This comprehensive collection of beautiful birds was gleaned from many visits to the magnificent Capertee Valley (NSW) 2018 - 2023. The Capertee Valley (CV) is often described as the widest enclosed canyon/valley in the world, the second largest overall or Australia’s version of the Grand Canyon. This remarkable place is Wiradjuri Country. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We are grateful for the vital contribution of First Nations People to the knowledge and conservation of Australia’s birds.
The CV is not only a geological wonder, but also a biodiversity hotspot. It is recognised internationally as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Over 240 bird species have been recorded, including common or uncommon residents, migratory and nomadic birds and very occasional visitors. This video shares two rare sightings - i.e. Diamond Dove and White-cheeked Honeyeater - neither of which are rare in their typical habitats. The DD is associated with the dry inland, while the WCH is mostly a bird of coastal lowlands. Indeed, these two species nicely illustrate why the CV is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Although much of CV falls into the Sydney Basin Bioregion, the north-west side is part of NSW South Western Slopes and the Capertee township entry to CV is in South Eastern Highlands.
The filming site was a private property called “Binalong”. Its bird diversity is high due to a combination of natural open forest and critically endangered Box Gum Woodland, re-vegetated areas (plantings 1995-2013) and grassland. Water is always available at a central dam and often elsewhere (three waterholes, an ephemeral creek and bird baths). Nesting/roosting hollows abound due to old live trees, dead standing/ground timber and nest boxes. Overall, the 140 acre covenanted property provides habitat for several declining, threatened or endangered woodland birds. Looking at “Binalong” now, it’s hard to believe that only 30 years ago it was largely an empty paddock. If not for the passion and dedication of past owner/custodian (1994 - 2018) April Mills, the Regent Honeyeater Recovery Project (RHRP) and many volunteers, this video would have been much shorter! Note too that some scenes include farms on the boundaries of “Binalong”. Remnant vegetation, paddock trees and native grasses on these properties also contribute to biodiversity.
Although habitat restoration was driven by the plight of the critically endangered RH, this video shows how the results are used by many birds. We haven't yet filmed a RH at "Binalong" or elsewhere in CV, but recorded one singing (can be heard 0.21 - 0.37 mark). Moreover, other people have seen the occasional RH, or pair or small group at "Binalong" over the last 20 years or so.
The 102 birds in this video are listed in order of appearance: Gang-gang Cockatoo, Turquoise Parrot, Red-rumped Parrot, Little Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Australian King Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Little Corella, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Scarlet Robin, Hooded Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Red-capped Robin, Jacky Winter, Eastern Shrike-tit, Rufous Whistler, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Mistletoebird, Silvereye, Rufous Songlark, Australian Pipit, Diamond Firetail, Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch, Plum-headed Finch, White-plumed Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Spinebill, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Rockwarbler, Speckled Warbler, Southern Whiteface, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Pardalote, Superb Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Peaceful Dove, Common Bronzewing, Brush Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon, Diamond Dove, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, White-browed Babbler, Varied Sittella, Brown Treecreeper, White-winged Triller, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, White-winged Chough, Dusky Woodswallow, White-browed Woodswallow, Masked Woodswallow, Pied Currawong, Pied Butcherbird, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, Little Raven, Olive-backed Oriole, Magpie-lark, Restless Flycatcher, Leaden Flycatcher, Sacred Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, Brown Quail, Painted Button-quail, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Southern Boobook, Barking Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, Brown Falcon, Australian Hobby, Spotted Harrier, Australasian Grebe, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Fairy Martin, Tree Martin and Welcome Swallow.
For information on these birds go to www.birdsinbac... Credits: Filmed, edited and produced by Darren Broughton and Thalia Broughton