Something I received from Raoul Mulder who is conducting research on black
swans at Albert Park. Melburnian bird watchers may be familiar with the birds
with their numbered black & white neck collars. He has specifically requested
any birders who see one of these birds over the Grand Prix weekend to report
sightings, as they would like to know what impacts the race has on the birds.
So if you see a black swan with a neck collar anywhere this weekend, please
take a not of the place, time and if possible collar number, and get a message
to him.
I once emailed him collar numbers for 3 birds seen at Edithvale wetlands, and
received a long reply with the birds' whole life history...
Ross Macfarlane
===================================================
Dear swan enthusiast,
I'm writing to let you know about the outcome of our swan logo competition, and
to ask for your help in monitoring your local area for tagged swans during the
next four days of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.
First, the design competition. Thank you to everyone for their very generous
and insightful feedback on the designs. The overwhelming favourite was Raja
Boglie's design of a flying swan, which has duly been crowned winner and which
will grace the upcoming website. I've attached a copy of the design.
My second purpose for contacting you is to ask for your helping in monitoring
the suburbs of Melbourne for tagged (collared) swans from the Albert Park
population during the Grand Prix, which starts tomorrow (Thursday 24 March) and
finishes on Sunday (27 March).
This year for the first time, we have been given the opportunity to conduct a
research program with the aim of understanding whether and how the event
affects the swans at Albert Park Lake. The Grand Prix Corporation has given us
permission to access the park during the event so that we can count the birds
and measure their behaviour.
Since this is the first time we have had this opportunity, we don't have a good
idea of whether the birds will leave during the event, and if they do, where
they might turn up. This is where you can help. I'd be hugely grateful if you
could keep an eye on your local area and get in touch with me if you see any
collared swans appearing there during the next few days. It would be
tremendously interesting to be able to link birds that leave the park to their
destination elsewhere in Melbourne, and learn a little more about how long they
stay away.
Many thanks and best wishes,
Raoul
___________________________________
Raoul Mulder
Associate Professor and Reader
Department of Zoology
University of Melbourne
VIC 3010
tel. +61 3 8344 6245
email:
skype: raoul.roaming
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