Field Notes: A Visit to Narungga Country

When it comes to hands-on conservation work, BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Bird and Migratory Shorebird Teams are always at the forefront, and an important aspect of that work includes working in collaboration with Traditional Owners to achieve real, positive outcomes for Australia’ birds. 

Here, Melissa Sheedy, one of our Beach-nesting Birds Project Officers, shares some insights into her recent trip with Jasmin Rooks, South Australia’s Shorebird Monitoring Coordinator, to visit South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula on Narungga Country, where the newly established Narungga Nations Rangers, and the Point Pearce IPA rangers, have taken up the cudgels to conduct monitoring surveys of their local shorebirds, supported by funding from BirdLife Australia’s Indigenous Grant.

“We recently visited the Point Pearce Indigenous Protected Area to survey the offshore reef and expansive sandy beach, both of which were exposed at low tide. This field visit provided a valuable opportunity to bring together different forms of knowledge: we were privileged to learn from the Narungga Rangers’ experience and knowledge of Country, while sharing our expertise in shorebirds with them.

“Together, we explored the diversity of the shorebirds which we encountered along the coastline, providing the perfect opportunity for practical training in identifying the different species of shorebirds, as well as recognising the breeding behaviour of beach-nesting species.

“We were joined by a few local volunteers from the Friends of the Hooded Plover Yorke Peninsula, which allowed the Narungga Rangers to make connections with experienced volunteers, with the aim of supporting their monitoring efforts with mentorship and guidance. It was also an important chance for the local volunteers to foster relationships with Narungga Rangers.

“The next day involved a training workshop, which was run through BirdLife Australia’s National Shorebird Monitoring and Beach-nesting Birds Programs. In-depth tuition was provided on how to distinguish between the different species of shorebirds and how to monitor nesting beach-nesting birds.

“In addition, we identified gaps in monitoring the birds on the Yorke Peninsula that could be filled by the Narungga Rangers. The participants were given plenty of literature that will prove useful when taking part in the different programs.

“After the workshop finished, we all headed down to the foreshore of Hardwicke Bay, where we found three Hooded Plover chicks which had hatched from the scrape in the sand (which was their nest) only a few hours before – much to the delight of all present.”

“Later in our trip, we all visited a few more sites across the south-eastern beaches of the Yorke Peninsula, where the Narungga Rangers could put their newly honed monitoring and identification skills into action. Now proficient in using spotting scopes and binoculars, they were able to confidently identify the Pied Oystercatchers, Red-necked Avocets, Pied Stilts, Australian Shelducks, Red-capped Plovers and at least 400 Red-necked Stints they saw on the beaches.

“Where to from here? The Narungga Rangers are looking forward to taking part in regular Hooded Plover monitoring throughout the breeding season – supporting the volunteers from the Friends of the Hooded Plover Yorke Peninsula – and participate in the upcoming 2026 Hooded Plover Biennial Count this November. They will also assist with BirdLife Australia’s Summer and Winter Shorebird Counts and the IPA rangers will conduct vital counts of the Endangered Fairy Tern colony, which nests in the area.

“Some Friends of the Hooded Plover volunteers have already reconnected with the Rangers to organise beach visits together, where their monitoring skills can be supported further. And to reinforce the gains made during our visit, Jas and I will hold more workshops (online this time) in the coming weeks, to run the Narungga Rangers through the details of how to enter their count results into the Birdata and the Beach-nesting Birds ‘MyBeachBird’ portals.”

Mel and Jas are looking forward to making a return visit to the Yorke Peninsula in January to see the progress made by the Narungga Rangers, while continuing to encourage and enhance their enthusiasm for the shorebirds on Narungga Country.

They extend their sincere thanks to the rangers for their generous time and willingness to share their knowledge of Country, and they look forward to continuing to build this relationship in the future.