Fish ladder draws birds

THE beautiful nankeen night heron (right) is a well-known feature of the birdlife at Buckley Falls.

There are often several watching for eels and other fish that must work their way up the cascades to reach the Barwon River headwaters.

They share the catch with other birds, notably snowwhite egrets and the more sombre-plumaged white-faced herons.

Recently I received an email from Lance Breguet, who knows the Buckley Falls better than most, commenting that all three species were again in attendance.

A few days later I had an opportunity to visit the Lower Breakwater with members of the field naturalists club and staff from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority to inspect the fish ladder beside the breakwater.

For 100 years or more, the barrage has limited the upstream migration of many fish species, but by the installation of a narrow bypass, the fish now have access restored.

So what is the connection between the night heron and the fish ladder?

Surveys show there are literally thousands of fish moving up the ladder during their migratory season.

Most are tiny juveniles, with both common and spotted galaxias being particularly abundant.

Tupongs, graylings, hardyheads, mudfish and a few others are also present, and some of these are adults.

Many will swim up as far as the falls, and inevitably a few will be picked up by the birds as they try to navigate the cascades.

A few fish have always got past the breakwater, of course. Eels, in particular, can do this.

It is these that have attracted herons in the past.

It will be interesting to watch the herons and egrets to see if their numbers increase at the falls over time, as more fish travel the river.

A fish-ladder at Buckley Falls is needed too, and hopefully in time this is built.

Wildlife information and questions can be sent to ppescott@optusnet.com.au