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An annual Birds Australia North Queensland research activity, across the Atherton Tableland, Upper Herbert, Townsville-Giru, Ingham, Gulf country, Cape York. North Queensland residents and visitors join BANQ members and count Brolgas and Sarus Cranes as they fly in to roost for the night, at many wetland locations. For all enquiries contact the Co-ordinator (details below).
Over 150 people joined Crane Count teams on October 4th to survey roost sites from Townsville/Giru in the south, north through Ingham right up to Lakeland Downs, and west across the Atherton Tableland to Mt Garnet. Others helped beforehand by checking sites, talking with landowners, and recruiting and training teams – thank you all!
Some very interesting results were quickly messaged through on the night to the Tallyroom Dinner at Malanda Hotel, where Atherton Tablelands counters gathered to recover and socialise. One Tumoulin site had 723 cranes landing, including 100 Sarus Cranes. Unusually high numbers of Sarus were also recorded in other sites on the drier margins of the Tableland but long-term renowned roost Bromfield Swamp near Malanda had unusually low numbers, under 450. Mareeba Wetlands recorded 405 cranes including 156 Sarus, 134 Brolgas and 115 unidentified, as a successful conclusion to the Cairns Highlands Bird Week.
Townsville/Giru had over 420 Brolgas, the highest total since October counts began in 1997. Other significant Brolga totals came from Ingham and Innot Hot Springs. Two sites were affected by fishing boats (Tinaroo and Quincan Swamp) and it's so far unclear whether the Sarus Cranes disturbed from those roosts, were picked up by counters at other sites nearby. Results are still coming in, more news soon.
Australia's two cranes, the Brolga and rarer Sarus Crane, coexist well with many kinds of agriculture provided wetlands are protected. BANQ Crane Counts contribute more every year to our knowledge about our cranes, and how best to integrate their lifestyles with pastoral and other production environments.
For more information about research and conservation for Australia's Brolgas and Sarus Cranes, explore the Ozcranes (Australian Crane Network) website. Includes photographs, articles, reports on BANQ Crane Counts, latest research and conservation reports.
Sarus Crane family with cattle, Atherton Tableland, NQ (Courtesy Ian Montgomery, Birdway)
