Seasonal and diurnal patterns in abundance of waterbirds at a waste stabilisation pond, Victoria

Andrew Hamilton, Iain Taylor, Pamela Rogers

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Seasonal and diurnal patterns in abundance of waterbirds (excluding waterfowl: Anatidae) on a waste-stabilization pond (Pond Nine) within the Lake Borrie System at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria were determined. The Western Treatment Plant is an important Ramsar site, mainly for the waterbird populations that occur there. Pond Nine often supports large numbers of waterbirds. However, seasonal and diurnal use of the site has received little attention to date. The pond was used as a nonbreeding site by large numbers of Straw-necked Ibises and also by more variable numbers of Australian White Ibises, Pied Cormorants, Little Pied Cormorants, Little Black Cormorants, Australian Pelicans, Silver Gulls, Eurasian Coots and Hoary-headed Grebes. Straw-necked Ibises, Australian White Ibises, Pied Cormorants, Little Pied Cormorants, Little Black Cormorants, Silver Gulls and Australian Pelicans demonstrated crepuscular peaks of abundance. None of these species feed regularly at Pond Nine. In contrast, species that fed at or near Pond Nine, such as Eurasian Coot, Hoary-headed Grebe and consistent numbers of Black-winged Stilts were observed throughout the day.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)43-54
    Number of pages12
    JournalCorella
    Volume28
    Issue number2
    Publication statusPublished - 2004

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