If you’re heading off to the beach this week, don’t be surprised if you spot National Parks rangers, Marine Park staff and volunteers including the Byron Bird Buddies out and about in boats and on foot with binoculars.
Northern Rivers shorebirds will be in their sights as they take part in a state-wide survey of shorebirds.
The survey targets three key threatened species, the pied oystercatcher, beach stone-curlew and little terns, in order to get a snapshot of their abundance, according to National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Pest Management Officer, Lisa Wellman
The survey is part of the Fox Threat Abatement Plan and will provide important data on shorebird numbers and movements to assist with management.
‘The region is an important habitat for shorebirds and there are many challenges for conservation in managing an area of high population growth like this,’ Ms Wellman said.
‘This is the second year the survey has been undertaken. Last year’s survey found that the Northern Rivers Region had about one third of the state’s pied oystercatchers (102) and about half of the beach stone-curlews (9). Little terns were in comparatively small numbers, with only 27 adults found in the region, out of about 1400 across the state.’