The walking track to our beach meanders through a mutton bird rookery with tea tree, blueberry rush, pussy tails, saltbush, boobialla, correa and other native plants bordering the narrow sandy track. Thousands of mutton bird burrows surround the track, many with entrances draped artistically with the succulent foliage of New Zealand spinach.
Some people walk this track thinking the burrows belong to rabbits, however, the musky smell of the birds is a giveaway. At present, the birds are taking it in turns to sit on their large single egg, laid on 25 November. At dusk, when the flock returns after feeding on krill in the waters of Western Port Bay and Bass Strait, there is huge excitement as couples reunite in their burrows, chuckling and cooing. The nightly return of the birds is, for me, a highlight of the day, especially as it coincides with the last golden glow of sunset over the water.
Some people walk this track thinking the burrows belong to rabbits, however, the musky smell of the birds is a giveaway. At present, the birds are taking it in turns to sit on their large single egg, laid on 25 November. At dusk, when the flock returns after feeding on krill in the waters of Western Port Bay and Bass Strait, there is huge excitement as couples reunite in their burrows, chuckling and cooing. The nightly return of the birds is, for me, a highlight of the day, especially as it coincides with the last golden glow of sunset over the water.
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