It is always inspiring to hear from members of the public about wildlife. They may call the
Hotline 5441 6200 or email their worries about wildlife struggles in different areas of the
Sunshine Coast and hinterland. This genuine love and concern for our native animals should
be a natural feeling for everyone but unfortunately that’s not the case.
A lovely lady, Jennifer, contacted us about the Ospreys nesting at Moffatt Beach. These
majestic birds, with a wingspan of over one and a half metres, breed from April to
November, incubating their 2 or 3 eggs for 33 – 38 days. It is then about another 2 months
before fledging. It is a long arduous task, this hatching and rearing process. Each year, they
are bombarded by crows and currawongs that sit on the antennae which provide a great
perching place from which to harass the poor young birds until they are finally killed. To see
this happen each year is just soul destroying for people.
I’d strongly recommend that people phone customer service at the council and speak to the
relevant department and follow through until something is done. The more calls the better.
The Sunshine Coast Council have constructed alternative nesting platforms for ospreys
along the coast in the past so we are lucky to have councils willing to put in the time, effort
and money to help our wildlife. We aren’t the only ones with this problem. Here is the
story from York Peninsula in South Australia.
https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/news/ospreys-making-comeback-on-yorke-peninsula
Thank you from WILVOS to all our wonderful volunteers, supporters, wildlife hospitals,
Police, Energex, Fire and Rescue, and the Sunshine Coast Council. Thank you to all at the
Sunshine Valley Gazette for keeping us up to date with local news, celebrations and
problems. To each and every one who has helped in any way in past years, it is so much
appreciated. A safe, healthy and happy 2025 to all.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 SCMC Q 4560 PH
5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au
Wildlife may need that little extra help…
