Trin Warren Wetlands: an urban oasis

Today I took some of my lunchbreak to travel down to a wetland in the heart of Melbourne. Royal Park, and the Melbourne Zoo are part of a green space in the north of Carlton, an inner-northern suburb of the city. Tucked away in Royal Park is a small wetland, restored to almost pristine condition, and surrounded by young revegetation and remnant trees. The wetland is called Trin Warren Wetland, and we were there because yesterday the first Baillon's Crake of the season for Victoria was reported. A pretty amazing record for the heart of Melbourne.

So at midday a group of us trooped off to the tram station and caught a tram up to the Zoo. We actually caught the wrong one, so ended up having to walk longer than we should have. But in the end we arrived at a lovely little wetland. If it had been in the middle of the countryside, you would have said it was an amazing habitat. In the city the birds must have more trouble finding it. Or so you would think. But sure enough, after about twenty minutes, the Baillon's Crake emerged. First one, and then another came out into the open and foraged around for as long as we could afford to keep watching them before heading back.

Baillon's Crake is a tiny, migratory water bird. They are only about 15cm long, are brown with a faint pattern to its wings, and a bright red eye. They winter in northern Australia and perhaps beyond, but return every year to Victoria, sometimes in large numbers. Last year was a bumper year for them, with birds turning up in some unlikely places, and it seems this year is off to a great start with a pair here in the heart of the city.

Chris