Helicopters, oyster boats and barges have been called in to save the rare predators from extinction

As a 6.5m long artificial nesting platform was installed in the shallows of Proper Bay at Tulka, south of Port Lincoln this week, a majestic soldier and a white-bellied sea eagle circled overhead checking it out.

It was the 18th nesting platform installed in South Australia in four years following the plight of the eastern birds. Pandion cristatu, reached a crisis point.

There has been a 26 percent decline in the population over the past 10 years, leaving the official number at 50 breeding pairs across the state.

Monitoring between 2014 and 2016 found that there were no breeding pairs on the mainland of Yorke Peninsula and numbers were uncertain on Eyre Peninsula.

Raptor expert Ian Falkenberg and the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, with community input, have since installed seven artificial nesting platforms there.

The results have been surprising.

Breeding territories occupied by stilt increased from one in 2017 to five in 2022 and have remained stable.

Mr Falkenberg said 14 birds had hatched from 18 artificial platforms across the state.

Flying and surviving to breed will be the birds’ next hurdles as they face predators and numerous threats, including electrocuting power poles after they leave the nest.

They also sometimes fight each other in the nest – only the strongest survive.

‘No questions asked’ slots helped the numbers

The platforms have at least given the species a chance of survival – 60 percent of them are now occupied by pairs of rams.

“Most of them are in key habitats where seabirds have failed to produce young regularly,” Mr Falkenberg said.

“We have now succeeded in getting the birds to adopt platforms where they have not been seen before.

Habitat loss and disturbance from fishermen and people walking nearby had affected the nest, so the program also included directing walking paths away from the nests.

“Given that there are less than 50 pairs of birds in South Australia, it’s absolutely fantastic to have another 14 birds moving along the coast,” Falkenberg said.

Eyre Peninsula birders are hoping for similar results with six rigs deployed in the past month, from Arno Bay to Spencer Gulf to Smoky Bay in the west.

The platforms, largely funded by individuals, groups and private foundations, were made by the Ardrossan Men’s Shelter and many of the remote locations required a helicopter to lift them into place.

Oyster industry boats also helped install artificial nests in Streaky Bay and Smoky Bay.

Port Neill local Tom Bagshaw previously built two makeshift nests for three spotted birds in the area and hoped the town’s new platform would be a safer place for them to breed.

“When we put this tower up … within an hour and a half there were two feeds on it, which was very exciting, really, to think it would be useful for them,” Mr Bagshaw said.

Birds promote tourism

Photographer Fran Solly, from the Friends of Osprey group, said people were fascinated by the birds’ dire plight, shown live on a YouTube channel that has been filming two birds in Porter Bay on a barge in Port Lincoln for around six years.

“I think from the early days of YouTube on the barge, people were able to see everything that happened in the nest – from the time the eggs were laid to hatching – and then watch the chicks grow. . and eventually run away.”

The birds had even boosted tourism in small coastal communities.

“I know people are visiting these towns to try and see rams, people from Victoria … people are coming from Adelaide and that side of the state especially with an idea that they want to see a bird,” Ms Solly said. .

Mr Bagshaw said the locals were also recognizing them.

“We have a resident here who goes early in the morning to paddle and they’re quite often at a lighthouse that he paddles under, and he calls them and they call back, so they’re really interactive,” said she.