AUSTRALIAN 260 BIRD WATCHER

Records of Freckled Duck in from December 1980 to July 1981 and of the number shot on opening day of the 1981 duck season

By A. H. CORRICK*

Introduction Little information has been published on the biology or abundance of Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa; however, it appears to be one of 's least abundant waterfowl (e.g. Frith 1965, 1967, Cowling 1978). There are few breeding records from Victoria (Frith 1967, Cooper 1974, Lowe & Lowe 1974, Cowling 1978) so that the small numbers usually present in northern Victoria each year must originate from breeding areas in other States. In some years they become more abundant in Victoria (e.g. 1957, 1961 and 1970 Lowe & Lowe 1974; 1979- 80 Corrick 1980). The causes of such increases are unknown but could arise through dispersal of birds from inland sites following either wet years which have enabled the population to increase by more successful and widespread breeding or very dry years which force birds away from their normal habitat as it dries. Although protected throughout Australia small numbers are shot during most duck shooting seasons in south­ eastern Australia and greater numbers when influxes occur (Lowe & Lowe 1974, Braithwaite & Norman 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1981, Corrick 1980). In a previous paper (Corrick 1980) I reported increased numbers of Freckled Duck in parts of western Victoria up to November 1980 and suggested that the large numbers shot at sites elsewhere indicated that the increase in numbers had occurred throughout Victoria and south­ east . There were insufficient reports available either to estimate the State population or the significance of the numbers shot. In this paper I report further records of Freckled Duck, from December 1980 until July 1981 inclusive, which enable an assessment of both the State population and the number shot on the opening day (7 March) of the 1981 duck shooting season. Methods Records of Freckled Duck were obtained from the following five sources: (a) my own observations on between Geelong and (22-23 December, 23-27 February, 11-12 and 23-29 March); in the Kerang district over opening weekend (7-8 March), and H ind­ marsh, Albacutya and Buloke (24-26 January). (b) the South Australian Branch of the Field and Game Association

* Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Fisheries and Wildlife Division, Ministry for Conservation, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084. VOL. 9 (8) DECEMBER 1982 Freckled Duck in Victoria 261

(F&GA) who have conducted a mail survey by including a post paid card in their journal circulated to 7000 members throughout Australia. Respondents were contacted to confirm their reports when either the number reported was greatly above other rcords or where groups of 50 or more were reported for the first time. (c) results of pre-season surveys of wetlands by Field Management staff of the Fisheries and Wildlife Division (FWD) who also provided records reported to them, mainly by shooters. These pre-season surveys included use of a low flying aircraft in the area between Warrnambool, Edenhope and Corangamite on the 24 and 26 February. (d) data collated by the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU) for the Atlas of Australian Birds. Contributors to the RAOU Atlas were contacted to obtain the number, exact date and location of their sightings. (e) records from other bird observers I contacted. Results Details of all reports from individual wetlands are summarized in the following list which also includes reports lacking a precise location which are identified by a major town in the region. The source of all reports, other than my own, are identified and where contributors to other surveys (F&GA, FWD or RAOU) have provided additional information they have been acknowledged. The 10' grid squares from which Victorian reports came are shown in Figure 1. Table 1 compares Victorian reports with reports from other States over the same time.

141° 145° 147° 149° Figure 1: The occurrence, plotted on a 10' grid, of records of Freckled Duck in Victoria from December 1980 until July 1981 inclusive. AUSTRALIAN 262 CORRICK BIRD WATCHER

