Lucknow Primary School students spent a day at Macleod Morass identifying bugs, bird watching and water monitoring.
The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Wildlife Unlimited helped the grade five and six students in their outdoor activity to support their science and environmental studies.
The students explored the rich biodiversity of the morass and learnt about the importance of it being an internationally significant Ramsar wetland. They were given an overview of the programs undertaken to ensure its conservation, including the wastewater treatment plant and constructed wetlands.
“East Gippsland CMA are always keen to help schools, and their students gain a deeper understanding of the environment and in this case the vital role wetlands play,” said Bec, East Gippsland CMA’s CEO.
With a new understanding of this important wetland, the students broke into groups to get stuck into some hands-on activities.
The water monitoring involved looking at salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and turbidity which are important water quality parameters in the health of the wetlands.
The students examined under a microscope some of the millions of bugs and critters that are found at the morass, which form part of the food chain for fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals.
The students eagerly donned binoculars and, with bird books in hand, set out to identify as many birds as possible. They quickly spotted a flock of Ibis and eagerly flipped through the pages to name the Purple Swamphens, Black Ducks and Welcome Swallows they had seen. The sight of a Spoonbill feeding in the shallows was an added delight.
