HOTSPOTS ON OUR DOORSTEP

 

King Island beaches support populations of resident and migratory shorebirds. Some of these populations are significant at national and international levels.

 

Recently a hotspot between Quarantine Bay and Yellow Rock River estuary was identified by Birds Tasmania as a hotspot. This is in addition to Lavinia Point and Cowpers Point. These are particularly valuable patches used intensively by a variety of birds, some of which are threatened species. The whole of the coast margin around King Island is designated as an ‘Important Bird Area’.

 ‘Important Bird Areas’ are sites with high bird biodiversity designated as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Yellow Rock area (sea map) it is being used by breeding pairs of Hooded Plovers and Pied Oystercatchers. Hooded Plovers are listed as vulnerable in Victoria, and Critically Endangered (in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range)in NSW. Yet here they are on King Island in strength. Surveys over the last few years suggest King Island hold 10% of the Tasmanian population of Hooded Plovers.



Photo courtesay of Glenn Ehmke

Other beach-nesting birds at this hot spot include Red-capped plovers. Fairy Terns and Little Terns. There are fewer than 250 pairs of Fairy Terns in Tasmania, of which 150 pairs are present on King Island and they are at great risk of extinction in Tasmania.

Based on the extensive surveys conducted elsewhere in Tasmania and on Flinders Island this summer, the single largest number of Little terns, 10 breeding pairs, were seen at Lavinia Point. This represents half of the total number of Little terns seen during 2008/09 in Tasmania.

Also there are migratory shorebirds that use this area of King Island, including Red-necked Stint, Ruddy Turnstone, Pacific Golden Plover and Double-banded Plovers, which all have decreasing populations worldwide. But they still find a place on King Island to spend months. Here each year.

Then there are the Orange Bellied Parrots that were also recently observed close to Yellow Rock River estuary. It is all getting very exciting if you are a bird lover. But what does this all mean for us mere mortals who live on King Island and want to use the beaches too?

The presence and abundance of these birds make the southern end of Quarantine Bay through to Yellow Rock estuary a hotspot.  They also make King Island an Important Bird Area (a globally important habitat for the conservation of birds) nationally and internationally. This adds an extra layer of responsibility for those living on and managing the island’s coastal resources. It also provides King Islanders’ with unexpected benefits, if we can maintain and sustain these areas well. We don't want to love them to death! 

For birdwatchers the world over, king Island is bird paradise. The ability to see so many rare and endangered bird species on such a small stretch of land is indeed a rarity and an opportunity not to be missed – what an extraordinary chance for those who have a love of birds and birdwatching.                 
(King Island is approximately 65kms x 25kms).

 

Dear editor

An excellent article in The Courier April 29 by Heather Colman - 'Hotspots on Your Doorstep'. It’s interesting but significant to realise the incredible amount of bird species (over 100) on a small parcel of land such as King Island. We should be counting our blessings, not to mention the fact that King Island, very fortunately has a goodly share of rare and endangered species.

Heather Colman is correct in stating: ‘There are also potential financial benefits from eco-tourism, maintaining the quality of life for King Islanders. Ornithologists, birdwatchers, twitchers and just plain bird lovers travel the world over to get glimpses of birds, either through binoculars or camera lenses. Extraordinarily large sums of money are paid to see rare and endangered birds around the world, yet King Island is not even on their radar. There is real opportunity here for King Island to tap into this global phenomenon that is eco-tourism’.

We need to protect all of our bird life especially shorebirds and threatened species by protecting their habitat, and we also need to get the message out there on a national if not an international level that our island has a rich bird diversity. How we go about all this I’m unsure but a perhaps a possibility exists for interested parties like NRM (Natural Resource Management), KI Council, KI Tourism and Parks & Wildlife Services to work together to achieve funding and to employ a dedicated qualified person to facilitate and pull all this together.

It’s just the tip of the iceberg yet already we’ve had birdwatchers/lovers etc from all over the country visit King Island, helping our economy by spending money; why did they come here? for one reason only – our great natural resource of birds. I believe we need to look into all the possibilities and tap into the lucrative eco-tourism market. The equation of tourism, birds and economics should not be ignored.

Food for thought.

John Nievaart - Naracoopa Holiday Cottages
www.naracoopaholidayunits.com.au