Since 2000, we've been surveying the incredible world of shorebirds, wildfowl, and waterbirds at the Western Treatment Plant. This massive operation covers 318 water bodies, from ponds to coastlines.

Our recent Winter survey for wildfowl has shattered records! Check out these astonishing numbers:

• Black Swan - 2,705
• Chestnut Teal - 6,099
• Eurasian Coot - 9,355
• Pacific Black Duck - 9,842

And that's not all! The Australasian Shoveler (captured below left), a vulnerable species in Victoria, made a spectacular comeback with a whopping 2,866 sightings – the highest count since 2011!

But why the sudden surge in numbers? Dr. Danny Rogers from the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research says, "Australian waterbirds have enjoyed great breeding success in three consecutive La Nina years with extensive inland flooding . Now the inland is starting to dry out and waterbirds are starting to move to areas with more secure water supplies" - such as the Western Treatment Plant.

Hold onto your binoculars, because Dr Rogers predicts that “we could be in for a very exciting summer, given that there is an incipient El Nino and predictions for a hot dry summer. Our biggest summer wildfowl count at the WTP ever was 198,000 birds – perhaps we will crack the magic 200,000 this summer.”

Check out the below video and hear from Cody McCormack, Conservation and Land Officer, on why the WTP is such a special place for wildlife.