Wild Windellama

by Paul Alessi

October 2007

EEL FOUND DEAD

One of last months features in Wild Windellama was about Eels and quite coincidentally our neighbour
found this Long Finned Eel dead in the Nerrimunga Creek, it was rather green, slimy and
smelly but didn't stop our youngest from retrieving him from the water for the photo,
this Eel was 105 cm or 41 1/2 inches long and quite heavy but still far short of the 3m monsters that
may lurk in the deepest waterholes. There was no obvious cause of death.

 

OFF- FISHAL RESPONSE TO MY ENQUIRY ABOUT A FISHWAY FOR THE TALLOWA DAM

According to the Manager of Aquatic Rehabilitation at the Dept of Primary Industry ..


"regarding the fishway on Tallowa Dam, as I understand the Sydney Catchment Authority
are in the middle of the tender process for the construction contract. Under current planning, construction
is scheduled to commence this financial year".

Some inside sources I spoke to reckon that the dam wall is just about to be raised in height,
so I'm not so sure they will construct a fishway until the dam wall is finished, stay tuned.

GREY SHRIKE THRUSH ARE BUSY AGAIN

Wild Windellama October 2006 featured the Grey Shrike Thrush,
(Colluricincla harmonica)
I managed to get this photo last week of a Grey Shrike Thrush
that has made a home inside this hollow post, there is a neat bark nest inside and 3 mottled eggs.
These birds have very melodic calls (as per their scientific name) and are one of the sounds
of Spring in Windellama.

 

If you want to re- read any Wild Windellama articles they are all available online at

www.wild.windellama.com



Koala Rescue

Mrs Wild Windellama has a knack for spotting Koalas and she found this one (No 4 so far)
crossing the road, unfortunately he was bumping into things and is almost (or completely)
blind most likely from the disease Chlamydia. With help from WIRES and NANA volunteers we
bundled him up and he was then taken to Goulburn for some medical attention, National Parks
and Wildlife have been notified and they are assisiting where they can but it looks like
he will be in veterinary care in Goulburn for some time and his future after that is uncertain.
He is a male about 4 years old and has been nicknamed "Dell" for Windellama.

"Dell" has been DNA sampled and will no doubt help provide important scientific data
on Shoalhaven Koalas as there are so few of them and they are rarely seen let alone
physically examined, we have already established that his favourite food is Scribbly Gum Leaves
and we have been taking him "meals on wheels" of these leaves every few days cut from his own
patch of Windellama trees, alternate meals from Scribbly Gum leaves on Rocky Hill in Goulburn
seem to be fairly popular with him too.


We hope Dell makes a speedy recovery however initial examination
suggests he has lost sight permanently in a least one eye. The photo shows his best eye
but it too has been affected by the disease.

 

A special thanks to Patricia and Vanessa for their help with Dell.


 

 

 

Copyright Paul Alessi 2007

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