Released 23/02/2018
An action plan launched today will help the ACT protect and manage habitats used by migratory birds that are protected under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Minister for the Environment Mick Gentleman said today.
“The ACT Government is committed to protecting the migratory birds that regularly visit the ACT, some of which have travelled half way across the world from northern Siberia, China and Japan,” Minister Gentleman said.
“These visiting birds include shorebirds, waterbirds, flycatchers and the elusive swifts that ride the air currents that precede storms.
“Because our extensive woodlands and major wetlands are protected within our nature reserve system, we are in an excellent position to meet our national and international responsibility to maintain their preferred habitat and contribute to international research on these birds.
“For example, the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve is a haven for Latham’s Snipe, which breeds in Hokkaido in Japan during the northern summer then flies the 8000 kilometres south along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway to south-eastern Australia. We are part of a major international study to track these lovely birds.
“Namadgi National Park, the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and our urban reserves provide important breeding habitat for the Satin Flycatcher and Rufous Fantail. Canberrans may even be lucky to see them in their yards on the odd occasion.
“This plan will help us to protect, restore and enhance important wetlands, wildlife corridors and breeding habitat in the ACT. It will help us manage threats including destruction of habitat, pests, pollution, climate change and human interference. We will improve our knowledge about the occurrence and management of these migratory species and pass that knowledge to the international community.
“It will be interesting to see if the new wetlands being constructed as the ACT Healthy Waterways project will attract more birds to the ACT and help with their international survival in the face of declining habitat around the world, particularly wetlands.
“I’d like to thank the Canberra Ornithologists Group and other citizen scientists for their ongoing voluntary work to monitor migratory—and other—birds, and their important input to the action plan.”
The Action Plan for Listed Migratory Species is on https://yoursay.act.gov.au/ and www.environment.act.gov.au.
An illustrated list of the bird species covered by the Action Plan for Listed Migratory Species and its Appendices (PDF 1 mb) is attached. High resolution photos are available upon request.
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Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases