Wetlands Bird Survey Autumn 2024

Staff from Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) were out in late March at wetlands across the Wimmera inspecting bird populations.

Regular surveys are conducted at wetlands across the Wimmera that receive environmental water via pipeline. These wetlands include; Lake Natimuk, Lake Wallace, Lake Bringalbert, Lake Ratzcastle, Kangawall Lagoon, Bitter Swamp and Dock Lake. This work is part of WetMAP (Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program for Environmental Water), funded by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

This monitoring is helping us build a stronger understanding of the distribution and abundance of many wetland birds and how they use habitats and move between areas in response to water – whether from natural rain events or from water for the environment.

Surveys saw large numbers of waterbirds in Lakes Natimuk and Wallace but relatively low numbers at Lakes Bringalbert and Ratzcastle. Highlights included the presence of threatened species such as Australasian Shoveler and Eastern Great Egret across multiple wetlands, with the most diversity of threatened species at Lake Wallace. Evidence of breeding was also noted for Grey Teal and Pacific Black Duck.

Survey Results

Threatened species have been highlighted.

Lake Natimuk

Lake Natimuk was estimated 45% full, all of this being shallow open water. Most of the remaining basin area was bare substrate.
16,748 waterbirds were observed of 26 species, including 14179 Grey Teal, 582 Pink-eared Duck, 307 Red-capped Plover, 304 Australasian Shoveler, 117 Red-necked Avocet, 64 Black-fronted Dotterel, 46 Pied Stilt, 33 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 9 Red-kneed Dotterel, 1 Freckled Duck and 1 Eastern Great Egret.
No breeding activity observed.

Lake Wallace

Lake Wallace was estimated 70% full, mostly deep open water. Almost all of the remaining basin area was terrestrial vegetation.
9,904 waterbirds were observed of 22 species, including 6163 Eurasian Coot, 1828 Hoary-headed Grebe, 190 Australasian Shoveler, 30 Magpie Goose, 28 Musk Duck, 26 Hardhead, 22 Blue-billed Duck, 6 Black-fronted Dotterel and 1 Eastern Great Egret.
No breeding activity observed

Lake Bringalbert

Lake Bringablert was estimated 95% full, mostly deep open water.
8 waterbirds were observed of 5 species, including 2 Hoary-headed Grebe, 2 Australian Shelduck and 1 White-faced Heron.
No breeding activity observed.

Lake Ratzcastle (main lake)

Lake Ratzcastle was estimated 60% full, mostly deep open water.
13 waterbirds were observed of 5 species, including 5 Hoary-headed Grebe, 3 Pacific Black duck and 2 Australasian Grebe.
No breeding activity observed.

Kangawall Lagoon (Lake Ratzcastle)

Kangawall Lagoon was estimated 70% full, with approximately equal areas of shallow and deep open water. Live eucalypts covered approximately 60% of the basin.
82 waterbirds were observed of 7 species, including 41 Grey Teal, 18 Australasian Grebe, 9 Hoary-headed Grebe and 1 Little Pied Cormorant.
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Two flightless Grey Teal young were observed with one adult; no other breeding activity was observed.

Bitter Swamp

Bitter Swamp was estimated 40% full, mostly deep open water. Almost half of the basin area was bare dry substrate.
902 waterbirds were observed of 6 species, including 666 Australian Shelduck, 186 Grey Teal, 29 Black Swan and 4 Brolga (in two separate pairs).
No breeding activity observed.

Dock Lake

Dock Lake was estimated 70% full, mostly deep open water.
2728 waterbirds were observed of 16 species, including 1092 Great Cormorant, 1038 Grey Teal, 164 Australian Pelican, 54 Little Black Cormorant, 24 Pied Cormorant, 4 Little Pied Cormorant, 3 Eastern Great Egret and 3 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (one juvenile, two adult).
Two groups of flightless Grey Teal young were observed (5 young with 1 adult; 4 young with 1-2 adults), as was one group of 5 Pacific Black Duck young with 2 adults (total 81 Pacific Black Duck at the site). No other breeding activity was observed.