A Partnership Program

Birds Australia, Rio Tinto, the Tasmania Conservation Trust and Conservation Volunteers Australia are working together to conserve Tasmania’s shorebirds. The Tasmanian Shorebird Conservation Program has been established to help protect shorebirds by managing threats to important habitat in the state.

Review of Tasmanian Shorebirds

In 2006 the partners commissioned Birds Australia to undertake a review of “Shorebirds, their threats and management needs in Tasmania” to identify priority sites for conservation. The review identified the Tamar region - George Town, Kelso/Greens Beach, Bellbuoy Beach and Bellingham - as one of several important areas for shorebirds. Over 20 potential threats were identified, and these were overwhelmingly related to human activities such as vehicles on beaches and dogs off-leash. Invasive weeds, such as Sea Spurge, were also considered a key management issue.

Pilot Projects

Planning for a pilot phase of the program occurred in the first half of 2007, and two pilot projects - a habitat management project in George Town and a regional education and awareness program in the Tamar – commenced in October 2007.

The George Town Shorebird Habitat Project aims to minimise disturbance to sensitive shorebird habitat within the George Town Wildlife Sanctuary. Revegetation of the foreshore with native plants will act as a buffer to deter people and pets from accessing offshore islands used by shorebirds for roosting and breeding, and mudflats used by the birds for feeding. It is hoped that signs, combined with talks to schools and the public, as well as opportunities for people to participate in planting activities, will help foster local stewardship of this important site.

The Shorebird Discovery Project aims to minimise disturbance to shorebirds through influencing human behaviour on Tasmanian beaches. To do this, shorebird education kits have been produced for the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service Discovery Ranger Program, complemented by a series of shorebird talks to the public and schools in the Tamar region over the coming summer months.

Volunteer Opportunities

Members of the public interested in attending a shorebird talk or finding out more about the Tasmanian Shorebird Conservation Program are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , on 03 6234 3552 or 0413 300 797.

Red-capped Plover © Mike Weston

Dogs Day Out © Bianca Priest

 
George Town Primary School © Bianca Priest

Discovery Ranger training© Bianca Priest