Three years on Curlew Island for migratory shorebirds, time to celebrate the hard work!
Three years in the making and the finish line is getting closer for our Curlew Island Restoration Project.
Designed to help protect and stabilise shorebird populations in Southern Moreton Bay, the project is part of a broader set of initiatives dedicated to the preservation of natural assets in the Moreton Bay Ramsar and is now in its final year.
As part of the closeout late last year, we have organised a one-off meeting with important stakeholders to show off the work and to develop lasting relationships.
Let’s have a closer look at this amazing initiative and our day with stakeholders.
Why Curlew Island
Curlew Island is the most southern roosting and feeding site for listed migratory shorebirds in Moreton Bay and is recognized as such in a report by Prof Richard Fuller (Managing Threats to Migratory Shorebirds in Moreton Bay 2019). In addition, it is amongst the highly frequented waterways of the City of Gold Coast.
Global habitat loss is a major contributor to the worldwide decline in migratory shorebird populations. Some of the threats we can address right here in Moreton Bay include addressing interruptions to shorebird feeding and resting through human disturbance as well as habitat loss through development and vegetation encroachment.
Over recent years, Curlew Island’s native vegetation has been progressively degraded by weeds, meaning less available shorebird roosting habitat.
Roosting sites are where shorebirds rest with a reduced threat of predation. It is here they conserve energy, sit out the high tide, and digest their food while their feeding grounds are underwater. When high-tide roosts are compromised, migratory shorebirds expend crucial energy reserves by travelling further to roosts and foraging areas, using up energy that they would otherwise be able to use to survive migration.
Improving habitat integrity and enhancing roosting sites on Curlew Island will help stabilise and protect the tens of thousands of shorebirds visiting Moreton Bay every year to feed and rest.
How did we help our winged friends?
Overall, weed control and native tree planting were used to enhance the ecological values of the island and restore 1.4ha of habitat for listed migratory shorebirds.
We have established four monitoring points and weeds have been eradicated using a combination of hand weeding, cut-scrape paint, and spot spraying.
The cleared areas have then been revegetated with 3,500 local native coastal vines, shrubs, grasses, and trees.
As part of the revegetation, 14,000 litres of water were transported and distributed across the island.
The project has now entered a maintenance phase which involves ensuring that plants are watered during dry periods and undertaking weed control to make sure that all the good work done so far is preserved
So many shorebirds will benefit from the project!
Improved ecological integrity on Curlew Island will provide roosting habitat, helping stabilise and protect shorebirds who visit and live in Moreton Bay.
Migratory shorebird species that benefit from this project include:
• Bar Tailed Godwit (EPBC listed migratory sp.)
• Beach Stone Curlew (Vulnerable (Qld))
• Curlew Sandpiper (Critically Endangered)
• Eastern Curlew (Critically Endangered)
• Little Tern (EPBC listed migratory sp.)
• Pacific Golden Plover (EPBC listed migratory sp.)
• Whimbrel (EPBC listed migratory sp.)
High five! Celebrating the hard work, sharing thoughts, and building relationships.
Connecting stakeholders through onsite meetings has proven to be a valuable tool for building relationships and sharing information.
The diverse network of stakeholders who have come together with Healthy Land & Water and the team for this project includes the Kombumerri Rangers, Gold Coast Waterway Authority, NV Environmental (restoration contractor), and Bob Westerman (local champion for the environment).
A recent meeting of stakeholders provided opportunities for everyone to talk and learn from each other. It also provided an opportunity to see the result of three years of restoration. The day was made of talks, discussions, and activities with a chance to cover:
• The project background.
• The restoration techniques used to maintain the Island.
• Connecting the stakeholders for the project.
• The issue of Curlew Island being unallocated state land (the island is currently listed as unallocated state land and does not have a trustee. When the project started the island did not have a land parcel. It has since been assigned a land parcel and is now classified as unallocated state land).
• The Kombumerri Rangers’ interest in becoming a trustee of the island.
• Bob Westerman shared the story of the bar-tailed godwit setting a world record with a 13,560km continuous flight from Alaska to southern Australia.
• Some hand weeding and a walk around the Island with Bob.
The attendees’ list included:
• Patrick Malone - Senior Scientist, HLW
• Rosalinde Brinkman - Executive Officer, Watergum
• Tara Day - Kombumerri Rangers, Coordinator
• Malachi Williams - Kombumerri Rangers, Lead Ranger
• Leonard Hayes - Kombumerri Rangers, Ranger
• Lilly Blundell - Kombumerri Rangers, Ranger
• Bob Westerman - Migratory Shorebird Guru
• Joshua Dornan - Gold Coast Waterway Authority, Project Officer
• Lucas Morphett - NV Environmental, Coordinator/Company Owner
The support making this work possible
This project has been funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and has been delivered in partnership with Watergum – the Gold Coast Catchments Association, Gold Coast Shorebirds Group, and Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
Talks with stakeholders
Working Bee lead by NV Environmental