Microbat survey – Sunday 31 May 4-6pm
This is a citizen science project monitoring microbats in Westgate Park to see if nest boxes are encouraging microbats to breed in the Park. Firstly we inspect the nest boxes using extension poles and ‘ferret’ cameras and at sunset we use echo meter recorders to detect bats feeding in flight over the freshwater lake.
We meet at the BBQ shelter a short distance into the park from the main car park on Todd Road’ It’s an easy walk and usually a fun evening. We have a good mix of attendees with different skills and interests and we always learn something new like observing the native Rakali swimming across the lake to the island.
We suggest that you:
- Wear long pants and use mosquito repellant
- Come in sturdy closed shoes or boots as there is long grass and snakes live in the park.
- Bring a warm jacket now that it is getting cool after sunset
To RSVP, please leave a text message and your name on 0418 121 923. There is no public transport close to the park on Sundays but we may be able to assist if you let us know in advance.
Propagation – pricking out and making cuttings
Making cuttings
Cuttings are useful for plants that have soft to firm stems and grow quickly
- Take a 10 – 20cm long cut from the top, cutting on an angle
- Cut the leaves off for the bottom 2/3rds of the cutting, making sure the last cut is just below the ‘node’ – above where the last leaf was.
- Cut in half any big leaves and remove any flowers or pods
- Make a hole in the pot about 3cm deep using a chopstick
- Lightly dip the cut end into the cutting powder and tap off excess
- Press the cutting about halfway into the soil.
- Lightly press the soil down around the pot.
- Water gently and leave in a shaded, preferably warm environment, keeping the soil damp
Pricking out
These tiny plants need to be carefully handled. Their roots have formed and they are ready to go into a small ‘tube’.
- Fill the tube with potting mix to about 2cm from the top and gently knock it down on the table
- Make a centre hole halfway down the pot, using a dibber
- Use the dibber to gently lift up the seedling
- Use tweezers to gently grasp the seedling about halfway down and lower it into the hole so the root drops down straight. The leaves should be about 1cm above the surface
- Lightly press down the soil around the plant without damaging it
- Use a fine spray to wet the pot
- Water gently and leave in a shaded, warm environment, keeping the soil damp
When new growth appears, gradually place pots in the sun. Make sure the soil is always damp but not wet. These will be ready to plant when fine roots appear through the holes in the bottom of the pot.
7 Apr bird survey
There has been very little rain over the last two months. However, both major lakes are low, but nowhere near the extremes experienced earlier this century when there was a ford linking the island to the mainland in the freshwater lake. The Salt Lake is brown in colour rather than the usual pink and has a considerable amount of what appears to be blue-green algae along the eastern shoreline. Chestnut Teal were feeding on this alga, sipping it from the surface.
Pied Stilts have apparently left the park for now, but overall waterbird numbers, especially Chestnut Teal have increased somewhat. The team was pleased to spot a female Musk Duck, possibly the same bird that has been in the park for two years or so. Welcome Swallows appeared more abundant, and there were several small groups of Grey Fantails. Brown Thornbills and Red-browed Finches are almost always recorded these days, and the two female Golden Whistlers also indicate the quality of habitat in the park. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters have returned for the cooler seasons.
The mistletoe introduction program has been successful across the park, but some will be lost due to their host trees (mostly acacias) dying in abnormally dry conditions.
Bat boxes are gradually being occupied, with two bat species recorded in recent months by the regular survey team formed specifically for that purpose. They are Gould’s Wattled Bat and Little Forest Bat. Noisy Miner numbers in the park were higher than usual but mostly restricted along the edge of Todd Road and in and around the CFMEU Headquarters.
Keen to improve your plant and fungi ID?
Search our field guide for Westgate Park on your iPhone for the ‘PLANTS & FUNGI WESTGATE PARK APP’.
This app will help you identify many of the plants and fungi in the park and around Melbourne and the regions of Victoria. The app includes the name, description and photos.
More trees, fewer roads!
A CSIRO report shows how important insectivorous bats are, their crucial role in ecosystems and the benefits to human society. We now know microbats are using Melbourne’s open green spaces.
To encourage the diversity and activity of insectivorous bats in urban landscapes, we recommend retaining and increasing indigenous vegetation surrounding open areas in urban parks, as well as more strategic planning of new urban parks that further increases tree density in cities.
Yet another good reason to grow and plant more indigenous plant species! See here for the report:
If you would like to join us for a microbat discovery tour, here are the details:
6pm 29 March at the BBQ shelter near the main carpark on Todd Road, Port Melbourne.
