Monitoring Shorebirds at Boat Harbour
The Port Botany Container Terminal expansion project is a large development which, in 2007, is currently under preliminary stages. Being situated on the shores of Botany Bay, it carries the potential to disturb wave patterns across the bay which could well alter silt deposition and cause damage to vital habitat for a broad range of migratory and sedentary wading birds. The expansion itself could significantly impact directly upon adjacent feeding and roosting resources for these species.
To deal with these potential threats to species which are already under a great deal of pressure along the entire East Asian-Australasian Flyway, off-sets to the development are included in the planning. These will consist of the setting aside and increase in size of Penrhyn Estuary (adjacent to the development). A sizeable offset is already planned but this may increase in proportion to the level of disturbance and loss of habitat which the construction process and finalised project creates.
I am one of several Ornithologists contracted to count and observe shorebirds (with emphasis on migratory species) at various locations on the shores of Botany Bay, Bate Bay, Newcastle and Homebush Bay, in order to build a picture of their patterns of movement across the region and their resource utilisation. This is part of an eight year study which will provide the Department of Environment and Conservation with data which will help to shape policy both for the purposes of this construction project and in future ventures.
The monitoring, for my part, involves weekly counts and observations of shorebirds at Boat Harbour, on the northern tip of Bate Bay, and Qibray Bay, adjacent to Towra Point, on Botany Bay. Observations take place at both high and low tides. Results are recorded and added to the data provided by other researchers.
The study and observation of migratory shorebirds, or waders, is one requiring very strong field identification skills and an excellent knowledge of the behaviour of these various species. This is not common among naturalists, birdwatchers and even other ornithologists.
This contract commenced in November 2006 and is ongoing.