Pinkerton Forest

Pinkerton Landcare & Environment Group (PLEG) is concerned with the restoration of native grasslands and grassy grey-box woodlands, including the grassy woodland of Pinkerton Forest, the nearby native grassland in Mulla Mulla Grasslands (Bush's Paddock) and of the adjacent section of the Werribee River Volcanic Gorge, (which adjoins Western Water Treatment Plant at Surbiton Park) within the City of Melton, Victoria, Australia.

Name	Scientific Name	Count
		23/07/2014
Pacific Black Duck	Anas superciliosa	2
Wedge-tailed Eagle	Aquila audax	2
Swamp Harrier	Circus approximans	1
Galah	Eolophus roseicapilla	1
Eastern Rosella	Platycercus eximius	3
Red-rumped Parrot	Psephotus haematonotus	20
Superb Fairywren	Malurus cyaneus	30
White-plumed Honeyeater	Lichenostomus penicillatus	3
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater	Acanthagenys rufogularis	2
Brown Thornbill	Acanthiza pusilla	2
Australian Magpie	Gymnorhina tibicen	1
Black-faced Cuckooshrike	Coracina novaehollandiae	1
Little Raven	Corvus mellori	1
Silvereye	Zosterops lateralis	10
Common Blackbird	Turdus merula	1
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	25
Red-browed Finch	Neochmia temporalis	30

Observer: Iian Denham, Dave Torr and Daryl Akers (Birdlife & PLEG)

Birds of Blue Box Flat

Name	Scientific Name	Count
		23/07/2014
Maned Duck	Chenonetta jubata	2
Whistling Kite	Haliastur sphenurus	1
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo	Cacatua galerita	3
Eastern Rosella	Platycercus eximius	4
Red-rumped Parrot	Psephotus haematonotus	15
Superb Fairywren	Malurus cyaneus	15
White-browed Scrubwren	Sericornis frontalis	1
Brown Thornbill	Acanthiza pusilla	1
Australian Magpie	Gymnorhina tibicen	2
Grey Fantail	Rhipidura albiscapa	1
Little Raven	Corvus mellori	1
Silvereye	Zosterops lateralis	8
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	20
Red-browed Finch	Neochmia temporalis	20

Observer: Iian Denham, Dave Torr and Daryl Akers (Birdlife & PLEG)

Birds of Yaloke Escarpment

Name	Scientific Name	Count	Most birds seen at same time
		5th June 2011
Australasian Darter	Anhinga novaehollandiae	1	-1
Australian Magpie	Cracticus tibicen	6	-2
Long-billed Corella	Cacatua tenuirostris	2	-2
Little Raven	Corvus mellori	20	-12
Fan-tailed Cuckoo	Cacomantis flabelliformis	1	(1) possibly 3 heard
Black-shouldered Kite	Elanus axillaris	2	-2
Brown Goshawk	Accipiter fasciatus	2	-2
Whistling Kite	Haliastur sphenurus	1	(1) adjacent to river over Surbiton Park
Superb Fairy-wren	Malurus cyaneus	1	(1) heard up to 50
Brown Falcon	Falco berigora	3	-3
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	1	-1
Willie Wagtail	Rhipidura leucophrys	1	-1
White-faced Heron	Egretta novaehollandiae	5	(5) adjacent to river over Surbiton Park
New Holland Honeyeater	Phylidonyris novaehollandiae	1	-1
White-plumed Honeyeater	Lichenostomus penicillatus	3	-2
Magpie-lark	Grallina cyanoleuca	1	-1
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	2	-2
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	3	-1
Tree Martin	Petrochelidon nigricans	4	-3
Welcome Swallow	Hirundo neoxena	20	-6
Red-browed Finch	Neochmia temporalis	2	-2

Observer: Iian Denham (Birdlife & PLEG)

Birds seen at Werribee River Volcanic Gorge - Yaloke Escarpment

Sunday 5th June 2011
Observer: Iian Denham (BOCA & PLEG)

