May 06, 2022
VWSG will be holding a equipment repairs day, which will include a presentation of the Minton Medallion and Life Memberships. Pat MInton has kindly agreed to have the event at her house in Beaumaris.
If you can attend please advise our chair Steve Atkinson
Please confirm by 18th May for catering purposes.
April 27, 2022
The ASC will be going online this year and a fully virtual conference is planned for October 29-30. The theme will be Global strategies Local actions.
Save the date!
Further details to come in terms of abstract submission and registration. For further information contact the AWSG Committtee.
April 11, 2022
John died on March 17th at the age of 93. John leased and then owned Anna Plains Cattle Station, south of Broome. This abuts the Eighty Mile Beach Ramsar site, which is a major hot spot for migratory waders.
The AWSG has been visiting Anna Plains Station for many years, thanks to John’s interest in these birds and the great friendship he and Clive Minton struck up. The AWSG camped on the station around the homestead for many years with the help and support of John, and in later years his son David and his wife Helen Campion. John’s eyesight faded in his last few years, and he was unable to enjoy the trips to the beach, especially with Clive, despite this he took an active interest in our activities and the running of the station. When the AWSG was at Anna Plains John and Clive met every evening to enjoy a port, a chat and probably a snooze in front of the television.
Many people have joined the expeditions to Broome over the years and we have all had a wonderful time using the facilities of the station, and camping near the main homestead. John and his family have always been very welcoming to our annual invasion of their homestead area. Visiting a cattle station has been an interesting experience for our overseas visitors, as well as Australian participants, and we were always given the opportunity to explore the station, admire the cattle and hunt for wildlife. I enjoyed evening chats on the verandah with John in 2020 when Clive was no longer with us. Covid has unfortunately prevented most of us visiting for 2 years. John will be missed, as a wonderful supporter of our work with the shorebirds, as well as great family man and contributor to the cattle industry.
Prue Wright
April 11, 2022
Sanderling continue to be seen regularly in the South Australian section of Discovery Bay. Many of the flags recorded by observers are of individuals captured at Yambuck in early December 2021. Sanderling have been absent from the Nene Valley beach all season until the last few weeks 1 or 2 have occasionally been seen. On Saturday 19th March, a small group of 20-30 was sighted, including BMZ – yet another Yambuck individual.
Going further to the west we have had sightings from Little Rock and Pethers in Canunda. On 14th March, BKE was sighted – originally flagged at Yambuck, then seen by at Danger Point on 3rd March.
So, now we need some sightings from the Coorong! With Coorong the Park of the Month during March, and a Shorebirds activity on the 26th, fingers crossed we get some more sightings.
Congratulations to Sarah Campbell on winning the February Sanderling award of a print with this stunning photo of Sanderling BJH taken in Riddock Bay. BJH was originally flagged in the early December catch at Yambuck.
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th April were the last days in the field. The catching team has had variable success. The high note is that all 30 geolocators were deployed. The low note is that only one has been retrieved. This despite the fact that birds bearing geolocators have been observed at all catching sites, e.g. VAZ (aka ATZ) has been seen several times at Nene Valley west.
You can learn more about the Sanderling tracking project on the Glenelg Hopkins CMA website.
February 02, 2022
There’s been some great observations recently from south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia.
The first was by Maureen Christie of some of the sanderling tagged late last year at Yambuk and Pethers, as part of the Sanderling tracking project.
The other was some fabulous pied oystercatcher sightings from the Coorong in January by Mary-Ann Van Trigt.
Thanks to Maureen and Mary-Ann for sharing these photos.
January 07, 2022
Bar-tailed Godwits CAH, AKK, AHZ were photographed by Paul Taylor at Bald Hill on the 15/12/2021. He saw all three birds there in December 2020 as well. The three godwits were originally banded at Thompsons Beach, CAH on 23/11/2013 and the other two 29/11/2012.
AKK has featured previously in the news as our local frequent flyer. Fabulous to see these birds back again.
Thanks to Paul Taylor for permission to use these photos.
January 05, 2022
The Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site Sanderling Project has commenced with the deployment of 15 transmitters. it is important to get people out on the beach looking for sanderling and hopefully reading engraved flags.
Co-ordinators of the Project – Glenelg Hopkins CMA have prepared the flyer below asking for leg flag sightings – there is even a prize for the best photo. Flock sightings and flag sightings from anywhere in Australia will be of assistance to this project.
November 19, 2021
In a ceremony at Government House on 17 November 2021, Maureen Christie, of Carpenter Rocks, was celebrated as one of 19 women on the 2021 South Australian Women’s Honour Roll. Maureen was acknowledged for her work as an environmental champion and community educator. She received a certificate from the Governor, Frances Adamson AC, on behalf of the Minister for Human Services, Michelle Lensink MLC, who was also present.
Congratulations, Maureen from everyone in the VWSG and FOSSE!!!
November 16, 2021
The latest newsletter of the SBS taskforce is now available on the EAAFP website. There are many worrying signs of declines at a range sites, and restrictions from the covid pandemic on the research and monitoring teams has made the field work even more challenging. The good news was the arrival of spoonie Lime 27 on Nan Thar island, Myanmar in early November (2021), for the eighth year running!
November 05, 2021
The fieldwork programme is about to restart for 2021 with the Mud Islands trip on November 10. And the Yallock Creek catching from 11th – 13th November will go ahead as planned. The King Island trip scheduled for November 17-26 has been cancelled due to the Tasmanian border closure.
Please check the field work program for details on joining catches.