Lake Albacutya: 5800 ha (about half this by March) 35°45'S 141 °59'E. I have eleven records from December 1980 until 6 March 1981 ranging from 4 to 400 (F. Noelker, Rainbow, pers. comm., R . Jaensch, pers. comm., FWD and my own) although other unrecorded sightings were also made (F. Noelker, pers. comm.). T he dense stands of drowned Acacia sp. in both the southern and northern parts of the Lake made accurate counts impossible; however, observers (FWD, and F. Noelker) estimated that 300 to 400 birds were present before 7 March. Other records are of 4 on 6 March; 60-80, 100 and 100-200 on 7 March; and 50 on 10 March and 3 on 24 April (F&GA). F. Noelker saw none on 15 March and 5 on 8 April but saw 45 on 20 July. On 7 March 52 corpses were collected by FWD staff who reported others they did not collect and F. Noelker counted a further 16, 38 and 27 corpses on 15 March and 5 and 8 April respectively. Thus 133 bodies were counted although more would have been shot. After 7 March most corpses were found on islands suggesting that foxes were removing many from the shoreline. The southern part of the lake, where many were reported shot on opening day, was not checked thoroughly. I consider that at least 200-250 were killed. A psley: 36°58'S 141 °05'E. Quite a few in the district, 1981 duck season (F&GA). Lake Bael Bael: 510 ha, 35o42'S 143 °44'E. There were 40 and 180 on 17 December and at the end of January respectively (T. Lowe, Mystic Park, pers. comm.); 15 on 2 February (FWD), 1 on 7 March (F&GA) and 9 on 5 July (T. Lowe, pers. comm.). I found wings and feathers from 2 birds at the south end on 8 March and 6 bodies were reported to T. Lowe along 400 metres of the northern shore on 7 March. Lake Bookar: 500 ha, 38o07'S 143°07'E. Reports before opening were of 200 on 3 February (FWD) , 3 at the north end on 26 February and 19 on the entire lake on 27 February and 2 were seen, again on the whole lake, on 27 March. F&GA reports were of 100 (accumulative total) on 5 March, 4 on 7 March, 20 on 9 March and 2 during March. I found 1 corpse along a third of the shore on 12 March and 3 were seen on 7 March (F&GA). Booroopki Swamp: 420 ha, 36°44'S 141 o1 4'E 60 on 21 January 1981 (FWD). Lake Boort: 450 ha, 36°08'S 143 o44'E. 24 on 7 March (F&GA). and Little Lake Buloke: 5600 ha, 36o18'S 142o56'E. Lake Buloke was dry by 7 March. I saw 250 on Lake Buloke on 26 January, 5-10 were reported (FWD) on 28 January and 1 on 9 February (F&GA). T here was one on Little Lake Buloke and 5 on the Lower Avon River nearby on 4 February (FWD). Five were reported at Donald, presumably on Little Lake Buloke, on 7 March (F&GA) . Lake Buninjon: 270 ha, 37"28'S 142°47'E. 3 on 23 February (FWD) . Lake Burn: 63 ha, 38°17'S 143°43'E. 50 on 24 February (FWD). : 2320 ha, 37°30'S 143 o38'E. 3 in March (F&GA). Lough Calvert: 560 ha, 38o 10'S 143°41'E. 30 on 23 December. Cardross Lake: 140 ha, 34o18'S 142o06'E. 1 corpse on 7 March (FWD). Chi/tern: birds reported within the 10' grid square centred on 36°05'S 146°35'E between 1 December and 28 February (RAOU). Lake Colongulac: 1510 ha, 38°10'S 143 °10'E. 200 on 3 February (FWD) ; 1 on 13 February (F&GA); 100 (FWD aerial count) and 90 at the north end on 26 February; 100 on 7 March (F&GA); 10 on 25 March and 6 on 12 June. It is also possible birds were moving between Lake Colongulac and Lake Bookar (F&GA). : 900 ha, 38°14'S 144o26'E. 1 shot on 9 March (FWD). Lake Coradgi/l: 93 ha, 38o06'S 143 o21 'E. 60 on 3 February (FWD). : 23300 ha, 38o 10'S 143o25'E. 50 were identified but 250 were estimated to be present on 3 February (R. Priest, FWD pers. comm.) and six were reported on 1 March (F&GA). R . Priest also spoke to 3 local residents who had each seen large flocks on different parts of the Lake at about the