Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta Vulnerable in Australia & Victoria June 16th, 2019 Port Fairy pelagic, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens The majestic Albatross, king of the skies over the deep blue.
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris Vulnerable in Australia & Victoria June 15th, 2019 Port Fairy pelagic, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens There's nothing quite like being ~60km offshore, surrounded by the endless ocean, where the skies come alive with the birds of the deep blue.
Plains-wanderer (female) Pedionomus torquatus Critically Endangered in Victoria & Australia Winter 2019 Patho Plains of Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens Canon 600EX II-RT flash One of Australia's rarest & most quirky birds - the Critically Endangered Plains-wanderer. These tiny birds measure only 15-19cm tall, with the male being noticeably smaller than the female (pictured). The female also has a wonderful orange colouring on her chest & the unmistakable black & white checkered neck feathering. These birds are so unique that they are categorised in an entire family of their own, Pedionomidae, derived from the word Pedionomus, which is Greek for "haunting the fields". Plains-wanderer habitat is sparse native grasslands, located on the Northern plains of Victoria & the Riverina region of NSW. They are very particular about their environment, & with much of their original grasslands no longer suitable due to over-grazing, they are now only found in a few remote locations. Further impacting their survival is predation by the introduced Red Fox & feral cats - there is estimated to be fewer than 1000 Plains-wanderers remaining in the wild. Thankfully there is hope for these wonderfully unique birds. There are several partners involved in the conservation efforts to protect the Plains-wanderer, including Trust for Nature, Zoos Victoria, Parks Victoria, DELWP, North Central Catchment Management Authority, universities & private landholders. Efforts include monitoring, managing & protecting suitable habitats, predator eradication, as well as a tri-state (Victoria, NSW & South Australia) captive breeding program aimed at boosting wild population numbers. May these little ghosts of the night continue to haunt the fields for many more years to come.
