Community
7 August, 2024
Have you heard about bitterns?
THE Heytesbury region is emerging as a bona fide bittern hotspot and local residents will have an opportunity to celebrate the rare waterbirds on August 24.
A two-year research project has found at least 10 bitterns on nine privately-owned Heytesbury properties and identified four “booming” areas as potential breeding sites.
The event at Lake Elingamite on August 24 will celebrate the Bitterns on Farms project and give landholders and the community a chance to observe local waterbirds and learn about bitterns.
The Jean and Chester Porter Bitterns on Farms project, a partnership between BirdLife Australia and Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HDLN), aims to improve conservation outcomes for bitterns, one of themost threatened waterbirds.
In the first two years of the project, 21 farms have been visited and more than 100 different bird species observed, including 10 species listed as threatened in Victoria.
Bitterns were found on nine of the properties and four were identified as potential booming areas.
BirdLife Australia national wetland program manager Chris Purnell said the findings were significant and could re-write what is known about the birds.
“That they are possibly breeding is the most exciting thing,” he said.
“They are booming which means the males are trying to attract females to breed.
“It had been believed that a lot of the breeding birds were in the Riverina but now we’re looking at farms in southern Victoria, we’re finding a lot of potential breeding sites so it could be an important area.
“Because so many wetlands in Victoria are on private property, we didn’t have a handle on the full story and that’s why this project is important and we’re so pleased with the support of landholders.”
In Victoria, 20,000 of the state’s 25,000 naturally occurring wetlands are on private property.
Australasian bitterns live in freshwater wetlands and are a heavy-set, partially nocturnal heron with upper parts patterned dark brown, buff and black, and underparts streaked brown and buff.
Their secretive nature makes them difficult to see but their booming call can be heard over long distances.
The August 24 celebration starts at 9am with a field session at the Lake Elingamite foreshore.
This will be a chance to observe the unique waterbirds of the area, discuss wetland values and brush up on waterbird identification skills.
From 10am to midday there will be a workshop at the Elingamite Angling Club to learn about bitterns and the Bitterns on Farms Project.
There will be a discussion about wetlands on farms and how farmers might build conservation into their farm plan without compromising on productivity.
Over the past two years, HDLN has helped BirdLife Australia to contact local landholders to join the project.
HDLN project officer Kate Leslie said the network is pleased to assist BirdLife Australia with landholder liaison to identify bittern habitats.
“We still hope to get in contact with more landholders who could assist the project and invite any interested people to attend the celebration,” he said.
“The event is free but tickets are required. Book at bit.ly/bitternsonfarms. Other enquiries to Kate Leslie on 5598 3755 or projects@heytesburylandcare.org.au.”
The project has been supported by Dr Josie McSkimming in honour of her parents Jean and Chester Porter who were lifelong bird-watchers and members of BirdLife Australia.