August, 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 75 



BIRD-LIFE IN THE NAGAMBIE DISTRICT. 



By C. F. Cole. 



{Read before the Field Naturalists' Clvh of Victoria, StJi Jul;/, 1907.) 



Nagambie, from its situation on the banks of the so-called 

 lake of the same name, is an ideal spot in which to study bird-life, 

 and the following notes of a visit paid to the district in March 

 last may be of interest to those who have not visited that part of 

 Victoria. 



The town, some 78 miles from Melbourne, is usually regarded 

 as belonging to the north-eastern portion of Victoria, but an 

 examination of the map will show that it is nearly due north of 

 Melbourne, and really almost in the centre of the State. 



A few words about Lake Nagambie are necessary in order that 

 you may understand the characteristics of the district. The so- 

 called lake is the result of the erection for irrigation purposes of 

 the great weir across the Goulburn River at Wahring, some six 

 miles lower down the stream, and the consequent damming back 

 of the water, the elevation of the level of the water resulting in 

 the overflow of the stream at several places, and the permanent 

 filling up of the lagoons and backwaters along its course for a 

 distance of some ten miles. 



Near Nagambie this overflow takes the shape of a semi- 

 circular lake, dotted with several small islands, with here and 

 there stretches of mud-banks, and much used by the towns- 

 people for pleasure purposes. The more distant backwaters form 

 splendid feeding and breeding grounds for thousands of wild- 

 fowl of many varieties. 



My object in visiting the district was to note the different 

 species of birds inhabiting these waters and the adjacent country. 

 Accordingly, accompanied by a friend, I left town on 2nd 

 March last, and, after a somewhat tedious train journey, we duly 

 reached our destination, where steps were taken to hire a boat 

 and procure sufficient provisions to last us for a camp-out of 

 about a week. 



We secured a strong, round-bottomed boat and started off 

 down the river. After about twenty minutes', rowing, a small 

 mud-bank came in sight, with numerous birds on it. Rowing 

 quietly, we got near enough to recognize the While Ibis, the 

 White-necked Heron, the White-fronted Heron, and the White- 

 eyed Duck, also known as the Widgeon or Hard-head. 



Before leaving this portion of the lake we observed specimens 

 of the Musk Duck, Little Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, 

 Tippet Grebe, Black-throated (irebe, and Black Swan. This 

 graceful bird was not nearly so plentiful this year as when I 

 visited the district twelve months before. 



We now entered a narrow stretch of backwater, which joined 



