I have been inundated with requests for directions to the site on Hope
Island where the Painted Snipe are breeding. I have been reluctant to post
it on Birding-aus as I was concerned for the welfare of the chicks although
I have been giving it to individuals who have asked. The exact map
reference is now on a web site so I guess I may as well save myself sending
an average of four or five e-mails a session.
It is of great concern that some of the birders have been wading through
the reeds trying to flush the snipe. There is a great deal of suitable
habitat in the adjoining golf club which has a "members only" attitude and
security people backing it up. If the birds are continually flushed, they
are bound to disappear through the fence and we will all miss out. They may
also desert the young if this continues. This behaviour should be deplored
by all birders.
Travelling south from Brisbane on the Motorway, take the Hope Island exit
just after the Coomera River (I forget the exit number). Continue past the
Sanctuary Cove exit (you can see a new shopping centre in on the left - BiLo
stands out) to the next roundabout. There is a complex called Village
Square on the left. It is a very large roundabout. Turn right here onto
Helensvale Road. As the four lanes merge into two, you will
see the swampy area on your right. It is best to park in the shade of the
trees near the large water holes slightly further on and walk back..
We know there is a least one breeding pair as they have downy chicks with
them. There are also at least 3 flying juveniles. We have the feeling that
there is more than one pair, mainly based on sightings with chicks, but
can't prove it.
They were seen on Wed, Thur, Sat and Sun last week. Probably seen on Friday
as well but have had no reports from those who went looking. One of the
best places to look from is the raised bank alongside the Energex building.
Although the books all say that the birds appear at dawn and dusk, those who
turned up very early dipped out until after 8 a.m. Each of the three days I
was there, they did not show themselves until almost 8:30.
Terry Pacey
Gold Coast
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