Nature abounds out west

Hobsons Bay conservation ranger Suzette Rodoreda with a diamond python. Photo: Supplied

Goya Dmytryshchak

Hobsons Bay’s unique flora and fauna have been highlighted in a series of educational videos showcasing native animals in the west.

Some are five-minute videos focusing on an animal or plant, while longer videos are accompanied with resource packs so teachers and educators can incorporate them into lessons for children of different ages.

The first videos produced showcase barn owls, penguins, reptiles and sheoak trees.

Hobsons Bay’s marine areas, wetlands, coastal parks, waterways and other open spaces create diverse ecosystems that provide habitat to many rare and threatened species.

Altona Coastal Park borders Cheetham Wetlands, which is internationally recognised under the Ramsar environmental treaty and home to more than 200 bird species.

From this area, the short-tailed shearwater migrates each year to Siberia and Alaska – one of the longest migrations of any life form on earth.

The videos are available at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/conservation

Educators who would like a resource pack that accompanies the videos should email ranger@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au