Endangered bird 'hangs in balance'

The future of the endangered bush stone-curlew "hangs in the balance" on the Central Coast, after all of this season's chicks around the Peninsula were lost to predators within days of hatching.

Only a few pairs of the birds remain in the Peninsula area, according to National Parks and Wildlife Service public relations officer Ms Susan Davis.

"National Parks and Wildlife Service and Gosford Council are working together with PhD student Catherine Price to bring this odd looking bird back from the brink of extinction," Ms Davis said.

"Bush stone-curlews are large birds with long, gangly legs.

"They are a shy ground-dwelling bird which are most active at night and are more often heard than seen with an eerie wailing call."

Research student Ms Catherine Price said it was now time for the birds to nest and they can be found in large open areas such as reserves, school ovals or even backyards.

"Bush stone-curlews lay their eggs directly on the ground and when the chicks hatch, about three weeks later, they can't fly for about eight weeks," Ms Price said.

"This makes the chicks highly vulnerable to all types of predators including domestic pets such as dogs and cats as well as foxes."

Local residents group the Gosford Friends of the Bush Stone-curlew monitor the species around Brisbane Water.

Gosford Council officer Mr Phil Wood said that the Friends group had played a major role in monitoring pairs of birds on St Hurbert's Island and in Woy Woy.

"Pairs of birds in these areas have nested and hatched chicks," Mr Wood said.

"Unfortunately all the chicks were lost to unknown predators within days."

National Parks and Wildlife Service area manager Mr Alan Henderson said that the birds' long term survival relied heavily on the local community.

"We need help not just from the Friends group but from anyone who has sighted these amazing birds so that we can get a better understanding of the populations on the Central Coast," Mr Henderson said.

He asked anyone who had seen a bush stone-curlew to contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service at Gosford on 4320 4218.

Press release, 23 Oct 2008 Susan Davis, National Parks and Wildlife Service