Plenty of tiger snakes at the WTP on two visits this week. Brown snake seen, too. Watch your step. Also, Melb Water filled in the potholes on the road that skirts Lake Borrie between Beach Road and Gate 8. But with rocks so big and sharp, I was afraid of getting a puncture. Not sure if 2-wheel drives should attempt it (or anywhere else there was severe erosion due to rain). Check your spare tyre.
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Hi All, We were there all day today, too. As Russell said – very hot. Still some nice birds around (though we also dipped on BBSP , Reeve and LTS. We had a Pec. Sandpiper at the outflow north of Little River (thanks Bernie O’Keefe), a fleeting glimpse of a Lewin’s Rail running/flying across the beach track west of the hide, great views of Spotted Crakes (many) and a Buff-banded Rail near the hide, a couple of White-winged Black Terns, a couple of Brown Quail….. and LOTS of other stuff! Glad we went today, and didn’t wait till tomorrow! (but will have to be back on Wed for one last try at our main targets) John, Shirley, Peter and Kimberley Tongue Ulverstone, Tas. On 27/01/2014, at 5:11 PM, Russell Woodford < rdwoodford@gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
It’s actually Bert not Bart, Debbie.
As Peter suggested, the construction of the ponds will have removed most of the physical evidence of past Aboriginal occupation. However, there will be ample evidence in the less disturbed areas, particularly in the vicinity of Little River and the Werribee River. Interestingly, apart from investigations for some relatively minor works, the Western Treatment Plant has not been assessed for Aboriginal cultural heritage values.
David
This office is located on the land of the Kulin Nations
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Johnny Loy and I had an interesting encounter at the WTP on Monday. A group of university archaeologists and representatives from the Wathaurong people were touring the plant surveying Aboriginal sites. An elder, Uncle Bart, showed us a place where stone tools had been made, on the track from Beach Road to Lake Borrie. It proved difficult to see due to the overgrowth of weeds. He said the WTP was full of indigenous sites. We had no idea these places existed and were mapped. Do other birders know this? We decided to post this note.
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I didn’t know Debbie, but wasn’t surprised.
Having studied some aboriginal prehistory at uni about 30 years ago, and through my travels, aboriginals sites are almost everywhere, especially along coastal sites and near permanent water. Middens are very common and should be respected as they sometimes buried people in them. Shellfish was obviously an important food source looing at the frequency and size of middens. Boardwalks over some coastal places help protect them without many people realise it.
Ceremonial sites are also quite common and Victoria’s Western district was one of the most heavily populated areas in Australia before European occupation/invasion. The volcanic plains were very fertile, as they are now and evidence of at least semi-permanent stone houses, fish/eel traps, occupation mounds and ceremonial sites are there in abundance. Many are mapped and recorded. Elizabeth Shaw Phillip Island Victoria
I had assumed that the place had been so worked over constructing the ponds and roads that there could be nothing left intact. I guess they don’t publicise these things for fear of vandalism.
Peter Shute