A long way from its usual breeding ground of the Alaskan tundra, the shorebird’s stunning breeding plumage has caught the eye of many bird-watching enthusiasts who have flocked to Werribee in recent days.

A ‘mega rarity’ is bird-watching slang for ‘very rare bird’. This is the first time the American Golden Plover has been recorded in Victoria and only the sixth time it’s been officially sighted in Australia.

“Every year the Western Treatment Plant (WTP) plays host to a variety of shorebirds that migrate from their breeding grounds in the Northern Hemisphere, like Siberia and Alaska and journey down the ‘East-Asian Australasian Flyway’ to spend the spring and summer feeding and roosting at WTP,” Western Treatment Plant Conservation and Land Officer, Cody McCormack said.

“Occasionally a bird on a separate migratory path, such as this American Golden Plover, will become lost and make its way down to Australia.”

WTP receives about half of Melbourne’s sewage, providing an essential service that protects public health as well as our waterways and Port Phillip Bay. But the site is much more than that. The unique variety of natural habitats at WTP provide a refuge for wildlife, including some of the world's rarest bird and frog species. Some even refer to WTP as a 'mini Kakadu.'

With guided tours now available, come and see why. More information: Birdwatching | Melbourne Water

American Golden Plover. Photo Credit Carol Moyse.