Birding in the heart of Melbourne

Melbourne CBD

2007 Victorian birding trip report #12

On the Sunday we drove into Melbourne CBD. We attended a photographic exhibition which was very interesting. It featured the photographs of one of our more prominent politicians, Senator Bob Brown. Most of the photos had an environmental theme which is not surprising because he is a member of the Greens Party here in Australia.

After lunch we went wandering around the Queen Victoria Markets, an eclectic collection of stalls selling everything from vegetables to paintings to handbags to a wild collection of tourist knick-knacks. I wasn’t going to buy anything but I found some lovely fridge magnets featuring Australian birds. At five for ten dollars I just couldn’t leave them there. They will join my growing collection on my filing cabinet at home.

I wasn’t taking all that much notice of the birds in the city centre. I did notice plenty of House Sparrows, Rock Doves, a few Common Mynas and the occasional Australian Raven. Mind you – I didn’t go in to the city to watch birds – they were a bonus. Oh, I forgot the Silver Gulls. The port facilities are not all that far from the markets, and I guess they are attracted to the junk food left lying around.

Silver Gull

On the way in I had good views of three Wedge-tailed Eagles hanging on the breeze near the Melbourne International Airport. A small population has lived in that area for many years. The most common bird on the road to the city was the introduced pest species, the Common Myna. Which reminds me; I still do not have any photos of this species. I don’t think I’ll bother.