4 May bird survey
Water levels in the main lakes have been dropping steadily, encouraging waders to visit and forage. Whilst the good news was that some 20 mm of very welcome rain fell at the weekend, the weather during the survey was not pleasant. Numbers reflect these wintry conditions.
Nevertheless, the month of April included many interesting observations many of which are seasonal migrants/temporary visitors such as Great Crested Grebe, Grey Fantails, Silvereyes (14 were counted on 15 April) passing through and our overwinter stayers, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters.
Foxes roam the park. A juvenile Black Swan was killed in the last several days. If not already commenced a fox control program is urgently required.
14 April bird survey
Although conditions on the day were poor, water levels were down and in many cases species numbers were low, the overall number of species – 50 – was encouraging. It included three Great Crested Grebes on the Yarra River, and a fleeting glimpse of a Rufous Fantail.
Regarding low numbers, Superb Fairy-wrens are a case in point with a low count last survey and the same prevailing this month. Very few males in blue plumage were observed. Similarly, there were no raptor sightings today, although a juvenile Brown Goshawk has been seen a couple of times during March. Some observers thought there may have been a Collared Sparrowhawk in the park, but after looking at some distant images that were taken, all appear to be the same Brown Goshawk. The rounded end to the tail indicates the latter.
However, the range of water birds in the park is encouraging, as are the widespread sightings of Welcome Swallows, with an attendant Fairy Martin. Unfortunately, several cygnets have disappeared most likely due to fox predation. A fox control program is underway.
More broadly, the month of March produced several other very rewarding sightings, many captured by our superb photographer, Ursula Dutkiewicz. Thank you, Ursula, and Peter Petinatos, for your many graphic and beautiful images that contribute so much to our surveys.
Yedabila habitat pod workshop 5 May
Eco Warriors Australia are running a habitat pod workshop supported by the City of Melbourne with the important aim of protecting Superb Fairy Wrens in Westgate Park.
Starts 12 pm, 5 May 2026, followed by a guided walk in Westgate Park. Meet us at the BBQ shelter. Bookings essential
Gorgeous photo: Ursula Dutkiewicz
2 March bird survey
Whilst 42 species on an inclement day is satisfying, the month of February was rather more impressive after reported sightings on eBird, and observations and images taken by Ursula. With these added the grand total for the last few weeks is 60 species.
The extensive rains falling across Victoria and flooding rural landscapes are very welcome. They will create widespread new temporary wetlands, which may mean some Westgate birds will move elsewhere.
Unfortunately, the Westgate arsonist(s) lit a fire two weeks ago before the survey, yet another unpleasant action reducing the park’s amenity and biodiversity.
The survey day also coincided with the launch of a of an insect Bio-blitz promoting a healthy and more diverse range of insect species. Some of those found are included in the last page of this report.
One of the pleasures of our park surveys is looking at the mistletoe established 2-3 years ago. Wiry mistletoe Amyema preissii is currently flowering.
About our insects
Westgate Park covers ~40 hectares and a third of this area is planted with indigenous species over the last three decades making this park increasingly biologically diverse. Estimates suggest there are more than 200.000 species of insects in Australia but only 1/3rd have so far been described.
Insects are important because of their diversity and ecological roles. Insects create the biological foundation for all terrestrial ecosystems. They cycle nutrients, pollinate plants, disperse seeds, maintain soil structure and fertility, control populations of other organisms, provide a major food source for other taxa, dispose of waste and control pests. For example:
- Native bees, butterflies, moths, flies and beetles pollinate flowers and help native plants produce seed and fruit.
- Beneficial insects like ladybugs, praying mantises and wasps keep pest populations in check.
- Some beetles break down organic matter, enrich the soil with nutrients and promote better soil structure.
- Insects are also food sources for native birds, frogs, lizards and mammals.
Here are some we have observed:
Insect BioBlitz at Westgate Park
The BioBlitz at Westgate Park will be held on Monday 2 March, 10.30-12pm.
This week-long bioblitz in the City of Melbourne starts at Westgate Park. We will meet at the main carpark on Todd Road, Port Melbourne.
Mars Reid (Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery & Landcare) and Dr Julian Brown (Melbourne University Ecologist) will take us on a guided walk to discover invertebrates and learn about plants in Westgate Park and common pollinator-plant interactions you might see, and where and how to look for these.
Register to join here.
Some examples of insects found in Westgate Park:
Xerochrysum palustre – the people’s choice
Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery & Landcare are delighted to have Xerochrysum palustre – Swamp Everlasting – as our floral emblem for the City of Melbourne.
There are thought to be only 20 populations of Xerochrysum palustre left in Victoria. You can easily assist in conserving this critically endangered plant by growing it in your own garden, backyard or balcony.
See below to pre-order Xerochrysum palustre – Swamp Everlasting or any of the beautiful plants in the contest for the floral emblem of the City of Melbourne. Bili Nursery will let you know as soon as they are available.
Pre-ordering for Floral emblem plants
Swamp everlasting
Common billy buttons
Chocolate lily
Purple coral pea
Yam daisy, murrnong
Tall bluebell
Kangaroo grass
Rounded noon-flower
Austral storksbill
Next microbat survey 21 Feb -10pm to midnight
Here’s the report on our 17 January survey. Conditions : temp 26C, Wind slight SE 20km/ph 44% R humidity, Clear skies. Moon phase: full (not applicable).