same time in early February so up to 3000 may have been present. However, since none was reported during aerial inspection of the northern, north-eastern and south-eastern shires on the 26 February or during visits to parts of the south-western and north­ eastern shores on 25 and 26 February, 250 seems a reasonable estimate of the number present immediately before opening. Wings and feathers of 3 birds were VOL. 9 (8) DECEMBER 1982 F reckled Duck in Victoria 263 found on the Lake shore west of Cororooke and from 1 at Piuon Yallock on the 11 March. Cullens Lake: 615 ha, 35°38'S 143 °46'E. 450 about 31 January (C. Doughty, BOC, pers. comm.); at least 500 on 14 February (a local shooter reported by T. Lowe, pers. comm.); 2000 o n 6 March (F&GA); 40, 100s, 300-400, and 400-500 were reported by F&GA on 7 March when I saw only 20, 3 of wh ich were injured, during late afternoon. T he 2000 were mistakenly reported to the F&GA from Lake Charm (M. Pertile, F&GA, pers. comm.). I could identify no Freckled Duck with 10 x 50 binoculars from the shore on 6 March when most ducks (6000-8000 Pink-eared Duck) had moved well off-shore because of the activity of arriving shooters. As no other reports exceeded 500 I consider his estimate of 2000 excessive and have taken 500 as the number present before opening. 132 corpses were collected from about one third of the Lake by T. Lowe and myself on 7 March and a further 87 well-decomposed corpses were counted on 22 March (T. Lowe, pers. comm.). Reports of shooters burying corpses in the soft mud of the Lake bed, others collecting birds to add to their bags, and the small part of the Lake covered, suggests that some 400 were killed on opening day. Darragan Swam p: 53 ha, 36°54'S 142o01'E. 6 on 12 April (C. Beardsell, FWD, pers. comm.). Douglas: 37o02'S 144 °44'E. 50 in district, 7 March (F&GA). Dunkeld: 3r39'S 142o2 1'E. One wounded bird was picked up on a dam close to the town. Dutson Downs waste disposal ponds: 38o 12'S 147o19'E. 6 on 9 February (FWD) . - Yea: 3r12'S 145°26'E. 2 on 25 April (FWD) . Harrow: 37o09'S 141 o36'E and Goroke 36o43'S 141 o28'E districts. 17 on 2 March; 4 on 7 March; 10 on 25 March and quite a few during duck seasons (F&GA). Heywood: 38o08'S 141 o38'E. Quite a few in district during duck season (F&GA). : 12100 ha, 36°04'S 141 °55'E. 70, 50, 80 on 14, 15 and 17 January (F. Noelker, pers. comm.); 30 on 30 January (FWD) and 100 on 24 February (F&GA). Hird Swamp: 350 ha, 35o52'S 144o06'E. 5 on 4 February and 10 on 13 February (FWD) . Lake Hume (Mitta Mitta arm): 22700 ha, 36°12'S 147oll'E. 2 in 7 March (F&GA). Lake Kanagulk: 352 ha, 3r06'S 141 o51'E. 30 on 6 February (FWD) . Lake Kangaroo: 880 ha, 35o35'S 143o46'E. Shooters told a local resident that some had been shot on 7 March (T. Lowe, pers. comm.). Lake Kariah: 100 ha, 38o10'S 143o12'E. 20-30 and 2 shot on 7 March (FWD). Kerang: 35o44'S 143°55'E. 2 seen in district 7 March (F&GA) . Lake Koreetnung: 230 ha, 38°11'S 143 °14'E. 50 on 26 February (FWD aerial count). Johnson Swamp: 300 ha, 35°49'S 144o04'E. 15 on 7 March and 2 on 21 March (F&GA). Laanecoorie R eservoir: 480 ha, 36o52'S 143 °52'E. 1 on 7 March (FAGA). Lake Lonsdale: 1320 ha, 37o02'S 142o37'E. 100-150 on 7-9 March (F&GA). Lake Malingil: 390 ha, 38o06'S 14r12'E . 18 on 22 December and 2 on 23 February. The Marshes (Kerang) : 1780 ha, 35o38'S 143°43'E. 1 on 3 March and 8 on 7 March (F&GA) . : 3700 ha, 38°04'S 143°34'E. 1 on 12 March. Maryvale Swamp: 90 ha, 36°53'S 141 o29'E. 9 corpses on 7 March (FWD). Meridian R oad salt basins: 34o15'S 141 °59'E. 20 on 26 February; 7, 26 and 35 on 7 March and 11 on 8 March (F&GA) . 12 on 3 March and 7 corpses on 7 March (FWD). Middle Lake: 70 ha, 35°40'S 143°53'E. 20 on 8 March. AUSTRALIAN 264 CORRICK BIRD WATCHER

