Spring bird surveys

The FoDT bird survey team has begun this season’s surveys. We are sticking to our standard arrangement – seven core sites twice each and a couple of supplementary sites if time and weather patterns permit.

The surveys are done each Tuesday and Thursday morning from around 830am for a couple of hours.

Fantailed Cuckoos have begun arriving. They're on the lookout for live nests in which to lay their eggs

The core sites are: Gum Scrub Creek wetland between Hopeton Rd and Buln Buln Rd, The Drouin Waste Water Treatment ponds as arranged with Gippsland Water, riparian strip and Swamp Gum bush block in Amberly Estate, Golden Whistler Reserve in McGlone’s Rd, Thornell’s Reserve at Picnic Point, Bellbird Park wetland in Settlement Rd and McNeilly Park wetland in Jackson’s Dr.

Supplementary sites include: Alex Goudie Park, Roberts Ct bush, Crystal Waters estate including John Lardner Reserve and possibly others. The autumn survey earlier this year yielded 83 species.

Birds are great bio-indicators. They can give an indication of the health of an ecosystem. Drouin’s parks, gardens, wetlands and corridors are vital habitat for urban birds and other wildlife. Development however is placing great pressure on urban bird populations. It is hopeful that over time, our survey results will provide some measure of success, or otherwise, of attempts to save and enhance Drouin’s wonderful tree canopy.

The reed beds around wetlands are beginning to resound with the loud territorial calls of the Reed Warbler - a true harbinger of spring.

Our survey team are mostly experienced bird-o-philes and often rely on their ears as much as their eyes. If one hears a familiar call, it is always confirmed, or not, with others in the team before it is added to the list.

The results are uploaded each year to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and a summary appears on our own website – bawbawbiodiversity.com