Wardens keep an eye on pied oystercatcher chicks
In a joint initiative between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Department of Lands, three new wardens have been employed to protect pied oystercatcher chicks at South Ballina and Evans Head during this year’s breeding season.
NPWS Richmond River Area Ranger Andrew Fay said that the new wardens, funded by the Department of Lands, will be patrolling the beach right through the breeding season until late December.
“The wardens are part of the Pied Oystercatcher Protection Program being co-ordinated by the Department of Lands, Ballina Shire Council, Richmond Valley Council, Tweed-Lismore Rural Lands Protection Board and the NPWS,” Mr Fay said.
“The wardens will provide a public contact, advisory and education role with the aim of ensuring beach users are considerate of the needs of breeding pied oystercatchers when they visit the beach.
“We want to achieve the best success rate yet for the survival of the chicks.
“The wardens will be recognisable in orange hats and Pied Oystercatcher Warden T-shirts that display the NPWS and Department of Lands logos. They will be happy to supply the public with brochures and information about the conservation of shorebirds and their habitat.
“They will also explain the new stop/go management signage that restricts beach users from stopping in areas surrounding nesting pairs of pied oystercatchers.
“These are temporary signs will placed on the beach, 150 metres either side of nests, asking beach users to remain clear of these areas. Nesting birds are easily disturbed, leading to eggs being cooked in the sun or eaten by predators.”
