Both nature and people at work

Was feeling elated that I have finally managed to connect with a member of Youthworks, the Christian Camp that is a little further up river from Deeban Spit.

I have been trying to find a way to connect to them to let them know when birds are on nest and how best to walk the Spit so as to not disturb them off nest, as there are so many campers when they land on the Spit.

Today they were playing right by the masked lapwing nest, so they were being swooped and there was a great deal of noise which alerted me that there may be a problem on the beach.

Unfortunately, none of the large group (mostly teenage kids but 4 early 20's guys) understood that being swooped and screeched at by a bird might mean stay away.

Got the group to move closer to Bonnie Vale (great for the on nest bird) but while talking to one of the minders found this wing on the beach. There were also a lot of white feathers mixed with it. So it is going to be a few heart stopping days to make sure it is not an oystercatcher. I saw them earlier today around that area, they were not into nesting mode at all today.

It was located right under the sea eagle path by the lapwing nest. I have sent an email to environment NSW to see if they would like it mailed to them as part of their seabird project.