Lake Tutchewop Located about 30 km north-west of Kerang off the

Murray Valley Highway, Lake Tutchewop is a Ramsar-

listed wetland of international importance. This wetland

is a 'terminal disposal basin' for the Barr Creek

Drainage Diversion Scheme. It sometimes supports

some migratory waders and salt-tolerant waterbirds. It

is highly regarded by birders but, when low and extra

salty, sometimes disappoints. The reserve extends west

of the lake itself. Orange Chats are sometimes

observed on the surrounding salt flats. Avocets and

Banded Stilts may be observed in shallow, salty water.

It is worth checking out both the northern (Tresco-

Benjeroop Road) and southern sides (Lake William

Road) of the lake as different birds may be seen on

either side. Mystic Park Bushland Reserve is located immediately to the south-west.

RED-NECKED AVOCET by Murray Chambers

Lake Meran and Leaghur State Park Located 21 km south of Kerang alongside the Boort-

Kerang Road (B266), Lake Meran sometimes attracts waterbirds. There is a camping area alongside it.

Leaghur State Park lies 7 km south of Lake Meran.

Especially when Red Gum or Box trees are in flower,

the park sometimes attracts a good range of bush

birds. Before the area became a State Park, forestry

officers planted a variety of trees not local to the area.

The bulk of the forest, however, is dominated by River

Red Gum and/or Black Box. Common birds of the forest

include White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown Tree-creeper

and the yellow form of Crimson Rosella.

BirdLife Echuca District serves BirdLife members who

reside in northern Victoria and the southern Riverina of NSW. New members are welcome.

This brochure is a guide to some near Kerang. Many

waterbirds are attracted to the Kerang Lakes. Many

species of bush birds, including such inland specie as

Budgerigar, Blue Bonnet and Cockatiel, are often observed in bushland areas.

This guide is one of a series produced by BirdLife

Echuca District that can be downloaded from the

branch’s website, a link to which is on the BirdLife Australia web site www.birdlife.org.au

Other local on-line birding guides: Barmah Forest Bendigo

Cohuna & Gunbower Deniliquin

Echuca-Moama Gulpa Island, Mathoura

Kamarooka Forest Perricoota Road, Moama

Terrick Terrick National Park Wyuna and Kanyapella

For more information, email echuca@birdlife.org.au and/or visit the BirdLife Echuca District web site.

Cover photograph:

Male BLUE BONNET by Albert Wright

Good spots to look for Blue Bonnet include Tresco West Bushland Reserve and Goschen Reserve.

Text by Keith Stockwell and Anne Thompson. First edition: June 2013.

Australia’s voice for birds since 1901

BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding

conservation results for our native birds and their habitats.

With our specialised knowledge and the commitment of an Australia-wide network of volunteers and supporters,

we are creating a bright future for Australia’s birds.

!!

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Index | < Back Forward > | Skip to next chapter > 51

4.7.7Graphic devices Shield

The graphic Shield device is used on many BirdLife Australia communications. The curved angle does not change on any shape formats. It can extend in height.

The graphic Shield is used to position brochure cover

headings. It is a great way to visually ‘lock up’ information

that you would like to highlight in your documents.

It also represents BirdLife Australia in official capacities,

to house BirdLife Message sign-offs as well as housing images

on Honorary Certificates.

SCALING

The curve cannot change shape but can be enlarged

proportionally to fit the required format. You can increase

the height of the Shield by extending the band from the top.

COLOUR & TRANSPARENCIES

Brand palette colours including white are used. It can also

be a two colour gradient. Images can be masked into the

shape and a colour transparency can be applied.

SCALING – WHEN SCALING IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THE ANGLE BOTTOM CURVE -

COVER

NOTE: THE SHIELD FOR BROCHURE HEADINGS CAN

ONLY BE USED ON FRONT COVERS. NOT FOR SPREADS.

BRAND SIGN OFF HONORARY CERTIFICATE

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!

Birding spots near Kerang It is suggested that you obtain suitable maps from the

Kerang Visitor Information Centre before using this guide. A telescope will help to identify waterbirds and waders.

Fosters Swamp Located about 2km east of Kerang, Fosters Swamp can be

accessed via the old railway reserve off Richardson Street.

Access from the eastern extension of Wellington St. via the

sewage farm may not be possible. When this shallow lake contains water, it supports lots of waders and water birds.

Kerang Regional Park Kerang Regional Park includes Kerang Weir and Town

Swamp. Kerang Weir is north of Kerang via Lower Loddon

Road. Turn left north of Tragedy Bridge (Pyramid Creek).

Walk upstream 1 km past a fish ladder, over an old bridge

and through gate to Sheepwash Overflow. Town Swamp is

at the western end of Wyndham Street, adjacent to the

Loddon River. There are walking tracks on both sides of the river.

Reedy Lake and Middle Lake

An ibis rookery visible from a bird hide is located alongside

the Murray Valley Highway about 8km north-west of

Kerang. There is a large roadside sign near the turnoff to a

parking area. Spend time looking for birds in the bushes around the car park.

Wandella Forest Located about 5 km west of Kerang, Wandella Forest

is a Black Box forest. Limited access is available from

Quambatook Road, Wandella Road and Radcliffe

Road. After rains, birds may be seen in the table drain beside the road.

