Recent audits of bird life in the Drouin district have revealed some highlights and some changes to where birds are active.
Friends of Drouin's Trees have conducted surveys in autumn and spring since 2018, the data from which is uploaded to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and Bird Life Australia's Birdata.
The group's Judy Farmer said highlights had included the sighting of two pair of Spotted Pardalotes at Bellbird Park, a Spotless Crake in Hopetoun Rd and about six Reed Warblers at Gum Scrub Creek.
At the Drouin wastewater treatment plant there were more than 200 pink-eared ducks and good numbers of Masked Lapwings, Shovelers and blue-billed ducks.
And despite the continued presence of a Bell Miner colony in the eastern part of one reserve there were still some little bush birds present and although there were generally fewer birds at Golden Whistler Reserve the area's namesake was still there.
Ms Farmer said the raw numbers or birds were "sadly low again" with ducks, raptors and honeyeaters absent at Bellbird Park and no Red Browed Finches at Gum Scrub.
The survey team visited Thornells Reserve, McNeilly's wetlands, Amberley bushland reserve, Gum Scrub Creek on the Two Towns Trail, Bellbird Park and the wastewater plant.
Ms Farmer said it was important to collect the data because the number and diversity of birds were indicative of the health of the natural environment.
Birds are excellent indicators because they can be sensitive to changes in habitat quality, pollution and other environmental stressors and changes in their numbers and distribution can signal underlying problems in the natural environment and impact on human health, she said.
West Gippsland is fortunate that towns still have large old trees that provide rest, nesting, food and hollows for birds, Ms Farmer said.