Supporting Nature at Work
The Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus Sanctus)
With its beautiful gold and teal markings, the Sacred Kingfisher was so named because it was said to be a holy bird to the Polynesians. It is not often seen at the Station, but it does migrate down to the southern part of Australia from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in early Spring.
This beautiful bird is seen mostly along the creek beds as it looks for insects,spiders, frogs and small reptiles. It will sit on a low branch waiting for its prey to pass by.
Sacred kingfishers breed between September and January, often with two broods. Once the birds have mated, both the male and the female dig the nest in a creek bank or a hollow in a large branch. The female lays a clutch of three to six eggs, which she (mostly) sits on for about 18 days until they hatch.
The Southern Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca Australis)
The Southern Pygmy Perch, once widely found throughout the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers, has only been recorded in a handful of sites in the last 25 years. The Pygmy Perch is now listed as endangered due to the introduction of European species into waterways along with loss of aquatic vegetation, floodplain reduction due to drainage management and seasonal flow reductions.
Woomargama Station has some thriving populations in the Mountain Creek, which runs through the property, as well as in the lake and one of the dams.
Pygmy Perch are small, growing to just 85 mm in length. They have a small mouth and a rounded tail. The fish in our waterways are a green-brown colour and are darker on the back and paler on the belly.
Our populations are closely monitored through NSW Water.
Woomargama Station Birdlist:
Eastern Rosella
Australian Magpie
Pied Currawong
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Striated Thornbill
White-throated Treecreeper
Red Wattlebird
Brown Thornbill
Crimson Rosella
White-winged Chough
Weebill
Grey Fantail
Australian Golden Whistler
Spotted Pardalote
Grey Shrikethrush
Striated Pardalote
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Speckled Warbler
Superb Fairywren
Noisy Miner
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Scarlet Robin
Buff-rumped Thornbill
Jacky Winter
Magpie-lark
Australian Raven
Australian Owlet-nightjar
Australian Wood Duck
Mistletoebird
Flame Robin
Eastern Yellow Robin
Brown-headed Honeyeater
Willie Wagtail
Rose Robin
Galah
White-naped Honeyeater
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
White-plumed Honeyeater
