Protecting Our Coasts from the Impacts of Marine Oil Spills OSRA is a national geospatial database combining logistical, environmental, geomorphological and biological data from varied sources into a single integrated database. OSRA can be easily and quickly interrogated and used in contingency planning and to respond to oil spill emergencies.
The key to the success of OSRA is ensuring the database is as comprehensive and up to date as possible. In particular, information on biological communities most at risk from oil spills is essential.
Birds Australia, in conjunction with the Bird Observation and Conservation Australia, has completed an important round of updates to the national Oil Spill Response Atlas (OSRA) database.
The project (funded by the Dependent of Primary Industries Victoria and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority) found over 60 previously unidentified sites of significance for birds in the Bass Coast, Port Phillip and Westernport Bay areas of Victoria. In addition, over 950 new species records (including a number of threatened, endangered and migratory species) were added to the database.
The success of the project was built largely on the contributions of local experts and amateur birdwatchers. A number of workshops were held with professional and recreational birdwatchers, and the information gained was combined with data from the Atlas of Australian Birds to produce high resolution maps of bird distribution and abundance in the target areas. This data was then analysed and incorporated into the OSRA.
The OSRA database has already proved critical to the successful rescue a number of birds after 25,000 litres of heavy fuel oil was spilt near Kilcunda in 2003 (see Wingspan Vol. 13 No.2 pp 6-7). The OSRA identified a number of Hooded Plover and Little Penguins sites at which oiled birds were found. These birds were treated at the nearby Phillip Island Nature Park and successfully released.
Birds Australia is currently seeking funding to roll out this project to other key areas of the Victorian and Australian coastline.
LinksAustralian Maritime Safety Authority:
Oil Spill Response Atlas Page
Oiled wildlife information
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Existing OSRA map of significant shorebird sites for Port Phillip and Westernport Bays (click to enlarge)
Community consultation has proven to be a key element in gathering detailed data about birds at risk from oil spills
New Atlas of Australian Birds shorebird, coastal and marine bird records Port Phillip and Westernport Bays (click to enlarge)
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Conservation 
