Two of the Gippsland Lakes’ significant shorebirds, the Eastern Curlew and the Curlew Sandpiper have been recommended to be added to the Flora and Fauna Guarantee threatened species list.
The Eastern Curlew is the world’s largest shorebird, and uses its large bill to search for crabs, its largest food source in Australia. The Curlew Sandpiper congregates on mudflats in large flocks, to fuels up before the long flight back to breeding grounds in Siberia.
Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee co-chair, Angus Hume, said the recommendation should serve as a reminder of how important it is to respect and protect the environment and habitats of the Lakes.
The abundance and diversity of fascinating waterbirds is one of the most important aspects of the Gippsland Lakes, but shorebirds are under increasing pressure from dogs, feral animals and boat wakes, “as they are extremely sensitive and easy to spook”, he said.
With 75 per cent of the world’s curlews spending winter in Australia, we have a “particular responsibility to protect them”, and everyone enjoying recreation around the Lakes can have a huge positive impact, even with small changes to their behaviour.
“Keeping dogs on leashes, or not walking in areas where shorebirds are nesting is one easy way to do this,” Mr Hume said.
The most popular areas of the Lakes for waterbirds are fringing wetlands such as Dowd’s Morass, Heart Morass and Sale Common as well as the salt marshes and saline wetlands such as Lake Reeve.
“Important nesting spots for shorebirds include Rigby, Crescent and Pelican islands along with Lake Tyers beach. Real care should be taken at these areas so chicks can hatch and grow safely,” Mr Hume said.
“No matter how well trained your dog is, accidental crushing of eggs and chicks can occur when a dog runs around on the beach.
“Adult birds that are incubating eggs or brooding chicks are easily disturbed by dogs on the beach, so while there might be no intention to do harm, the impacts can be severe.
“Chicks are easily spooked by people and dogs and if they spend more time in hiding than feeding they can starve to death.
Listed as a Ramsar site since 1982 for their environmental value, the Lakes provide a vital feeding ground for migratory birds, a resting and breeding ground for 86 waterbird species, and are home to around 400 indigenous plant species and 300 native wildlife species.
Many of these are listed as threatened, including the dwarf kerrawang, metallic sun orchid, swamp everlasting, spotted-tailed quoll, and the Burrunan Dolphin, which was only identified as a separate species in 2011, and which has only two known resident populations in the world – in the Gippsland Lakes and Port Phillip Bay.
The dolphin’s small population, and restricted geographical distribution make it particularly sensitive to environmental impacts, and are another compelling reason to love and protect our lakes.
Two threatened frog species also call the Lakes home – the Green and Golden Bell Frog, and the Growling Grass frog, one of Victoria’s most endangered frogs. There are some unique areas where these two important species coexist.
Growling Grass Frogs need still or slow moving water, ideally with lots of different water plants. They enjoy the fringing wetlands around Lake Wellington but can also live in farm dams and irrigation channels.
“We all need to work together to help protect and conserve these important species,” Mr Hume said.
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