WATER and SHORE BIRD SANCTUARY ZONES

The Canoe Trail Friends have consulted with and received support for the Water and Shore Bird Sanctuary Zones from a wide range of community groups for this low cost initiative
However at the end of the day no local authority was able to take responsibility for the establishment of the bird sanctuary zones.

So we wrote to Minister Faragher, part of the Minister’s response was that she would call for a report from Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).
We then presented to DEC the reasons for, and locations of, the sanctuary zones and the report is expected to be with the Minister in 2010.

Then subject to the Minister's decision, a public consultation process will take place and representation made to the Western Australian Conservation Commission

In the mean time we will resume our own consultation processes

The zones primarily would give the birds respite from the effect of human interference; for example, power boating, canoeing, jet skiing and sail boarding. The zones would be marked by buoys at a predetermined distance from the shore. The proposed zones would not affect access to rivers

The Friends are of the opinion that a number of areas are suitable for consideration as sanctuary zones; however, there are at least four areas for which the zones could be designated with relative ease. These are:
Reserve at southern end of John Street, Coodanup: the waters closed to professional fishermen, immediately in front of the John Street reserve, which extend in front of the reserve to the Serpentine River. This is a feeding ground for migratory and endemic waders.
Creery Wetlands: at both water access points to this habitat. Bird observing is promoted from the shores of this reserve.
Samphire Cove: at the water access point to this habitat. Bird observing is promoted from the shores of this reserve.
Len Howard Conservation Park: at both access points to the wetland south of Mandurah Quay. Bird observing is promoted from the shores of this conservation park habitat.
By paddling, walking and using a GPS, we have defined the sanctuary zone boundaries for:
Southern Harvey Estuary: from one kilometre by land south of Herron Point, across the estuary to 2.6 kilometres by land south of Island Point. A passage through the zone would be maintained to provide access to the Harvey River. This zone abuts A class nature reserves.
Austin Bay: The designated A Class Nature Reserve at Austin Bay, the boundary of which extends into the waterway
Since we first promoted the sanctuary zone concept, fairy terns have been placed on the threatened species list
The City of Mandurah expects to address the prohibition of dogs from the John Street Coodanup,” Wild Life Sanctuary” in 2010, when the Dog Exercise Review recommendations are due to be available

Count highlights from our visits to the zones:

At Austin Bay on 4th October 2009: 1000 sharp-tail sandpipers, 1500 red-necked stints and a smaller number of red-capped plovers, not to mention around 2500 swans
February 28 2010 12,000 banded stilts

From the Southern Harvey Estuary two counts of red- necked stints made are worth mentioning, 5600 in February and 1200 in March 2009,700 red-necked avocets sighted in November and 2000 in December 2009
February 7 2010 (National Shorebird Count Day): 2,100 grey teal, 1300 Swans, 1270 red-necked avocets, 89 grey plovers, 8 pacific golden plovers, (not often sighted)