Welcome to ecocentre blue wrens statistics

Introduction

The ultimate aim of this website is to present results of ongoing study of Superb Fairy-wrens in coastal areas of the Cities of Hobson’s Bay, Melbourne, Port Phillip, and Bayside. It is thought that interaction between populations in these areas is likely to occur, thus maintaining healthy genetic diversity.

Figure 1. Male Blue Wren on fence

Initially, survey results for Bayside and Hobsons Bay will be posted on the website and site maps will be added as funds become available.

City of Bayside Records Compiled 1994-2004

The following records show the 'distribution' of breeding areas. Birds have been seen 1.5 km from these areas outside the breeding season (sometimes in groups).

Foreshore working from the North

a) Head St. to Bay St. foreshore, Brighton (Melway page 67)

Variable population with 1-5 groups scattered along this narrow, mainly mown, reclaimed area with beds of indigenous plants and a small coast tea-tree area.

Gap in distribution to the Life Saving Club just South of Wellington St.

b) Foreshore from Wellington St. (bottom of Mel.67) to Were St. (Mel.76) [all Brighton]
6 to 8, even 10 groups in some years in this remnant dune area.

Gap from Were St. to midway between Orlando St. and Small St.

c) Orlando St. to Small St. [Hampton]

One group that is really an outlier of (d) in this mainly treeless area which was remodelled extensively, perhaps 5 years ago.

d) Small St. Hampton to Abbott St. Sandringham (Mel.76)

Usually around 9, possibly 11, groups. This is the 'thickest'/deepest area of foreshore vegetation, going for up to 400 m from Beach Road.

City of Bayside Records 1994-2004 - continued

e) Abbott St. to Tennyson St. Sandringham (Mel.76)

Usually 2 groups, which, again, can be seen as an outlier of (d)

f) Tennyson St. to Red Bluff St. - now a gap (Mel.85) [all Sandringham]

Now vacant, although there was a group about 9 years ago, possibly related to (g)

g) Red Bluff St. to Arkaringa Crescent, Black Rock (Mel.85)

One group observed

Gap to about Reserve Road

Figure 2. Male Blue Wren near traffic

h) Reserve Rd. to Sparks St., Beaumaris (Mel.86)

Returned c.1994 and up to 2, possibly 3, groups since.

Gap To Bayside boundary (Charman Road)

The nearest observed were at Seaford.There are birds inland on the Mordialloc Creek but the nearest are probably those at the Kingston Heath Reserve.

Bayside inland

There were 3, even 4 groups at Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary (Melway 77 B11) but birds have only been seen since 2001. Last record on the Royal Melbourne Golf Course was in 1993.

Other inland sites are Kingston Heath Reserve and The Grange/Spring Valley Golf Course, Oakleigh.

Download the survey sheet.