An Eastern Reef Egret hunting alone on the largest inshore reef in the world, Montgomery Reef. Affectionately known as Monty, the reef is a spectacle of nature, seemingly rising meters out of the water twice daily as the huge Kimberley Tides drop away. At high tide, there can be up to 4m of water over this reef, with it’s entire 400 square kilometer extent hidden, but as the tide drops it rises up, reaching as far again above the water. This phenomenon once supported a whole community - the Yawijibaya people, who lived on the small islands nearby and relied solely on the reef for sustenance. Today, only the wildlife remain, standing watch over this vast expanse. The mass movement of water catches many out, and fish are regularly stranded, providing a tasty morsel. This was the lifeline for the Yawijibaya people, who walked over the reef collecting the unfortunate fish, turtle, dugong and even the occasional whale.
An Eastern Reef Egret hunting alone on the largest inshore reef in the world, Montgomery Reef. Affectionately known as Monty, the reef is a spectacle of nature, seemingly rising meters out of the water twice daily as the huge Kimberley Tides drop away. At high tide, there can be up to 4m of water over this reef, with it’s entire 400 square kilometer extent hidden, but as the tide drops it rises up, reaching as far again above the water. This phenomenon once supported a whole community - the Yawijibaya people, who lived on the small islands nearby and relied solely on the reef for sustenance. Today, only the wildlife remain, standing watch over this vast expanse. The mass movement of water catches many out, and fish are regularly stranded, providing a tasty morsel. This was the lifeline for the Yawijibaya people, who walked over the reef collecting the unfortunate fish, turtle, dugong and even the occasional whale.
