Dock Lake’s February Bird Bonanza: Record Counts and Rare Sightings!
Dock Lake February 2025 Bird Survey
Date: 22 February 2025
Water Levels and Vegetation
- Water levels continue to drop due to evaporation from the weather, exposing more sand banks. The banks of two channels which cross the lake are now partly exposed.
- The west shore is now covered in vegetation, particularly Chenopodium species, attracting Blue-winged Parrots—a rare sight in the Wimmera.
Bird Observations
- Total Birds Counted: Over 2,600, the highest so far this survey period.
- Notable Species:
- Grey Teal: Large numbers contributing to the high count.
- Pink-eared Duck: 188 recorded, a significant increase.
- New Species: Australian White Ibis, Freckled Duck (threatened), and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (migratory and threatened).
- Missing Species: Australian Darter, Australian Wood Duck, Great-crested Grebe.
Site-Specific Highlights
- Sites 2 and 6: Most birds observed here.
- Sites 1 and 3: Shallow wetlands still dry; birds recorded along the southern edge of the lake.
Summary Table
| Species | Site 1 | Site 2 | Site 3 | Site 4 | Site 5 | Site 6 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australasian Coot | 150 | 150 | |||||
| Australasian Shoveler | 4 | 6 | 10 | ||||
| Australian Pelican | 80 | 80 | |||||
| Australian Shelduck | 81 | 4 | 5 | 90 | |||
| Australian White Ibis | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Black Swan | 6 | 6 | |||||
| Black-fronted Dotterel | 2 | 12 | 14 | ||||
| Black-tailed Nativehen | 4 | 3 | 7 | ||||
| Black-winged Stilt | 4 | 4 | |||||
| Freckled Duck | 20 | 20 | |||||
| Grey Teal | 410 | 181 | 190 | 4 | 1190 | 1975 | |
| Hoary-headed Grebe | 4 | 4 | |||||
| Masked Lapwing | 21 | 11 | 32 | ||||
| Pacific Black Duck | 5 | 5 | |||||
| Pink-eared Duck | 90 | 32 | 4 | 71 | 197 | ||
| Royal Spoonbill | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Silver Gull | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | 2 | 2 | |||||
| White-faced Heron | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Yellow-billed Spoonbill | 4 | 10 | 14 | ||||
| Total | 410 | 356 | 232 | 13 | 1461 | 148 | 2620 |
Conclusion
The February 2025 survey at Dock Lake highlights significant changes in water levels, vegetation growth, and bird diversity. The increase in bird numbers, particularly Grey Teal and Pink-eared Duck, along with the presence of new species, underscores the dynamic nature of this wetland ecosystem.
**Strict hygiene measures are in place to prevent contamination**
