Rename a native rodent from water-rat to its aboriginal name “Rakali”, and you can change the public view on an ignored animal. A family of Rakalis on the St Kilda break water has been semi-tamed via a local fisherman feeding them bait, fish and little cheese snacks. The Rakali has a varied diet and can be quite aggressive in its hunting. I have seen one kill an injured Pink-eared duck at the Werribee Treatment Plant.
St Kilda pier and break water is a good place to get up close and personal with the Rakali family as well as the nesting and roosting Little Penguins. On this visit most were still out hunting and I only found one Penguin down a rock crevice burrow.
Little Penguin, St Kilda break water, Victoria
Rakali, St Kilda break water, being fed a snack (notice the rear web feet)
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The Gap Year and Beyond 
Still enjoying this site enormously and now planning a trip to Mallacoota inspired by your photos. Meanwhile the lakes under the Westgate Bridge have become a breeding ground for Coots and Stilts. A recent trip yielded some great baby photos. Dianne Clark
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Thanks for the comments Dianne. I will have to visit Westgate Park this weekend. Hope you enjoy Mallacoota , let me know if you would like a list of sites and places to visit.
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Thank you. Would love a list of sites and places to visit. You are very generous. Is this a hobby or profession for you may I ask please. Your website is great, photos are terrific. Dianne
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Thanks Dianne, just a hobby, started learning about birds and travelling around the state of Victoria, after a few years of photographing birds to help ID them I started just trying to take better photographs – it just takes a bit time and patience. Let me know when you go to Mallacoota and I will out the spots to sus out.
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