IT\u2019S 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.<\/p>\n
Volunteers with Geelong Duck Rescue once again returned to their favourite wetland, Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve.<\/p>\n
The wetland is a RAMSAR-listed wetland of international significance and is surrounded by new and rapidly growing suburbs.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t hard to find.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can protect waterbirds in so many ways,\u201d Ms Kopas said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been involved in Clean Up Australia Day here at Connewarre for the last 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Four different clean-up sites across the wetland were targeted by the team to clear as much rubbish as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all glad to be able to have such a positive impact on this place,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery scrap of plastic removed makes the environment safer for the birds we care about.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IT\u2019S 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 […]<\/p>\n