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THE EFFECT OF REVEGETATION ON SILVER GULL AND SACRED IBIS POPULATIONS AT WINTER SWAMP, BALLARAT


Winter swamp, 7 km west of Ballarat, was improved as a wetland to encourage breeding birds. Islands. created lo enhance the habitat for birds, were quickly colonized by breeding Silver Gulls. Revegetation with trees and shrubs on some islands reduced the breeding population of gulls. Lowest gull nest densities occurred on bare areas and beneath trees. The higher densities were associated with shrubs. Silver Gulls eventually left the revegetated islands which were later colonized by breeding Sacred Ibis. Ibis nested predominantly in Melaleuca ericifolia, Acacia melanoxylon and Eucalyptus species. The high nest density of Sacred Ibis eventually killed some supporting plants.

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