Sandhill Lake Sandhill Lake is located alongside the Lalbert-Kerang

Road about 23km west of Kerang. In summer, look for Rainbow Bee-eaters nesting in the sand.

Lake Bael Bael About 16km west of Kerang, Charleston Road runs

north from the Lalbert-Kerang Road to Lake Bael

Bael. When it contains water, Lake Bael Bael is often

covered in such water birds as Eurasian Coot, Black

Swan, Grey Teal and grebes. In flood times, water overflows into the Koorangie Marshes (Third Marsh).

• To the west of Kerang, a number of public and privately-owned grassland reserves protect endangered

herbs and grasses, animals such as Fat-tailed Dunnart,

and birds such as the Plains-wanderer. Various species of quail are sometimes observed in these reserves.

Wanderers Plain Grassland is Trust for Nature’s second-largest property; it covers 1,895 hectares.

McDonald Swamp McDonald Swamp is a shallow 164 hectare freshwater

marsh transversed by Picaninny and Barr Creeks between

Cohuna, Kerang and Koondrook. When filled, the water is

usually less than a metre deep. As evaporation is about

1.2 metres per year, it dries out quickly. The reserve

includes some sedge flats and covers 251 hectares. From

Kerang-Koondrook Road, access is via Lancaster Road.

Red Gum Swamp lies immediately to the north. These

wetlands have been nominated as part of an Important

Bird Area (IPA). When the wetland contains water, it often attracts lots of waterbirds. VicRoads Map 21 B5/C5.

Lake Elizabeth Lake Elizabeth is a 94 hectare semi-permanent saline

wetland that relies upon environmental water releases. It

is to be filled once every three years and water is likely to

be retained for at least 18 months before the lake is

allowed to dry out completely. A small fish, Murray

Hardyhead, once lived in this lake. If Murray Hardyhead is

translocated into this lake, then it will be kept filled. Lake

Elizabeth is located north-west of Kerang and north-west

of Wandella Forest. Access to the lake from the Kerang-

Quambatook Road is via Radcliffe and McCurdy roads.

VicRoads Map 20 F5

Lake Murphy Lake Murphy is located about 10km south of

Kerang between Boort-Kerang Road (B266)

and Lake Murphy Road. That part of the lake

visible from Lake Murphy Road (VicRoads

Map 20 F6) is Little Lake Murphy. Further

west is a larger section of the lake. Lake

Murphy is one big lake or two lakes

depending on the water level. When Lake

Murphy contains water, check out both

sections: because some birds prefer deeper

water than others, different water birds

might be feeding in different parts of the

lake. Sometimes Freckled Duck, Ruff,

Brolga, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Red-capped Dotterel are sometimes seen here.

The reserve is 223 hectares in size. Black

Box is the dominant tree that surrounds the

lake. To provide habitat for birds, much revegetation work is desirable.

Although Lake Murphy is occasionally filled

with floodwater, it relies largely on

environmental water releases. Authorities

plan to fill the lake in Spring once every few

years, topping up in order to allow water

birds to breed successfully, and then allow

the lake to completely dry out.!

Top (Third)

Marsh!

Lake Cullen!

First Marsh!

Duck Lake!

Lake

Elizabeth!

Wandella

Flora & Fauna

Reserve!

Reedy

Lake!

Middle Lake!

Cemetery Swamp!

Stevenson

Swamp!

Lake Charm!

Third Lake!

Foster Swamp!

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Racecourse

Lake!

< Lake Wandella!

Lake Bael Bael!

Yassom Swamp

Flora & Fauna Reserve!

Pelican

< Lake!

Back Swamp!

Town Swamp!

< Loddon River!

< Murray River!

B400!

Lake

Charm!

There are eight actively-managed public wetlands of

international (Ramsar Convention) and/or of regional significance in the Kerang area: Lake Cullen, Hird Swamp1,

Johnson Swamp1, Round Lake, McDonald Swamp, Lake Elizabeth, Lake Murphy and Richardsons Lagoon1. Those

nearest to Kerang are outlined in this guide.

Lake Cullen Wildlife Reserve Lake Cullen is a 629ha semi-permanent saline wetland

located about 20 km north-west of Kerang. It is accessed

from the Murray Valley Highway via Lake Charm-Quambatook Road.

Round Lake Round Lake is located on the western side of Lake Boga

township, alongside the Ultima-Lake Boga Road.

Authorities keep water in Round Lake at all times as it

harbours an endangered fish, Murray Hardyhead.

Waterbirds are always seen on the lake. This is always a

good birding spot. From Kerang, allow a whole day to visit

Round Lake, Tresco West Bushland Reserve and Goschen

Reserve. Located about 18km west of Lake Boga township

at the intersection of Ultima-Lake Boga Road and Donald-

Swan Hill Road, Goschen Reserve is an outstanding birding

spot. Birds often observed here include Blue Bonnet, Black

Honeyeater, woodswallows, Pied Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Budgerigar and Cockatiel.

1 Hird Swamp, Johnson Swamp and Richardsons Lagoon are

featured in our Cohuna-Gunbower birding spot guide.

Avoca

River >!