Conservation

Wetland Conservation
A primary objective of Field and Game Australia is to preserve, restore, develop and maintain waterfowl habitat in Australia. Waterfowl hunters are aware of the importance of our wetlands and the bio-diversity that is associated with wetlands.

Field and Game Australia have consistently been at the forefront of wetland conservation, often being the first to notice changes in waterfowl habitat and population and continually seek the reasons for these changes. Wildlife scientists agree that the loss of habitat is the greatest threat to waterfowl, far greater than recreational hunting. Several species including the Hardhead, Bluewing Shoveler, Blue-billed duck and the Musk duck have been considerably effected through the alteration or loss of their habitat, reflecting continuing need for Field and Game Australia's wetland restoration and conservation programs.

A History of Conservation Dedication
The Victorian Field and Game Association (VFGA) was established in 1958 and became a National body in 1998 changing its name to Field and Game Australia Inc (FGA). The Organisation was founded by hunters who were concerned at the degradation and loss of wetlands across Victoria and Australia. They had noticed a decline in Flora and Fauna especially the Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), which became the symbol of the organisation. Three of the resolutions adopted at the first meeting in 1958 were:

1. To develop Victorian facilities for game bird hunting by the promotion of game bird conservation and management projects.
2. To develop a greater public appreciation of the pleasures and values of game bird hunting.
3. To organise a deputation to the Chief Secretary seeking the establishment of a shooter’s licence to fund game and wetland conservation.

FGA is comprised of 60 branches across Australia with in excess of 13,500 members and has a long and proud history of conservation in Australia. FGA Volunteers spend thousands of man hours and dollars each year restoring and preserving wetlands, building and erecting nest boxes, undertaking waterfowl surveys, conducting waterfowl identification courses, lobbing government to retain wetlands and much more.

FGA has been involved in many long and difficult efforts to save wetlands in Australia, not only for ducks but also for over 100 species of birds and the flora and fauna, which depend wholly or partly upon wetland habitats. Many of the efforts have been predominately aimed at non-game species, especially the Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and the brolga Grus rubicundus.

One of the first undertakings of the newly formed VFGA was to lobby the Victorian Government to set up a Game Licensing System, whereby hunters would pay a fee to obtain a game licence. The revenue raised from these fees was to be used to purchase wetlands (States Game Reserves) and to finance research, restoration and the preservation of the wetlands and their inhabitants. The Government of the day adopted the idea and today we have 230 State Game Reserves in Victoria. Map book availiable from the National Office. fga@fga.net.au

In 1978 VFGA won the prestigious ‘Victorian Conservation Prize’ which was awarded for the defence of Victoria’s Wetlands, the preservation of wildlife habitat and development of public awareness. The prize is awarded annually to an organisation who has shown outstanding contributions to Conservation over the past five years.

Research undertaken by FGA in Victoria during 1992/93 showed that lead levels in black duck at Lake Buloke, had reached the threshold levels adopted for change internationally. This prompted FGA to lead the phase-out of lead shot, for waterfowl hunting, which was completed in 2002. When lead-poisoned waterfowl die, the lead in their systems can pass into predators and scavengers (hawks, eagles and marsupials such as quolls), which may also sicken and die due to lead poisoning.

FGA has always been an advocate for “Sustainable Utilisation” as a means of conserving the Native Flora and Fauna of Australia. As hunters we understand the need to be accountable for the numbers of species harvested and there sustainability. FGA volunteers undertake Waterfowl Counts each year to assist Government wildlife managers in obtaining the valuable information needed to assess the population of individual species and their locations.

Members have always been encouraged to undertake both big and small conservation projects. Over the years there have been thousands of nest boxes built by members, their families and other groups such as schools and disabled people under the instruction of FGA members. These boxes, particularly for ducks and parrots have been erected in wetlands and parks across Australia. The boxes are monitored on a regular basis, nesting numbers are recorded and introduced (pest) species such as starlings are removed. The nest-boxing programme has proven to be very successful in breeding birds and educating the wider community of the importance of wetlands, and their inhabitants.

Many of the major preservation and restoration projects that FGA members have undertaken have been on Ramsar listed wetlands and it is true to say that a number of these wetlands would no longer exist if it was not for the dedication of FGA.

