Hugo neglected to point out that permits are required to enter both the
Werribee Treatment Plant and Swan Island/Sand Island.
There has been earlier discussion on this list about how to obtain a permit
for the Treatment Plant (phone 03 9742 9209 but give plenty of notice).
Note that these permits allow entry to the Treatment Plant only and not to
the adjacent Spit State Nature Reserve which is off limits to provide a
refuge area for OBPs, shorebirds and waterfowl. If you want to visit The
Spit then your best chance is to participate in either an OBP count
organised by the OBP Recovery Team (through Jon Starks at Birds Australia)
or join a Vic Wader Study Group outing to catch and band shorebirds.
Swan Island is Commonwealth land managed by the Dept of Defence. The
Queenscliff Golf Club leases part of Swan Island and OBPs can often be seen
on the fairways and in adjacent saltmarsh between August and October.
Access to Swan Island is strictly contolled by Defence - you must pass
through a checkpoint and have a bona fide reason for entering. Defence are
in the process of upgrading their security and the local Commander has
advised me that the permit system will be strictly enforced.
To gain access for birdwatching purposes you will require a permit obtained
from the Dept of Natural Resources and Environment at Geelong (ph (03) 5226
4667). Conditions on that permit include giving 2 days notice to D of
Defence prior to visiting. The permit is also required for the adjacent
Sand Island.
Sorry to be the purveyor of all this bureaucratic bad news but I thought I
might be able to prevent a very frustrating experience for somebody not
fully informed.
Peter Menkhorst
Flora and Fauna Program
Dept of Natural Resources and Environment
on 19/03/98 10:38:21 AM
To:
cc: (bcc: Peter Menkhorst/NRE)
Subject: Re: OBP Counts
Russell -
At 17:45 18/03/1998 +1000, you wrote:
>Someone on the list has asked about seeing OBPs. Can anyone please tell
>us when the next OBP Counts are on around Melbourne-Geelong?
>Is Swan Isl still the easiest place to find them? Where else would people
>suggest?
Hugo -
Jon says Swan Island is probably the easiest place to see OBPs, but not
until late July and August when the Sclerostegia is seeding. Early in the
OBP season (and they are due to begin arriving on the Victorian coast
within
a week or two, with an early bird already seen on French Island) you are
more likely to see them at the Werribee Sewage Farm (but not necessarily
easily or predictably). Keep in mind that they are sensitive to
disturbance.
Cheers, Hugo.
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