Latest Update: 31 Jan 2014
Remaining cygnet and parent swans healthy.
RSPCA is calling for information on death of other cygnet - please phone 9209 9300.
Grebes nesting again. One remaining juvenile from previous batch has been banished
to far side of lake. Last batch of coot babies are now all all independent.
New for the lake in daylight hours has been a Nankeen Night Heron.
Mistletoebirds have also been around - they are feeding in nearby ficus trees.
27 Jan 2014
1 cygnet killed by cowards at 3:30 am on Australia Day long weekend!!
15 Dec 2013
First two cygnets growing well - feeding with parents on lake - rarely leave for Swan River
5 Nov 2013
Although 3 of the remaining eggs hatched the new cygnets were unhealthy and all died within days
28 Oct 2013
First eggs hatched - 2 healthy cygnets, 5 eggs remaining
6 Sep 2013
New (different) pair of swans arrived 10 days ago.
After months of trying 4 baby grebes have hatched
- unfortunately the eldest baby has already started pecking the other babies!!
(so it can monopolise the food - usually this means its siblings will die)
A number of coot babies also hatched recently but only 1 young one remains.
15 Aug 2013
The 5 young cygnets grew rapidly and after a month left for the Swan River
- last seen on South perth foreshore but only 4 cgnets remaining.
20 Jul 2013
Youngest cygnet hitches a ride! Watches from Mum's back while the other cygnets swim!
Although not common on Sunday both Mum and Dad each briefly had a cygnet on their back.
17 July 2013
The grebe is still sitting in reeds near the swans nest.
All 5 cygnets went for a swim around the lake while the sun was shining around lunch time.
Both parents were very protective and scared off any ducks that came too close to the cygnets.
15 Jul 2013
The last cygnet did not hatch until after lunch on Monday
- at 4pm it was still wet after emerging from the egg and smaller than the other fluffy cygnets.
14 Jul 2013
Four of the cygnets hatched on or before Sunday but did not leave the nest
10 Jun 2013
The grebes have started a floating nest hidden in reeds just 3 metres from the swans nest!
The swans now have laid 5 eggs. This is the first time they have nested in this lake.
1 Jun 2013
Two swans have been building a nest in the reeds. The first egg was laid 3 Jun.
1 Mar 2013
The grebes have been sitting for about 2 weeks without any major incidents.
Although the nest has shifted a little it is now contained by an outer ring of pond weed.
19 Feb 2013
New grebe nest has been well made and the lake has lots of algal growth.
The grebes have been sitting for about 2 weeks without any major incidents.
Although the nest has shifted a little it is now contained by an outer ring of pond
weed.
7 Feb 2013
Both grebe babies lost - not sure how but lack of floating nest a factor.
30 Jan 2013
Coots have started building a new nest close to the path.
2 grebe babies hatched but the floating nest blew out of the centre of the lake
and lodged on the submerged tortoise sculptures near the main path. Next it blew
under the bridge but I retrieved it after work as it still had an egg in it.
It ended up on the far side of the lake near the bank. Both babies are still doing fine despite one
parent having to fend off a cormorant claiming fishing rights in the same area as the nest.
19 Dec 2012
All 3 coot babies currently feeding safely around the lake.
The coots high nest mound of dead reeds hatched 3 babies on 13 Dec.
2 grebe babies now much bigger - parents kept very close while they were young,
including returning to the nest every day for first 2 weeks.
20 Nov 2012
Grebes hatched 3 babies (but only 2 left a week later)
6 Sep 2012
The coots raised 2 babies while the grebe babies were all lost within 3 days.
16 Aug 2012
The coots have been sitting on their nest for a while.
The grebe female laid first egg on 6 Aug and continued laying
- now sitting on nest with hatching expected around 1 Sep
(26 days after the first of 4 eggs was laid - incubation of 22 days)
25 Jul 2012
Action: the coots and grebes are each building a nest - only 3 metres apart.
Unusually for this lake the grebes have built their nest on some bullrushes
(possibly as the weed in the lake is not yet able to sustain a floating nest)
There are still 10-20 white eyed ducks feeding on the lake
- they seem to have limited the grebes movements
and may have also affected the nesting location.
3 Jul 2012
A dozen white eyed ducks (hardheads) have been feeding on the lake for a week or two.
Grebes were adding plant material but nest did not survive.
After months of the 2 grebes staying mostly separate on Friday 29th June the
grebes paired up and began collecting weed for a new nest near the centre of the lake.
10 Apr 2012
The coots no longer near the nest - no young.
