Zoo Vet!!!

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a veterinarian in a zoo?  Well Simone Vitalli is the head vet at Perth Zoo and she is coming in to give a presentation on all aspects of zoo life, but in particular her role in treating the native wildlife at the zoo.  This event is not too be missed!! Tuesday May 8th at 12:30 ECL1.031 Follow the link to have a quick squiz at the gallery of animals Perth Zoo has on offer!

http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/news/gallery/

Dolphins Research

Dr. Hugh Finn has agreed to come and present to us his work on the swan river dolphin population. Dr. Finn was highly involved in the research into the deaths of several dolphins in the river during 2009 and has extensive knowledge on their social behaviours and physiology. Come along at 12:30 on Tuesday May 1st to VCSLT 1.106 to grab some pizza and listen to a great talk!



Photo credit: Dr Hugh Finn, Murdoch University Source: PerthNow
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/swan-river-dolphins/story-e6frg12c-1225878058726

The Cake Walk

On the 28th of March, our very own Professor Cake took us out for an early morning bird watching walk around Bibra Lake. Bibra Lake is one of the lakes comprising Beeliar Regional Park. We were lucky enough to see a range of birds, some common and some not so common! It was a beautiful morning for a stroll along the lake and everyone present seemed in awe of the birds and developed a greater appreciation for our winged natives.


The Species of birds at Bibra lake include:

• Musk Duck (Biziura lobata)
• Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
• Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
• Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
• Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)
• Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis)
• Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
• Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
• Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis)
• Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
• Hoary-headed (Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
• Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
• Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta)
• White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
• Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
• Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
• Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
• Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
• Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
• Little Eagle (distant) (Hieraaetus morphnoides)
• Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
• Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
• Black-winged (Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus)
• Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae)
• Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)
• Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)
• Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
• Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)
• Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
• Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
• Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)
• Grey Butcherbird (heard) (Cracticus torquatus)
• Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)
• Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
• Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)
• Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)
• Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
• Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)

Caversham Wildlife Park Trip

Is uni getting you down, feeling stressed out already? Then take some time off to relax, have some fun and meet some fellow wildlife lovers and some cool Australian native wildlife.

MUWA is holding our first off campus excursion for 2011 at the Caversham Wildlife Park in Whiteman on Saturday the 12th of March. We will be car pooling from Murdoch and aim to arrive at the park at 11am for a tour and then be free to explore the park for the rest of the day all for only $8!

This is event is for members only so if you were considering joining before now is the time to do it!

For more information on this fantastic field trip or more information on joining MUWA email us at murdochmuwa@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

When: Saturday 12th Match
Where: Caversham Wildlife Park, Whiteman
Who: MEMEBERS ONLY (membership can be paid at the same time as your entry fee)
Cost: $8 plus petrol money for car pooling

Raptors Talk

MUWA's first talk for 2011 will be from Stuart and Amanda Payne from the WA Conservation of Raptors Inc, on Thursday 17th of March at 12.30pm. Stuart and Amanda will be talking to us about their work rehabitating birds of prey as well as providing members with the opportunity to get up close and personal with a range of birds all without leaving the Murdoch campus!

When: 12.30 Thursday 17th March

Where: VCS2.008

Cost: FREE for members, gold coin donation for non members

Membership can be purchased on the day for $15

For more details see the promotional poster below

AMAZING VOLUNTEERING OPPURTUNITY

Belinda Cannell, who talked to us about her research project "Little Penguin Project" last semester, is now looking for volunteers! She will be starting beach captures in October on Penguin Island. Two volunteers are needed for each night, and will be provided with accommodation at on-site research quarters. DEC staff member Sandy McNeill will be training volunteers in penguin handling beforehand. Anyone interested needs to contact both Belinda and Sandy.

Belinda Cannell: B.Cannell@murdoch.edu.au
Sandy McNeill: 0439 090 734

Wildlife Photography Competition

Do you have some WILD photos of wildlife? Then why not enter them in the MUWA Wildlife Photography Competition?

This years competition will be judged by award winning photographer Bob Litchfield and wildlife photographer Mike Helbig.

The winning photo will be published in the Australian Veterinary Journal with the possibility of even being on the front cover! There are also a number of other great prizes up for grabs incuding our peoples choice award.

Entries are limited to three per person and need to be submitted by Wednesday the 11th of August.

All entries can be emailed to murdochmuwa@gmail.com or submitted on a disc with your name and email address to the MUWA pigeon hole outside of the vet common room.