February 16, 2023
Today we visited the Coorong National Park, a salt-water lagoon that provides a sanctuary for many different bird species. Although many are water birds, it is also home to the flightless emu. We were lucky enough to see a dad with his three chicks. Emu dads take care of the eggs and raise the chicks. The moms leave after laying the eggs.
We began the tour in Adelaide and had a brief stop in Strathalbyn with quaint old buildings and a motorcycle statue honoring Kenny Blake, a famous Australian racer.
Once we reached Coorong and boarded the boat, we passed by some boats tied up. The guide pointed out the one with square windows that was in the movie, Storm Boy.
We needed to pass through a small lock to enter the lagoon. Seals were swimming and resting on the locks.
Once in the lagoon, we passed by sand spits crowded with all kinds of water birds such as black swans, pelicans, sand pipers, ibis, Cape Barren geese, cormorants, gulls and terns. Can you find each in the pictures below?
When the Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh reported the existence of black swans in the 1600s, many people in Europe didn't believe him. They thought swans could only be white because they had only seen white swans before. It was so surprising that over the time "a black swan event" is now used to describe unpredictable events. There were many black swans in the Coorong. They were beautiful and fascinating to watch.
We saw a greater crested tern which found what looked like a shellfish of some sort, dropped it in the water and then retrieved it.
the rare musk duck (the guide was super excited about spotting this pair),
a red-billed gull that dove down and came up with a fish in its beak,
the Pacific Gull
a fur seal,
oyster catchers,
black and white cormorants,
and Cape Barren geese.
We did get off the boat for a walk through Coorong Park from the lagoon to the ocean. Our noses wrinkled as they were immediately assaulted by the stench of dead fish lying around the path. We watched the ground carefully so we didn't step on them. The water in the lagoon is growing more and more salty. It's great for the brine shrimp that are multiplying in unheard of numbers, but it is killing many of the fish.
As we went further inland, the fish disappeared. It was a beautiful walk.
We enjoyed our cruise in the Coorong immensely. The day ended back on ship with a beautiful sunset.
Those emu babies were almost as big as their dad. It's interesting that he raises them alone. Do you know how long they stay with the dad?
Beautiful pictures of birds.