Lake Modewarre: 540 ha, 38o14'S 143°06'E. 200 on 7 March (F&GA). Moira Lakes (Barmah Forest): 35°56'S 144°56'E. 2 on 6 March and 1 and 2 on 7 March (F&GA) . : 7900 ha, 36°27'S 146o06'E. 30 on 6 February; 4 on 28 February; 2 on 1 March, 2, 6, 6, 6, 7, 15 and 50 on 7 March; 16 on 14 March and 1 on 4 April (all F&GA); present sometime between 1 December and 28 February (RAOU); J 50-200 and 25 on the 2 and 9 March (FWD). On opening day 25 corpses were picked up but up to 75 could have been shot (FWD) as only one side of the lake was covered and wi ngs and feathers were seen amongst r ubbish left by shooters. Lake Moodemere: 27 ha, 36o03'S 146°23'E. 1 on 20 March (FWD). (near Bundalong): 4530 ha, 36°00'S 146°07'E. 23 and 3 on 11 and 16 March respectively (FWD). Lak e Murdeduke: 1700 ha, 38°10'S 143 °54'E. 300 on 2 January (F. T. H . Smith and R. J. Swindley, , pers. comm.); 250 on 21 January (R. Jaensch, pers. comm.); 200 on both 24 February (FWD) and 1 March (F&GA); 4 on 7 March (F&GA); 1 on 14 March (F&GA) and 20 corpses from one third of the lake shore on 11 March. Murphy Lake: 230 ha, 35°48'S 143°52'E. 4 on 4 February and 16 on 20 February (FWD). : 1800 ha, 36o46'S 145 o08'E. 11 in December (F&GA); 20 on approximately 15 February (F&GA); 50 on 28 February (F. T. H. Smith and R . J. Swindley pers. comm.) and 60-70 on 1 March (F&GA). Lake Natimuk: 370 ha, 36o43'S 141 °56'E. 6 on 21 February (D. Robinson, Bird Observers Club (BOC), Victorian Bird Report, pers. comm.). : 530 ha, 38o16'S 143°14'E. 2 on 7 December (F&GA). Racecourse Lake: 190 ha, 35°Jl'S 143°47'E. 17 on 7 March (F&GA). : 630 ha, 38o 12'S 144o25 'E. 7 on 7 March (F&GA) and 2 on 20 April (F&GA). Rocklands R eservoir: 6600 ha, 37° 14'S 142°06'E. 6 on 7 March (F&GA). Springhurst (on local dam): 36o11 'S 146o28'E. 3 on 7 March (F&GA). Swan Hill sewage ponds: 35 o21 'S 143o34'E. 60-80 early December until 24 January (T. Lowe, pers. comm.); 18 on 7 December (E. Thomas, RAOU, pers. comm.) . Lake Terangpom: 210 ha, 38°07'S 143 o19' E. 6 on 23 February (FWD) , 45 on 25 March; 50 on 29 March and 22 on 11 June. Toolondo Reservoir and Barton Swamp: 1264 ha, 37°0l'S 141 o57'E. 5 were seen shot and there were many more floating on the water on 7 March (R. Sawyer, BOC, pers. comm.). Tower Hill: 340 ha, 38o19'S 142°21'E. 2 on 2 February (FWD). : 840 ha, 35o32'S 143 o45'E. 3 on 8 March (F&GA); 90 and 100 approximately on 20 June and 4 July (T. Lowe, pers. comm.) and one corpse on 7 March (FWD). Tucker Swamp: 115 ha, 38o08'S 147° 19'E. 3 on 11 April (F&GA). Wail on dam 5.5 km east of town: 36°3l'S 142olO'E. 1 on 10 February (C. Beardsell, FWD, pers. comm.) . Wando Vale: 37o31'S 141 °27'E. 7 on 26 February (F&GA). Lake Wellington: 1480 ha, 38o05'S 147°20'E. 5 at the mouth of Avon River and 25 in Poddy Bay on 10 and approximately 31 March (FWD) and 22 on 20 April (F&GA). Werribee sewage farm: 38oOO'S 144o35'E. 52, 50, 30 and 42 on 7, 28 December, 4 January and 1 February respectively (F. T. H . Smith and R. J. Swindley, pers. comm.); 2 on 7 February (C. Doughty, pers. comm.); 60, 50, 161 , 235 on 15 and 30 March, 12 April and 3 May respectively (Smith and Swindley, pers. comm.); 39 on 2 March (R. Jaensch, pers. comm.); 2 on 21 May (K. Veal, FWD, pers. comm.); 20 and 0 on 22 May and the first week of June (Smith and Swindley, pers. comm.). Winchelsea Mount Pollock Road: 38°10'S 144°04'E. 1 on 7 March (F&GA). Wodonga House Creek : 36°1l'S 146°51'E. 9 on 7-9 March (F&GA) . Woodside: 38o33'S 146°58'E. 30 on 7 March (F&GA). Woorinen salt basins: 35o l4'S 143o26'E. 2 on 7 December (E. Thomas, RAOU, pers. comm.). VOL. 9 (8) DECEMBER 1982 Freckled Duck in Victoria 265

