The annual COG boat trip yesterday up Molonglo Reach found only 3 Darter
nests with very young chicks, and a further 3 where advanced chicks were either
on or near the nest. A Great Cormorant nest with 3 young was the only
other nest seen. This is the lowest I can remember. On the other
hand many juveniles were seen, confirming the intelligence I had received
beforehand that in this cooler wetter year season nesting has been much earlier
than it has been in the preceding hotter drier years.
Has anyone recently checked the situation on the eastern side of Black
Mountain, including the peninsula. I understand the breeding colony of
mainly Little Black Cormorants near the mouth of Sullivan’s Creek has not
eventuated this year, but that there is/has been some breeding closer to the
peninsula, as indicated yesterday by the boat skipper, and by Martin Butterfield
in a chat line posting of 7 February.
Jack Holland
