VARIOUS WATER BIRDS

Family Rallidae

Most of the birds in this section are seldom seen in gardens, but are generally quite common on and around water. There is one record of Buff-Banded Rail at the Australian National University.

Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa

Dusky Moorhens are one of the more common permanent residents on Canberra's lakes. They live in cooperative groups of two to seven birds with each female having one to three males in attendance. They require reeds and sedges around the edge of the lake for cover. They eat plant material on land or in the water, as well as insects, fish and small animals. At night they roost in reeds or in trees or shrubs above the water. There are 2 records in the survey.

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio

These large conspicuous birds are common on the edges of bodies of water where there are reeds for cover and food. Purple Swamphens can often be seen grazing on grassy areas around the lakes, but they prefer young reed stems. They are also seen loitering around picnic areas or inspecting rubbish bins. They live in groups of two to 10 often with dependent young. There are 5 survey records.

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

Coots are more at home on open water than moorhens and swamphens, but can come ashore to graze on areas where the grass is short. They generally eat aquatic plants and algae, often diving for it, bringing it to the surface to sort out what to eat. Eurasian Coots are sociable birds and can often be seen in large rafts (sometimes hundreds or even thousands of birds) resting some distance from the shore. They can be recognised at some distance by the very conspicuous white bill and frontal shield. There are 7 survey records.

Family Charadriidae

Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops

There were 3 records of Black-fronted Dotterel . It is seen most often at places like Jerrabombera wetlands and similar river edges, where it forages over bare mud, sand and gravel.

Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles

Masked Lapwings are medium sized plovers with a large yellow fleshy wattle on their faces. They live in pairs or small groups, generally near water, on low-lying pastures, grasslands, golf courses and playing fields. They lay their eggs directly on the ground in grassy areas and will vigorously defend eggs and dependent young.

Survey numbers fluctuate, but are marginally higher in spring than winter, with some increase in numbers from 1982 to 1994. Breeding records are from sites near grassland areas, mostly in late August to late October. One dependent young was recorded from early January. R=44. BR=45.

Family Laridae

Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae

Silver Gulls are recorded only in flocks flying high over suburbs close to Canberra's urban lakes. There are populations on Lakes Burley Griffin and Ginninderra. They are common visitors to refuse tips.

Numbers are much higher during winter than at other times. There are very few records from the south side of town and almost all of these are scattered. All records of very large numbers are from the north side of town. This species has the highest average group size, 78, of all species. R=78. BR=NA.

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