The Western Treatment Plant at Werribee has long been a favourite bird-watching spot for people from across Australia.
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Two Ballarat groups have visited this large wetland area in recent weeks, delighting in the tens of thousands of birds to be seen.
Werribee is known for its migratory waders and waterbirds, and Ballarat bird observers were pleased to find such species Cape Barren goose, buff-banded rail, curlew sandpiper, little egret and marsh sandpiper. The sandpipers come from eastern Asia.
The brown quail was one of 76 species of birds seen last weekend on a trip to Werribee by 15 members of BirdLife Ballarat. This species is not often seen in the Ballarat district, so our local people were pleased to be able to see it at Werribee.
Little terns, singing honeyeaters, banded lapwings and blue-winged parrots were other sightings made last weekend.
A month earlier, a visit was made by 15 members of the Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat. Highlights then were pairs of both glossy ibises and brolgas.
Werribee provides a number of bird species rarely seen in the Ballarat region, and many of the birds can be observed readily from the various tracks running between the ponds and wetlands. The area also includes grasslands, beaches and the sea of Port Philip Bay, so a good total of bird species can be seen in one day. There is always a chance of discovering a rare migratory wader.
WATER SPIDER
During a February survey of bushland at Bannockburn, a small water spider was found under a tile that was close to water-filled wheel ruts. When the tile was lifted, the spider ran across the water, then vanished beneath the surface.
There are several species of water spiders. They have the ability to walk and run on the surface of water.
Their bodies are covered in short, velvety, unwettable hairs. Air becomes trapped in a thin layer over these hairs, allowing them to breathe underwater. Because of this film of air covering their bodies, they need to cling onto underwater objects or they will rise to the top, They emerge from the water completely dry.
Their main food is insects that have fallen onto the water’s surface. Most of their hunting is done at night. These spiders look somewhat like some of the medium-sized wolf-spiders in general shape.
Some of the largest of the water spiders – not found in Australia – are called fishing spiders because they do indeed prey at times on small fishes, sometimes diving several centimetres underwater for them.
