Gouldian Finches are arguably one of the most beautiful finches in the world. They are native to northern Australia but were seldom seen in the Darwin area.
Adult Gouldian Finch at Lee Point Dam, May 2022 – photo by Tobias Akesson
That is until 2022. Thousands of people (about half are interstate visitors) have now seen wild (endangered) Gouldian Finches. Several Australian newspapers published articles on these unexpected sightings, for an early report refer April 2022 – The Daily News. In June 2022, ABC News Darwin and Channel 9 News Darwin reported on the sightings.
Gouldians are a type of grass finch. Grass finches need to be near water and have a diet of grass seeds supplemented by small insects – gouldians rarely eat insects.
Plausible reasons why numbers have increased at Lee Point include: a series of poor wet seasons in the Katherine region (encouraging gouldians to fly north), increasing gouldian population and expansion into other areas; and/or a natural increase at Lee Point. Its very likely that the gouldians are breeding at Lee Point; about half the gouldians seen in 2022 were juveniles.
Most of the sightings have been at the Corridor (called Biodiversity Corridor by City of Darwin) – see map below.
TIMELINE OF SIGHTINGS
2019 Aug-Sept – 10-15 gouldians, majority were juveniles, were seen for several weeks near a water leak at Buffalo Creek Road and resort; Peter Kyne – eBird Aug 2019
2020 – No sightings
2021 May – a few juvenile gouldians were recorded at the Corridor near Lee Point Dam: Trevor Oliver – 30 May 2021
2022 April – some sightings in Casuarina Coastal Reserve between university and beach; Tobias Akesson – 12 April 2022
2022 May – there were four days where 100 or more were recorded (on eBird) – the maximum number seen was estimated to be 150. Some were sighted most days at the Corridor (near the Dam). Megan Moody provided videos/photos from near Lee Point Dam mid-May, some show courting and mating behaviour of these beautiful finches.
2022 June – 50-100 were sighted on most days in the early morning and late afternoon near the Dam.
Two (successful) events organised by Friends of Lee Point in the early morning that attracted over 120 and 100 people respectively. Generally, about 50 people (total of morning and afternoon) visited the Dam site each day during the week with numbers increasing on the weekends.
Young juveniles (3 – 12 weeks old) being fed late June near the Lee Point Dam – video and photo by Tobias Akesson. The fluorescent nodules on their faces help parent birds feed them in the darkened tree hollows that they nest in.
2022 July – Gouldian sightings in the Corridor dropped off in the first week, possibly due to storms and cracker night, but have since returned to June levels. The number of people visiting the site remained similar to June.
Juveniles playing around with nesting material in the Corridor in July
Friends of Lee Point ran two events in the early morning. Both events were surveyed; 180 people in total attended – half were interstate visitors.
2022 August – On 6 Aug, FLP coordinated a gouldian count early morning involving 18 people on (9) known water points in the Corridor and Caravan Park; 120 gouldians were counted, approx half juveniles.
Most of the month; sightings indicated that some of the gouldian population was roosting in the vicinity of Lee Point Caravan Park but feeding in the burnt grass area during the day north of Rapid Ck (5km away from dam); John Gruen – 11 Aug
2022 September
Lee Point Dam/Caravan Park area – up to 100 gouldians seen early morning on 3 Sept, 20 Sept. Gouldians regularly seen (sometimes over 50) after 6pm on eastern fence of caravan park. Over 100 seen late afternoon 23 Sept and 30 Sept. They are still attracted to the sprinklers; 18 Sept
Lee Point eastern dams/disused golf course – early morning, up to 100 gouldians seen 13 Sept and 50 plus on 22 Sept.
North of Rapid Creek – Over 50 gouldians seen around 5.30pm north of Rapid Creek; 9 Sept. Early morning 70 seen on 30 Sept.
Ludmilla – one sighting of up to 100 at the back of Maccas, 6pm 25 Sept.
2022 October
Rain late Sept/early October affected grass seeds and the gouldians are moving around more. It’s uncertain they will stay in Darwin for the wet season. However, they are expected to be in Darwin from April onwards (similar to this year). Visitor numbers have more than halved since June due to weather and other factors.
CCR – 1 Oct 8.30am over 100 seen north of Sandy Ck; 2, 3 Oct morning 80 seen at Dripstone PK: 3 Oct 6pm 30 seen at Rapid Ck bridge; 28 Oct 5pm 30 seen north of Rapid Ck bridge.
Lee Point Dam/Caravan Park area: 3 Oct, 7 Oct after 6pm up to 50 seen.; 9 Oct 1825hrs caravan park 9 seen; 22 Oct north of resort on powerlines, 120 seen; 27 Oct 5.30 pm, 15 seen.
Lee Point eastern dams/disused golf course: first week 15 seen; 14 Oct 0645hrs 12 seen.
2022 November
Apart from one sighting on 1 Nov at Dripstone Cliffs, the gouldians appear to have dispersed with the onset of rain.
2022 December
Gouldian sightings not common, Lee Point Dam – 2 seen on 7 Dec
2023 January – end of April (wet season)
No gouldians seen.
The Top End (includes Katherine) received a higher-than-average rainfall this year which may mean the gouldians will be sighted later in 2023 compared to 2022.
2023 May
No gouldians seen.
2023 June
CCR – north of Rapid Ck, one gouldian seen 10 June . early morning.
Lee Point – one seen 12 June ~8am, two seen Lee Point Dam 14 June ~6pm plus one at 17 June
Lee Point eastern dams/disused golf course – two seen 25 June, one 30 June.
2023 July
Lee Point – one seen 1 July , a couple seen on the eastern dams in the first week. Two seen east of caravan park on 23 July. Two seen near dam 29 July.
2023 August
Lee Point – one red-headed gouldian seen near dam 3 Aug. One or two seen 4 Aug and 5 Aug and 2 seen 16 Aug. Major fires occurred in Corridor 13 Aug and Lee Point golf course 29-30 Aug.
2023 September
Lee Point – major fires last month in the Corridor and golf course have burnt nearly all grass (seeds) causing a substantial drop in finch numbers. One gouldian seen 24 Sept and two (adult and juvenile) seen 29 Sept near Lee Point dam.
2023 October
Lee Point – One adult gouldian was seen on the 22 and 23 Oct in the late afternoon near Lee Point Dam.
2023 November
Lee Point – One adult gouldian was seen on the 4 Nov near Lee Point Dam.
2023 December – February 2024
No gouldians seen. Typically, gouldians are absence from Lee Point in the wet and first sightings happen in April/May.
Lee Point Dam Walk
Many people take this walk (dashed line) to see Gouldian Finches and the many other birds present, either early morning or late afternoon. The latest sightings of all species near this location can be found on ebird
PHOTOS – June 2022 from the Corridor;
The last photo shows a Darter and Egret at the Lee Point Dam