No. 14

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year And Welcome To Our 1st Newsletter For 2022. Following Is An Update Of Where Things Are At Since Our Last Newsletter To You In Late November 2021. 

Proposed Dog Swim Area On The Bicton Foreshore
The City Of Melville Is Seeking Community Feedback On 2 Proposed Locations For A Dog Swim Area On The Bicton Foreshore Along Blackwall Reach Parade Between Braunton Street And Kent Street.  This Is Part Of An Area Which Both The City And The Bicton Environmental Action Group (BEAG) Have Been Working To Restore.  It Is Also Part Of Stage 2 Of Our Proposed Boundaries For The Melville Bird Sanctuary (MBS).  While Formal Discussions For Stage 2 Of The MBS Have Not Yet Taken Place, We Have Provided These Proposed Boundaries To Both The City Of Melville And DBCA. 

The Bicton Foreshore And Waters Provide Habitat For Plentiful Birdlife Including Black Swans, Caspian Terns, White-Faced Herons, Egrets, And Dolphins As Well.  We Have Concerns For Such A Location Being Considered As A Dog Swim Area, Which Means Dogs Will Be Off Leash….  And While The Area Proposed May Be Small,  It Will Be Hard To Prevent Breaching Of Unfenced Boundaries. 

Dog Owners Already Have Access To Other Foreshore And Coastal Swim Areas.  Why Put Our Wildlife At Anymore Risk Than They Already Are?

We Encourage You To Provide Your Feedback At This Link Dog Swim Area - City Of Melville (Melvillecity.Com.Au) By 4.00pm On Tuesday 15 February 2022. This Survey Will Take No More Than A Few Minutes.

Our Precious Alfred Cove Osprey Family
In Our Last Newsletter #13, We Told You About The 2 Alfred Cove Osprey Chicks Seen In The Nest In Late September.  Before Our Eyes, These Grew Into Juveniles By Mid-December, Being Very Well Cared For By Their Parents, But Not Yet Able To Fly.  Sadly, Things Took A Turn For The Worse With Temperatures Soaring Over The Christmas Period. The Heat Proved Too Much For The 2 Juveniles.  On 26 December, One Disappeared Without Trace And The Other Was Rescued By Volunteers From WA Seabirds Rescue And Taken Into Care At WA Wildlife.  But It Didn’t Survive After Many Attempts To Save It.   It Was Heartbreaking To Watch The Grieving Osprey Parents Waiting And Guarding The Nest In The Days Following The Loss Of Their 2 Youngsters.

We’ve Written To DBCA As The Custodians And Experts, Hoping They Will Review The Osprey Nest Conditions.  We’ve Also Sent Them Suggestions From Respected Osprey Observers And Contacted Birdlife WA.

Bird Viewing Platform
We’re Eagerly Awaiting The Construction Of A Viewing Platform Near Pt Waylen Looking Out Over Alfred Cove And Its Birdlife.  It’s Being Funded Through A Pre-State Elections Commitment From Our Member For Bicton, Lisa O’Malley To Friends Of Melville Bird Sanctuary, For Bird Viewing Facilities.   We Are Very Grateful To Lisa O’Malley For Her Constant, Continuing Support For The MBS.  We Also Thank The Member For Bateman, Kim Giddens Who Has Shown Great Support For The MBS.

The Viewing Platform Project Is Now In The Capable Hands Of City Of Melville Foreshore Officer, Jem Stirling, Who Thinks It Should Be Ready By August. Both SERAG And Ourselves Have Been Part Of The Consultation Process.

Release Of Avocet And White-Faced Heron At Alfred Cove
On New Year’s Eve, We Accompanied Fiona O’Sullivan And Claudia Karwacki From WA Seabirds Rescue To Release An Avocet And A White-Faced Heron At Alfred Cove.  These Two Beautiful Birds Had Been Cared For And Treated For Their Injuries By Fiona.  Dedicated Volunteers At WA Seabird Rescue Do Wonderful Work. Please Support Them At This Link  MAKE A DONATION – WASR

Birdlife WA Birdwatching Walk At Alfred Cove – Sunday 27 February, 7.30am -11.30am
Highly Experienced Birder Toni Webster Will Lead A Birdlife WA Birdwatching Walk At Alfred Cove On Sunday 27 February From 7.30am - 11.30am.  For Those Interested In Joining This Free Walk To Check Out The Migratory Birds And Bushbirds Of The Area, There Is A Simple Registration Process At: 
BirdLife
 
Please Meet Us At 7.30am In The Car Park At Troy Park (Opp 194 Burke Dr, Attadale). Please Bring Binoculars If You Have Them As Well As Hand Sanitizer, Sunscreen & A Hat. There Will Be Time For A Chat After The Walk So If You’d Like To Stay, Do Bring Some Morning Tea And A Chair For Yourself. Toni Will Also Provide A Bird Log Of The Birds Seen On The Walk. (Note: If You Feel At All Unwell, PLEASE STAY HOME)
 
Attadale Alfred Cove Foreshore Master Plan (AACFMP)
The Draft Master Plan Which Includes The Melville Bird Sanctuary, Is Expected To Be Presented To Council At Its March Meeting.
 
Our Mayor And Most Of Our Councillors Have Met And Spoken With Us At The Melville Bird Sanctuary (MBS) Site.  Most Recently Cr Jennifer Spanbroek, The New Councillor For Bull Creek-Leeming Ward, Did A Tour With Us Around Some Of The MBS Boundaries.  It Was Great To Show Her Around.
 
That’s It For Now. Please Don’t Hesitate To Email Us If You Have Any Comments Or Questions. 
 
Kind Regards,

Tom Lubin And Jenny Christenson
Friends Of Melville Bird Sanctuary