Welcome to newbies: Robert Schiller, Tegan Gross Lovely Bat regulars : Rhonnie, Baida, Ricki, Esther, Bruce, and nice to see Caroline again. Sorely missed ☹ Jen & Pete.
Summer is such a difficult time for us to monitor the bat boxes in daylight and then wait until sunset and beyond until the bats are feeding by night in order for us to record their calls on the echo meters. We decided to just monitor the boxes this time and have a discussion afterwards about next steps in the programme.
It was a beautiful clear warm summer afternoon and the swans are nesting on the lake again, the pelicans have also returned. We found single bats in boxes 16 & 14 both double chambered, box 1 (3 chambered) box 8 and 10 (double chambered) The bat in box 1 looked a bit different to the usual Goulds Wattled bats we usually see- more fur – bigger ears?? Hard to tell!
Plenty of marbled geckos co habiting in many boxes – it’s great to have full-time cleaners keeping the spiders (and webs away 19/13/3/) although we did need the housekeeping duster on a few occasions!
It was so warm that we felt very thirsty so stopped off at The North Port for a long cool drink and something to eat!
Discussions were what do we know (summary)
- Bat numbers in boxes are increasing with more bats in boxes seen in 2025 than 2024. (will drill down on this as we have more access to more boxes since removing covers.
- Multiple bats seen roosting together for the first time– mostly during cold month ( May 2025 had 5 bats in no 13 – North facing)
- Bats move around a lot – they don’t stay long in 1 place (maybe due to temp/parasites/predators/disturbance?)
- So far we have seen Goulds Wattled bats or poss Chocolate Wattled bats use our boxes.
(both design types)
- Goulds wattled bats are not that fussy!
What we don’t know (lots)
- Are other bat species feeding in Westgate Park – (have 1 faint recording of a Lt forest bat and poss Myotis/long eared picked up by Marie when she visited us)
- Why are some nights busy with bats and others not? Too early/too bright/ too many gulls/other?
- Why are only Goulds Wattled bats using boxes? Is the design too big for smaller bat species?
Something else?
- Bats are sharing boxes in colder months – temp check? Add more south facing boxes?
- Do we just need to monitor for longer and just be patient?
What do we need to do next… Box 7 needs to be taken down and repaired and box 17 needs to be put back up the tree where it fell. Box 15 now has a wasp nest in it – leave until winter and remove it!/?
There are still bottom chambers that require removing for monitoring so that we can check if bats are using them (4 , 5 & 2 on the hill and 1 isolated box near the Melbourne water works.)
I attended a microbat echo monitoring event in January hosted by Friends of Nature Watch in Beaumaris and many Little Forest bats appeared after 9:15 (along with a few Goulds Wattled) I learnt that some microbats such as Free-tailed bats do not appear until much later in the night.
We decided we need to monitor for echolocation later in the park next time to see if there are more bats or different bat species visiting. We also need a static echo meter that we can leave overnight and check for different bats at different times throughout the night. Looking into borrowing or renting one first over summer.
Other talk about putting up additional bat boxes away from where the new DATA CENTRE location will be; so that when construction starts with noise and lights the bats will have other spaces to go.
We should also check that minimum lumen lights with sensors are considered in the design stage if we possibly can. P Owl could also lose the park habitat if this is not considered.
Minimise lights for construction stage as well.
Can we utilise Data Centre walls for microbat box habitat? (they like warm places !)
We’ll also be researching or prototyping other types of “boxes’ that may be more desirable to other bat species… little forest bats, long eared bats etc once all-night echo location results are in.
If anyone has experience in this area please reach out.
Linda
2 Feb bird survey
Lack of rain during the last two months or so is desiccating the park, and dieback of understory vegetation is common. Nevertheless, in these harsh dry conditions bird diversity remains high, although numbers are down for some species, most notably honeyeaters especially the White-plumed and New Holland Honeyeaters.
Evaporation from the saltwater lake has exposed mudflats, which are attracting Pied Stilts and Black-fronted Dotterels.
5 Jan bird survey
The number of bird species recorded today was high with a good tally of 52 species, but aside from Brown Quail they are all species regularly found in Westgate Park. In stark contrast almost every species under Opportunistic Sightings are rare or infrequent visitors to the park, adding another 13 species to the total tally. The most significant was a Tawny Frogmouth, not previously recorded here plus some very occasional visitors such as a Grey Shrike-thrush, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Tree Martin and of course the continuing presence of a male Powerful Owl.
Whilst the number of Fairy-wrens was lower than usual, along with Scrub-wrens and Silver Gulls, today’s survey was very encouraging with plenty of breeding activity by water birds. Black-fronted Dotterels have returned to the saltwater lake.
Small patches of algae are forming in parts of the freshwater lake, but overall the water quality appears to be good, as it is supporting good numbers of Hoary-headed Grebes and cormorants. Furthermore, evidence that the lake and other freshwater bodies are in good condition is the high number of dragonflies and damselflies present in the park over the last few weeks – see photos of some of them on the last page. They no doubt are a good food source for many birds.