Little Egret breeding colonies and geographical expansion in the south-west of Western Australia

Abstract

Little Egrets Egretta garzetta arrived relatively late (1965) in the south-west of Western Australia and took time to become established. Initially, their range in the south-west was restricted to the coastal strip between Perth and Busselton but has since expanded further down the western coast and along the southern coast of Western Australia. Breeding on the Swan Coastal Plain south of Perth was first confirmed in the 1980s at three breeding sites, each with just a few pairs, whereas the three breeding colonies presently known to be active (at Mandurah, Dardanup and Busselton) together contain up to 70 breeding pairs in some years. Sightings of Little Egrets with pink facial skin indicative of nearby breeding may help observers discover additional breeding sites. This paper presents data from recent field surveys from three breeding colonies on the Swan Coastal Plain and a summary of historical breeding colonies. It provides an updated map of past and present breeding sites in south-western Western Australia and a summary of records of the species in the south of Western Australia.