Volunteers protect waterbirds by cleaning up the wetlands

IT’S not quite time for the annual duck shooting season but wildlife rescue teams have already been on the wetland – as part of Clean Up Australia Day.

Volunteers with Geelong Duck Rescue once again returned to their favourite wetland, Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve.

The wetland is a RAMSAR-listed wetland of international significance and is surrounded by new and rapidly growing suburbs.

Braving the intense heat, long-time duck rescuer and advocate for the Lake Connewarre system Natalie Kopas led the team of volunteers on a search for rubbish, and it wasn’t hard to find.

“We can protect waterbirds in so many ways,” Ms Kopas said. “We’ve been involved in Clean Up Australia Day here at Connewarre for the last 10 years.”

Four different clean-up sites across the wetland were targeted by the team to clear as much rubbish as possible.

“We’re all glad to be able to have such a positive impact on this place,” she said.

“Every scrap of plastic removed makes the environment safer for the birds we care about.”

The team particularly expressed disappointment that the season would go ahead in Lake Connewarre given the low water levels and being so close to neighbouring homes.