One of the biggest bushfires in decades threatened to engulf the Broome Bird
Observatory. It came within 20 metres of the new laboratory before being
turned back by members of the Broome Volunteer Fire Brigade, workers from
the Broome Shire Council and BBO staff and volunteers. At the height of the
blaze staff and residents from the BBO had to be evacuated until the danger
had passed.
Members of the AWSG, having just finished the first phase of their bi-ennial
banding of waders on the North-west coast, are at the BBO.
During the evacuation, because the beach was probably the safest place to be
during a bushfire anyway, it was decided that the scheduled canon net should
go ahead, consequently more than one hundred waders were banded and
processed.
The downside of course is the many hundreds of hectares of Roebuck Plains
station property which has been burnt out with the ensuing loss of rich
grazing pasture, fencing and property and stock losses. Details of these
are not to hand at this time.
As well as this of course is the destruction of what was very good bird
habitat and also active nest sites one of which was a White-bellied Sea
Eagle's, also in the path of the fire were some Red-capped Plover with just
fledged chicks.
The cause of the fire is not known.
Phil Joy
P O Box 1510
Broome
W A 6725
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