Let us know you are coming: contact@westgatebiodiversity.org.au.
2 Mar bird survey
After a couple of hot and drier months than usual, the levels of the two larger water bodies are the lowest they have been since early 2020, but not as low as over a decade ago. Despite the dropping levels more waterbirds are visiting Westgate Park, possibly because other wetlands elsewhere in central and western Victoria are becoming totally dry. Increasing numbers of birds include Pied Stilts and Black-fronted Dotterels around the edge of the saltwater lake, and unusually high numbers of Hoary-headed Grebes, Hardheads and Eurasian Coots plus Australian Pelicans on the freshwater lake.
Interestingly, whilst last month we observed many Superb Fairy Wrens in blue plumage, this month there were almost none, although many were observed with eclipse plumage. Changing back early to eclipse plumage is a sign of stress for the wrens, no doubt due to the extremely dry conditions in the park and elsewhere, resulting in less available food.
Almost no additional species were recorded on eBird for February that were not encountered during today’s bird survey. But there were 3 notable exceptions, a juvenile Sacred Kingfisher, male Australasian Shoveler and a Brown Goshawk all seen and photographed by our regular photographer, Ursula.
Working with Ausbats
The Australian Bat Society is now helping us promote our microbat project. The next monitoring is on 29 March 7pm to 9pm. We will meet at the BBQ shelter, check what’s in the microbat boxes and try to identify the species when in flight using our echo locators.
There is growing interest in the important role microbats play in nature and we are keen to welcome people new to the experience.
9 Feb bird survey
Two raptors were seen over the park today, but could not be identified. Based on a recent sighting (7/2) reported on eBird it’s possible they were either a Brown Goshawk and/or an Australian Hobby. This survey was remarkable for the very low numbers of Silver Gulls observed within and over the park.
Several water bird species have been breeding in the park over the last few months and are continuing to raise their chicks. They include Chestnut Teal, Purple Swamphens and Pied Stilts. A pair of Hoary-headed Grebes are constructing a nest, but are yet to lay eggs.
The continuing dry weather has evaporated water from both major lakes, with the saltwater lake starting to turn pink – a development now obvious to travelers on Westgate Bridge.
The series of fires lit by vandals during the last months of 2024 has had distressing effects. Most were in densely vegetated corners of the park. However, many plants have since recovered through root suckers or epicormic (canopy and trunk) shoots.
Apparently large numbers of bats roosted under the roof of the HWT works. The bat survey group at Westgate Park reports that since it was recently demolished, only one bat has been observed in the park.
Westgate Park cleanup 2 March
ACF Community Macnamara is teaming up with Westgate Biodiversity and Tangaroa Blue Foundation for a big clean-up event at the beautiful Westgate Park, Port Melbourne – 10.45 am Sunday 2nd March.
We are holding this event along the narrow strip of Westgate Park which runs alongside the Birrarung (Yarra River). Revegetated and maintained over decades by volunteers, the park is an inspiring example of how a healthy ecosystem can be recreated within an urban environment. However, this location is a real magnet for litter!
Bring your family and friends if you wish or just come along to chat with other like-minded people!
At our clean-up event, we will document the marine debris and litter removed from the park in the Australian Marine Debris Initiative database which is a repository for data which (after quality review) is then used to identify litter and marine debris type and items, potential release sources, improve awareness and understanding of the impacts of litter and marine debris and to develop source reduction plans and interventions to stop litter at the source.
Here’s the program:
10:45 – 11:00 am (sharp) Registration
11:00 am-11:15 pm Introduction to the volunteer activities & safety briefing
11:15 am-12:45 pm Clean up
12:45 pm – 1:00 pm Celebrate our impact, and pack down.
Address: Westgate Park, Corner Lorimer Street & Sardine Street, Port Melbourne
Google Maps GPS coordinates: 37°49’49.0″S 144°54’00.5″E
What to Bring
A hat, sunscreen, jacket, reusable water bottle, enclosed shoes, gloves (extra gloves will be available). Some fruit and water refills will be available. Feel free to bring some snacks to get you through the event.
We look forward to seeing you!
ACF Community Macnamara, Westgate Biodiversity and Tangaroa Blue Foundation.
ACF Community Macnamara is part of a network of independently organised, volunteer-run groups in the ACF community. ACF will pass on your contact details to the host for the purpose of running the event.