Herald 20190115

BIRDS
60th wedding anniversary
Black-Necked Stork or Jabiru
By DIANA BEAL
The Black-Necked Stork was
commonly known as the Jabiru
in Australia until it was officially
noticed that among the storks of
the Americas was one with the
genus Jabiru, to which our only
stork was not closely related.
Our stork is Ephippiorynchus
asiaticus australis or literally
the southern Asian saddle-bill
(ephippi = saddle; rynchus =
nose or bill; australis = southern).
E asiaticus was once widespread
in Asia from India and
Burma east throughout many
countries and south through Malaysia,
Indonesia, New Guinea
to Australia.
In most of these Asian countries
the species has virtually
disappeared through loss of habitat.
The situation is much better in
Australia where the sub-species,
E asiaticus australis, is doing
relatively well and appears to
have held on well during recent
decades.
It is found in coastal and
sub-coastal areas from the Kimberleys
east and south around to
the Sydney area.
Have you seen this bird on the
Darling Downs?
It is typically a bird of coastal
areas such as estuaries, mudflats
and wetlands, but is also seen
in inland swamps, floodplains,
irrigated pastures, bore drains,
dams and sewage ponds.
Once seen, it can never be
confused with any other species,
as the bird is almost as tall as an
emu, a striking upstanding lightly-built
white bird with black
wings which in flight extend to
about two metres.
The bill is massive, black and
shiny, and the head and neck a
glossy greenish black.
It is the greenish sheen to the
head and neck which differentiates
the Australian sub-species
from the Asian sub-species. The
long legs are red or pinkish.
Jabirus like to feed in shallow
weedy water where they find
fish, eels, frogs, crabs and other
sources of protein.
It is probably this catholicity
in food preferences that is one of
the key factors in the success of
the species.
It is usual to see two birds
hunting together as in this photo
or a single bird, rather than a
group of jabirus.
The bird on the right is the
female with her yellow eye,
and her friend is a male with his
dark brown-black eye. Pairs are
thought to stay together throughout
the year.
Jabirus breed all year round
with a preference for the period
July-January.
They build a large untidy pile
of sticks softened with grass and
rushes high in a tree.
The pile can be up to nearly
a metre in depth, so is hard to
miss. Two to four white eggs,
about 70mm x 50 mm, are laid,
and the parents share the incubation
and young-feeding duties.
The young fledge about three
to four months after hatching.
The young are dusky brown
and buff coloured with black bill
and legs.
Breeding has been particularly
well observed in the Brisbane
area from the NSW border
north to Fraser Island and in the
Lockyer Valley.
Photo courtesy Alf Ness. Our Jabiru brings together the work
of two talented people. The photo was kindly provided by
80-year-old Alf Ness of Tweed Heads. Alf is a close friend
who has travelled widely, He has seen birds we will never
see. We will try to do a little introduction to him for the next
bird story. - Max and Pam Bacon.
The greatest threats to the Jabiru
mostly involve loss of habitat
through modification or degradation
of wetlands through loss
of environmental water through
climate change or irrigation uptakes,
pollution, increased salinity,
and clearing and drainage for
development, loss of tall trees in
riparian areas, and, perhaps surprisingly,
the building of powerlines
close to or over known
habitats which the birds seem to
be poorly equipped to avoid.
Photo used with permission
Alf Ness, Tweed Heads.
Beatrice Ann Lewis and John
William Ashwell were married
on February 7, 1959 at the Neil
Street Methodist Church, also
once known as the Empire
Church Theatre. The wedding
reception was held at Laguna.
After their honeymoon in
the Blue Mountains, the happy
couple returned to life on the
farm at Felton South. During
this time Helen, Beatrice and
John’s first daughter was born
in 1960 followed by Robyn,
their second daughter, in 1963.
After many hard years on
the farm, Beatrice and John
decided to sell and move to
Beatrice and John Ashwell
60 years married
Toowoomba in 1973. Here
John worked for the Australian
Wheat Board and McCafferty’s
Bus Company.
Both John and Beatrice went
on later to own and run several
successful businesses.
In later years they built a
home at Highfields where they
lived for 26 years. They currently
live at the retirement
village of RSL Bolton Clarke
Westhaven in Toowoomba. The
couple have three grandchildren
and five great-grandchildren.
AUSTRALIA DAY
Singer songwriter
performs at
Blackbutt
More live music and Australia Day fun at Bunya Nut
Cafe, Blackbutt, from 5pm on Saturday, January 26,
as we welcome back singer/songwriter Jonathan Mark
Hayden.
Jonathan, a singer/songwriter, and recording artist
from Sunshine Coast, is a versatile musician with genres
ranging from Australiana, Aussie rock, rock to ballads.
Jonathan began his musical journey at 21 at the
passing of his father who was his inspiration.
His father was also a singer songwriter. One day
Jonathan picked up his father’s guitar and began a song
writing journey. He started touring in Brisbane and
Queensland in 1988.
“We are very excited about having Jonathan back at
the Bunya Nut Café,” Evelyn Green, owner of Bunya
Nut Cafe said.
“Last time he was here it was a huge party, so we
are very pleased he was able to come back on Australia
Day. We cant wait!”
“There will be special Aussie menu with special
sweet treats from the kitchen created by my wonderful
daughter, Kate.
The Bunya Nut Café will be celebrating Australia
Day all day, but our special Aussie party kicks off with
Jonathan’s first set at 5pm.”
Entry is free to the Scrubby Creek Bar offering a
great variety of tasty food, cold beer and local Aussie
wines. It is highly recommended to book a table for this
event by calling the Bunya Nut Café on 4163 0375.
RAY WHITE LIVESTOCK
TOOWOOMBA
Working with you to
achieve the best results.
Service tailored to you and your
livestock needs...
STORE CATTLE SALE
January 19 – 9am start
Crows Nest Showgrounds
Cattle currently booked and more
will be prior to sale.
15 hd Charolias x heifers 10 to 12 mths
15 hd Charbray x heifers 10 to 12 mths
20 hd Doughtmaster x strs
10 to 12 mths
40 hd Santa Hereford Dmaster x strs
8 to 12 mths to be drafted
8 hd Droughtmaster heifers 12 mths
20 hd Crossbred steers GQ
6 x 6 young Hereford x cows and calves
Contact:
P: Wade Hartwig 0447 174 071
E: wade.hartwig@raywhite.com
P: Malcolm Berlin 0437 247 020
E: malcolm.berlin@raywhite.com
www.raywhitelivestocktoowoomba.com.au
Singer songwriter Johathon Mark Hayden
To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au
HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - JANUARY 15, 2019 - 13