Birds will be weighed, measured, leg-banned and blood-sampled. The VWSG will specifically be targeting the three most abundant shorebird species at WTP: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. The VWSG has been catching shorebirds at WTP since 1975, making this the longest and most comprehensive dataset for these bird species in Australia.

The length of this study, and the data collected, has contributed to understanding the ecology and the impact of pressures of concern for these species, which has helped to inform the long-term management for these species within Australia.

Location

Four Conservation Lagoons across the site have been selected as potential catch sites (see maps below):

• T-section Lagoons (pond 5)
• Western Lagoons (pond 9)
• Austin road pond
• 85WC Lagoons (Pond 9)

The water levels in these lagoons are actively controlled by Melbourne Water to provide high tide roosting and feeding habitat for migratory shorebirds. The choice of pond to catch in will be dependent on where birds have decided to congregate.

Avian Influenza

Deakin University will also be attending the catch to collect valuable blood samples to detect for avian diseases such as the high-pathogen strain of Avian Influenza (H5N1) which has yet to be detected in Australia. These samples will be provided to Wildlife Health Australia to feed into the on-going National Avian Influenza Wild Bird surveillance program. All staff and volunteers attending will be abiding by the correct hygiene and biosecurity requirements to safeguard themselves from transmitting or spreading any potential avian diseases.

Contact us

If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact us:

• Email [email protected]
• Call 131 722