FOXES and domestic dogs have impacted on the success of this season's nesting of endangered shorebirds in the Old Bar area, leading to a public appeal for more help from the local community.
The public is being asked to report sightings of foxes in and around Old Bar, so that density maps can be compiled and dens eradicated, while also being asked to not take dogs into the year-round 'no dog zone' surrounding the Manning River estuary.
The Endangered Shorebird Program incorporating fox control in and around the estuary is designed to protect the most important site on the NSW coast for Little Terns. It is also important for Pied Oystercatchers and is the most southern of six breeding sites in NSW for the Beach Stone Curlew - all endangered species.
The southern (Old Bar) estuary of the Manning River, within the Manning Entrance State Park, has been doubly important this breeding season, following destruction of the Manning Point sandspit in the northern estuary - traditionally a most successful breeding site - in the June 2011 flood.
But unfortunately the combination of fox attacks and disturbance by domestic dogs impacted heavily on the total number of young birds that survived.
The Old Bar dune saw 76 nests of Little Terns and three of Pied Oystercatchers, while nearby Charley's Island saw 18 Little Tern nests, two Pied Oystercatcher nests and one Beach Stone Curlew nest.
The total outcome for the season was 90 Little Tern fledglings, nine Pied Oystercatchers, and unfortunately no Beach Stone Curlew as the single chick was lost.
"While some Little Tern eggs were lost due to high tides and big seas, and some chicks were lost to ants and crabs, the most concerning losses were due to foxes and domestic dogs," Mates of the Manning chairperson Brian Crisp said.
His mostly volunteer group has been working for years, with scant funding, to encourage the nesting of endangered shorebirds along the Manning coastline.
"On a positive note, we wish to thank the many four wheel drive vehicle drivers who obeyed the signs and directions, and the kiteboarders who also obeyed the rules," Mr Crisp said.
"However with the Little Tern breeding now coming to an end, we have two urgent requests from the public.
"We are seeking fox sightings from the people of Old Bar so we can build up density maps in order to find fox dens and eradicate this insidious pest.
"Our other request is to the people of Old Bar and visitors to the area to stop taking dogs into the year-round no dog zone."
Mr Crisp said he suspected a fox or foxes took around 13 eggs and possibly 40 chicks this season.
Efforts to control the foxes included tracking with cameras and footprints, trapping with soft jaw and cage traps, den fumigation, the use of 1080 poison baits, and spotlighting operations.
"Unfortunatel y the town of Old Bar acts as a safe zone for foxes and obviously most of these operations cannot be conducted within the town," he said.
"We therefore need the public to assist us by reporting fox sightings."
Regarding the threat from domestic dogs, Mr Crisp said the biggest contravention of the no dog zone observed this year has been the beach walkers with dogs - on leads or not - walking north of Second Corner.
Dogs are not permitted in this area for several reasons:
* The poison baits laid in the area can kill domestic dogs. 1080 poison is an effective poison for higher order mammals including foxes, cats and dogs.
*Taking dogs into the zone increases the cost of controlling foxes and this fox control funding comes from the taxpayer. It can completely destroy a fox control program costing the public upwards of $20,000 a year.
* Dogs (and cats) have a scent that limits endangered shorebird breeding as shorebirds identify these mammals just as they do with a fox, as a predator.
* It is illegal to have dogs in this zone, and there are ample other beach areas locally that can be accessed by dog owners.
"So as a community group, our urgent requests are for the community to assist us in protecting the breeding areas of these important species."
Anyone sighting a fox, or wanting to help in any way, is invited to ring Brian Crisp on 0427 522 062, National Parks and Wildlife Service Manning office on 6552 4097, or State Parks on 6591 3500.
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