For anyone looking for kids holiday activities and keen to connect with the coast on a low budget, Christmas comes in January... January 2nd to 22nd to be precise. During that 3 weeks an incredible range of fun learning opportunities are available … [Read more...]
Native sea star survival – what’s the odds?
Like most other seastars, Meridiastra calcar (aka Carpet Seastars, formerly Patiriella calcar) are slow movers and spend their whole life in localised areas. Their varied diet of algae, molluscs, detritus and dying animals provides a good living. But … [Read more...]
Cart-rut shell found at Middle Brighton
Year 9 students of Shelford Girls' College conducted shoreline shell and litter surveys at Middle Brighton today. Shells found were typical of the species gathered by Boon Wurrung (traditional owners) from shore platforms along the east coast of the … [Read more...]
How long do little penguins live?
Clues to penguin long-life were revealed earlier this month when a 19 year-old penguin (let's call her Wanda) was found dead on Middle Park beach. The average lifespan of a St Kilda little penguin (Eudyptula minor) is around 8 years, partly due to … [Read more...]
Seashell safaris – spot something special!
This January kicks off the third year of Baykeeper seashell safaris conducted for the Coastacre /Parks Victoria Summer by the Sea program. Shoreline shell surveys are a great family activity to introduce kids of all ages to the wonderful life in the … [Read more...]
Take a ‘Walk on the wild side’ and meet your beach
Every January the Coast Action Coast Care Summer Activities program provides a fantastic range of coastal and marine experiences across Victoria. This is a great opportunity for local communities to meet up with local environmental champions, see how … [Read more...]
La Niña brings soup to the Bay
It's been a long time between drinks, but La Niña is back in town! La Niña events (the flipside of drier El Niño events) bring above average rainfall to eastern and northern Australia, due to cooler sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern … [Read more...]
Find a shore thing on a beach near you
Most Australians remember fun days at the beach: beating the heat, building sand castles, catching frizbees and waves, and listening to the ocean in a seashell. Perhaps that's why it's called the Lucky Country! Thanks Douglas for sending the … [Read more...]
Revised method to age Anchovy
The Baywide Anchovy Study Milestone Report #1 (2008) caused great concern when it found a total absence of first year Anchovies in Port Phillip Bay. This lead to speculation that Anchovy recruitment had failed in 2008, with potentially dire … [Read more...]
AUSTRALASIAN GANNETS: FLYING FISH-FINDERS
While the Baywide Anchovy survey scientists use sonar to detect fish, there just may be another less technical indicator on the horizon. Seabirds such as Gannets and Penguins are hard-wired to find fish to survive. So if you're looking for fish, … [Read more...]
EcoCentre Video
No doubt, life in the 'burbs shapes life in the Bay. The Port Phillip EcoCentre in St Kilda Botanical Gardens shows how to be good to your Mother..... Mother Earth that is! … [Read more...]
SEARCHIN’ FOR URCHINS
Sea urchins must be good to eat. Why else would they need the hard and/or sharp spines if not to defend against predators? Like their starfish relatives, they are omnivorous scavengers and have tube-feet to take them in search of plant and animal … [Read more...]
Stan Seegull – keeping an eye on the Bay
Baykeeper is proud to announce that Stan Seegull has joined the team as EYE WITNESS REPORTER. Stan is no spring chicken, being one of three eggs hatched by Shirley and William Seagull on Mud Islands in November 1942. Nothing happens in the Bay that … [Read more...]
