First bar-tailed godwit of the season

Today around 10.30am was looking out to see how the endangered oystercatchers (estimated less than 200 breeding pairs left in NSW) were going when I saw the first bar-tailed godwit of the season returned from Alaska. Surprised to see that there was just the one, must be the Usain Bolt of the godwit world.

The oystercatchers are now working the one proposed nesting site (rather than working 3 separate sites) on Deeban Spit, around where they have nested in the past. They are now actively chasing ravens and masked lapwings and doing a lot more patrols around the nest site and occasional "test nest" sitting.

They are being very clever about scoping out the nest site this year. Rather than sitting directly at the nest or on one of the two shorelines, they are patrolling the middle of the beach either side, all the while keeping eyes on what is happening around the nest site. This is all pre egg laying behaviour.

Council is all teed up to deliver our fencing equipment when needed, with boat to get the gear out to the nesting site. Once the egg is placed then it will be an emergency email asking people to hit the beach that day to help put up the fence the same day.

Fingers crossed, let's hope this year can be successful for them. I heard today that Bonnie Vale campground is not taking any more bookings from now until April (though they already have a lot pre-booked) and this may work in the oystercatchers favour

For the vast majority of places where a beach nesting bird returns after a very long absence, it takes 10 years of hard work to be able to reduce all the very many threats to get everything lined up to achieve a successful fledge of chicks.