3 August bird survey

Recent rains have raised levels in the major water bodies, and with the Little Ravens carrying nesting material, the brood of eight young Pacific Black Ducks after displaying mating behaviour, and a White-browed Scrubwren with a bill full of insects, possibly returning to feed young in a nest suggests breeding in the park is well under way.

The most significant sightings for July in the park were a Southern Boobook, two visits by a single Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, and very brief glimpses of a Buff-banded Rail and Little Grasbird both of which evaded Ursula’s camera.

The number of male Superb Fairy Wrens moulting from brown to blue plumage has increased dramatically over the last few weeks – 57 were counted with 9 blues on the 6 July survey, and today 44 were counted with 19 blues. Moulting was noted by two other completely unrelated species, Black Swan and White-browed Scrubwren, with the former being rendered flightless and the latter just not looking its best.

The park looks attractive, thanks to the Westgate Biodiversity – Bili Nursery volunteers and the Melbourne City Council-SERCO team. The several localities damaged by arsonists are slowly recovering. Numbers of Common Mynahs appear to be declining in the park.