The Boulevard

About This Bird

The Superb Fairy-wren is one of Australia's most recognisable small birds. During breeding season, the male transforms from a drab brown into a spectacular display of electric blue and black plumage — one of the most vivid colour changes in the bird world.

These social birds live in family groups of 3–5, with a dominant breeding male, a female, and several helpers. They forage low in dense shrubs along the Maribyrnong River corridor, darting between cover with their tails cocked upright.

Quick Facts

Conservation

Least Concern

While currently secure, fairy-wrens depend on dense understorey vegetation. Clearing of native shrubs along waterways and predation by cats are the main threats locally.

Where to Spot Them

Look in the dense shrubby areas along the riverbank near the first 500m of the trail. Early morning (7–9am) is best. Listen for their distinctive high-pitched trilling call.

Best months: Sep–Feb (males in full blue plumage)

About This Bird

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is one of Australia's most iconic birds. This large white parrot, about 50 centimetres tall, is hard to miss with its piercing screech and brilliant yellow crest that fans out when excited or alarmed.

Cockatoos are incredibly intelligent — known to solve puzzles, use tools, and famously open wheelie bins across suburban Melbourne. They can live over 70 years and form lifelong pair bonds.

Quick Facts

Conservation

Least Concern

Abundant across eastern Australia. Their biggest challenge in urban areas is the loss of old hollow-bearing River Red Gums they need for nesting.

About This Bird

The Red-rumped Parrot is a beautiful grass parrot commonly found feeding on the ground along the Maribyrnong River Trail. The male is bright emerald green with a distinctive red rump patch, while the female is a more subtle olive green.

Often spotted in pairs or small groups pecking at seeds in grassy areas, they have a soft, melodic chattering call and an undulating flight pattern between trees.

Quick Facts

Conservation

Least Concern

Red-rumped Parrots have actually benefited from European land clearing, as they prefer open grassy areas. However, they still depend on tree hollows in old eucalyptus for nesting.

About This Animal

The Platypus is one of the world's most extraordinary animals, and incredibly, they live right here in the Maribyrnong River. This egg-laying mammal has a duck-like bill, a beaver-like tail, and venomous spurs on its hind legs.

Platypuses are most active at dawn and dusk, feeding on aquatic invertebrates detected by electroreceptors in their bills. They can consume their own body weight in food every day.

Quick Facts

Conservation

Near Threatened

Platypus populations have declined significantly. Threats include habitat loss, water pollution, dam construction, and fishing nets. Healthy river corridors like the Maribyrnong are critical refuges.

Where to Spot Them

Dawn and dusk near quiet, deep pools. Look for a small V-shaped ripple on the water surface, or a trail of bubbles. They typically surface for 10–20 seconds to breathe before diving again for 1–2 minutes.

Best months: Year-round, but more active Feb–Apr

About This Bird

The Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo is a magnificent large parrot with glossy black plumage, yellow cheek patches, and bright yellow tail panels. Their haunting, drawn-out wailing call is unmistakable as they fly in small flocks over the river corridor.

They use their powerful bills to tear into wattle seed pods and dead wood searching for beetle larvae. Each bird can eat thousands of wood-boring grubs in a season, making them natural pest controllers.

Quick Facts

Conservation

Least Concern

While still common, loss of old-growth nesting trees is a growing concern. They need very large tree hollows (taking 150+ years to form) to nest in.

About This Frog

The Growling Grass Frog is one of Australia's largest native frogs, growing up to 10 centimetres long. Named for its distinctive low growling call, this green and brown mottled frog was once common across south-eastern Australia but has declined dramatically.

They're powerful swimmers and voracious predators, eating insects, smaller frogs, and even small mice. They can leap over 1 metre in a single bound.

Quick Facts

Conservation

Vulnerable

Listed as vulnerable in Victoria. Threatened by habitat loss, chytrid fungus disease, water pollution, and invasive species. The Maribyrnong River corridor is one of their remaining urban refuges.