This snake was just a short distance from a pathway around Victoria Park Lake.
Spring has produced a fresh crop of young birds at Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake, but it is also the harbinger of a dangerous native.
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While considerable attention has been focused on the black swans that have produced three cygnets in the lake, another native is thriving.
While trying to photograph a wild duck and her tiny ducklings paddling in the water at the southern end of Victoria Park Lake, I stumbled upon a healthy tiger snake enjoying the spring weather.
He or she may have enjoyed a recent meal, as they were plump-looking, and coiled up in the reeds about two metres from the water’s edge.
According to the Australian Museum, the snake’s large size, often aggressive defence and toxic venom make it extremely dangerous to humans.
The snakes become more active in warmer weather and are often seen near waterways, such as Victoria Park Lake, as their diet includes fish and frogs.
So, enjoy the spring bird-life at the lake, but stay on the paths.
Wild ducks enjoying the sunshine at the lake on Saturday.
A purple swamp hen and chicks born recently at Victoria Park Lake. Their nest can be seen near the pedestrian bridge behind the Shepparton Art Museum.
One of the black swans that is nurturing three cygnets at the lake.
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