It is with great pleasure that we can announce the return of Orange's own migratory bird, the Latham's Snipe Gallinago Hardwickii (also known as the Japanese Snipe) to the Ploughman's Wetlands.
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Two members of the species were observed in the wetlands this Tuesday.
The wetlands and swampy meadows of the Central Tablelands play a major role as a habitat for the migrating Latham's Snipe.
Right here on Orange's very doorstep, the Ploughman's wetlands plays host to this fascinating species each Spring and Summer through to early Autumn, after which it returns to Japan to breed.
Neil Jones, spokesperson for the Ploughman's Wetlands Care Group, said that members were very excited to hear of the first sighting of the Snipe in the Wetlands this Spring.
"The Group is a strong advocate for the protection of Orange's wetlands and swampy meadows which are essential habitat for this unique migratory bird," Mr. Jones said.
"The Group regularly carries out maintenance and enhancement in the wetlands, and looks forward to this time each year when its efforts are rewarded with the sightings of the Snipe.
... these important habitats are constantly under threat.
- Neil Jones on the impacts of human activity and stray animals on the wetlands.
"However, these important habitats are constantly under threat through human activity and uncontrolled domestic animals, in particular straying cats."
Mr Jones implores members of the public to confine their cats, preventing them from straying into the wetlands.
Latham's Snipe is currently not regarded as endangered.
This may not be the case in future, as surveyed sites in Japan in May 2020 indicated a drop of 42 per cent of breeding pairs from 2018 surveys.
This has been attributed to the impact of the drought and bushfires in Eastern Australia, Latham's Snipe's main Australian distribution. Areas of the habitat crucial for the survival of the species in Australia have either been destroyed or drastically reduced by fire and drought.
In order to better understand the impact of these conditions on snipe populations and to further explore how Snipe use our wetlands, we are invited to become involved in the Latham's Snipe Project that seeks to find out more about the population, distribution and use of wetlands by this bird when it is in Australia.
To do this we are asked to participate in the National Snipe Survey which will be conducted on September 26, November 21, (2020) and January 12 (2021).
For more information visit the Latham's Snipe Project website.
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