City to monitor Ibis breeding

10 September 2018

The City of Albany will work with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) over spring to monitor Ibis numbers and their breeding patterns at Lake Seppings before considering any future management solutions.

Spring is an important breeding period for many native animals and the Ibis is no exception, with Lake Seppings an important breeding habitat for both the Australian White Ibis and Straw-necked Ibis, which are not known to nest anywhere else in the Albany area.

These species are an important part of the eco-system and are protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, however concerns for their increasing population prompted the City to encourage residents to participate in an Ibis census last year and continue monitoring this season.

City of Albany Manager of City Reserves Jacqui Freeman said monitoring would be in collaboration with DBCA and include regular photography of the site to help establish an estimate of numbers, and staff getting out on the water to carefully inspect nests.

“Early indications are that the birds have nested earlier than previously observed and this year nesting in slightly different parts of the vegetation surrounding the lake compared to last year,” she said.

“We do understand there may be issues around noise and smell for nearby residents for a short period during the breeding season, but by working in collaboration with DBCA to monitor the Ibis activity we hope we can identify some suitable management solutions that will protect this important native bird species and also ensure resident’s concerns are considered.

“The Ibis and other birds that live and breed at the lake play an important role in the natural wetlands ecology so we need to be careful about any management action we take and it needs to support of the Department.”