In Coongie Lakes (26 Apr to 15 May 1998), Phyl Goddard gives a general description of the COG-Emu Tours trip. Here, David Pfanner continues with a snapshot of Gluepot Station, Birds Australia's Murray-mallee reserve. David reports ....
This former pastoral lease of 51,300 hectares (larger than Wilson's Promontory National Park) is an hour's drive north of Waikerie in south-eastern South Australia. The reserve borders on the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, said to be the 'largest intact block of mallee and associated woodlands in Australia.' The old-growth mallee and spinifex at Gluepot is in superb condition, not having been burnt for 50 years. In addition, there is woodland vegetation of black oak, bullock bush, eucalypts, grasses and shrubs which provide varying habitat for bush birds.
Arriving on a late afternoon in mid-May, our group was delighted by the reception from several Major Mitchell's Cockatoos and a fleeting glimpse of Regent Parrots before meeting the two young volunteer wardens resident at Gluepot. We were directed to one of four new campsites under development and briefed on current research in the reserve together with some of the likely places to find Gluepot specialities. The reserve has not been formally opened to the public but thanks to the special arrangements made for the COG-Emu tour group we were privileged to be the first ever permitted to camp at Gluepot.
In the two full days spent exploring various sections of the reserve, members of the group were fortunate in seeing four of the six threatened species being conserved at Gluepot: Red-lored Whistler, Regent Parrot, Striated Grasswren and, after much soul-searching and observation of the hybrids present, Black-eared Miner. Neither Malleefowl nor Scarlet-chested Parrot were seen but our list for Gluepot included: Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Australian Ringneck, White-browed Treecreeper, Splendid Fairy-wren, the yellow-rumped form of the Spotted Pardalote, Striped, Singing, Yellow-plumed, Brown-headed, White-fronted Honeyeaters, Southern Scrub-robin, Chestnut Quail-thrush, Crested Bellbird, Red-lored and Gilbert's Whistler. One member's claim of a 'Chested Breastnut' was met with sceptical laughter. All in all, a highly successful visit with many thanks due to the organisers.
David Pfanner