on Bird Life on Yanko Creek, N.S.W.



337



shallow lignum swamp on Yanko Station. The birds are strictly

protected. We estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 were

nesting at the time of our visit. Some of the bushes supported a

dozen or more nests. There were fresh eggs in nests on the

outskirts of the rookery, while many of those nearer the centre

contained chicks a few days old ; at the hub of the rookery there

were broods nearly ready for flight. The older birds declined to

remain in their nests when the camera was erected near them :

many climbed the top of the bush and clustered ; while others

scrambled or fell into the muddy water, and splashed into the

thickest cover. Alone in a nest was an albino fledgeling ; its

plumage was not pure white, but of a creamy colour, and it was

conspicuous among scores of dusky chicks in neighbouring nests.


Travelling across the plains, I was impressed by the work of

the Ibises. In every paddock there were hundreds of birds warring

on young grasshoppers. It was easy to see that the Ibises enjoy

protection, for they allowed our vehicle to approach fairly close to

them before rising to fly a few yards, and resume their feeding.

Without Carphibis spinicollis to keep them in check, the grasshoppers

would indeed become a terrible burden in Riverina. While we were

at the rookery a boundary-rider galloped up, but he was reassured

when he recognised Max Egger, who had done much to spread

knowledge of the value of the Ibis to pastoralists.


Pink-eared Ducks ( Malacorhynchus membranaceus) breed

in the lignum in this swamp, but we failed to find a nest. It was

rather risky w^ork searching the bushes, for they are favourite resorts

of black snakes. We did not actually see a reptile, but as I thrust

a stick into one bush there was a slithering noise, and I prudently

retired.


On the journey to the creek many nests of the Australian

Crow ( Corvus coronoides) were observed in dead trees. Most of them

were at no great height, and they were conspicuous objects even at a

distance. Though nests were so numerous, few Crows were seen.

Signs of their presence were noted in che Ibis rookery, where many

eggs and nestlings must be destroyed by the black marauders. As

the swamp dries up, Ibises that were late in nesting desert the

unhatched eggs, which are eagerly devoured by Crows and rats.



