BIRDS of KILMORE, AUSTRALIA: Golden Whistler

13/05/2018

Golden Whistler

GOLDEN WHISTLER Pachycephala pectoralis

Golden Whistler Female and Juvenile

We have had very heavy rain and strong winds over the last few days. This has been the first of our autumn falls this year. We have waited many weeks for the coming of the rain this year.

I went out for a look around after the rain. It was still very cold with a strong wind blowing but the sun was bright between the clouds.

I was watching these 'little brown birds' behind the Kilmore Cricket ground. There were a number of them hunting for insects amongst the leaf litter, catching up after the wild weather. They seemed quite comfortable with me being nearby.

I picked them out to be Jacky Winters, reasonably common in this area.

Golden Whistler Male

A few moments later and a flash of yellow landed on a low branch beside me. He too was busy turning over leaves and bark in his search for insects. he was easy to identify, a Golden Whistler.

I know they are about this area, but I cannot remember seeing one for a long time.

And of course the 'little brown birds' are not JackyWinters, but female or young Golden Whistlers.

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KILMORE

Kilmore is thought to be the oldest inland town in Victoria, established in 1837. The small settlement is thought to have been named Kilmore by William Rutledge, who probably desired to remember his family connections inn County Cavan Melbourne.

In 1841, William Rutledge obtained from the Government of NSW, 5120 acres of land in the now named area of Kilmore.

Kilmore is now predominately a commuter town of Melbourne. Indeed it is in danger of becoming an outlying suburb of Melbourne.

Kilmore does however retain its rural feel. It is still surrounded by farmland. There are still a number of larger family run farms as well as many smaller allotments being run as small or hobby farms.

On the eastern side of the Northern Highway, which runs through the centre of the town, is a large area of land, put aside by our early settlers for public use. This land now contains a golf course, a race track, showgrounds and a cricket ground. Adjacent to these facilities is a large area of native forest, running up to a hill, overlooking the town. Atop this hill is a blue-stone tower, built in 1924, of stones from the Kilmore Goal, to commemorate the 1924 journey of Hume and Hovell, as they mapped a route from Sydney to Port Phillip.

This is a beautiful area of eucalyptus and wattle trees, with an under-story of shrubs, grasses and in Spring, many flowers. Many native animals and birds live in the area giving the many walkers a glimpse of Kilmore as it used to be.

In the middle of the Kilmore Golf Course, is a large lake, the old Kilmore Hospital Reservoir. The lake and its surrounding trees and reeds, are always filled with large numbers of water loving birds.

Kilmore is very blessed to have been left this legacy of such beauty.

SOME VALUABLE REFERENCES

Dark Emu. Bruce Pascoe's book challenges our understandings of the aboriginal people of Australia. He tells the stories of these people as farmers and carers of the land, caring for, planting, harvesting and storing plants,managing fish stocks and building permanent stone shelters. A book to change many of your long held ideas.

A wonderful book, so full of information and such a pleasure to read.

Gould League Of Victoria

Seven book series
BIRDS OF SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA
1. Urban Areas
2. Ranges
3. Oceans, Bays and Beaches
4. Inland Waters
5. The Dry Country
6. Rare Species
7. Farmlands

BIRDS OF THE LOWER KING PARROT CREEK
Published by the Strath Creek Landcare Group

Something from Overseas

KIBRIS'IN KUSLARI Birds of Cyprus

by Niyazi Turkseven

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13/05/2018

Golden Whistler

GOLDEN WHISTLER Pachycephala pectoralis

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