10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2019

There was evidence of feral cats and now we have seen foxes around Broome we know they will also be a threat to our local shorebirds. Pied Oystercatcher chicks can swim, but maybe feral cats will too if they are hungry. Some nests had clearly been there for some time and had contained eggs until recently.

Feral Cats 121

Feral Cats Feral Eggs Fox 121

10,000 Birds

JULY 29, 2018

We have been busy walking the beach and keeping an eye on our local Pied Oystercatchers and the two pairs that laid their eggs earliest for the 2018 breeding season and successfully hatched out their chicks have now lost their chicks to predation. Animal prints leading to and from a raided nest.

Eggs 120

Eggs Feral Cats Feral 2018 120

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2012

This is our thirteenth year of observing Pied Oystercatchers breed along the coast near Broome and it gets easier every year! They always nest from the end of June and they always nest in the same place or within a few metres if there is disturbance around the breeding territory. They are so predictable!

Feral Cats 178

Feral Cats Turtles Eggs Investigation 178

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2019

It is quite common for several clutches of Pied Oystercatcher eggs to be laid during the breeding season and often within ten days of egg or chick loss. There are still very real threats of predation by feral cats and birds of prey, but we just have to be optimistic.

Feral Cats 125

Feral Cats Eggs Shelters Feral 125

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2011

Australia is a dry continent and as such all bird-life needs to take advantage of any fresh water that is available. This may be a simple dripping tap, but one of the biggest attractions in Australia is the Poo Ponds. Here are some views from the air-thanks to Google Earth-so you can see how easy it is to find a Poo Pond in Australia!

Feral Animals 174

Feral Animals Australia Feral Ducks 174

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2015

Since discovering our first Pied Oystercatcher nest on Cable Beach in July 2000 we have observed the breeding of these local shorebirds along the coast between Gantheaume Point in the south and Willie Creek in the north, which is a distance of 23 kilometres. Feral cat prints at nest site-eggs gone.

Feral Cats 159

Feral Cats Eggs Feral Cats 159

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2018

It is not unusual to find a group of trial nest scrapes in a breeding territory and then the female lays the eggs in the nest that she prefers. We do not add debris to protect the nests and the main threat to the nests still appears to be feral cats. “A1” Preparing another nest site.

Feral Cats 109

Feral Cats Eggs Feral Raised 109

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2014

The elimination of vultures had its own knock on effects, such as the increase in feral dogs (now that there was more meat available for them) and corresponding increase in rabies. Losing a few non-breeding lions in zoos a great deal less. This story didn’t break today, by the way. Conservation Lion vultures'

Lions 150

Lions Giraffes Zoos Killing 150

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2018

Feral cats have been an issue in previous years and continue to be a problem along the length of Cable Beach that we monitor. Red-capped Plovers are also breeding along Cable Beach at the moment and we have observed several chicks and there are also newly laid eggs.

2018 100

2018 Feral Cats Eggs Camels 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2011

We are into the second attempt at breeding for this season in Broome for Pied Oystercatchers. Sadly a lot of eggs are lost to feral cats and chicks are sometimes taken by birds of prey. We had one pair attempt 5 times in 2009, so they don’t give up easily!

2002 166

2002 Feral Cats Eggs 2007 166

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Australia is a vast country with a very small human population, which mostly clings to the edge of the continent. Even the first explorers to Australia documented there was a risk of extinction of birds and animals into the future and subsequently decided to collect as many specimens as possible! Preface,p.xxiv.

Species 175

Species Australia Birds Parrots 175

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

They are one of the most attractive of Australia’s parrots, and one of the most common, benefiting from the planting of attractive flowering shrubs. Pairs of these a are common sight on open grassy areas in Australia. Rounding off the waterbirds were Australian Pelicans, Eurasian Coots , the iconic Black Swans and feral geese.

New Zealand 172

New Zealand Ducks Australia Japan 172

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2012

In the event I’m in a life or death struggle with an Oregon Junco or a particularly feral Dunnock I’d rather my birding companion was at least nominally on my side. Australian Magpies are found across Australia, southern New Guinea and have been introduced to New Zealand (along with just about everything else). Dum dum DUM!

New Zealand 152

New Zealand Kangaroos Australia Birds 152

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2013

Apparently they breed to the south and return to feed at Lake Bindegolly. There was evidence of terns breeding at some earlier stage by the remaining carcasses in the bush. There was also evidence of the damage that feral pigs can do all along the trail and along the water’s edge and we soon came across a small group of them.

Feral 148

Feral Pelicans Pigs Ducks 148

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2011

We monitor the Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of beach each year and it can all be covered on foot or by bicycle-tide dependant! We keep our observations to a minimum to avoid disturbance and usually only visit the nest site once to get GPS coordinates to report to Birds Australia’s Nest record Scheme.

Breeding 173

Breeding Feral Cats Eggs Camels 173

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2011

Also known as the Spur-winged Plover this is another common self-introduction from Australia that has done very well with the clearance of forests. Feral Turkey are also quite common. Easily separated from the New Zealand Falcon by its size and wing shape, and the fact you rarely see falcons while driving.

New Zealand 176

New Zealand Birds Thailand Falcons 176