Our campus landscape has provided habitat for a variety of native water birds.
The Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), White Eyed Duck (Aythya australis) and the Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) are native ducks that inhabit the water ways of Wollongong Campus.
The Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus phillippensis) can be seen not far from the ponds before it will scurry into the cover of the reeds of the water’s edge. It has a varied diet such as crustaceans, molluscs, insects, seeds, fruits and frogs.
Image: Buff-banded Rail. Photograph courtesy of A. Wardle
The Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) has a white bill and face shield. They feed mostly on plant material and will dive underwater to feed.
Image: Eurasian Coot. Photograph courtesy of A. Wardle
The Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) has a red bill with a yellow tip and a red face shield. It is found in and around the campus ponds feeding on algae, water plants and grasses, seeds, fruits and insects.
Image: Dusky Moorhen. Photograph courtesy of A. Wardle
Purple Swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio) have a red bill and red face shield and a purple-blue colouring will most often be seen wandering around the edges of the campus ponds amongst the reeds. They eat the shoots of water plants and will eat snails and frogs.
Image: Purple Swamphen. Photograph courtesy of A. Wardle
The Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) is an occasional visitor feeding in the shallow waterways.
Image: Royal Spoonbill. Photograph courtesy of A Wardle
The White Ibis (Thereskiornis moloucca) can sometimes be seen feeding in the shallow waters or on the lawns.
Image: White Ibis. Photograph courtesy of A. Wardle
The White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) is an occasional visitor seen wading as it feeds.
Image: White-faced Heron. Photograph courtesy of A. Wardle
The Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleuscos) is sometimes seen diving for fish in the ponds or spreading its wings to dry itself on the shore.
Image: Little Pied Cormorant on the duck sculpture in the Duckpond. Photograph courtesy of A. Wardle
The Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) is often seen swimming in the ponds with only it’s neck and head visible above the water.
Image: Australasian Darter. Photograph courtesy of A Wardle