See more under Wetland Projects - for a brief overview of a small number of wetland projects undertaken on both Ramsar and non-Ramsar listed wetlands over the 44 years of FGA.
FGA will continue to rehabilitate, preserve and fight to save wetlands. We are dedicated, to hands on, onground work and our members put their time and money where their mouths are and get the job done. We are proud of what we have achieved thus far, eager to achieve more and passionate enough to make sure we continue to be one of the leading wetland conservation organisations in Australia.

Wetlands Projects
The following gives a brief overview of a small number of wetland projects undertaken on both Ramsar and non-Ramsar listed wetlands over the 46 year history of FGA.

Hirds and Johnsons Wetlands
(Ramsar Listed as part of the Kerang Wetlands)
In 1963-65 VFGA vigorously opposed a series of proposals put forward by the Parliamentary Public Works Committee hearings on the reorganisation of the Torrumbarry Irrigation System, which would have seen Hirds and Johnsons Wetlands, between Kerang and Cohuna, Victoria drained.

VFGA gave lengthy and detailed evidence emphasising the necessity of preserving Hirds and Johnsons wetlands for wildlife. Our Organisation was told at the time that we were wasting our time arguing for regulated water for wildlife, when the concept was that water should only be used for agriculture, industry and urban requirements. VFGA recommended that Hirds swamp be saved for its value to the community on a multi-usage basis. Some of these uses were roosting and breeding habitat for Ibis and ducks. Despite objections from the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, the Fisheries and Wildlife Department of the time and local Farmers, the Government of Victoria directed that the environmental aspects of Hirds and Johnsons Wetlands be preserved. This was the first time in Australia that a Government had made an environmental water allocation to preserve wetlands.

In recent times FGA has been very active in the rehabilitation of Hirds Wetland. Members have been involved in the surveying and planning of major works, which include the construction of 11 islands and a number of vegetation bays. Members have also spent many hours planting trees and cleaning up rubbish form the Wetland and its surrounds. FGA has and continues to help in the preservation of Hirds and Johnsons Wetlands for all users.

“VFGA is a hunter’s organisation which is dedicated to conservation of our wildlife and is aware that the preservation of wildlife depends on conservation of its habitat. We are proud of the fact that we have fought non-stop for 15 years to save these two valuable wetlands. If necessary we will continue to fight to retain a viable Hird’s and Johnson’s for as long as it takes because they not only contain game species, which we harvest, but also contain vast numbers of non-game species such as the Straw-necked Ibis, White Ibis and Glossy Ibis and their rookeries.”
(Ken Hooper, May 1978)

Dowds Morass
(Ramsar Listed part of the Gippsland Lakes)
It was largely through the efforts of the VFGA that Dowds Morass, a swamp in Gippsland, Victoria became a State Game Reserve instead of being drained. The 3578 acres of reserve combines various types of habitat ranging from open water to ti-tree and cane reeds. It offers breeding and feeding habitat for various types of birds, including Ibis, Spoonbills, Egrets, Swans and Ducks.

Apart from VFGA being the main instigator to have the Morass purchased, the Gippsland Region of VFGA has undertaken a number of projects to improve and protect the morass. In 1966 the Gippsland Region hired a backhoe and cleaned an existing drain to feed the then 1,990 acres of reserve. Floods in 1974 caused a box culvert across the drain to collapse, subsequently VFGA constructed a bridge suitable for vehicular traffic to replace the collapsed culvert and also installed a superior water control structure in the small drain.

During 1978 Sale branch of VFGA planted several thousand trees on the high ground adjacent to the Morass. In 1988 FGA supplied the materials and an extensive labour force to help with the construction of a new water control structure that ensured that river level variations could be taken advantage of to the betterment of the wetland. Over the years about 100 nest boxes have been erected on Dowds Morass by FGA volunteers.

Reedy Lake, Nagambie
In 1999 the Seymour Branch of Field and Game was successful in obtaining a $45,000 grant to develop a Surface Water Management Strategy for Reedy Lake at Nagambie. Environmental consultants Sinclair, Knights and Mertz were appointed and commenced work on the strategy in early 2000. The strategy was completed and forwarded to the stakeholder in 2001.

Kanyapella Basin
In 1998 FGA indicated Kanyapella Basin as a wetland in urgent need of rehabilitation. Recognising the significance of Kanyapella Basin and its precarious situation, FGA developed a proposal to rehabilitate Kanyapella Basin. They formed the Steering Committee, which included representatives from Community Groups, Local Council, Government Departments, the Catchment Management Authority, the Regional Water Authority and Deakin University.

