Shorebirds across the globe are under pressure. We need to do what we can to protect them and their habitats. Let’s make space on the shore for these amazing birds.
Extracts from a presentation by Debbie Andrew on shorebirds of Botany Bay and Port Hacking for Local Land Services hosted by Sutherland Environment Centre on 10 Dec 2021. Power Point can be downloaded .
Botany Bay and Port Hacking are important to migratory shorebirds
- 18 species of migratory shorebirds are regularly found in Botany Bay and Port Hacking areas due to the diversity of habitat and rich invertebrate foods.
- Migratory species spend more than 6 months a year here preparing for their annual migration to their breeding grounds in the tundras, moorlands and coasts of the high latitudes of Siberia and Alaskan Arctic in the northern hemisphere.
- Their time in Australia is is a critical part of the life cycle, recovering body condition, moulting feathers and building up fat reserves for migration.
- Botany Bay and Port Hacking together support nationally significant populations of Critically Endangered Eastern Curlew, Endangered Pied Oystercatcher and Double-banded Plover.
- The Endangered Little Tern, a migrant from Japan, regularly breeds on Towra Spit Island at Towra Point.
- The small Double-banded Plover breeds in New Zealand and migrates to Australia in winter.
Power Point Presentation by Debbie Andrew on shorebirds of Botany bay and Port hacking for Local Land Services hosted by Sutherland Environment Centre Dec 2021 Download
Click here to see Gary Dunnett’s excellent photos on Merries Reef
