AT the top of a tree in Tomago, flattened against the weekend’s howling winds, a pair of endangered birds and their chick have been preparing for a historic flight.
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The family of black-necked storks were discovered by bird enthusiasts who have kept their location secret, and watched each day as the chick has grown.
“It’s significant because this is the most southern confirmed breeding event for this species,” Hunter Bird Observers Club life member Ann Lindsey said.
“We’ve never had a chick this far south.”
The black-necked stork is Australia’s only stork and is classed as endangered in NSW, though they are often seen flying over Hexham Swamp. Nests have also been found in Bulahdelah. But the past 80 days watching the stork chick grow up before her eyes have been a unique privilege, Ms Lindsey said.
“They’re supposed to fledge around 80 to 81 days, so I’ve been there at 6.30am the last three mornings,” she said.
“I would really like to see it leave the nest.”
Wetland rehabilitation projects at Hexham Swamp, Kooragang and Tomago have aimed to attract the storks and the fish, small crabs and frogs they eat.
The storks are thought to pair for several years, and perhaps for life. Their nests are dense platforms of sticks and leaves, usually in tall trees close to water. The birds are secretive and isolate themselves in pairs, and both parents care for the young.
The Hunter’s bird-watchers have also been excited in the past two months by seveal sightings of critically-endangered regent honeyeaters near Cessnock.
