No. 28
Osprey chicks; Birdwatching Walks in 2024; Native Gardens; We need Volunteers; Our Bank Account; Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
Hello everyone,
In our final newsletter for 2023, we express our thanks to Melville Council and DBCA for supporting the establishment of the Melville Bird Sanctuary in June 2023. In the near to medium future, we look forward to that support being translated into tangibles delivered by the City of Melville and DBCA for the benefit of the Melville Bird Sanctuary, the environment and future generations. As one of the volunteer support groups for the Melville Bird Sanctuary, there’s much for us to do to fulfil our hopes and aspirations for the future of the Melville Bird Sanctuary.
While we’d love to have made this a fully ‘good-news’ letter, unfortunately we must lead off with heart-breaking news about our 2 Osprey chicks…
Osprey chicks
Last Sunday morning we received a supporter’s message that one of the Osprey chicks may have died at the nest. When we got to the site, we saw a chick on the side of the nest and called DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife for help. One of their team (Craig) who was in Bayswater at the time of our call came straight over. He observed the nest through binoculars and then went into the Reserve and searched the ground around the nest. He discovered no movement in the nest, a dead chick hanging off the side of the nest and the other chick dead on the ground. The one on the ground looked like it had been dead for several days. (The last photo we had of both chicks was taken on 8 December.) The Osprey parents were in the vicinity during our time there and we observed them flying around and also trying to bring fish into the nest.
At our request DBCA retrieved the bodies of the 2 chicks this morning. We were told that both chicks were of similar size and not quite ready to fly judging from their plumage. Unfortunately this is one of Nature's tragedies and we’re so sorry to have to give you this news.
Bird Watching Walks
Our Birdwatching Walk on 2 December 2023 was attended by a lovely group of people. We were pleased that Mayor Katy Mair could join us. She spoke in positive terms about the Melville Bird Sanctuary and that studies have shown that birds – watching and hearing them in the great outdoors - are good for our mental health. We saw about 30 species of birds including migratory birds – Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, Fairy Terns and also Rainbow Bee-eaters (in the distance). A Tawny Frogmouth family was enthused over by all. We’ll organise and notify you about more walks from January 2024 onwards. Meanwhile our foreshores continue to be patronised by a variety of shorebirds including migratory birds all the way from the Northern Hemisphere - Common Greenshanks, Great Knots, Grey Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers, Bar-tailed Godwits, even a Whimbrel and an Eastern Curlew. The next few months will be great for birdwatching at the Melville Bird Sanctuary.
Promoting Native Gardens in the community
We’ve had a brief discussion with a group called ReWild Perth who’s aim is to improve biodiversity and access to habitat across our city while creating a beautiful sustainable garden for your own home. The vision behind this group is to advise the community on how to build gardens with local wildlife in mind. It doesn’t matter how small your back/front yard is. More on this in 2024. Meanwhile please remember the wildlife during these hot months and take care to fill your home birdbaths and many bowls in the garden with fresh water for them each day.
Developments - Our Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary Group Needs Volunteers!
In our last Newsletter we told you about our new FoMBS Committee. We’re now meeting both formally and informally to discuss and exchange ideas and plans for the future of the MBS. Our Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary website is gradually coming together. And there’s lots of work involved in trying to keep the Melville Bird Sanctuary true to its purpose. Which brings us to the issue of Volunteers. At this stage, our small group needs volunteers to help with:
Monthly birdcounts at the Melville Bird Sanctuary.
Noting areas of concern, bird disturbances etc at the MBS and reporting these to relevant authorities eg Melville/DBCA rangers (see end of newsletter for contact details)
Assisting with fundraising activities for the Melville Bird Sanctuary
Other activities likely to come up during the coming year
Please let us know of your interest by emailing us at mailperson@melbirdsanc.com We intend to create a register of volunteers who can be called upon to assist subject to their availability of course.
We now have a bank account
We recently opened an account with Westpac Bank in Kardinya. Details are as follows:
Account Name: Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary
BSB: 036084
Account No: 494777
Our Treasurer is Paul Youngman.
If you would like to donate to our group, please do so by using the above account details. Your donations will be used to fund/contribute to our various activities in the years ahead including developing educational material, birdlife pamphlets, arranging community courses about birdlife etc.
Finally
We wish you and your families a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. Thank you for continuing to support the Melville Bird Sanctuary.
All the best,
Jenny Christenson & Tom Lubin
Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary
Phone Contact Details for Melville City Rangers during business hours is: 9364 0666 or 1300 635 845 and the after hours number is: 0418 943 219
Phone Contact Details for the Wildcare Helpline (Parks & Wildlife - DBCA) is: 08 9474 9055