Steve Clark asks about Cape Barren Gese apparently 'overwintering' on the
mainland in Victoria.
I've just checked the Atlas of Victorian Birds (1987) and HANZAB Vol. 1B on
the species.
The HANZAB states (under Distribution and Population, p. 1196)
'Breeding on mainland following releases, but in places where (the species)
occur naturally, wild birds may have joined colonies eg. Colac region;
recent nesting on grassy islands in brackish lake'
and from the Vict. Bird Atlas (p. 69)
'The concentrations in western Victoria originate partly in South
Australia. There is aslo a small feral population that breeds o and near
where the original stock was released at the Tower Hill State Game Researve
near Warrnambool.'
It appears that some of the population stays on the mainland and indeed
breeds here.
The most recent observations I've had of the species in victoria were in
the last 12 months.
- on French Island where a pair bred and hatched 4-5 goslings, and
- near Cressy where a pair nested on hay bails near a dam on private
property (nest failed due to fox predation).
cheers
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer, Scientific Advisory Committee
Department of Sustainability and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde. (PO Box 500), East Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9412 4567 Fax: 9412 4586
(prefixes: Interstate 03 International 613)
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