Superbly Exciting News!

One of our individually marked Superb Fairy-wrens was spotted along the Merri Creek, in the Strettle Wetland! This is the first longer distance movement we have recorded, a great milestone for the Superb City Wrens project.

The female bird, “Light-green over dark-green” was photographed collecting nesting material in Strettle Wetland, with an unmarked male. This bird was originally banded in Royal Park in February 2022. Thanks to one of our lovely citizen scientists for sharing their sighting on our BioCollect project!

It’s thrilling to know our birds are travelling through the city, but more data is vital for us to properly understand how these animals are getting around and using habitat patches or corridors.

Now we need your help!

• If you spend time along or near the Merri Creek we would love to hear if you have incidental sightings of ANY Superb Fairy-wrens, but especially if you happen spot a our banded bird.
• If you have a few minutes to spare, pick a spot for a 15-minute ‘Wren Watch’. Recording negative sightings during a short survey is just as important as seeing a banded bird.
• Wren Watches in the following areas would be really useful:
  • All reserves along the Inner Circle Rail Trail
  • Green Reserve & Phillips Reserve along the Merri Creek
  • Any shrub patches in Fleming Park, Balfe Park and Methven Park

Please report any Fairy-wren sightings or Wren Watch results on our BioCollect page by following the instructions here.

Thank you for helping us understand Melbourne’s amazing birds!