An issue of concern as reported by Ursula is that the number of surviving Black Swan cygnets is diminishing and now down to three from an original total of six (5 on 23/5 and 4 on 26/5). The cause of this decline is most likely Red Fox predation with further proof after Ursula located their den in the park. Parks Victoria (or should it be Melbourne CC?) have been informed and hopefully some action will be taken to eradicate these ferals from the park. This should be followed up by someone representing Westgate Biodiversity to ensure action has been taken, as the survival of many other birds could be at stake.

The most significant observations over the past month have been brief visits by two Powerful Owls, first a female on 19 May followed by a male that was recorded today. Also, Ursula managed to capture some rarely taken images of the Musk Duck with prey and coming up on land to rest – usually they remain on the water.

The occasional light rain over the last month has brought little relief and scattered trees continue to die across the park. However, the ford to the island in the freshwater lake is still under water. Nevertheless, as the above list shows, the biodiversity of the park continues to be pleasing. Moreover, the number of swallows suggests reasonable insect populations.

Water levels in the main lakes continue to fall, which probably encourages waders, such as egrets and herons, to return to the park. The Black Swans have just reared six cygnets, which is unusual in abnormally dry conditions we are now experiencing. In other wetland areas around Melbourne, such as the Eastern Treatment Plant the swans are not breeding.

Besides the two raptors – both photographed beautifully by Peter Petinatos – the highlight was hearing the call of a Mistletoe-bird. We have been waiting for this species to come to the park in response to the program over the last 2-3 years that broadly introduced several species of mistletoe. Mistletoe is a very useful plant in that it increases food supplies for insects and birds by flowering during summer and autumn; provides cover and nesting sites; and recycles nutrients. And the flowers are very appealing.

There have been some very interesting sightings over the last month, particularly an immature female Rose Robin, Southern Boobook (both nicely photographed by Ursula), Yellow-billed Spoonbill and Red-rumped Parrot. The latter, recorded and hopefully correctly identified on eBird could well become established in Westgate Park as the red gums mature. They could make use of the nest boxes already provided.

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.

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.