I must congratulate Jill Denning,
Terrill Nordstrom and other birdos regarding their suggestions for
ways to save the Little Terns and nesting shorebirds. Certainly
the more presence of birders around the Little Tern nesting areas will help even
if for a few hours at a time. I for one have spent a number of hours
(not just for a couple of hours) during the past months around these Little Tern
nesting areas. Though spending a lot of time looking at both shorebirds and
terns at the nearby sandspits or the shearwater wizzing past the beach, I've
also got my eyes on the lookout for anyone causing potential trouble to
these poor birds and other shorebirds that nest there (so far I have not
witnessed any trouble as yet but have come across people stopping to read the
Little Tern nesting area signs and walk away). I also plan to spend more
hours in future over the next few weeks around these areas. If I lived close to
the coast, I would be even spending more time. I believe that fellow birdos
like Darryl McKay have done a tremendous job in devoting a lot of their time in
attending these breeding colonies and are doing a very important job for
Australia (Vote Darryl McKay for Australian
of the Year!!!). However, we may also need our presence at these sites at
night, when few people are about on the beach and at a time when
such vandalism toTern and shorebird breeding
colonies could happen.
Maybe we also need some secret
surveillance cameras around the colonies? and have warning
signs around these nesting areas stating that they are under 24 hours
surveillance, 7 days a week and to report any offenders
to.....
I am also in the process of writing
a letter to the government in the meantime in relation to this matter. Maybe we
should even get a petition going addressed to the government to lobby for more
funds towards Beach nesting Bird protection?
Edwin Vella
