Chopper assisting birds at Five Islands Nature Reserve

Media release: 22 April 2014

Illawarra residents may notice a helicopter in the region this week as the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and collaborators will be helping to restore habitat for burrowing seabirds near Port Kembla from Wednesday, April 23.

Weeds on Big Island in the Five Islands Nature Reserve will be treated with herbicide as part of a trial aimed at improving breeding habitat for Little Penguins, Storm Petrels and Shearwaters.

For safety, members of the public are asked to stay clear of helicopter operations. A good vantage point from which to watch the NPWS ParkAir1 helicopter in action will be Hill60 at Port Kembla.

NPWS Regional Manager Diane Garrood said weeds on Big Island were tangled up to a metre high, creating an impenetrable barrier for native burrowing seabirds.

"We have gathered a team of experts to tackle the carpet of kikuyu grass, morning glory, and other invasive, exotic weeds that are smothering native habitat on Big Island," Ms Garrood said.

“A one-hectare area is being treated in this initial trial using a targeted, aerial cone spraying technique.”

Ms Garrood said the rehabilitation works on Big Island were based on the highly successful NPWS program on Montague Island Nature Reserve near Narooma.

“This week’s spraying will be the start of a long term program of multiple treatments followed by replanting with local native species.

“We have identified monitoring plots so we can assess the effectiveness of weed spraying, and if successful, we will seek to rehabilitate the entire island.”

The NPWS and other specialist staff from the Office of Environment and Heritage are working with the University of Wollongong, Southern Ocean Seabird Study Association (SOSSA), Australian Seabird Group (ASG), Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, local expert botanists and island ecologists to improve habitat on Big Island.

Assistance is also being provided by the Ports Authority and NSW Water Police.

Photos of burrowing seabirds for news media:
https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=shearwater+little+penguin&ss=0&ct=0&mt=all&w=9028794%40N03&adv=1

Contact: Lucy Morrell