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Hi All,
Went to the Maurice Hamer part of Herdsman Lake
(Perth) on 21 Feb and located 17 Freckled Ducks resting in their usual
locations of a water based paperbark and near a short walkway into the
lake.
At least four of the birds were males
in breeding plumage as they had the bright red base to their
bill.
Disappointingly at the Floreat Waters part of the
lake a dredging barge was being commissioned for action. The past few years it
has not been used and was colonised by over 50 Great Cormorants as an artificial
but highly successful breeding platform. To my knowledge this is the only
significant breeding colony around Perth so it will be interesting to see where
they attempt to breed in a couple of months time as they usually commence to
breed in April.
Prior to the barge they use to nest at Booragoon
Lake, but this lake, like numerous others, is now completely dry from mid
summer to late autumn.It appears the combination of less rain, unregulated and
free access to underground water and other factors are to blame for our coastal
lakes now drying up during summer/autumn.
Best Regards
Wynton Maddeford
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