Lake shut amid bird safety fears

LAKE Connewarre State Game Reserve is closed until the end of Victoria’s duck shooting season to protect a critically endangered bird that will be released in the area.

State government authorities will place captive-bred orange-bellied parrots at the lake in a bid to boost the birds’ wild population.

The closure started on Friday last week and will last until May 3

The affected area includes include Hospital Swamp and Reedy Lake.

A statement from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) indicated the closure was necessary to give the birds their best chance of survival in their new habitat.

“Hunting activity close to a known orange-bellied parrot location has the potential to interrupt important feeding and flocking activities, causing stress, and may cause abandonment from the site.

“In autumn, birds need the opportunity to settle into their chosen non-breeding location, and feed in an uninterrupted way, to recover from the effort of migration.

“The species is known to be sensitive to noise and susceptible to disturbance, and is usually found in locations away from areas with frequent disturbance.”

DEECA stated it would install signs to notify of the closure and that authorized officers would be on site to enforce compliance.

Lake Connewarre has been a flashpoint for tension between duck hunters and anti-hunting activists since Victoria’s duck shooting season started last month.

Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell has been among the most vocal opponents, and welcomed the government’s move to close the site last week.

“I thank the government for listening,” she stated.

“Another wetland that will be a sanctuary for the rest of the season — as they all should be, all of the time.”