Recently arrived migrants have been introduced to Hobsons Bay’s birdlife during a field trip run by Birdlife Australia and the Williamstown Community and Education Centre.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said she was making raising awareness about the area’s birds and the pressures on their habitats a priority.
Last month, some of the municipality’s foreshore and waterways were recognised as key biodiversity areas in Australia.
“This means that areas like Altona Coastal Park, Jawbone Reserve, Cheetham Wetlands and Truganina Swamp are now globally recognised as vital habitat for threatened plant and animal species,” Cr Wilson said.
“It’s the aim of my mayoral program to raise awareness about what treasures are on our doorstep and why they are so special.
“So many people come from across Melbourne, from interstate and even from overseas because they know what is here.”
Hobsons Bay regularly sees migratory shorebirds such as the curlew sandpiper, which flies distances of between 5000 and 12,000 kilometres twice every year.
“Unfortunately, we had less migratory birds stop in Hobsons Bay this summer than in previous years,” Cr Wilson said. “Hopefully, it’s because many took advantage of the water inland resulting from higher rainfall.
“But we need to be alert to the decline in populations of some of these birds.
“It is now more important than ever that we ensure we don’t disturb their feeding grounds when they come over in spring and summer, but have the ability to admire them from a safe distance.”
