Past Events    -    Past Surveys, Expeditions etc.

Go to Past Topics and Speakers  for details of Speakers and their Topics at previous VORG meetings

20/11/2004

Point Cook Coastal Park and Cheetham Wetlands.     [Photos]      [Birdlist]

Twenty members, family and friends met at the car park of the Point Cook Coastal Park at about 11.00am and went for a walk to the beach and back through the trees.  A fine sunny day with a moderate southerly breeze.  Very few birds on the beach but good number in the Banksia trees.  Lunch was eaten under one of the picnic shelters and our guide for the wetlands tour arrived.

A convoy of six cars entered through the locked gates.  This is a fascinating area.  Water is still fed into the old salt evaporation pans to keep the area "alive".  The birds rely on this water.  The vehicle track winds through the the pans and around every bend there were more birds to be seen.  A number of the waders were very close and binoculars were not required.  This was a great opportunity to study some of these waders and "fix" their identification characteristics.  Usually not an easy task.

In all over 40 different bird species were seen, including an albino New Holland Honeyeater.  

Thanks to Mary Ellen Talmage, as organiser, and to Barnie McCarrick, our very knowledgeable tour guide.  Everyone had a great day.

2/10/2004

Short-tailed Shearwater Banding     [Current Project details]

After arrival at the Cape Woolami car park, everyone walked along the beach and up the steps to the banding site.  A light meal was eaten watching the sunset and a pod of 50+ dolphins playing in the ocean below the cliffs.  The arrival of the Shearwaters was again spectacular with thousands of birds flying overhead at dusk.

Twelve catchers and five banders handled 412 birds.  289 new bands and 123 retraps.  The Shearwaters appeared healthy but noticeably light in weight with 31 birds averaging 500g, lower than any of the last eight (8) years.

Of the retraps, one banded as an adult in 1986 was at least 23 years old while another was banded as a chick in 1993. Five were banded as chicks in 1995.  Five were found with bands which were not put on by VORG's Shearwater banding team.  These may have been banded on French Island.

18/9/2004

Penguin Study Group      [Current Project details]

Part of the ongoing study the afternoon survey of the reserve resulted in twelve birds tagged with transponders.  Bird weights were mixed and weights were down.  That night over 200 Little Penguins crossed the beach for the Penguin Parade.

12-14/6/2004

Flame Robin Banding at Barooga.         [Current Project details]

Another very successful weekend was held at Barooga this year.  The weather was good as usual, cool at night but with fine sunny days.  Everyone enjoyed the long chats around the camp fire and the quality of the food, wine and cake was excellant.

A total of 27 Flame Robins were caught in the orchards.  Twelve male and fifteen brown birds.  Four of these birds were retraps from previous years.  This compares well with previous years:-

2003    10 birds    4 retrap
2002    19 birds    2 retraps
2001    14 birds    0 retraps
2000    13 birds    1 retrap

During the day birds observed in the State Forest were added to the Bird List.    [Bird List] 
55 species were identified and recorded, down slightly from the 64 species seen in 2003.