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Bird Monitoring: As part of the expansion project, Sydney Ports has launched a detailed shorebird monitoring program. At Penrhyn Estuary, bird counts and an assessment of bird physical condition were recorded prior to construction. With construction now in progress detailed monitoring including counts, feeding and roosting behaviour and response to disturbance is being undertaken Monitoring of shorebird numbers at reference sites including other Botany Bay sites, Boat Harbour and the Parramatta and Hunter Rivers estuaries is also being conducted as part of the project.
Mangrove Removal: Mangroves colonise shorebird feeding and roosting habitat and compete with saltmarsh for space. To increase the suitability of the area as a shorebird habitat, the mangroves within Penrhyn Estuary have been removed. Mangrove seedlings and plants less than 1 metre in height were removed by the roots and donated to ABI Group and a partnership of Sutherland Shire Council, NSW Maritime and National Parks and Wildlife, who transplanted them to Georges River at Alfords Point and the Hacking River at Port Hacking respectively.
Temporary Bird Roosting Island: As a result of the construction of the new port terminal, the current roosting areas in the outer estuary have been removed. To ensure continued availability of suitable habitat for the shorebirds a temporary roosting island has been constructed from clean sand.
Construction of the Temporary Bird Roosting Island
Shorebird Protection Zones: Two protection zones have been implemented for the project to protect shorebird feeding habitat during construction. A permanent protection zone exists in the upper reaches of Penrhyn Estuary. Construction activities are not permitted in this zone. Works in this area are limited to the removal of mangroves and weeds by hand, collection of saltmarsh seeds and environmental maintenance works as required. A seasonal protection zone exists over the remainder of Penrhyn Estuary between 1 August and 31 March each year when peak numbers of shorebirds are present in the estuary. Construction activities are not permitted in this area during this period.
Double Banded Plovers at Penrhyn Estuary