Thought I would provide the following information to list members as a
result of the pratincole observations recorded recently at the western
Treatment Plant Werribee.
The old Atlas of Victorian Birds (1987) has the following to say about
Oriental Pratincoles:
'Oriental Pratincoles are summer migrants to Australia from their breeding
grounds in India, China and southeastern Asia. In northern Australia
flocks of hundreds or thousands visit flat plains near water but in
Victoria they occur only as rare vagrants, visiting dry mudflats.'
'During the atlas period there was a record from the western side of Port
Phillip Bay and one from Yallock Creek, Western Port (19 Jan 1974). The
largest group ever recorded in the state was of six birds at te Werribee
sewage farm from 12 to 29 December 1962; this was the first Victorian
record (Aust. Bird Watcher 2: 4-5).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since the Victorian Atlas was published the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife
database now has a total of 17 records for the species. The only
additional locality for the species is the Kerang Lakes in northern
Victioria. The current records for the species may be the first in many
years, as I have not heard of any others.
Maybe Mike Carter or Clive Minton has heard of some??
cheers, Martin
ps. Would all observers please send their records of the species to the
Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (123 Brown St. Heidelberg 3084)
Details required are: Observer/s, address, date, detailed locality
information (GPS or map+grid), all speciers observed.
Martin O'Brien
Department of Sustainability and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde., East Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9412 4567 Fax: 9412 4586
(prefixes: Interstate 03 International 613)
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