Oystercatcher Diary - Day 2015 2.4

Our birds had a nervous start as we had quite a few yabby pumpers so our one nervous parent was on and off nest quite a bit. I really think they've worked it out in terms of which one needs to be on nest when the temperatures are cooler and which one can sit it out when it gets hotter and busier.

The campers don't restrict themselves to the camp grounds and set themselves up close to the beach edge on the council land. Am keeping an eye out to make sure they don't set up too close to the fence line edge.

Our bird that sits there most of the day, in the heat, does a wonderful job. I do feel for her though as our other bird is close by, on the water’s edge to bathe and splash around in the water. It can't be pleasant to see your partner having a great time keeping cool and fed, while you are stuck looking after the kids.

Personally, I am chewed to bits from the sand flies in the dune near to where the birds are nesting. I put on repellent and wear long clothes but the little beasties are able to fly up sleeves and pants and like me better than they hate the repellent. I think I am more allergic than most people as Jo, who was there as much as me, isn't suffering. My partner Mark, has a particularly terrible time when he gets stung by a wasp, and if a wasp stings me I get nothing. So I think sand flies are my kyrptonite.

Interesting day today. Just before 10am two ladies, possibly uni student age, saw the fence and decided it was too much effort to go around, even though they were less than 3 metres from one boundary corner. They were just off for a sun baking day and were shocked to hear that the boundary fence was there for a reason. They had walked straight by the signs and just couldn't be bothered reading them and were therefore surprised by the fence blocking their way. Interestingly, they agreed that were they in the suburbs, if they saw a fence, they wouldn't climb it or try to walk through it. Wondering at the psychology between permanent and temporary fences. With our beach nesting birds we can't do permanent fencing so this will be a thread worth pursuing.

Just after 1.30pm we had a group of early teenage boys all standing at the fence, and you could see what was about to happen, so I started racing down. It was a challenge of you go, no you go, and then they all went. I can't understand how this stuff happens right at the spot the birds are nesting. The boundary is quite large, no larger than it needs to be given general walking behaviour, but the corner closest to the bird scrape attracts the people that have turned their brain off.

If we were to make the boundary big enough to include them plus the soccer players, big screaming kayak groups, family yabby pumpers, etc. then we'd need to pretty much take up one third of the beach.

We can't do this, so the volunteers are essential to keep the outliers away from the fence line. If the volunteers get a shift where nothing happens, so, so lucky. You get an hour or two or Mindfulness, living in the moment, experiencing it, and not worrying about the rest of the stuff going on in life. While you get to calm your mind by living in the moment, you might get to see an endangered species increase their population. I'm loving my time looking after the birds. Just hoping I don't end up with a heap of overdue bill payment notices as I may be spending a bit too much time in the moment.

Anyway, on the good news front our local dog owners are being so wonderful and keeping the dogs off the beach. On the bad news front the boat arrivals still a problem. They come in at high tide affecting our migratory birds badly as they arrive at the Spit end where the birds rest at high tide, thus scattering them to the middle. Then they throw the balls and frisbies all the way to the middle of the beach, which is the birds last safety zone. Poor things, left flying around until the dog is loaded back into the boat, motor started, and they are both zooming away.

Anyway, a overall good day. Our oystercatchers are doing a fabulous job of looking after the nest on such a busy beach. I've ordered some fake cctv cameras. Along with the human hair, I've heard the flashing light of a fake camera can work to keep foxes away. It may also help with people feeling overly confident about breaching the barrier.

Let's hope the fox stays away long enough for us to get the human hair and fake cameras in place.