Magpie Geese at Lake Elingamite (Vict.)

A late report from my regional colleagues in western Victoria.

Recent waterbird counts done for Lake Elingamite near Cobden (west of Colac) indicate that about 250 Magpie Geese were on the lake until recently.  This is a large gathering of a threatened waterbird for Victoria.

Lake Elingamite is a semi-regularly used site for these waterbirds in Victoria, with 550 birds being recorded there in 1995 and 300 in 1996.  Apparently the geese have now moved off this wetland and haven't been further reported.

Magpie Goose are a threatened species in Victoria and extant populations are thought to be largely the result of re-introduction schemes carried out in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

If any birdos are out in the Western District in the coming weeks, be sure to keep an eye out for aggregations of Magpie Goose and forward your observations to the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife  or myself if you prefer.

cheers

Martin O'Brien
Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St. (PO Box 500), East Melbourne  3002

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