Thanks to the Australian Government Caring for our Country Program, we received a Community Action Grant that has enabled us to hold two days of workshops focusing on the beautiful shorebirds in our region.  Thanks to our new friends Dan Weller and Grainne Maguire from BirdLife Australia (www.birdlife.org.au) and Robyn Kesby from NSW National Parks & Wildlife Shorebird Recovery Program, day 1 involved a comprehensive overview of the distinction between shorebirds and seabirds, the wide range of habitats – both inland and coastal – that shorebirds inhabit and a thorough lesson on identification methods.

Following lunch, the 46 attendees then ventured down to Curalo Lake – many with their binoculars and cameras at the ready – to see what they could see. They were not disappointed with a number of birds identified.

Day 2 of the workshop today will take place in Merimbula and focus more on the local initiatives where trained local volunteers are helping to manage the risks involved with rearing young on busy beaches crowded with holiday makers.  Of great interest are the endangered hooded plovers and little terns in this region which are struggling to survive amid humans, dogs and the odd extra hazard such as foxes and goannas etc.

Anyone keen to learn more about volunteering for this project should contact Robyn Kesby at the Merimbula office of National Parks.