Census to check on SA endangered birds
A statewide census will be conducted to check on the number of endangered Eastern Osprey and White-bellied Sea Eagles across South Australia as part of a broader push to help the two species recover.
Senior Ecologist Randall Johnson said previous checks had shown population declines in some mainland coastal regions and in the state's Riverland.
He said the new survey would give authorities a much more accurate picture of the populations and ensure better management of the birds.
"What this census will do is help ecologists assess population trends for the species by comparing them against earlier surveys, while also identifying threats to population stability," he said.
"This information will inform ways in which we can better protect these incredible birds and provide accurate and up-to-date breeding habitat and nest site location data for the raptors."
Broader efforts to help save the birds will include restricting access and protecting nesting sites, as well as the installation of artificial nesting platforms including those recently built for the Eastern Osprey on Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.
In some areas, the nesting platforms have achieved higher fledgling success than natural nest sites.
Osprey once had a wider presence on Yorke Peninsula but breeding pairs are now absent from most of their former areas.
Human disturbance is among the likely causes for sites being abandoned and it is hoped that by installing nesting structures in appropriate areas, breeding birds may return.
Recently, a community-led project also fitted Osprey chicks with satellite trackers to record their movements on SA's west coast.
Wildlife officials hope the data will provide information about the dispersal and survival of newly independent Osprey as well as information about their foraging behaviour.
