By NICOLE VALICEK
THE WILDLIFE population at Cherry Lake is under threat, with a recent spurt of deaths from visitors unknowingly feeding and as a consequence harming the birdlife.
In February Star ran a story about the rubbish and discarded fishing hooks that were injuring and killing birdlife and wildlife, including pelicans and swans at the popular spot in Altona.
Volunteer wildlife rescuer Lisa Toskovski is one of the few rescuers contacted when members of the public report an injured animal.
Ms Toskovski said the big problem today was visitors feeding bread and other food to the wildlife which has serious consequences, especially on young birds, and also affects the water quality.
She said feeding bread to the birdlife could increase the spread of disease in a number of ways.
For example mouldy bread could cause aspergillosis, a fatal lung infection that could affect entire flocks.
“Affected birds are able to travel for a period of time before they slowly start to deteriorate, and die a slow painful death.”
She said the large number of birds euthanased for malnutrition and disease caused by bread was higher than the deaths from fish hooks earlier this year.
“We had seven birds in one week euthanased due to broken pelvises or legs.”
Ms Toskovski said these two problems linked to the public feeding bread.
Most recently she attended a call-out to a pelican infected with aspergillosis and burst air sacs in Skeleton Creek, Altona Meadows.
She said this was a good example of how the diseases were travelling.
Ms Toskovski said the problem could be solved with public awareness.
“People don’t realise what they are doing and what impact it has on wildlife.”
“A kind gesture can literally lead to the death of our birds and create disease in the waterways.”
“I personally think if people are aware of what they are doing to cause these problems, they can take actions themselves.”
Mayor of Hobsons Bay Angela Altair said the council was aware of several recent incidents of stale and rotten food being dumped on the banks of Cherry Lake.
“The dumping of food can be considered to be littering under the Environment Protection Act and can incur a fine of $289,” Cr Altair said.
She said the area was cleaned regularly but the council’s City Maintenance and Cleansing team and council rangers also collected rubbish if a complaint was received.
“In addition, the council has installed fishing litter bins at the Warmies and Cherry Lake, as well as eight other sites to ensure nets, hooks and plastic are disposed of sensibly.”
Cr Altair said new signage would soon be erected reminding visitors to the popular lake of how to help conserve the biodiversity of Cherry Lake by taking home their litter, keeping dogs on a lead and sticking to the paths.
