Over the last year Banyule council have strengthened the protection
afforded to the local wetland (in the northern suburbs of Melbourne) by
fencing off areas. They have also followed a suggestion (apparently due to
Fred Smith) to flood a large low grassy area by sealing a creek which would
otherwise drain the area. The results seem encouraging.
I haven't birded here for a few months but this morning saw what I think
are results of these conservation efforts: Bailon's crake (5) at various
points around the now enlarged area, spotless crake (1), black-fronted
dotteral (8), black-winged stilts (4) and most common urban ducks
(including hardhead)and other waterfowl.
I have not seen Bailon's or spotless crakes at this location before
(although I have seen spotted crakes and both Lewin's and the buff-banded
rail). Interestingly there were also sharp-tailed sandpipers (4) on the
muddy perimeter of the billabong this morning. I can't remember seeing
these here before either. They were foraging in mud with starlings!
A second pair of frogmouths with two near fully fledged chicks are resident
in a eucalypt by the main carpark. The long-time resident pair near the
bridge remain with chicks.
There are plenty of negative habitat destruction stories around -- the
Banyule story seems positive.
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