Heron now at Travis
Bird watchers visiting Travis Wetland in Burwood have had an exciting start to the autumn, non-breeding season, with a white heron (kotuku) turning up last month, a glossy ibis being regularly spotted since the end of March and an Australasian bittern turning up in February — the earliest recorded sighting for five years.
The kotuku’s visit is the first for eight years. It spent several days at the main pond adjacent to the bridge, seemingly unperturbed by the people and vehicles passing close by, says Ranger John Skilton.
Other rangers say the heron seems to be doing the rounds of City Council waterway and wetland enhancement projects, having also visited Janet Stewart Reserve, Bexley Wetland, Cockayne Reserve and the Linwood Avenue Canal.
“We’re hoping this new bird will replace the famous white heron which returned to Linwood Avenue Canal for 14 consecutive years from the mid-1980s to the late-1990s and frequently visited the Estuary, Bexley and Travis Wetland,” says Ranger Andrew Crossland.
Mr Skilton says the glossy ibis, first seen on the west side of the pond, has become a regular autumn and winter visitor from Australia. He says the bittern is likely to be a local visitor from another wetland in the region.
“Both species are probably attracted by Travis’ good feeding habitat and the fact it’s free from disturbance,” he says. “This is one of the reasons why we have a no-dogs policy in the park. If we want to see these birds close to an urban centre and perhaps reintroduce other wetland species in the future it’s important to maintain high-quality wetland habitat.”
|
