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Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot:ÌýAlex Katopodis.ÌýWe depart Griffith and set our GPS to the great Cumbung Swamp, which is a large freshwater marsh at the junction of the Lachlan and lower Murrumbidgee rivers.Ìý

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Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot:ÌýAlex Katopodis.ÌýDeparting Bourke we head to the internationally recognised Macquarie Marshes.

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Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot:ÌýAlex Katopodis.Once again bad weather seems to have followed us and we wake to steady rain.Ìý

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Observers: John Porter & Shannon Dundas Pilot:ÌýAlex Katopodis.ÌýHeading north west out of Sydney our first objective for the day is the Gwydir wetlands near Moree, which include several internationally significant Ramsar wetlands.ÌýÌý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan.ÌýFollowing the apparent pattern we've had on this survey, we got up to fly north from La Trobe airport with low cloud and limited visibility.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan.ÌýWe started early on our way south to Survey Band 2 of the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan. Today was the day for two counts down the Coorong and completing our second count of the two big lakes, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan.ÌýWe got into the plane to take off early from Mildura under leaden skies with light drizzle. Not a good sign.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & John Porter Pilot: Tim Dugan.ÌýWe headed for Albury under oppressive skies. It looked like it was going to be a miserable day of survey.Ìý

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Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis.ÌýLeaving Mildura we make for the Kerang Lakes system south of Swan Hill.Ìý

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Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis.ÌýBad weather again prevents survey work on the 26th forcing a days unplanned stop in Naracoorte.Ìý

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Observers: John Porter & Heath Dunstan Pilot: Alex Katopodis.ÌýOur week does not get off to a good start! A group of low pressure systems swirling over the continent ensure that our planned departure on Monday is delayed.

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Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis.ÌýWe departed Griffith with the ever present cloud cover keeping things interesting, to head westward and complete our surveys between Hay and Griffith

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Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis.ÌýHeavy cloud and rain greeted us the next morning as we fired up the aircraft engine and headed back to Menindee Lakes and Talywalka Creek to complete our surveys.

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Observers: John Porter & Terry Korn Pilot: Alex Katopodis.ÌýThe skies were heavily overcast as we departed Sydney and flew direct to Burrendong Dam, the first wetland in this part of Survey Band 4.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul WainwrightÌýPilot: Tim Dugan.ÌýKnowing we had a long day, we were up early, taking off over the Darling River.ÌýOur first few wetlands were small flooded claypans and a series of farm dams.

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul WainwrightÌýPilot: Tim Dugan.ÌýUp early to head north for a flight over the Strzelecki Desert and its temporary lakes. They were nearly all dry.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul WainwrightÌýPilot: Tim Dugan.ÌýToday we had a short day to catch up. It was a stunning morning surveying some of the best wetlands in eastern Australia.

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul WainwrightÌýPilot: Tim Dugan. The rain finally caught up with us or we caught up with the rain. It poured overnight in Maroochydore and we woke to a leaden sky and rain.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. Once again the weather forecast was grim as the massive low pressure system made its way through a large part of the inland.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We headed out of Rockhampton with some concern about the weather. The front was heading our way.

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We had to get up really early and pack the plane ready for the long day ahead.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. It was hard to get a taxi or food this morning in Mackay – delaying us more than we hoped.Ìý

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Observers: Richard Kingsford & Paul Wainwright Pilot: Tim Dugan. We were in the air by about 8am on our 40^th year of survey. There has been talk of t-shirts!Ìý

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Right before embarking on the 40th Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey, project lead Prof. Richard Kingsford expresses hisÌýexcitement...

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