As Elmo says, Craig is a mine of useful info.
Today's main one was about the Fairy Turns, (no relation to Fairy Bob). They are an endangered species, who've lost a lot of habitat over the last decade or so. A couple of years ago a high tide and big storm surge washed away half their nests at Nairns, then dogs came in and got the rest, Craig tried to save a few eggs that were just hatching, but I don't think he was very successful.
One of the big problems with Fairy Turns is once disturbed they don't come back to the nest. So it just takes someone to get a bit too close and that's another generation gone.
Last year there was a nesting group in the Creery lagoon, their season starts in September, so we shouldn't be going in there then.

Craig made a very interesting comment came when Alby suggested we post where and when a Fairy Turn nesting was, he said, "I don't like to publish where they are, because the less people know about them the better".

Seems I got the migratory bird thing wrong, they don't come here to breed they come to feed, and need shallow water because they are waders, have short necks and feed from the bottom. So they aren't so much of a concern for us.

WazzaYotty said..

Every day we're getting a little bit better

Especially if you can get to sail regularly..

decrepit said..
As Elmo says, Craig is a mine of useful info.
Today's main one was about the Fairy Turns, (no relation to Fairy Bob). They are an endangered species, who've lost a lot of habitat over the last decade or so. A couple of years ago a high tide and big storm surge washed away half their nests at Nairns, then dogs came in and got the rest, Craig tried to save a few eggs that were just hatching, but I don't think he was very successful.
One of the big problems with Fairy Turns is once disturbed they don't come back to the nest. So it just takes someone to get a bit too close and that's another generation gone.
Last year there was a nesting group in the Creery lagoon, their season starts in September, so we shouldn't be going in there then.

Craig made a very interesting comment came when Alby suggested we post where and when a Fairy Turn nesting was, he said, "I don't like to publish where they are, because the less people know about them the better".

Seems I got the migratory bird thing wrong, they don't come here to breed they come to feed, and need shallow water because they are waders, have short necks and feed from the bottom. So they aren't so much of a concern for us.

I think a Fairy Turn refers to Fangman's alphas?!
This would be a Fairy Tern

lao shi said..


I think a Fairy Turn refers to Fangman's alphas?!

Don't you hate it when auto correct changes " absolutely mind blowing blistering speed welded into extreme G force awesomeness gybe " into 'Fairy Turn' ? A simple enough mistake I know and I promise I won't even think of sledging in return. As we have seen in this thread, taking the high moral ground is always the smart move. See, you can learn stuff from me Load of Shi. .
...and to be fair, my gybes are more like Fairy Turd at the moment!

fangman said..
>>>See, you can learn stuff from me Load of Shi. .

You've got to be brave to take on Fangy, you never know what you'll get in return!

sboardcrazy said..

sailquik said..

sboardcrazy said..

ka43 said..
A positive to this Mike, they dont have shotguns like at LG!!!!
All the best to you blokes for a successful outcome.
Cheers,
Larko.

Yeah I love LG ..A bird conservation area - let them breed so they can then shoot them!

We don't just let them breed Sue! We actually build nest boxes for them and raise large sums of our own time and money to purchase and maintain vast tracts of wetlands back from farmers to give them somewhere to breed. Then, when there is a heathy, large overabundance of them, we can go and shoot them... and eat them.
I must embarrassingly admit that I have got a bit slack about the shooting and eating part in the last few years. But I do like to go out and look at all those wetlands I have helped to fund.

Do they taste any good?

Hmmm.... Hard to say. I like them. A bit gamey and strong flavour. Not really much like domestic duck. Darker meat. But, than I can't taste anything in Crayfish and Prawns. Waste of money to me. Do they taste good to you?

Now Kangaroo is pretty good. The best cuts compare well with beef and Mutton.

^^^

Please - this thread is about sailing on the Estuary - not a banal discussion about which animals are good to eat

yes I agree - that would be a 'tern' for the worse.....bit like that pun really

Count me in Cap'n.

Best to PM me I guess, Anita I'm emailing you.

Good one Fangy, nothing like doing homework first! It also applies to Boombas and all the other places we sail close to shore.
It only applies to motorised craft, we've been through this with Dept of transport when they introduced the new rules.
I forget who now, (maybe Yoyo?) but someone went to the public meeting and I phoned them.
We were both reassured that windsurfing speeds are unrestricted.

decrepit said..
Good one Fangy, nothing like doing homework first! It also applies to Boombas and all the other places we sail close to shore.
It only applies to motorised craft, we've been through this with Dept of transport when they introduced the new rules.
I forget who now, (maybe Yoyo?) but someone went to the public meeting and I phoned them.
We were both reassured that windsurfing speeds are unrestricted.

Thank god for that or you'd lose all your good speed spots!

Thanks Yoyo :-)

decrepit said..
Rod, windxtasy, Fin Fangy, Dot and myself attended the council meeting with the Brett, the environmental coordinator. Thanks guys for coming along.

He seemed convinced we weren't abominable hoons, and wants to put out a feel good media release about us working with council and environmental advisers.

Seems like a good idea to counter all the negative stuff the birdies have thrown at us, but Dot has some doubts.
She thinks there's a chance media exposure may bring more poo down on us, from concerned individuals Joanne hasn't reached.
But I have a feeling Joanne's facebook efforts have reached the big majority of local bird enthusiasts.
Brett's going to run the release by us for approval before it's published.

So any opinions, should we go ahead with this????

Let's see what they come up with.
It is tempting to leave this alone as for most the incident is lost and forgotten, and we don't want to bring it to public attention again, however it is likely some of us will want to sail Creery lagoon again, and it would be helpful if some of those watching are aware that we are not inconsiderate hoons, but that we have consulted with bird enthusiasts and the council and are trying to enjoy the location while keeping our environmental impact to a minimum.

Windxtasy said..

decrepit said..
Rod, windxtasy, Fin Fangy, Dot and myself attended the council meeting with the Brett, the environmental coordinator. Thanks guys for coming along.

He seemed convinced we weren't abominable hoons, and wants to put out a feel good media release about us working with council and environmental advisers.

Seems like a good idea to counter all the negative stuff the birdies have thrown at us, but Dot has some doubts.
She thinks there's a chance media exposure may bring more poo down on us, from concerned individuals Joanne hasn't reached.
But I have a feeling Joanne's facebook efforts have reached the big majority of local bird enthusiasts.
Brett's going to run the release by us for approval before it's published.

So any opinions, should we go ahead with this????

Let's see what they come up with.

+ 1 that, WindX.
Let's see as many cards as possible on the table.......then make a decision.

FWIW......
I think the "right and proper" thing for us to do is to publicise our concerns about the situation, to vocalise the fact that we have asked for, and received, permission from the relevant authorities at every turn, to show that we have not disregarded either wildlife or wetlands and to show that we are not abominations.

But I don't think anyone will be interested in our side of the story and more wetlanders may become involved.

I can't help thinking that the "sensible" thing to do might well be to keep shtum and to allow the fire to go out.