5 Apr 2012
The coots have been sitting on eggs at a new nest - due to hatch soon.
2 of the 4 young grebes have left the lake
- only 2 juvenile grebes remain on lake
- only 1 parent willing to feed them.
25 Feb 2012
The coots have lost all the babies - possibly by a cormorant.
23 Feb 2012
The coots have hatched at least 3 babies.
A week ago a pair of black swans moved in to the lake
- there have not been any swans present for more than a year. Young grebes growing fast.
15 Feb 2012
The grebe babies have shown signs of independence much sooner due to plentiful food.
Within 2 weeks some of the babies were able to catch their own food, also this batch of babies
have grown very fast with minimal rivalry beween siblings.
1 Feb 2012
There are now a total of 4 baby grebes - they probably hatched on 25, 26, 27 and 28 of Jan.
The oldest 2 are occasionally catching their own food - they have already learned to swim along
with their head blow water watching for bugs! Mostly the parents are feeding them
but they are old enough to leave the floating nest and swim around the lake.
If you are looking to see them for the first time understand that they are very tiny!
29 Jan 2012
At least 3 grebe eggs have survived all the 40 degree days out in the full sun and hatched
- the young babies are currently resting on the nest with occassion trips on their parents back.
16 Jan 2012
The adult grebes have built a new floating nest and are now sitting on eggs.
The 4 young grebes are almost fully grown and still on the lake but keeping out of the way of the adults.
Early this morning
they were resting on the final remains of the last nest which is still floating (just).
The juveniles can all feed independently.
14 Dec 2011
Grebes have 4 healthy babies (although the 'runt' of the litter is noticeably smaller
it is still able to compete for food when the other babies are mostly full).
The floating nest is in good condition near centre of lake and still being used overnight.
28 Nov 2011
Grebes have hatched! 2 young coots mid sized and feeding with parents.
(limited updates last few months as I have been away travelling)
Sep 2011
Birds slowly returning to lake following its draining, removal of most in-water vegetation,
resurfacing of the lake bottom and subsequent refilling.
18 Jul 2011
Tragedy!! Lake has been drained. No water - nest sitting on mud - abandoned,
nest cold, one remaining egg fallen out of nest also cold
- grebes refusing to fly despite only tiny puddle of gunky water left.
4 Jul 2011
Parent grebes have a new floating nest with eggs.
3 young adult grebes still remaining on other side of lake.
12 Jan 2011
3 healthy grebe babies now closer to adult size, one incessantly squawks for food around a parent,
second follows the other parent. Fortunately third
is more independent and can feed itself
when the other 2 dominate the parents. Early in the new year all 3 babies went over the
eastern waterfall and could not get back to safety! Luckily diligent City of Perth workers
carry a butterfly net for rescuing wildlife!! They soon had the babies back in the lake.
Coot parents still sitting on new nest on western fountain ...
15 Dec 2010
Success! 4 healthy grebe babies growing rapidly
Coot parents sitting on new nest on western fountain, 2 juvenile coots are still feeding around the lake
14 May 2010
Despite the grebes starting a new nest there are still 3 grebe juveniles staying near the parents,
4 juvenile coots are still feeding around the lake
9 May 2010
Great collection of birds this morning - 1 pelican, 1 spoonbill,
2 swans, 3 cormorants, 2 white ibis, 1 egret
1 white faced heron plus usual grebes, coots, maned geese and black ducks
24 March 2010
Success: 4 baby grebes, 4 baby coots!
Unable to check on grebes due to a tumour on my pituitary bursting, after a few days I ended up in emergency
at St John of God Hospital, Murdoch. Had an operation 1 March to remove tumour and remains of pituitary.
Unable to travel much in cars, use computer screens or mobile phones, off work till end of March
Details: I Lost My Pituitary
8 Jan 2010
TRAGEDY: grebes eggs all gone, nest destroyed - maybe by a shag or tortoise (but both parents survived)
6 January 2010
Grebes have started a new nest with 4 eggs, parents continously adding material
30 December 2009
Coots hatched 1 baby, after a few days abandoned remaining 3 eggs
18 December 2009
Coots still sitting, grebes abandoned December nest and eggs after it was blown under the western foot bridge
[the lake design allows floating nests to get trapped in shade i.e. not enough warmth for eggs,
also the sitting bird is scared by foot traffic which also interrupts incubation]
2 December 2009
Current grebe baby has grown well (now mid sized) but parents are sitting on eggs in a new nest
while still taking turns at feeding the baby - next hatching due just before Christmas!
