I adore watching these little birds and was staggered to realise that I haven’t featured them in a post of their own. They deserve nothing less!
I saw this bird recently in the Little Desert and love the way the photograph looks as though I’ve made it sepia. I haven’t done anything with the colour, this is a full colour shot.
If you look closely you’ll notice its stunning feathers but you might also spot that its bill is slightly twisted at the end. I watched it foraging for some time and it didn’t seem hindered at all. A few years ago I read a detailed UK study on birds with bill damage, some of the damage was significant, yet they still managed to adapt and survive.
A few moments later the bird moved higher into the tree, the light was different and the background was the greens of the surrounding leaves rather than the browns of the ground.
It was so agile and strong, supporting its body-weight hanging from the side of the tree while preening.
The lighting makes a huge difference to photographs. Females have more rufous on their feathers than the males.
Despite the first four photographs showing Brown Treecreepers hanging onto the side of a tree, I generally see them foraging on the ground or on fallen trunks and branches. This species has recently been listed as Vulnerable in south-east Australia.
If anyone is following the Battle with Boral that has the potential to seriously impact the habitat for local birds and other wildlife, you might like to check A Current Affair, Channel 9, 12 March 2026. I was one of several people interviewed (mine was very brief, and the star of the show was the local primary school captain), with 400 locals turning up at short notice. ACA did a brilliant segment.
Happy birding, Kim
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What gorgeous birds! I love how your images capture the detail of their belly feathers which I have never seen close up. Beautiful.
I love the look of their belly feathers too! So pretty!
As Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Bridget Vallance, Liberal MP, Member for Evelyn (03) 9651 8911 email: Bridget.Vallence@parliament.vic.gov.au
Daniela De Martino, Labor MP, Member for Monbulk, (03) 9754 5401 email:daniela.demartino@parliament.vic.gov.au
These politicians need to be inundated with phone calls and emails and the voters need to demand that they answer questions publicly re this appalling expansion of Boral which will not only seriously impact the habitat for precious local birds and other wildlife but, as stated so eloquently by 12 year old Billanook Primary School Captain, Hannah, they have their school buildings rattle and shake from constant explosions and the school is constantly covered in dust and particles and as we all know this can cause major respiratory problems for anyone and everyone living, playing, working and going to school.
Congratulations to every wildlife warrior for having this fight profiled on ACA. Hit the radio stations and podcasts Ben Fordham, 2GB, 131 873 and Tom Elliott, 3AW, 133 693 and keep fighting. Politicians do not like issues out in the open, being exposed, discussed, debated and challenged.
An election is looming and politicians only react to votes and the potential loss of their seat. Citizens must always remember we pay their wages and they are there to serve the people and not to increase Boral’s profits (in 2023 revenue for this company was $3.23 BILLION).
That gorgeous little Brown Treecreeper with his funny little beak has obviously survived his challenges and still fights for another day and never gives up.
Power to the people and peace to the world, a world which is safe, healthy and happy for our children and grandchildren and their children and grandchildren.
We fought and won before Barbara and are very keen to repeat the outcome and for the quarry to close as it promised it would years ago. As for Boral’s comment at the end of the segment about the dust not being a serious risk – it made me furious to hear that. A young mum working at the site has been diagnosed with silicosis. Her office was 90 metres from the pit, there are people’s properties 55 metres from the pit. And the impact on wildlife would be devastating. Sonya Kilkenny is a must on the email list too! Thank you for caring, Kim
We often take our caravan and camp on a friends farm that shares a border with the Barmah National Park near Bearii . He has a large billabong formed by a seasonal creek flowing in and out of the forest . It attracts a lot of birdlife . One of the great joys is sitting with a cuppa listening to the dawn chorus while tree creepers flit about your feet . Living so close to the farmhouse , they are quite socialized and often dart under our camp chairs . Beautiful birds . Cheers . Paul Huckett
Oh Paul, that sounds seriously blissful! I’ve never been to Barmah National Park but am scheduled to be presenting at the VAPS convention in Moama so will try to zoom up to the southern end of the park if I get the chance.