If you're a very slow moving creature, finding a feed while avoiding being eaten would take some pretty quick decisions. "Should I stay or should I go?" just may be your very last thought. So our mollusc mates have developed some pretty amazing … [Read more...]
‘Underwater Wonders’ book – it’s a gem
Most people are simply unaware of the rich diversity of colourful creatures that live in Port Phillip Bay. Freddy Leong's new book 'Underwater Wonders of the Mornington Peninsula' is out to change all that... and at $20 a copy, it's a … [Read more...]
Mystery mollusc at Point Lonsdale
Special thanks to all the kids, parents and others who took part in the Baykeeper shoreline shell surveys in January 2010. True to form, every beach was different, highlighting the wonderful diversity of species that live in the Bay. Each survey is a … [Read more...]
Seal pups – cute and canine
There's no room for stay-at-home Gen Xers in an Australian Fur Seal family. Mother seals mate again just a week after giving birth in November-December. Babies are suckled for about 8 months when they are able to join their mother on fishing … [Read more...]
Blue-ringed Octopus – seashell surprise
Investigating our amazing coastal plants and animals is a cool way to spend summer. But bear in mind you're entering their home... so mind your manners! Stay safe, be careful where you tread, and leave the environment in as good a condition as you … [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...]
Blue Jellyfish numbers up
The thousands of dead Blue Jellyfish (Catostylus mosaicus) on Port Phillip Bay beaches in recent months prompts the obvious questions: why are there suddenly so many; and why did they die? Is it a natural cycle, or was it something they ate? Blue … [Read more...]
Short-tailed Shearwaters
Short-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris aka Muttonbirds) have been reported dead on Port Phillip Bay beaches over the past week. I found five at Point Gellibrand today. Large numbers of dead seabirds prompts concern that they may have … [Read more...]
Moon Snail ‘live’ at Altona Beach
Nope... it's not the latest indy music hip-hop crew strutting their stuff on the summer stage. Shells of Polinices sordidus aka Moon or Sand Snail and their sausage-shaped egg masses, have been commonly recorded in Baykeeper shoreline surveys around … [Read more...]
Lots to learn about Port Phillip Dolphins
Although Dolphins are easy to spot from ship or shore, they weren't mentioned in two major environmental studies of Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works, 1968-71; and by the CSIRO, 1992). Given that the presence of … [Read more...]
Humpback Whales in Port Phillip Bay
Not much is known about why Humpback Whales occasionally visit Port Phillip Bay. But whenever they do, it's an opportunity to learn more about them. Sue Mason and David Donnelly of the Dolphin Research Institute tracked and photographed these two … [Read more...]
DOLPHINS LIVING DANGEROUSLY!
Dolphins have a reputation of being smarter than your average mullet. After all, you can't get to the top of the food chain on good looks alone. But being big in fishworld has its downside. You have to do what it takes to find a feed.... sometimes in … [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...]
