into Windorah from the East, you whizz past these magnficent dishes that make up a solar farm which was commissioned in 2009. Different combinations of dishes are used at different types to generate the electricity for the town of Windorah. Some are parked whilst others generate the power - a whole 360 000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. Before this farm was installed, Windorah churned through 100 000 litres of diesel each year to keep the generators fueled, which in turn provided the electricity.

In the solar farm, there are five mirrored dishes, each 13.7 metres across which reflect the sunlight to a central point in the dish where there is a high capacity solar cell. The season, time of day and amount of cloud cover all determine the amount of electricity produced.

Why not check out these magnificent sentinels that stand guard to Windorah as you enter from Cooper's Creek? I take my cap off to these renewable energy sources which Ergon Energy has installed.

Emu's and Emu Eggs

Did you know that the Emu's are sitting on their eggs at the moment? An Emu usually lays between 6 - 10 eggs. It takes almost 2 months for the eggs to incubate. It is also the job of the male Emu to sit on the eggs for this period of time. He is also the chief carer of the chicks once they are hatched. An Emu nest is usually built in a small depression in the ground, and surrounded by sticks, bark and grass.

During August, it is quite a common sight to see the small, stripey chicks being led around the countryside by their father. Emu's are the second largest bird in the world and are very inquisitive animals. However, do not get too close to an Emu as they have a deadly kick and use their feet with keen accuracy to protect themselves. Stay behind them!

Check out these Emu's enjoying the fabulous season that Western Queensland is enjoying in 2010.

Superb Sunrises!

For early birds, there are some superb sunrises to be seen in Western Queensland. These clean, crisp moments are free, every day! The silence, the birds and you! Another magical moment which awaits you.

The Vision Spendid

The secret to viewing sunset? To turn around and also look at the Eastern sky.

Check out todays images, that were to be seen in the East, as the sun set in yesterdays blog. The apricots, the pinks and the blues are magical. In my books the reflected Eastern sky is often more spectacular than the Western sky.

Spectacular Seed Heads

Spectacular Seed Heads

The pastures are well and truly in seed at the moment. It is simply amazing to see every plant sprouting bountiful seeds. Check out some of the seed heads that can be found at the moment. Any wonder our insect and bird populations are booming.

Simply sensational, isn't it?

Button Grass Boom

If you wish to see Button Grass, be quick!

Whilst Button Grass is growing across vast areas of Western Queensland in response to the recent rains, it won't last for long. Button Grass is a short lived plant that usually dries off within 6 weeks or so. Livestock love to eat this short, leafy grass.

If you study the images carefully, you will see the seed head is rather unique. It may or may not look like a button shape to you. (No - I can't see the button thing happening!) It grows to 20 - 30 cm tall, and literally carpets the country side at the moment.

Have you seen any fresh and leafy button grass lately?

The Rain Falls Mainly On The Mitchell Grass Plain

There continues to be fabulous falls of storm rain across Western Queensland. The clouds look positively tropical and coastal, and the rainfall is greatly appreciated by all.

Now for the Brown!

Brown water snaking across chasms of brown mud is currently making its way across Western Queensland.

So why is the water brown?

There are large quantities of suspended sediment, usually fine clay particles within these waters, and it is this suspended matter that gives the outback water its characteristic brown colour.

For now, Brown is the colour in Western Queensland. The mud and the water intermingle and are a perfect match!

Hatching Brolgas

Hatching Brolgas

Brolgas are one of my favourite birds and are also the official bird emblem for Queensland. These stately and gregarious birds are commonly found in Western Queensland, and even in flight they form a distinctive and elegant profile. Brolgas hatch once a year, commencing now and through the month of February, which coincides with the end of the wet rainy season. At the moment, their preferred food of grasshoppers is to be found in abundance in the rapidly growing grasses of Western Qld. Their nest is often a raised mound of sticks and grass located in shallow water or on the ground near water.

The Western Rivers Carer will be keeping her eye out for these birds in the coming months, as the young hatch and slowly grow into graceful birds.