Western Port Welcomes Waterbirds

Western Port is one of the three most important sites in Victoria for waterbirds and is recognised as a wetland of international significance for migratory shorebirds. Long-term community monitoring of shorebirds and other waterbirds in Western Port indicates a decline in some species, however more sophisticated statistical analyses are needed to understand population trends and focus management attention.

The CCB, in partnership with the Arthur Rylah Institute, has initiated and successfully obtained Commonwealth funding for the new Western Port Welcomes Waterbirds project. This project will develop an effective, well targeted management program that works with land managers and local communities to ameliorate the threats to shorebirds and waterbirds.

The project will:

establish the relative importance of high tide roosts and feeding areas
map key habitat areas to inform site managers
understand the future impact of sea level change on waterbirds
target social research to determine the level of community understanding of waterbirds and the main threats
develop management programs for selected threats and key sites.

Information gathered during this project will form the basis for future programs to manage the key habitat areas for migratory shorebirds and other waterbirds in Western Port. It will make a valuable contribution to Australia’s obligations under international conventions and agreements.

• Hastings Workshop

• Phillip Island Workshop

For more information on the project please contact the Arthur Rylah Institute or Central Coastal Board at enquiries@ccb.vic.gov.au

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Hastings Workshop

Venue - Hastings Marina
Date - Thursday 7 May 2009

AGENDA
12.30	Lunch provided	All
1.00 pm	Welcome	Annette Hatten Executive Officer Central Coastal Board
1.05 pm	Western Port Welcomes Waterbirds – Project Overview and Bird Count Data	Richard Loyn Manager Terrestrial Ecology Arthur Rylah Institute of Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment
1.40 pm	Waders (Shorebirds) of Western Port	Roz Jessop Deputy Chair Victorian Wader Studies
2.15 pm	Panel Discussion and Q & A with audience. Don Saunders Conservation Officer Bird Observation and Conservation Australia Roz Jessop Richard Loyn	Annette Hatten (Facilitator)
2.55 pm	Wrap Up	Annette Hatten
3.00 pm	Finish	All

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Phillip Island Workshop
Venue – Education Pod Phillip Island Nature Park
Date – Friday 8 May 2009

10.00 am	Welcome	Annette Hatten Executive Officer Central Coastal Board
10.05 am	Western Port Welcomes Waterbirds Project Overview and Bird Count Data	Peter Menkhorst Principal Scientist Terrestrial Ecology Arthur Rylah Institute of Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment
10.40 am	Waders (Shorebirds) of Western Port	Roz Jessop Deputy Chair Victorian Wader Studies
11.15 am	Panel Discussion and Q & A with audience. Don Saunders Conservation Officer Bird Observation and Conservation Australia Roz Jessop Peter Menkhorst	Annette Hatten (Facilitator)
11.55 am	Wrap Up	Annette Hatten
12.00 pm	Lunch provided	All
12.30 pm	Finish	All

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