Melville Bird Sanctuary

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Melville Bird Sanctuary

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In such close proximity to the Alfred Cove A-Class Nature Reserve and the Swan Estuary Marine Park, this was no place for a wave park.

Our mission is to increase community awareness of birds & their habitats; to protect & strengthen our natural environment; & to provide sanctuary for & grow our bird population for the benefit of current & future generations. OUR STORY:

2016: Advanced plans for a wave park to be built at Tompkins Park posed a very real threat to the natural environments of Alfred Cove, the Swan Estuary Marine Park and public open space.

2017: The vision of a Melville Bird Sanctuary was developed by the Alfred Cove Action Group (ACAG) Committee with assistance from SERAG, as they engaged with the local and wider community to inform and resist the building of a wave park at Tompkins Park. Late 2018: ACAG put a counter proposal of a Melville Bird Sanctuary instead of a wave park to an AGM of several 100s of City of Melville Electors at the Mt Pleasant Baptist Hall. Tom Lubin presented the MBS proposal accompanied by photos of local birdlife taken at Alfred Cove by renowned wildlife photographer Melissa Zapelli, which captured the attention and overwhelming approval of electors present at the meeting. Early 2019: A Conservation Council of WA/ACAG petition to the State Government for a Melville Bird Sanctuary instead of a wave park received 2542 signatures. The petition remained unpresented as it was overtaken by the following State Government decision:

March 2019: The State Government’s decision to not allow the Crown Land at the western edge of Tompkins Park to be used for the wave park development, resulted in the scrapping of the wave park at Tompkins Park. March 2020: Tom Lubin and Jenny Christenson co-founded the Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary. With a new Mayor George Gear and several new Councillors in Melville Council, they again took up the cause of establishing the Melville Bird Sanctuary. October 2020: Melville Council approved inclusion of the Melville Bird Sanctuary in the Attadale Alfred Cove Foreshore Master Plan. In June 2023, the establishment of the Melville Bird Sanctuary was supported by the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (Swan River Trust) and Melville Council within defined boundaries (see below):

East Region: The Attadale Alfred Cove foreshore along the Swan Estuary Marine Park including the mudflats from Ness Road in Applecross to Page Street in Attadale and the Alfred Cove A-Class Nature Reserve; Pt Waylen peninsula up to the line of tall trees; the treed area (bushbird habitat) along Burke Drive between the end of Troy Park Oval and Haig Road along with the land between the foreshore and Burke Drive; the Crown Land at the western end of Tompkins Park foreshore. West Region: Point Walter Spit, Blackwall Reach Reserve and foreshore at Blackwall Reach Parade up to but not including Bicton Jetty. Please see our website at www.melbirdsanc.com for details.

30/10/2026

Thank you Peter Unstead for sharing your recent photos of our Alfred Cove Osprey family. What an absolutely delightful photo of the photogenic youngster spreading it’s wings!!!

26/10/2026

From Lesley Hartmann - our much photographed feathered celebrities 🤩🤗

21/10/2026

David Walker got a few gorgeous shots of the Alfred Cove Osprey family at Point Waylen yesterday

20/10/2026

Lovely new photos from Sue Harper of our Alfred Cove Osprey chick with Mum & Dad

18/10/2026

Pied Stilt chick with its mumma❣️by Lesley Hartmann

16/10/2026

We waited & hoped & it’s happened!! Our Alfred Cove Osprey couple have a chick & are displaying the behaviour of caring parents 😍. We’ve watched & waited & observed their behaviour since July. First photo of chick below from Amy Loffler followed by next three from Sue Harper. Welcome little one❣️🤗🙏🙏💕

04/10/2026

Beautiful Pied Stilt chick from Joey Jackson

04/10/2026

Gorgeous Pied Stilt photos by Joey Jackson 😍

04/10/2026

Beautiful Alfred Cove Osprey photos from Joey Jackson. Stay tuned - we may have exciting news ❣️

02/10/2026

A beautiful little diversion …🥰

I spy with my little eye, a darling noolbenger perched on a scarlet banksia. 😍

Did you know that the noolbenger (Noongar, honey possum) feeds exclusively on nectar and pollen? They are the only marsupial in the world known to have such a specialised diet.

This species is an incredibly important pollinator of banksia flowers, and they have actually developed a symbiotic relationship with these plants.

The dependence of honey possums on the banksia flowers means they are able to discriminate ripe, nectar-bearing banksia flowers from immature unripe flowers. This skill enables the species efficiently to collect large quantities of pollen and nectar. Despite only weighing 5-20 grams, they can drink up to 7ml of nectar a day!

This stunning photograph was taken by Naidu Kumpatla (), on Western Australia's south coast. Tag your nature and wildlife photos with for a chance to be featured in our feed.

Address

East Perth, WA

Website

http://www.melbirdsanc.com/

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