Christmas arrangements
Our volunteers are taking a break from Westgate Park and Bili Nursery, starting again on Monday 6th January.
Bili Nursery, 525 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne will also open for retail trade on 6 January, weekdays only until end March.
We wish you a happy holiday break and look forward to a more normal 2021!
Gift vouchers
Bili Nursery propagates ~300 species of plants that are indigenous to the Melbourne Region.
What could be better than giving a gift of nature from Bili Nursery – the shop for beautiful native plants?
Gift vouchers for $25 and $50
Vouchers can be redeemed from Bili Nursery, 535 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne (next to the Port Melbourne footy ground
Our shop is open Monday to Friday and Saturdays 10am – 2 pm .
Bird survey Nov
Attached is the survey report, this time nicely illustrated with images taken by and kindly made available by Janine Duffy, while she was bird watching in the park.
The total number of species was 39, or 57 if all the species recorded on eBird are included.
Vegetation is in very good condition, but pandemic restrictions had stopped weeding and planting activities and, unfortunately, weeds are thriving. (On 16 November our volunteers were back at work .)
Litter continues to accumulate but a volunteer does weekly collections – thanks, David!
The park remains a lifeline for many local residents, and clearly several birdwatchers visit regularly and report interesting findings.
The photos were kindly made available by Janine Duffy, while she was bird watching in the Park.
AGM proxy
AGM Proxy form
What Stage 4 lockdown means for us
Bili Nursery has been able to continue operation because we are a ‘wholesaler to the garden industry’ and this means we can fill existing and new plant orders with local government – our main customers – for which we are very grateful.
There will however be no retail trade and we will not open on Saturdays. Volunteering at Bili Nursery is now very limited and volunteering in Westgate Park has stopped altogether until restrictions are lifted.
We are taking great care to ensure everyone at the nursery is working safely and to maintain a safe environment.
If you have been volunteering with us we will let you know when this is possible again. Call us if you need to on our new number 0492 972 652.
Take good care…
Nic Brinkley, Manager Westgate Biodiversity
Bird survey 6 July
Thanks to continuing rains, water levels and quality in the fresh water lake are very high with consequent reduced numbers of several species of water birds. The salt lake level now reads .83 m – up .03m from last survey.
Vegetation throughout the park continues to respond well, including weeds, a challenge for our volunteers, and supports good numbers of land-based birds. Many wattles are about to flower.
Interesting/notable sightings:
– One Barn Owl near the windmill – Red Wattlebirds and Little Ravens were quick to circle and harass this fine specimen of a fascinating species.
– A young Black-shouldered Kite on a port light-pole; the recent developments ensure that this once frequent species is now an unusual sighting.
And see here for more about Barn Owls.
photos Gregor Howie
A walk in the park
It’s 9 am, 2 deg. and sunny. I start at Lorimer Street near the punt. People everywhere – jogging, dog-walking, fishing, a walking race, cycling. The river is glistening and calm, other than the occasional boat wash.
Across the way, industrial neighbours and Atriplex cinerea softening the rock wall.
Revegetated only 2 years ago, the river section to the south is looking lush. Good rain has brought lots of weeds but carpets of Disphyma are holding their own and young Banksia integrifolia are at last growing strongly.
2018 2020
Frost and beads of dew hang like jewels on anything still in the shade along Southern Wetlands west.
Ajuga australis 
Kennedia prostrata 
Pycnosorus globosus 
Indigofera australis 
And plants are vivid in the early morning sun.
Grevillea rosemarinifolia
Olearia glutinosa 
Pomaderris paniculosa 
Chrysocephallum apiculatum
The remnant saltmarsh vegetation in Redgum Lagoon and around the saltwater lakes is thriving.
Redgum Soak 
Tecticornia arbuscula 
I head to the dam and the Freshwater Lake where water levels are high. It’s likely that the Purple Swamphen has been uprooting the Triglochin procera for its tubers, judging by the ribbon leaves floating on the dam.
Dam
On my way back I notice red flowers on what looks like Eucalyptus leucoxylon which doesn’t seem right – must ask George! Banksia flowers are plentiful which is good for nectar-eating birds.
Banksia integrifolia 
Eucalyptus, possibly leucoxylon
Favourites of mine along the river bank are Alyxia buxifolia – Sea Box with its small white windmill-shaped flowers with orange stems and Zygophyllum billardierei – Coast Twinleaf which is a ‘scrambler’ with succulent Y-shaped leaves and masses of bright yellow flowers. It’s listed as Rare in Victoria but we have several large and healthy patches.
Alyxia buxifolia
Zygophyllum billardierei 
Zygophyllum billardierei
Doing it for Koalas
Bili Nursery received a very special order from the Clancy Koala Foundation for 3,500 Eucalyptus goniocalyx – Long-leafed Box or Bundy.
These trees will be used by the Foundation for planting days on private land in the You Yangs, west of Melbourne, to rebuild habitat for Koalas. Drought over the last few years has led to a decline of around 50% in numbers of Koalas in this area in the last decade.
Eucalyptus goniocalyx is a fast-growing tree that can reach 15 meters in height and is tolerant of dry and poor soils. The pink-tinged juvenile leaves are looking just lovely, as you can see.