Follow these easy tips to keep our threatened beach-nesting birds safe while walking your dog along the shore.
Every summer, from August to March, threatened beach-nesting birds raise their chicks on NSW’s picturesque beaches. Hooded plovers, pied oystercatchers and beach-stone curlews are locals to these beaches all year-round, while little terns make the massive journey from places as far away as South-East Asia to return home to our beaches to nest.
Unleashed domestic dogs pose a major threat to these birds during this vulnerable period. However, there are three easy things you can do to share the shore with these amazing birds:
- Always leash your dog – especially between August and March, when the birds are trying to raise their kids!
- Walk on the wet sand – shorebirds usually nest up in the dry sand, so it’s best to stick to the wet sand that’s close to the water’s edge.
- Pay attention to the signs – if you see a fenced off area or beach-nesting bird signs on the beach, read what they say and put plenty of space between you and the nesting area.
Remember, dogs are not permitted in national parks.
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