What’s secretive, pretends to be a just a stick, and is sometimes mistaken for a mythical creature?
The figure at the center of this intriguing question is the Australasian bittern, a bird that’s making a notable comeback in Tasmania after a four-decade absence.
The bittern vanished from northern Tasmania following a hydropower project in 1964 that significantly altered the Lagoon of Islands, a unique wetland ecosystem. The project raised water levels, flooded the islands, and destroyed the prime habitat of the bird. However, the removal of the dams in 2012 marked a turning point, setting the stage for the bittern’s return and the recovery of the local environment.
Known for its “eerie deep hoot,” which has been likened to the call of the mythical Bunyip—a man-eating swamp creature from Aboriginal mythology—the bittern holds a mysterious allure. The Bunyip is described variably as resembling a seal or swimming dog, or as a creature with a long neck and small head, both forms alleged to prey on humans.
Unlike the Bunyip, the bittern is very real. Its nocturnal and elusive nature, combined with its impressive camouflage, allows it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings. When threatened, this large heron stands motionless with its bill pointed skyward, its striped neck feathers and rough brown plumage making it almost indistinguishable from the reeds.
The bittern’s return to Tasmania was first recorded by citizen scientists in Longford, about 40 kilometers north of Bothwell. These dedicated birders, collaborating with ABC News Australia, captured the bird’s distinctive call, marking the first confirmed presence of the bittern in the region in 40 years. This rediscovery is not just a triumph for local biodiversity but also a testament to the resilience of nature and the importance of habitat restoration.
“It’s probably one of the memories of my life in terms of birding, and I’ve done a lot of birding,” Geoff Shannon, who additionally spotted a pair of bittern chicks through his binoculars said. He’s also a bird expert.
The Lagoon of Islands was once a vibrant wetland ecosystem, characterized by its floating reed mats and numerous small islands. This unique habitat provided an ideal environment for Australasian bitterns to nest, hide, and hunt.
The return of the bitterns to this area signifies more than just the comeback of a single species; it represents the successful restoration of an entire ecosystem. As top predators, bitterns play a crucial role in the food chain. Their presence indicates a healthy and thriving environment, suggesting that all levels of the ecosystem—from the tiniest fish and amphibians to the largest birds—have recovered and are flourishing.
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