THE JABIRU GENEEBEINGA WETLANDS
Casino High School is a very short walk from the Jabiru Geneebeinga Wetlands. The Wetlands is a sanctuary for native birds and wildlife which is next to the Casino Golf Course, and has a miniature railway track running past it. Richmond Park is adjacent to the Wetlands, and provides picnic facilities.
All our year 10 students visit the Wetlands as part of their Science studies for the Water Quality unit. Students take water samples and perform the Streamwatch tests for dissolved oxygen, nitrates, faecal coliform, turbidity and total dissolved solids, temperature, pH and phosphorus. They also collect and identify "water bugs" which helps them to assess the water quality and establish whether the water is polluted.
A pair of Jabiru visit the Wetlands to nest every year. These large birds are now officially known as Black-necked Storks, and are Australia's only native Stork. Statues of a Jabiru and Pelican are featured on the signpost to the Wetlands, which has an Aboriginal theme.
Jabiru are large water birds which inhabit Northern and Eastern Australia, particularly swamps, lagoons, saltwater creeks and tidal flats. The birds are about five feet tall, with a wingspan of six and a half to seven feet. They have a white body with a dark iridescent blue-green neck and head, and brown wings, green tail and red legs. A female Jabiru has distinctive yellow eyes, and the male has dark brown to black eyes. The birds build a huge stick nest, often in the top of a tall tree overlooking the surrounding wetlands where they feed. They eat rodents, fish, small reptiles and birds.
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