Lake Pollard Bird Hide

A bird hide on the edge of Lake Pollard is a great place to view the significant bird life.

The Yalgorup lake system is so significant for waterbirds that it is recognised under the international Ramsar Convention. From about October to April, the lakes provide important habitat for the international shorebirds that migrate from the northern hemisphere. These include the bar-tailed godwit, red-necked stint, greenshank, red knot, whimbrel and three species of sandpiper. Other waterbirds that use the lakes include the banded and black-winged stilts, red-necked avocet, hooded and red-capped plovers, Australian pelican and coot.
Surveys carried out in south-western Australia between 1988 and 1992, showed that the Yalgorup lakes consistently supported the highest numbers of musk ducks and, in 1990, supported the most Pacific black ducks of the areas surveyed. The lakes also had the third largest numbers of black swans recorded in 1988 and consistently support high numbers of shelduck in early summer (13,899 at Lake Clifton in November 1988). Black swans also live in high numbers at Lake Pollard, where they graze on extensive growths of stoneworts (musk grasses).

This information was provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions: dpaw.wa.gov.au