The coot parent is sitting on a new nest on the bank with eggs and an almost fully grown young one sitting happily along side
- the single surviving young has done very well and feeds independently - success despite all the nest problems!
I expect this batch of coot eggs to hatch around 20 Dec
6 November 2009
Adult long necked tortoise resting on tortoise sculpture next to coots nest
Currently coots have 1 baby and grebes have 1 baby
One false move could be unwise 
with a lurking tortoise and a hungry cormorant frequently cruising nearby underwater
3 November 2009
Strong east winds repeatedly blew the floating grebe November nest under the western bridge
- parent birds tried to continue incubation but 3 remaining eggs may not be viable
1 November 2009
One grebe
baby hatched
30 October 2009
Current grebes nest has floated to less than a metre from the edge - great for photos but a risk for the birds
(also traumatic when contractors used trucks and 6 wet suited workers to remove rubbish from lake on 29 Oct)
Coots
have had many dramas with their latest nest built on top of the one of the turtle sculptures created by artist Nola Farman
- first the widely varying water levels resulted in nest with 7 eggs slipping into water
(reinstated by a local person and propped up underwater with a pole),
2 babies hatched (27th and 28th Oct) but one was possibly taken by long necked tortoise seen lurking alongside,
local person then supplied additional nesting material which coots incorporated into nest
at present 3 eggs and 1 baby remain with 1 egg floating nearby in water
28 June 2009
While I was away for a week the eggs hatched (currently 2 young remain) but the nest has blown down the other end of the lake
in strong winds and been abandoned. Normally when parents start the next brood the previous young are driven away. But of the 5
young juveniles from the last batch 3 have stayed on the lake. As you can see in the photos below one of the juveniles is helping feed
the new babies and also allows them to ride on its back.
30 May 2009
Grebes: 2 eggs laid, this nest now floating back and forward with weed patch
2 adults on latest floating nest with 2 eggs
previous young are chased away from nest
Grebes: started a new nest near the end of a 15 metre stretch of floating weed
18 May 2009
Grebes: new nest gone! completely gone!
15 May 2009
Black ducks: first time I have ever seen them duck diving repeatedly with grebes for food
(they even stayed completely under water for quite a while)
Grebes: new nest now fixed in north west corner, recently saw mating, female now laying and sitting on nest,
all 5 grebe babies still happily feeding together - often along side ducks - plenty of food in lake
Black swan: one adult has now taken up residence
Coots: 2 babies getting larger
7 May 2009
Grebes: parents building new nest but it is floating around the lake! - still 5 healthy young adults
often in a close group without rivalry - but not allowed by parents any where near the new nest!
Coots: 2 babies growing steadiliy, feeding around the lake
23 April 2009
Coots: 4 tiny new
babies have hatched in nest in reeds
Grebes: best survival rate ever! - all 5 babies are healthy young adults but still with parents
15 Mar 2009
Grebes: 5 babies still healthy - floating grebe nest pulled apart today by feeding ducks
3 March 2009
Grebes: Last egg hatched - 5 babies but often hiding under the wings of one of the parents
19 Feb 2009
Grebes: Adults have built a new nest and have been sitting for about 10 days
(last
2 babies grew to adults from late Nov hatching - still on other side of lake)
Coots: adults are attempting nest building again in a few locations on the lake
(last babies successfully grew to adults)
12 Jan 2009
3 baby coots have hatched in the last week - today the babies went over the falls below the lake!
Despite trying to return to the safety of their nest they were unable
to get up the falls or climb the steep walls.
Fortunately a kind local gent caught them using a plastic colander and they are now back in the main lake.
Friday 19 Dec 2008
Grebes: 2 babies remain from late Nov hatching (the early Oct grebe babies 'disappeared' in first week after hatching)
Coots: 4 baby coots grew to young adults, nest on turtle sculpture has been rebuilt, parents now sitting on new eggs
3 babies out so far and 2 eggs remaining - 1 with a little hole ready to hatch!
baby coots sharing food (9 Oct)
3 baby mudlarks and parent nearby (9 Oct)
moved downstream to the lake and then 'over the falls' on their way to the Swan River (7 Oct)
the first coot babies hatched on the 4th and 5th of October ...
still maintaining the nest (6 Oct 2008)
2 of the babies ... 5 eggs yet to hatch
Unfortunately only 3 remain (6 Oct 2008)
4 of the babies ...
+ goofy learning back stroke!
(please scroll all the way down the page to see previous nesting efforts)
