Pollinators workshop 21 Oct
Interested in being a citizen scientist? Come along to our pollinators workshop and learn to identify insect pollinators then put your knowledge into action at our spring ‘pollinator observatories’ at Westgate Park. This is the sixth in this series of these events that are…
Sept 2018 bird survey
The first Black-winged Stilts have appeared after their winter absence on the edge of the drainage basin above the south-east corner of the Saltwater Lake. Lots of male superb Fairy-wrens are now in their breeding plumage. By Andrew McCutcheon & Rob Youl, 3 Sept 2018 Weather: mostly…
Threatened species day 7/9
We propagate and grow plants that are rare and threatened and so far most are doing well at Westgate Park. As Melbourne grew and parks were planted with lawn and European tree species, inner Melbourne lost its bushland and with it numerous beautiful plants…
Planning News runs Park story
The history and future of Westgate Park was featured in the August edition of the Planning Institute of Australia, Vic Division, newsletter. As usual, this was a joint effort so thanks to Lecki and Janet for input. Lyn
Luis Mata on pollinators, ABC RN
Hear Luis talking about pollinator insects in the City of Melbourne, the pollinator observatories at Westgate Park, the import role insects play in supporting healthy parklands and why understorey plants are necessary to foster this. ABC Radio National Blueprint for Living, Saturday 18 August…
Monarch visits
The Wanderer – Danaus plexippus or Monarch, shown here on Pimelea sp. – Rice Flower, is an uncommon and somewhat puzzling visitor to Victoria. According to Museum Victoria’s Butterflies: Identification and Life History: Populations are temporary in Victoria and migrating adults recolonise Victoria annually. Two…
Pollinators workshop
At our winter workshop participants learned to identify several insect pollinators, including native and non-native bees and butterflies. We then visited the pollinator observatories to make observations of plant-insect interactions. This was the fifth in this series of workshops and each time we have…
George’s blog
Having planted many thousand plants a year for 18 years through all types of weather conditions, I am building up a lot of knowledge about what survives and what doesn’t. Influencing factors include soil moisture (too dry or too wet), attack by rabbits, possums,…
What a way to mark World Environment Day!
On 5 June, 127 volunteers in three teams joined our Bili Landcare crew of 15 to plant, mulch and clean up the River bank at Westgate Park. Community Volunteers Australia arranged for 96 enthusiastic workers from Aon, Origin, FujiXerox, Energy Australia, Bridgestone, BASF and…
May 2018 bird survey
Diving feeders – Hardheads, Australasian Grebes and Hoary-headed Grebes – in better than average numbers suggest aquatic invertebrates and other small prey are plentiful in Freshwater Lake. With levels of both main lakes remaining fairly high, conditions are good for supporting birds. Visiting nectar feeders,…