Rare bird calls Milang sanctuary its home

On the edge of Lake Alexandrina, Milang hosts a rare breed of bird which takes up residence in a small sanctuary in the middle of town.

To help the migratory bird continue to flourish in the area, the state government, the community and not-for-profit groups have got together to deliver up to 14 megalitres of water to inundate the unique feeding ground.

The Latham’s snipe is the largest snipe species in Australia and is the king of camouflage

The Latham’s snipe, also called the Japanese snipe (Gallinago hardwickii),  travels thousands of kilometres to Australia from Japan and East Asia to feed and escape the Northern Hemisphere winter.

Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin wetlands management officer Kate Mason said the birds enjoyed feeding on tiny insects, worms and seeds of aquatic plants.

“If it’s a dry summer, the wetland dries up and the birds can no longer push their distinctively long bill into the mud and will need to move on,” Ms Mason said.

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Port Fairy Landcare group takes fight to save rare water bird's habitat to VCAT

A Landcare group heads to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to continue its fight to save the habitat of a protected bird species from a proposed development.

Each year, a small, brown Japanese water bird - the Latham's Snipe - migrates from the northern hemisphere to south-eastern Australia.

The rare bird is protected under several international agreements, including the Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement and by the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Jodie Honan of the South Beach Wetlands and Landcare Group says many of the birds flock to Port Fairy's Powling Street wetlands, which is made up of three ephemeral or seasonal wetlands.

"It comes to our part of the world to rest and to feed and get ready for its migration back to Japan."

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Rare birds halt Shell Cove marina project

The appearance of rare birds at the Shell Cove boat harbour construction site has prompted Shellharbour City Council and Australand to delay building a section of a three-metre-high earth noise barrier.

In recent weeks Illawarra bird-watching groups have spotted a number of rare and endangered birds in the Shellharbour Swamp area, including the endangered painted snipe and several migratory birds including Latham's snipe and the pectoral sandpiper.

A council spokeswoman said to accommodate the migratory birds, Shellharbour Council and Australand sought approval from authorities to delay the north-eastern segment of the wall until the threatened species migrated in April, while allowing works to continue some distance away from that section of the bund wall.

This pond area and swamp, once part of the former council rubbish tip site, will eventually be filled in as part of the approved boat harbour development, but will be used as part of the water management process during the early stages of construction.

Michelle Rower, who is a member of the Illawarra Birders and the Illawarra Bird Observers Club, said she was delighted.

The sightings, particularly of the painted snipe, had created a buzz among local bird watchers.

"The Latham's snipe will likely migrate between February and mid-March and the pectoral sandpipers will hang around for another month," Ms Rower said.

"The painted snipe pops up in different places so you don't really know how long it will stay, but hopefully it will be gone by the time they start constructing the wall."

Continued:  http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1254445/rare-birds-halt-shell-cove-marina-project/?cs=12