Port Phillip Nature Watch
  
 
  Welcome to 'Port Phillip Nature Watch', a project for all members of Earthcare and the local community to participate in observing and reporting interesting sightings of wildlife within the City of Port Phillip. There is always the chance of finding something interesting in your backyard or elsewhere within the municipality such as in our parks and reserves, foreshore and harbours, or streets. Everyone, including those with a very limited knowledge of natural history or environmental issues, is welcome to participate.  
Powerful Owl
 
If you see a bird or animal you consider worth reporting we certainly want to hear about it. Here are six questions you should attempt to answer:
  
· What species is it?
If you are unsure of what species you were looking at, provide a good description of the bird or animal including size, form, colour and distinctive markings. It may help to say it looks like a well-known species most people can identify. For example the bird you have just seen is large and black like a crow (actually a raven) but has some white plumage. From that description I would identify it as a Pied Currawong, a bird which is increasing in numbers in Melbourne's eastern suburbs and has visited St Kilda and Elwood.
  

 
· Where exactly did you see it?
Provide details on the location, which may be your home address, street or park, or section of shoreline. Remember the sighting must be within the boundaries of or directly offshore from the City of Port Phillip.
 

 
 
· How many individuals were there?
Was there just one or more individuals observed? If there was a large number sighted make a rough estimate and give an approximate answer to the nearest multiple of ten or even by the hundreds if applicable, e.g. 10+, 20+, 70+, 100+, 200+.
 
Blue Banded Bee  
· What type of habitat was the species observed in?
Was it seen in a tree or shrub, on a power line or building, on the ground, or over the bay or within a lake/pond/wetland?
  
 
· What was the date, approx. time and duration of observation?
Determining duration is important as the bird or animal maybe just passing through, spending a short period or possibly taking up residence in your area. If it is a case of a species staying for some time then please provide details on when it was first observed and last seen, or whether it still remains there.		  
 
· What type of activity did the bird or animal display?
Was it moving quickly or slowly, flying/gliding, walking/hopping/jumping, or swimming/floating/diving? Also to the best of your ability try to determine whether it was active or sleeping, foraging/feeding, courting/mating, preening, displaying, attacking or defending.
  
 
Your observation may be very important in helping to determine the status of some species, and possibly tell us how our environment is changing, for better or worse. Over a period of time we will be able to gain a better understanding and build up a database of bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish, insect and other invertebrate species that live within or pass through the City of Port Phillip. Results of this ongoing survey will provide useful data on the biodiversity of our municipality and a potential guide to improved management of our parklands, reserves and foreshore.  
 
 
Articles on wildlife sightings reported to 'Port Phillip Nature Watch' can be found in most editions of 'Earthcare News' commencing from May-June 2003 by clicking the Newsletter .  
Caper-White Butterfly
 
To participate here are some tips:
  
   
 

· If you see what you consider a species of fauna of special interest record how many individuals, exact location, description of habitat, and date/s observed. If you are unsure of what species you were looking at, provide a good description including size, form, colour and distinctive markings.

 
 

· There are a large number of bird species that would be of interest, and it has turned out that birds make up most of our reported sightings. Good references for identifying birds are Field Guide to the Birds of Australia by Simpson & Day (Viking) or The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia by Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight (Angus & Robertson).

  
Marbled Gecko
 

· Mammals of interest would most likely be limited to the Rakali (Water Rat), fruit bats, small insectivorous bats (very difficult to detect), dolphins, seals and maybe whales offshore. A good reference is A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia by Peter Menkhorst and Frank Knight (Oxford University Press).

  
 
 
 

· Please do not report introduced bird species such as Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons), Spotted Turtle-doves, House Sparrows, Common Blackbirds, Common Starlings and Common Mynas. Also do not report native wildlife species that are common and well established in the area, for example mammals such as Brushtail and Ringtail Possums, or birds such as Australian Magpies, Little and Red Wattlebirds and Rainbow Lorikeets.

 
 
 
 

· The chances of sighting reptiles or amphibians are very slim, but two species of frog, Ewing's Tree Frog and Common Froglet, may make their presence heard, especially if you live near a park with bodies of permanent water. The only reptile that you may find is the Marbled Gecko, a common but secretive small lizard that is active at night. There is a chance of seeing blue tongue lizards or tortoises, but they are most likely to be someone's escaped pets.

  
 
 
  
 

· Invertebrates are much harder to categorize and for people to identify, but the most obvious to look for are conspicuous insects such as butterflies, moths and beetles. It would be interesting if anyone can find the large Emperor Gum moth or its large bright green and blue caterpillars.

 
 
 
 

· A species of special interest to Earthcare is the Rakali or Water Rat. Please note we have a dedicated project for this species. Any sightings outside the St Kilda Harbour area (where they are easily seen), such as in Elwood Canal or anywhere along the City of Port Phillip shoreline should be taken note of and reported to Bob Tammick (see Earthcare's Rakali Watch project for details).

 
  Superb Fairy-Wren  
 

All sightings considered significant, which can be reasonably authenticated will be reported in the Earthcare Newsletter. If you have any sightings to report or enquiries please contact Andrew McCutcheon on 9531 2270, or email awmccutcheon@optusnet.com.au

 

Earthcare St Kilda

Postal:PO Box 287, Elwood, Victoria, 3184 or email earthcarestkilda@gmail.com

Copyright Earthcare St Kilda Inc. Last updated 14/2/2008