FGA has supported and financed four Honours students and a Ph.D. research student from Deakin University to undertake studies on Kanyapella, which will include an adaptive management strategy and implementation plan for the basin.

Lake Borrie
(Ramsar Listed part of the Port Phillip Bay - Western Shoreline -and Bellarine Peninsula)
Situated in the Werribee Sewerage Complex, south west of Melbourne, Lake Borrie is home to a number of Australian Native waterfowl including the Pacific Black Duck, Pink Ear Ducks and the Chesnut Teal Duck. The lake consists of 400 hectares and it is situated on the southern bank of the Little River.

Over the past 10 years FGA member, Mr Eddie Walker, has undertaken an extensive nest box research program. This voluntary research takes in excess of 800 hours per year. Over the past 10-years 1329 nest boxes have been erected at Lake Borrie, with almost all being occupied at some time. A total of 1,065 ducklings hatched out of 1,213 clutches in the ten years. These clutches were predominantly Chestnut Teal.

The Nest Box Research Programs undertaken by FGA members across Australia are an important way to study the breeding patterns of the birds that use them. With the destruction of large areas of their natural habitat for nesting the, boxes offer a safe place to nest and hatch they’re young.

Reedy Lake, Geelong
(Ramsar Listed part of the Port Phillip Bay - Western Shoreline - and Bellarine Peninsula)
Reedy Lake, Geelong, was dying and was drowning due to long periods of inundation of water and severe vegetation loss due to infestation of the European Carp Cyprinus carpio. This devastation prompted FGA members from the Geelong branch to undertake a major engineering project which would see Reedy Lake on its way back to becoming a productive wetland again.

In the years prior to the sixties the Lake was intermittently full and ducks of all species were teeming, especially the Grey Teal Anas gracilis and Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa. But in the early sixties the Fisheries and Wildlife Division of the time and FGA members built a low bank and adjacent spillway at the natural outfall of the Lake, to hold more water. This worked well, the lake flourished, right up to the early 1990’s, when in the space of 12 months, around 1993, the aquatic plants started to disappear and our summer water bird counts plummeted. Only pelicans and cormorants stayed in any numbers.

By 1994 Geelong Field and Game were desperate to get some action. They brought in aquatic scientist’s form Deakin University, who undertook a number of tests to try and determine what was happening to Reedy Lake. It was discovered that carp had been introduced into the lake via the Barwon River in late 70’s and were a big part of the problem at Reedy Lake.

The carp discoloured the water to a point that submergent plants could not regenerate. Because of the discoloured water the growth of fresh shoots was hampered by the lack of sunlight, the few shoots that did grow where quickly eaten off by carp. These plants used to grow to the surface and kept the water calm. Without them, the wave action, and carp undermined the root systems of the cumbungi causing it to collapse.

Geelong Field and Game designed, financed and resourced a project to return the lake to a flourishing and diverse ecosystem. The lake was drained in the autumn of 1996, five to ten thousand 15kg european cap flopped about in the muddy pools and these were just the ones left by the pelicans and cormorants because they where to big to eat.

It took a week for FGA members Tony, John and Adam Leen to construct the new outlet channel, which is 1500 meters long and 3 meters wide and extends into the middle of the lake. Member, Norm Cobb and his boys designed a concrete and steel dropboard regulator, which enabled the lake level to be controlled or drained as determined in the Management Plan.

Members gathered for a weekend where they built a regulator, cleaned up the lakebed and built a rock fish ladder. In the next week members erected the purpose built fish grill, made to stop the big carp getting back into the lake. At the same time they also built a boat ramp so that people could access the lake.

After the plant life had started regenerating, water was then allowed to flow back into the lake. Rehabilitating Reedy Lake, at Geelong, has been a great success story for members of FGA with an outcome that benefits the whole community.

Issues and Information
The sustainable use of wildlife and the hunting ethic is generally misunderstood by the wider community. Hunting and the sometimes emotive issues associated with the killing of animals generate wide ranging opinion and debate within the community.

The following scientific articles are useful resource documents for students and others interested in learning about “sustainable utilisation” and the positive role of hunting in conservation.