View on NatureShare

Name	Scientific Name	Count	Most birds seen at same time
Australasian Darter Australian Magpie Long-billed Corella Little Raven Fan-tailed Cuckoo Black-shouldered Kite Brown Goshawk Whistling Kite Superb Fairy-wren Brown Falcon Peregrine Falcon Willie Wagtail White-faced Heron New Holland Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater Magpie-lark European Goldfinch Common Starling Tree Martin Welcome Swallow Red-browed Finch	Anhinga novaehollandiae Cracticus tibicen Cacatua tenuirostris Corvus mellori Cacomantis flabelliformis Elanus axillaris Accipiter fasciatus Haliastur sphenurus Malurus cyaneus Falco berigora Falco peregrinus Rhipidura leucophrys Egretta novaehollandiae Phylidonyris novaehollandiae Lichenostomus penicillatus Grallina cyanoleuca Carduelis carduelis Sturnus vulgaris Petrochelidon nigricans Hirundo neoxena Neochmia temporalis	1 6 2 20 1 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 5 1 3 1 2 3 4 20 2	-1 -2 -2 -12 (1) possibly 3 heard -2 -2 (1) adjacent to river over Surbiton Park (1) heard up to 50 -3 -1 -1 (5) adjacent to river over Surbiton Park -1 -2 -1 -2 -1 -3 -6 -2

Wildlife seen at Werribee River Volcanic Gorge

Name	Scientific Name		Location
Australasian Darter Australian Magpie Long-billed Corella Little Raven Fan-tailed Cuckoo Black-shouldered Kite Brown Goshawk Whistling Kite Superb Fairy-wren Brown Falcon Peregrine Falcon Willie Wagtail White-faced Heron New Holland Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater Magpie-lark European Goldfinch Common Starling Tree Martin Welcome Swallow Red-browed Finch	Anhinga novaehollandiae Cracticus tibicen Cacatua tenuirostris Corvus mellori Cacomantis flabelliformis Elanus axillaris Accipiter fasciatus Haliastur sphenurus Malurus cyaneus Falco berigora Falco peregrinus Rhipidura leucophrys Egretta novaehollandiae Phylidonyris novaehollandiae Lichenostomus penicillatus Grallina cyanoleuca Carduelis carduelis Sturnus vulgaris Petrochelidon nigricans Hirundo neoxena Neochmia temporalis		. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Werribee River Volcanic Gorge

In 2005 PLEG gained a PP& WCMA (Port Philip & Western Port Catchment Management Authority) Grant for Werribee River Volcanic Gorge Restoration.

Western Water has contributed to this fund, enabling a major assault on weeds to occur.

This section of the Volcanic gorge has been made available for restoration by the generosity of Woodhouse Holdings.

Restoration works commenced on a section of the river known as the Poa Flat area, below the Western Water Treatment Plant.

General view of the Volcanic Gorge area under restoration.
Photo by Lyn Holdsworth

Melbourne Water is continuing works in the Werribee Gorge by supporting Western Water and PLEG in following up on previous rehabilitation works through maintenance and making our way downstream. Concentrating on weeds that impact on the natural environment, encouraging natural regeneration of native species and complimenting works by replacing introduced species with native vegetation based on EVC Stream Bank Shrubland (Ecological Vegetation Class 851).

Melbourne Water continues to offer assistance to landholders in the region with contributions to ongoing weed control and revegetation in areas along waterways through the Stream Frontage Management Program and Community Grants.

The Stream Frontage Management Program is a grants program that supports the rehabilitation of stream frontage on rural land (privately owned or licensed Crown Land). The program supports revegetation, weed control, fencing and off stream stock watering and supports the landholder through all stages of their project including ongoing maintenance. The Community Grants program supports groups who work on waterways through public land for similar biodiversity outcomes.

It is an exciting time for Werribee River restoration in overall health and biodiversity with the announcement of Environmental Flows which will see about 3 billion litres of water returned to the Werribee River. The entitlement will improve the environmental values and health of the Werribee River and its tributaries by legally entitling the river to 10 per cent of the inflows into Lake Merrimu. This is a great outcome for the river which is a centre for social and recreational activities and is recognised as a river of very high regional significance.

Alanna Wright
River Health Officer, Lower Werribee
Melbourne Water

April 2012

Background

Events and Meetings

Contact Daryl or Rosemary.