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Shirley Cameron mentioned she 'met a fellow who had
seen a Northern Pintail on Lake Borrie'.
I checked with Bob Swindley who is currently in the
process of counting all the waterfowl at the Werribee Sewage
Farm, -- individually, well almost. It takes him four days. It will be completed
today with counts of Black Duck and the two Teal!
He has not seen a Northern
Pintail but reports a hybrid or farm-yard type
duck superficially similar to that species on Lake Borrie. Furthermore,
it is said to be confiding.
His count of Blue-billed Ducks was
11,500! We had over 500 at the Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) on Sunday. A recent
estimate suggested the world population was only 12,000! I realise that as a
result of the drought they are more concentrated, but as none would be from WA
and I know there are others elsewhere in the eastern states, that number should
be revised. They're not all on Melbourne Water's Sewage
Farms!
Bob also reports over 500 Freckled
Duck, whereas we, the poor relatives on the eastern side of Port
Phillip Bay, were pleased with the 9 we had at Edithvale North on Saturday.
Bobs task was somewhat eased by the recent
rain as this prompted some ducks to depart. For instance, Pink-eared
Ducks were down from their summer peak of 45,000!
Yes, the WTP is an impressive place, but at the
moment, there are no Northern Pintails there.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mt
Eliza VIC 3930
Ph: (03) 9787
7136
Email:
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