Archive for October, 2024

Oct

3

2024

Bowra 2024 campout report

by Andrew Skeoch

The AWSRG’s biennial gathering has recently been held at Bowra Reserve in southern Queensland.

Like our event two years ago at Gluepot, it was a self-sufficient campout affair. Unlike Gluepot however, when storms constrained attendees to camp, the weather at Bowra was kinder, with only a little rain and some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

Despite the relative remoteness of our chosen location, 17 members attended, and it was wonderful to have some of the elders of our tribe present – Bob Tomkins, David Stewart, Kerry Watson and Fred van Gessel. Also heartening was the company of (relatively) younger attendees, including Ashley Walker from Adelaide, Russell Wyatt (accompanying Fred), and Mike Fitzgerald’s daughter Clem.

L to R, back row: Neil Boucher, Bob Tomkins, June Boucher, Russell Wyatt, Andrew Skeoch, Ashley Walker.
Front row: David Stewart, Clem Fitzgerald, Marg & Jeff Eller, Rob Garbutt, Tony Baylis, Fred van Gessel and Mike Fitzgerald.
Missing (as they had to leave before we got our act together for this photo): Arwen Ximenes, Sharon Knott & Kerry Watson.

Bowra (an Australian Wildlife Conservancy property) protects a mosaic of dry country habitats: a variety of woodlands including mulga, plus grasslands, rocky ridges, and a number of perennial wetlands which provide refuge in times of drought.

It’s no surprise then that the place is renowned for its birding. We had a resident Spotted Bowerbird in camp, a pair of Hobbies active nearby, Brown Treecreepers foraging almost underfoot, and on the first morning a Pink Cockatoo flyover was a good sign. Even a short dawn walk from camp provided good recording opportunities – Purple-back Fairy-wrens, Pied Honeyeaters, crakes (if you were lucky), some very active Rufous Songlarks, and I enjoyed documenting the local dialect of Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters.

Also nearby was a small wetland area alive with frogs. On the first evening, David counted upwards of eight species, however over successive days, and for no reason we could discern, they quietened down considerably. Meanwhile, Willie Wagtails which had been quiet previously, decided they’d begin singing continually overnight, a mixed blessing for those camped near their roost trees.

During the days, from our base at the campground, we’d set off to explore the reserve. Driving through the landscape, emus with cohorts of chicks were abundant, as were groups of red kangaroos lounging around. The riparian areas around the wetlands provided the most diversity of species, with many breeding. For me, seeing and hearing Plum-headed Finches for the first time was a highlight. But even the drier rocky ridges had their rewards, with Hall’s Babblers attracting several of us to try recording them, with varying success.

Most afternoons, we convened in the shed for an informal program of talks. Bob shared his trials of recording in gale force winds on sub-Antarctic islands, Tony recounted his expeditions to the cloudforests of PNG’s Huon Peninsular, Neil gave an introduction to AI, and I presented an interpretation of the dawn chorus as a collective avian behaviour. On the final day we had an animated and positive discussion about the group’s future, particularly in light of the journal being discontinued.

While the knowledge sharing, natural surroundings and recording opportunities were all enjoyable, our gatherings are really about conviviality and reconnecting as friends. And by that measure, it was a truly memorable week.