The Effects of Model Power Boats on Waterbirds at Herdsman Lake, Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

The study shows that the use by waterbirds of those parts of Herdsman Lake used for racing model power boats remained at a level comparable with that of other parts of Herdsman Lake. We consider that the racing of model power boats, at its present levels of intensity and frequency, is not detrimental to waterbirds in the long term. On days when model boats were using the lake, some species vacated the lake, some moved to other parts of the lake and some sheltered in rushes while model boat racing was in progress. Numbers of waterbirds returned to pre-boating levels once the boats left.