Hi everybody -
The message below for your attention.
Cheers,
Hugo
------------------------------
Beach nesting birds need your help this year!
By selecting a stretch of beach to walk on this summer you could be helping
in the conservation of some of our most threatened birds. Every two years,
up to 200 volunteers are sought to count the numbers of Hooded Plovers,
Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers and Beach Stone-curlews along the NSW Coast.
This year is one of those years. Volunteers will be given a kit including
a map of the beach/es of their choice, count forms and some simple
instructions. You are of course allowed to count any other birds of
interest on your way! These could include other species of waders, Little
Terns, Common Terns, Ospreys and White-bellied Sea-Eagles. The data from
this years count will be used to produce a report on the status of the
first four species mentioned. This will then be published in a national
bird journal. Copies will also be available free to all of our volunteers
in return for their efforts. The data from previous counts of the Hooded
Plover has already been used in the Hooded Plover Recovery Plan by the
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and has done a lot to help
protect these birds from disturbance by people and predation from foxes.
(It will be interesting to see if we have made a difference to the number
of Hooded Plovers in NSW after years of decline). The 1996 to 2000 results
of the Pied and Sooty Oystercatcher count data has also been analysed and
is being summarised and sent to volunteers who have helped us in the past.
We are again covering the whole of the NSW coast from Tweed Heads (Qld
border to Cape Howe (Vic border). The only exceptions are Bondi and
Newcastle Beaches! The dates for this year's count is the weekend of 9/10
November 2002 although there is leeway in the case of bad weather
conditions and those who prefer to count mid-week (e.g. NPWS or Forestry
staff).
If you are interested in becoming involved in this worthwhile project
contact the NSW Coordinator, Beach Nesting Bird Survey 2002, PO Box 2006,
Rockdale Delivery Centre, NSW 2216 or at: or
telephone 02 9597 2789. You will be put in touch with a local coordinator
and other volunteers in your area and given a list of beaches that need to
be counted.
Little Terns to go unprotected this year?
The status of the Little Tern has improved over the past few years due to
the efforts of many volunteers and funding from the NPWS. Botany Bay has
been one of the best-known success stories with a major colony being
established after a number of disasterous years. That was until the death
of Keith Egan last year. Keith was primarily responsible for protecting
the Little Terns of Botany Bay for many years. With Keith's passing away,
the Little Tern colony at the Spit Island in Botany also came to an end.
There is a strong possibility that funding by the NPWS may also be cut
which could result in the permanent loss of one of the most important
Little Tern colonies in NSW. We desperately need a list of people who may
be available to help if funding is cut. One working group may be needed to
clear vegetation from the nesting site at Spit Island (say 10 people for
one day, but the more the merrier). We also need 'wardens' at weekends to
educate the public and stop people and dogs from landing at the colony and
to keep an eye out for signs of predators such as foxes and ravens.
Whether you are available for a half-day during the summer or a number of
days you could be instrumental in protecting one of the most important
Little Tern colonies in Australia.
If you would like to put on the standby list please contact Phil Straw on
02 9597 7765 or email:
A letter on behalf of all of the bird clubs in NSW has been drafted to ask
the NPWS to ensure that funding is made available for the Botany Bay Little
Tern colony. Hopefully it will not fall to volunteers alone to ensure this
colony survives. But don't hold your breath!
--------------------------------------
Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
Hawthorn East 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
Email: <>
Website: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
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