Probable/possible White-morph Eastern Reef Egret at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, VIC

Some further Victorian distribution information on Eastern Reef Egret (ERE) from Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (AVW) data.

The AVW currently has 35 records of ERE for the state.
- more than half of these records are from far East Gippsland, mainly around Mallacoota but including Gabo Island
- the few records from west of Melbourne have all been from near Portland and these are between 30 and 50 years ago
- as indicated by Richard Nowotny there are currently no records of ERE from Port Phillip Bay or the coasts near Melbourne and in fact 
- it's only from the tip of Wilsons Promontory (June 1976) and near Portland (1935, 1957 & 1958) that the species has ever been reported outside of far East Gippsland
- the last record of ERE in Victoria was from Mallacoota on 4 January 2001

If the egret at the Western Treatment Plant is finally identified as an Eastern Reef Egret it is important the information be fully reported to the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife.

cheers

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