Table 1 Comparison of the number of reports of Freckled Duck from Victoria (from all sources) with those from other states (from F&GA unless indicated) from December 1980 to July 1981 inclusive.

Vica SAb NSWc WA Q NT

Number of reports 202 59 15 8 1 1 Number of sites 61 24 7 7 1 1 Largest sighting 500 2000-3000 1000 100- 150 50 6-8 Number of reports in 4 weeks before opening 45 25 6 0 0 Estimated number before opening 3000 700 13

a 85 reports from 32 sites from F&GA. b includes J reports from Baxter ( 1981); 16 from R. Jaensch pers. comm. c includes 1 reporl from J . M. C. Pratt, RAOU, pers. comm.

Discussion In this summary of Freckled Duck in Victoria 202 reports have been examined of which 192 include the precise location of the sighting (at 62 sites) while the remaining lO give only vague details. The sites at which Freckled Duck were seen included saline lakes (20), natural permanent open freshwater (14), large freshwater reservoirs (12), fresh­ marshes (7), rivers and farm dams (5), sewage ponds (3) and the exact location or type of the remaining sightings remain unknown. Records (Figure 1) came from the Western District (28% of sites), the (17'%), Kerang area (17%) and the others from dams and reservoirs on the northern slopes of the Dividing Range, Mildura and the . There were no reports from the Eastern High­ lands, South Gippsland or most of the Mallee where large lakes and reservoirs are absent or from tidal wetlands. As there was no flooding and seasonal swamps were dry and with the exception of tidal areas, the wetlands used by Freckled Duck mirror the variety and area of wetland types available (Corrick and Norman 1980, Corrick 1981 and in press). In the Western District most Jakes are saline while in northern Victoria the reservoirs for water conservation (including Rocklands Reservoir and Lakes Lonsdale, Nagambie, Mokoan and Hume, etc.) and lakes used for salt water disposal (Meridian, Tutchewop and Woorinen) provide the major portion of the wetland area. A variety of factors can influence the accuracy of estimates of the State population based on the records presented here; these include the proportion of wetlands visited and how well they are searched, the identification and counting skills of the various observers and movements of birds between wetlands; each will be considered further. Firstly coverage; the pre-season surveys for F&WD staff involved visits to at least the most popular duck shooting sites in each part of the State. The detail with which these were surveyed varies considerably but is best for wetlands of less than 300 ha or when aircraft were used; however, when combined with the contact these staff had with shooters before the AUSTRALIAN 266 CORRICK BIRD WATCHER

