Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Ramsar site – Ramsar Information Sheet
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About the document
Ramsar Information Sheets provide information on wetlands that have been designated under the Ramsar Convention as Wetlands of International Importance. A Ramsar Information Sheet includes information on wetland types, ecology, land uses, threats, hydrological values and maps for the site.
The Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Ramsar Site consists of two separate wetland areas (Edithvale Wetland and Seaford Wetland) which are remnants of the once much more extensive Carrum Carrum Swamp. The Ramsar site also includes predominantly dryland areas surrounding the main wetlands. The site is now modified and acts a flood control/stormwater basin for the surrounding urban areas.
The wetlands are actively managed by Melbourne Water for biodiversity values, particularly waterbirds. The interactions of hydrology and vegetation provide a mosaic of habitats. The site is internationally significant for supporting two threatened waterbird species: Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) and curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea). The site regularly supports eight international migratory shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, including > 1% of the population of the sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata). A number of waterbirds regularly breed at the site, including black swan (Cygnus atratus), chestnut teal (Anas castanea), blue-billed duck (Oxyura australis), dusky moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) and purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). There are also records of wetland dependent raptors (swamp harrier; Circus approximans) and other wetland dependent birds (e.g. clamorous reed warbler; Acrocephalus stentoreus) breeding in the site.