Every year thousands of Austalian Shelduck fly into the Western Treatment Plant during November.
When I grew up, on the river country, they were called “Mountain Ducks”, so as a littleun, I just assumed they must be, as the horse in the The Man from Snowy River, “mountain bred” But it’s highly like that among the thousands, not one has ever been seen in mountain territory.
They congregate to moult out all their flight feathers and for a few weeks are flightless. And pretty helpless. The foxes can ravage the flocks and its not unusal to see a dozen or more carcasses by the roadside on a trip through the plant.
Once they have gained a new set of flight feathers they then begin to fuel up for the next part of their journey.
We stopped on Twentynine Mile Road to have a look at a great number of them feeding.
And for bonus points a pair of Brolga landed and walked through the flocks.
With a few wing flaps and some head shaking they seemed to clear a path between the ducks, until in the end, perhaps tired of that game, they took to wing and headed further down the Plant.
The ducks just continued sitting, enjoying the sunshine.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST 
This looks amazing, David. I’ve had no idea about this yearly event in the life of Shelducks. Possibly I’ve never been to WTP at that time and I only see one or two, occasionally, in Braeside. The presence of Brolgas makes your story even more spectacular. Thanks for sharing!
Adam
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Hi Adam, yes its a bit unusual for us to see them in such numbers in other places, although I know there is a pondage near Canberra where they also moult out.
I’ve no idea what, or where they go for the rest of the season.
I think there is now around 10 or more Brolga and we did meet a pair with a well advanced Juvenile the other day as well. Will put that on Flickr I guess.
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Fantastic scene indeed and I am not aware of this either. Thanks so much for sharing. Jeremy
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It is amazing when they all arrive for their stayover.
A terrific series of images, David.
Wonderful to have the Brolgas pass through too!
Dave N
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Hi David, Once they all get airborne they have quite the chorus as they travel.
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I’m going tomorrow and looking forward to it very much! Lovely images David.
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Hope the day is a bit better than the start of today.
Worth checking the ponds along Austin Road if you have time. Brolga were in there.
There was also a lone Sacred Ibis, which is highly unusual just to find the one.
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Thanks for the tip! Yes, as the rain sloshed down this morning I was glad we had agreed to go tomorrow rather than today.
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We had a bus trip arranged for a tour of the Cheetham Saltworks, but because the wetlands were too wet to negotiate, (the rule of its it’s flooded, don’t drive applies), we managed to stay home and watch the rain pelt down.
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Wonderful captures David. What a treat to see so many Shelducks in one place. We hardly ever see them. How lovely that a Brolga pair came into the picture. We always love the flight shots of the Brolga pair flying off. My first photo of this was from a boat out on Willies Pearl Farm in Broome, I snapped it as they both flew over. Have a great week.
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