After a very early start, the COG group had an enjoyable morning at Jindalee with new birds for many in the group – some had not been to Jindalee before. Highlights of 62 species seen on the day were Superb Parrots, Brown Treecreepers, Diamond Firetail, Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters and 3 Blue-faced Honeyeaters (Ive recorded these large, distinctive honeyeaters once or twice before at Jindalee, but not for some years). There were also quite a few woodswallows around - Masked,, White-browed and Dusky. One raptor took us a little time to identify – it assumed various identities until we finally decided it was a “mixed” phase Little Eagle, showing some light and dark form patterns.
Like everywhere else inland, it is very dry and unfortunately the forest understorey has become more and more degraded over time; most of the Cootamundra Wattles are now dead and virtually no regeneration is occurring in the part of the forest where sheep grazing is concentrated. What was a lovely patch of wattles in the woodland just in from the main road is now a tangle of dead wood, and the large group of White-browed Babblers which used that habitat seems to have gone.
Jindalee deserves to be better managed for bird conservation outcomes than it is currently. It is an important remnant woodland where a number of endangered bird species have been recorded like Regent Honeyeaters, Superb Parrots and Painted Honeyeaters, as well as other woodland species listed as threatened or vulnerable under NSW legislation. The forest badly needs to be given an extended break from grazing to allow the understorey to regenerate. What has happened to the NSW Government’s proposals to better protect Jindalee (and other State Forests) by making them reserves?
Jenny Bounds