Banded Stilts on the Natimuk-Douglas wetlands - Nov 96 update

["Richard Alcorn" <>]

Our regular monthly count on 17 November totalled in excess of 46,000
Banded Stilts, with most birds on Mitre Lake, Heard Lake, Centre Lake
and White Lake.  Water levels are still fairly high, so we expect
good numbers to remain in the area for a month or so yet, although
they may move between lakes.  Several hundred Red- necked Avocets are
also amongst the stilts. Good numbers of Australian Shelduck and
Black Swan are also present.  Other birds now on the salt lakes
include Black-winged Stilts, Red-capped Plovers, Red- necked Stints,
Marsh Sandpipers and Hoary-headed Grebes.

Refer to the article in the September 1995 issue of Wingspan for 
directions if you are interested in visiting these lakes.  All dry-
weather roads are passable now.


Richard Alcorn