Big thanks to Emma Royer for sending this pic of a Common Violet Snail (Janthina janthina) found on Point Lonsdale dog beach on 26-11-2016. There were 30-40 or so washed up among their preferred prey: By-the-Wind-Sailors (Velella … [Read more...]
Bluebottles: to swim or not to swim?
Arrival of Summer in 2016 coincided with the worst influx of Bluebottles (Physalia physalis aka Portugese Man-O-War) to Port Port Bay. First news to Baykeeper was on November 26 with a report of big numbers around Chinaman's Hat. They'd been … [Read more...]
Plants for St Kilda seabirds
At 650 metres long, St Kilda breakwater is much more than a maritime structure. Along with the penguins, a pair of Pied Oystercatchers have been hanging on the breakwater too. It's also the biggest rock garden in the Southern Hemisphere! Plants … [Read more...]
Baykeeper Catchment Education
Since 2009 the Baykeeper shoreline shell surveys have been a fun way to engage schools and families in citizen science - where everyday people systematically record environmental features to enable qualified scientists to answer BIG questions. Over … [Read more...]
Where else for that special day?
A whole new take on marriage on the rocks.... but pure joy can be hard to find. Of course it helps if you look in the right places. This happy couple couldn't have planned it better! Autumn on Port Phillip Bay... magic in anyone's language. … [Read more...]
Corio Bay – there be dragons!
One of the best things about taking action to care for the Bay is the gems you discover along the way. Thanks to our good mate Geoff Sadler, in February 2016 we sailed out of Geelong Yacht Club to conduct 2 half-hour manta-net trawls to measure … [Read more...]
Bay management plan – who gives a toss?
Everyone who gives a toss about Port Phillip Bay is urged to contribute to the draft Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan being prepared by the Department of Environment Land Water & Planning. Consultations are open until February 29 … [Read more...]
Trash Trade comes to Rye
Sorrento Watertowers Inc with Tangaroa Blue will hold a beach clean-up with a twist at Rye front beach on Sunday 24th of January 2016, 10.30am – 3pm. They’ve borrowed the Seaside Scavenge concept: volunteers collect and trade beach trash for second … [Read more...]
Captain Trash – not a real pirate!
Yes it's true, Captain Trash isn't a real pirate.... HE'S AN UNREAL PIRATE!!! He'll be on a beach near you in the upcoming Summer By the Sea program strumming up citizen science and community action to care for Port Phillip Bay. For kids of all ages, … [Read more...]
What’s in a name?
Sticks and stones can break your bones but names'll never hurt you, but would you like to be called a Common Stinkfish? Baykeeper found this little fishy (around 250mm long) washed up in St Kilda shallows recently. sparking a search on the web and … [Read more...]
Leave only footprints in the sand!
A rollicking good time was had by all at Point Ormond yesterday when Captain Trash and Bronnie (EcoCentre educator) teamed up with the Grade 1 crew from St Joseph's Primary, Elsternwick, for a litter collection/audit and shoreline seashell … [Read more...]
Dress up dolphin
This particular dolphin was snapped off Sorrento in February 2015. Some say the seaweed is just a plaything and others think it may be the suave dolphin dressed to impress! Just one more marine mystery and a reminder of why a day by the Bay is good … [Read more...]
A magic day at Birdsland
When the Litter Fairy and Captain Trash visited Birdsland Environmental Education Centre even the bins couldn't help swaying to the sounds of their ukeleles! The annual 'Minibeast Festival' was a collaboration of Yarra Ranges Council, Friends of … [Read more...]
