South Coast shorebird hatching boom despite bushfires

FEBRUARY 19, 2020 8:18 AM AEDT

Critically endangered Little Terns, Hooded Plovers and Pied Oystercatchers have fledged chicks at nesting sites along the NSW South Coast despite bushfires and beach visitors.

Environment Minister Matt Kean was pleased the little nesting shorebirds are doing well despite many challenges this summer including the Currowan fire.

“It’s really encouraging to see great conservation outcomes for these rare birds,” Mr Kean said.

“It’s great to have positive news about these birds which are migratory and listed as endangered or vulnerable species at risk of predation, storms and other threats.”

“These precious birds made it through last week’s king tide which nearly washed the eggs away before they hatched. Thankfully, NSW Government’s Saving our Species (SoS) program experts and local volunteers snatched them to safety from the advancing tide, moving the nests to the top of a sand mound.”

Volunteers kept watch to ensure the chicks were safe as the youngsters are still feeding with their parents at the site. Other breeding successes include:

35 little terns at Mogareeka, near Tathra

10 little terns and three pied oyster catchers at Tuross estuary, despite fox attacks and high tides

5 pied oyster catcher fledglings near Durras Lake entrance.

Shorebird Recovery Coordinator Sophie Hall-Aspland said these results show the shorebirds’ resilience, with the help of the determined efforts of the SoS’s South Coast Shorebird Recovery Program, which is a collaboration between SoS, NPWS, local community groups and over 100 volunteers.

The shorebird nesting season occurs from August to January/February, with peak laying from late November to mid-December. While pied oystercatchers are residents on many Aussie beaches, little terns undertake an arduous migration from as far away as Korea and Vietnam.

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Endangered bird dies entangled in fishing line

An endangered Pied Oystercatcher has been found dead on the NSW South Coast, entangled in fishing line that had almost severed both its feet.

The bird was discovered by a paddler on Mogareeka Inlet, near Tathra, and has led to renewed appeals for fishers to leave no trace of line, hooks, or any other equipment.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Ranger for Ben Boyd National Park George Malolakis asked fishers to be wildlife aware.

“When fishing, try and cast away from foraging birds and make sure you collect any discarded fishing line or other fishing gear,” Mr Malolakis said.

“Death by entanglement is not humane and while most fishers have great respect for the environment, a thoughtless few can do serious harm

“The shortest piece of line or the smallest hook or lead weight left behind can injure or kill wildlife.

“If you do inadvertently hook a bird please don’t panic and do not cut your line.

“Gently reel the bird in and place a towel or shirt over the bird’s head, then very gently try to remove the hook or line.

“Do not release the bird if hooks have been swallowed or are too difficult to remove, instead call your local wildlife care group.

“This entangled bird carcass was delivered to WIRES and, while nothing could be done, this was the right thing to do.

Continued