Ibis and Egrets use these Paperbarks (Melaleuca quinquenervia) for nesting. Ibis build a large stick platform near the water. Egrets build loose twiggy nests higher up in the tree branches, sometimes even right on the top. Another member of the Heron family, Nankeen Night Herons, sometimes nest here too but they are very difficult to spot.
All of the activity has caused the trees to look damaged because the birds pull off twigs to construct their nests and crush leaves as they perch on the branches. Sometimes the trees do not have sufficient time to recover before the next nesting season and they die and fall over. They then provide habitat for other animals.
A planting program is under way to increase the number of nesting tree.
Can you see any Ibis or Egret nests?
Four species of Egret visit HWCA:
Cattle Egrets can be spotted around the Hunter Valley for most of the year. You can spot them hanging around cattle as they grab the insects that the hard hooves of the cattle kick up from the ground as they move around.
Cattle Egrets are of great assistance to farmers because they eat many insect pests.
Towards the end of winter they start to develop orange plumage around their heads. This is their breeding plumage and a signal that it is time to start moving into nesting colonies.
Different species of Egret have different changes for their breeding plumage.
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