This project will undertake flora and fauna surveys within the lower Latrobe Wetlands. Waterbird (fauna) surveys will enhance existing Ramsar monitoring programs by increasing the number of bird monitoring sites adjacent to the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar sites (along the lower Latrobe River and Lake Coleman).
This project will include:
In partnership with BirdLife Australia, the West Gippsland CMA monitored wetland birds around Sale Common and surveyed plants on the Lower Latrobe Floodplain that flows into Lake Wellington. Plant surveys found nine rare species, with such beauties as Water Parsnip (Berula erecta), Eastern Water Ribbons (Cycnogeton microtuberosum), Feather-leaf Buttercup (Ranunculus amplus) and the vulnerable River Swamp Wallaby Grass (Amphibromus fluitans). This shows the importance of working with landholders to protect and enhance the Lakes’ floodplains and results will inform future management of the areas.
The bird surveys counted 3,612 birds from 82 species with Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) being the most abundant. At Dowd Morass (Royal Spoonbills (Platalea regia) were recorded breeding and roosting along with Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris).