Dusky Moorhen and Frog Mosaic | ||
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Designed and Made: By students of Newport (Lakes) Primary School. Bird Facts: Dusky Moorhens are common residents of all three lakes. They nest in groups on a reed platform deep in the reed beds and share the care of their chicks. The mosaic shows their distinctive red facial shield and yellow-tipped bill. Look for the characteristic white tail patches as they flick their tails or dip into shallow water for food.
The presence of frogs is a good indicator of the health of an ecosystem such as the lakes and they are an important part of the food chain. |
Surrounding Species: Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus), River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). Point of Interest: If you go back to the lakeside and look to your right you’ll see a group of dead trees. These are a favourite perch for Darters cormorants, which can often be seen with their wings spread widely after they leave the water. The park designer purposely ‘planted’ these trees for birds as well as fitting the stepping-stones. The stepping stones were made possible by partially raising the adjacent lake bed as a safety measure (if you look either side you can see how shallow the water is). The park’s cliffs are sculpted as another safety measure. | |