Hi all,
Michael Ramsey's observation of a Magpie Goose at Docker Swamp south of Wangaratta is an interesting sighting. I also recorded the species at this location back in the 1990s while undertaking wetland survey and mapping of northern Victoria.
At the time we suspected the bird to be a 'release' of a free-flying bird from the Kyabram Fauna Park which is west of Shepparton (as noted by Bob Dawson). The park had a flock of Magpie Geese at the time.
Magpie Geese are now mainly birds of southern Victoria. In Victoria the Magpie Goose underwent a substantial decline following European colonisation of the state (it probably went extinct). Although Magpie Geese have returned in small numbers to parts of their former Victorian range, the species still remains absent from most areas where it was historically abundant in Victoria. It tends now to be mainly recorded from sw Victoria (eg. Lake Elingamite near Colac).
Magpie Geese are recognised as a threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (more information available upon request) and all sightings should be formally recorded and forwarded to the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (AVW, .
Should the species return to some of its former range we need to keep track of sightings and movements of birds.
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St. (PO Box 500), East Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9637 9869
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