I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird survey. Being Easter, the number of participants was smaller than usual – so we did not split up into two groups, and we all surveyed the Wetlands. The birds seemed to be on an Easter holiday too – as it was pretty quiet. Here are some that we spotted –
Pacific Black Ducks
Little Pied Cormorant
Olive-backed Oriole
Dusky Moorhen
Pacific Black Duck
Australian Magpie
It was unusual on this survey that we spotted very few small birds. We did see some distant Superb fairy-wrens. Also – One of the group, Ben, pointed out a lot of small fish in the top pond. These were not present in the lower ponds. Ben later emailed that they were –
Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Introduced from the United States in the 1920’s. And gone the way of the Cane Toad. Eat bugger all mosquito because they’re too full of every other insect in the pond. Also, have the ability to survive just about every environment, included polluted.
The survey finished with morning tea and a chat at Tempe Reserve.