season, the reports from the F&GA and by other observers from non­ shooting areas, a thorough coverage of the State's wetlands has been obtained. This is particularly so since water remained in only the most permanent wetlands because of prevailing dry conditions. I consider it unlikely that flocks of 50 or more birds have been missed. The second factor is the accuracy of both identification and counting; most large groups were seen at some time by skilled observers and although some shooters did not know the identity of the ducks they shoot, those I did contact were able to confirm their records so I see no reason to doubt the others. The considerable variation in the number reported from individual wetlands is presumably due to how much both the observers and ducks moved about the wetland and how the birds were counted or estimated. At most sites several reports usually approach a common maximum and this is used for the total. Where only single records of large flocks or unusually large numbers were reported observers were contacted to confirm their observations and totals adjusted if necessary. Thirdly, movement of birds could result in double counting on adjoining wetlands and this probably occurred about Lakes Colongulac and Mokoan and Cullens Lake. Although the estimated total may be increased by some 200 birds no adjustments have been made and any increase assumed to compensate for birds missed elsewhere. Double counting could also occur on widely separated wetlands if flocks did not remain at infrequently visited sites at which they were only seen some weeks before opening. However, at sites where regular observations were made they were continuously present over this period, unless wet­ lands dried, so it has been assumed that birds at other sites also moved little. In the four weeks before and including the opening weekend 2700 Freckled Duck were seen at 45 sites. At two of these sites coverage was poor so that higher numbers, previously reported, may still have been present (an additional 70 birds), as could 270 birds at 8 sites where birds were seen from early December until late February but not during the four weeks before the opening. Given the inaccuracies discussed above the State population on about 7 March was 3000 birds. Estimates of the number shot are subject to similar inaccuracies as those discussed above. Coverage has been less thorough as FWD staff did not make extensive surveys as they did before opening; respondents to the F &G A did not report shot birds; and the number of bodies remaining sometime after opening would be reduced by foxes, cats and birds of prey removing them from the shore and shooters adding them to their bags or hiding them. Freckled Duck were reported shot at 15 sites at which 440 bodies were counted. Using estimates of 225 killed on and 400 on Cullens Lake, 10 on Lake Kangaroo, 50 on Lake Mokoan, 40 on Lake Murdeduke, 15 for Toolondo Reservoir and including none from places at which no corpses were reported, 800 Freckled Duck were shot. However, if they were shot at other sites at which they occurred, particularly as many as the 60-80% of birds present shot at both Lake Albacutya and Cullens Lake, this estimate of 800 killed is conservative. VOL. 9 (8) DECEMBER 1982 Freckled Duck in Victoria 267

I showed previously (Corrick 1980) that unusual numbers of Freckled Duck had been seen in Western Victoria up until November 1980. The results reported here show that the increase has not been confined to the relatively small area previously examined but has occurred on wet­ lands almost throughout Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. Unusual numbers were present until at least 7 March about which most reports were concentrated; however, interpretation of the cause of and timing of movement into, out of and within Victoria is difficult because regular surveys have been conducted at only two sites, Lake Albacutya and Werribee sewage farm and accurate counts were only possible at the latter. At Werribee numbers remained more or less constant from December until the end of March when they increased to a peak on 3 May, and had left by June. There was no marked increase associated with the opening of the duck season, which would be expected if birds were seeking refuge from hunting. At other sites the number shot and disturbance caused by shooting drastically reduced numbers while at others (e.g. Lake Buloke and Lake Bael Bael) dropping water levels forced birds to move. Records extend over some months at most sites where large flocks were present suggesting that these groups were relatively stable over this period. Birds were still present in Victoria in June (Lakes Colongulac and Terangpom) and July (Lakes Albacutya and Bael Bael). Although there was widespread flooding in northern Victoria in June and less extensive floods in northern and southern in April, movement of Freckled Duck could not be clearly linked with these events. Although Freckled Duck is a protected species, large numbers, perhaps one quarter of the State population and between 60 and 80% of the birds at some popular shooting sites, were shot on the opening day of the 1981 duck season. The Jack of both reports from and know­ ledge of the extent of suitable habitat make it difficult to describe the numbers in Victoria in terms of the total population. However, wide­ spread drought in 1980 suggests that little habitat was available else­ where. If this was the case and the Victorian records summarized here and those reported by the F&GA from adjacent areas of South Australia and New South Wales represent a large part of the specific population then the number shot is cause for concern. Acknowledgements It is a pleasure to thank Roger Jaensch of South Australia, Tom Lowe of Kerang, Frank Noelker of Rainbow and Fred Smith and Bob Swindley of Melbourne for their efforts in their respective regions and valuable records they contributed. The Field and Game Association of South Australia made available the result of their surveys. Their members, and contributors to the RAOU Atlas of Australian Birds whom I contacted for further details are also thanked. The contribution of Field Management staff of the FWD in both visiting wetlands and passing on reports of Freckled Duck is acknowledged. References Anon (1981), 'A glimmer of hope', Field and Game News May, 33-34. Baxter, G. I. (1981), 'Some remarks on the birds of Kangaroo Island', S. A ust. Om. 28 , 172-174. McNABB: Ring-tailed Possum's Nest AUSTRALIAN 268 Destroyed by Superb Lyrebird BIRD WATCHER

