Sites of Zoological Significance of South-east Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula
The Metallic skink was recorded from primary dune vegetation in the Sheepwash Creek mouth and Anthonys Nose area. It had not previously been recorded from the eastern shoreline of Port Phillip Bay, prior to this survey. A small roost of Nankeen Night-Herons (Near Threatened in Victoria, DSE 2003a) is present along Chinamans Creek between the Nepean Highway and Eastbourne Road. Small breeding populations of the Dusky Moorhen and Yellow Thornbill are present in this locality. The Spiny-cheeked and Singing Honeyeaters are common in the coastal scrub between Police Point and Rye Jetty. Further north on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay these honeyeaters are rare non-breeding visitors. Management: To maintain the Rosebud and Sorrento areas as important roost sites for terns, cormorants and gulls it is important to retain the existing roost sites, particularly those protected from human disturbance. At Rosebud foreshore the sand flats and offshore sandbars are used by birds as roost sites, thus it is important to maintain these features. Much of the coastal vegetation has a low faunal diversity. An increased diversity may be encouraged by the planting of native understorey vegetation and restricting public access to these planted areas. The patch of native coastal vegetation at The Sisters is important habitat. *Editors' Note: Artic Terns are now considered mainly as passage migrants to pelagic waters, rarely using inshore habitats. At the time of the survey the White-fronted Tern did not have threatened status (Baker-Gabb 1991). The Crested Tern was at the time classified under the category of Restricted colonial breeding sites in Victoria (Baker-Gabb, 1991), however this species no longer has threatened status in Victoria (DSE 2003a).
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