Steep and spectacular, Eastern Hill not only offers magnificent views but also hosts amazing birdlife. A walk along the Hume and Hovell track here will reveal both woodland and water birds, thriving in the rich habitat provided by the adjacent open hillside and river environs.
The hillside here is classified as Box Gum Grassy Woodland – an endangered ecological community, while the Murray river and wetlands of Mungabareena and Norms Lagoon provide completely different ecological habitat. Together this area provides an important habitat refuge and breeding site for local and seasonal birds.
Brush-cutting on the track last week, Ranger Chris noted 24 different native bird species in just one day! See if you can match Chris’s list:
- Australian Wood Duck with young
- Pacific Black Duck
- Australian White Ibis
- Great Egret
- Australian Pelican
- Royal Spoonbill
- Willie Wagtail
- Mudlark
- Australian Magpie
- Welcome Swallow
- Masked Lapwing
- Superb Fairy Wren
- Red Wattlebird
- Red-browed Finch
- Crested Pigeon
- Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
- White-throated Treecreeper
- Australian Raven
- Laughing Kookaburra
- White-plumed Honeyeater
- Galah
- Crimson Rosella
- King Parrot
- Red-rumped parrot
