On the lower part is a section that states:
"Australia White (Sacred) Ibis
Threskiornis molucca
Often forms very large colonies. Flocks fly in long undulating lines or V's. Breeding colonies in flooded wetlands are vulnerable to sudden drops in water level.
Size: 650 - 760 mm
Habitat: Freshwater and saline wetlands, tidal flats, pasture.
Diet: Insects, crabs, yabbies, fish and worms.
On the top, right-hand side there are a few more migratory birds mentioned, with much smaller diagrams. They are:
Cattle Egret
Ardea ibis
Small sociable egret, naturally colonising Australia from Asia since the 1940's. mostly a winter-spring migrant to Victoria.
Size: 460- 540 mm.
Status: JAMBA, CAMBA
Habitat: Shallow wetlands, tidal flats, pasture, stock paddocks.
Diet: Insects, and frogs disturbed by grazing cattle, horses, etc.
Royal Spoonbill
Platalea regia
Feeds by swishing its bill from side to side as it wades through the water. Often nests amongst colonies of other birds such as ibises.
Size: 700 - 800 mm.
Status: Restricted colonial breeding and roosting sites.
Habitat: Shallow inland and coastal wetlands, billabongs, estuaries.
Diet: Feeds on small fish and aquatic invertebrates including shrimp.
Latham's (Japanese) Snipe
Gallingo hardwickii
Regular summer migrant. Well camouflaged. Erratic flight when disturbed. Feeds by ramming bill into mud with rapid vertical action.
Size: 240 - 310 mm.
Status: JAMBA, CAMBA.
Habitat: Wet grasslands, open wooded swamps.
Diet: Mainly worms, larvae of aquatic insects and seeds.
Blue-billed Duck
Ossura australis
Better adapted to swimming than flying, it has a compact body and stiff tail. The male has [sorry! unreadable from my photo]
Another section of the sign, in the middle, states:
"Once cleared and drained as "useless swamps" we now value wetlands as living filters that help purify water and provide remnant pockets of habitat for many threatened plants and animals including migratory birds.
"A natural drainage area for Orbost this wetland once formed part of the Lower Snowy Wetlands. It provides habitat for up to 10,000 waterbirds as well as many fish, reptiles and mammal species. This biodiversity helps balance insects populations that may affect adjoining agricultural land."
There is an interesting, and 'funny to try' note on the side:
"Wetland birds need long beaks to reach their food through the water and mud. Try using a pair of BBQ tongs to eat some food. Hold the hinged end of the tongs near your ear then throw the food back into your mouth. This is pretty hard to do!"
As can be seen by the nearby Flood Level Mark (Totem Pole), this Wetland part of the Forest Park is not usually UNDER water, but it has its moments and while it was initially used (in the mid, to late 1800's) for market gardening, the local Europeans soon realised that they could not build and live on it.
Visited: 1147, Saturday, 14 May, 2016