News

South Coast shorebird hatching boom despite bushfires

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Critically endangered shore birds have  fledged chicks at nesting sites along the South Coast despite bushfires and beach visitors.

The Little Terns, Hooded Plovers and Pied Oystercatchers are doing well, despite many challenges this summer including the Currowan fire.

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 have continued to kept watch to ensure the chicks are safe, as the youngsters are still feeding with their parents at the site.

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.