Just in time for World Wetland Day 2022, I’ve finally finished processing all the photos from our trip to the Victorian Mallee last spring. We spent nearly two weeks at Hattah-Kulkyne NP in late September, bookended by a few nights at Little Desert NP.
Wednesday 2nd February 2022 is World Wetlands Day (and is the “deadline” I needed to finally get this post up). One of the unique parts of Hattah-Kulkyne is the contrast between the (semi-)arid Mallee habitat and the lakes and associated wetlands. When we were there early in 2021, the lakes were all empty (a natural part of the flood-drought cycle), but this time the lakes had filled over winter. And what a difference a bit of water makes!
As it was a bit early in the year to see much herp-wise, we mostly focused on invertebrates and birds. In particular, we were chasing Salticids (jumping spiders), which I’ve gone mad for recently, and the Mallee did not disappoint! All in all it was a fantastic trip, and sitting here in Tübingen I can’t believe it was only three months ago. Long live the wetlands at Hattah, and I hope it’s in just as lush a state when I get to see it next.