Braithwaite, L. W . & Norman, F. I. (1974), 'The 1972 open season on waterfowl in south-eastern Australia', CSIRO Div. Wild!. Res. Tech. Paper no. 29. ---, (1976), 'The 1973 and 1974 open seasons on waterfowl in south-eastern Australia', CS!RO Div. Wild!. Res. Tech. Memoranda no. 11 ---, (1977) , 'The 1975 and 1976 open seasons on waterfowl in south-eastern Australia', CSIRO Div. Wild!. Res. Tech. Memoranda no. 13. ---, (1981), 'The 1977 and 1978 open seasons on waterfowl m south-eastern Australia', CSIRO Div. Wild!. Res. Tech. Memoranda no. 15. Cooper, R. P. (1974) , 'Abnormal breeding of waterfowl', A ust. Bird Watcher 5, 181-182. Corrick, A. H. (1980) , 'Freckled Duck on Lakes in the Western District, Victoria', A ust. Bird Watcher 8, 254-255. ---, (1981) , 'Wetlands of Victoria II. Wetlands and waterbirds of South Gippsland', Proc. Roy. Soc. Viet., 92, 187-198. ---, (in press). Wetlands of Victoria III. Wetlands and waterbirds of the Western District from Port Phillip Bay to Mount Emu Creek, Proc. Roy. Soc. V iet. Corrick, A. H . & Norman, F. I. (1980), 'Wetlands of Victoria I. Wetlands and waterbirds of the and Gippsland Lakes catchment.' Proc. Roy. Soc. Viet., 91 , 1-15. Cowling, S. J. (1978) , 'The status of endangered waterfowl and wetlands in Australia', in The status of endangered Australasian Wildlife, Royal Zoological Soc. of South Australia. Adelaide. Frith, H . J. (1965) , 'Ecology of Freckled Duck', Stictonetta naevosa Gould. CSIRO Wild!. R es. 10, 125-39. ---, (1967) , Waterfowl in Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Lowe, V. T. & Lowe, T. G. (1974), 'The Freckled Duck in Victoria'. A ust. Bird Watcher 5, 175-181. •

Short Note-

Ring-tailed Possum's Nest Destroyed by a Superb Lyrebird

Whilst walking beside a creek in Ferntree Gully National Park (33 km east of Melbourne), at 0830 hours on 6 September 1981, I heard the high-pitched shrilling 'alarm' call of a Superb Lyrebird Menura novae~ hollandiae. On investigating I observed an adult female Superb Lyrebird in the process of ripping apart the nest of a Ring-tailed Possum Pseudo­ cheirus peregrinus. This nest was a typical globular construction of twigs, bracken and leaves, measuring about 0.4 m in diameter, located in the top of a 2m high Soft Tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica. The unfortunate Possum was sitting in a shrub 3 m away, watching the Lyrebird as she systematically tore the nest to shreds with her powerful feet. Throughout this action she was making loud guttural 'chortling' sounds punctuated by the shrill 'alarm' calls. This Lyrebird's own nest, containing a downy chick, was situated 30 m upstream, amongst Forest Wire Grass Tetrarrhena juncea, on the creek bank.

By EDWARD G. McNABB, 10 Marville Court, Boronia, Vic. 3155.