Jul 20 2022
Shorebirds – 5 Part Series
Shorebirds roost undisturbed on Roebuck Bay © Ric Else
Annual Cycle of Roebuck Bay Shorebirds
The five part series, written by Broome ornithologist Chris Hassell, is informed by many years of observations and on ground research for the Global Flyway Network (University of Groningen NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) at Roebuck Bay, Eighty Mile Beach and the Yellow Sea. Chris’ knowledge and passion for shorebirds is palpable in his writing of the series.
- FIRST LEG OF THE JOURNEY »
- YELLOW SEA TO THE BREEDING GROUNDS »
- BREEDING »
- SOUTHWWARD MIGRATION »
- LIFE IN ROEBUCK BAY »
This project has been sponsored by Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government Landcare Program in June 2022
Jun 5 2022
Keeping Roebuck Bay a Fish Paradise
W
alk and Talk – Fish and other things of Roebuck Bay
Saturday 18th June
10am – 11am
Town Beach Jetty
Join us at the new Town Beach Jetty as we discuss the outstanding diversity that makes Roebuck Bay a fishing paradise and how we can all help keep it that way!
Two great door prizes – Reef Chief Fishing shirt (kindly donated by Reef Chief) and tackle box with fishing supplies (thanks to DPIRD)
Places limited – RSVP gracemaglioRBWG@outlook.com by the 15th June
Jun 2 2022
Composting Masterclass
Watch this practical demonstration on how to compost by Jardine Macdonald, Program Manager of Rangelands NRM in WA. With a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management) and Masters in Hydrogeology, Jardine is well qualified and about soil health. Looking after soil health results in improved soil structure to hold rain and nutrients, and healthy plants in return. Compost is an easy, inexpensive way to use garden waste and help the soil food web for a healthy garden. Composting also reduces the need to use pesticides on plants as it strengthens plants to resist garden pests. Doing away with pesticides in your garden reduces polluted runoff from your garden running into stormwater drains that discharge into Roebuck Bay. Moreover, composting helps to keep Roebuck Bay’s water quality clean and marine web healthy which includes fish stocks, migratory shorebirds and nearshore dolphins. Jardine is passionate about soil health so this is an awesome short film to help you learn how to compost.
Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome » is another great resource, providing practical advice on growing a waterwise garden that benefits your wallet and Roebuck Bay.
May 5 2022
Do you love dolphins?
Dolphin Watch Training
Do you love dolphins and getting out on the Bay?
Become a trained Dolphin Watch volunteer – yes – then come along to a FREE training evening hosted by Roebuck Bay Working Group. You will…
• Learn more about snubfin dolphins including how to identify individual;
dolphins with your free FinBook and
• Learn how to record your sightings in the Marine Fauna Sightings phone app;
• Apply your knowledge gained in the training session by getting out on Yawuru Nagulagun and participating in the snubfin census on Wed 4th May with Absolute Ocean Charters or Sunday 8th May with Broome Whale Watching (weather permitting) to put your dolphin watching skills into practice.
Where Lotteries House, 20 Cable Beach Road East
When Monday 2nd May 6.00-7.30pm
Free Gold coin donations welcome
More info community@dbca.wa.gov.au or phone 92780932 or gracemagliorbwg@outlook.com
Apr 28 2022
Verge planting can help coastal waters
The endemic herb Tall Mulla Mulla does well on your verge. © Kandy Curran
Have you considered giving your verge a makeover? There are many reasons to plant out your verge; the entrance to your home is beautiful, your verge is a refuge for wildlife and you can grow edible food to improve your health and wellbeing. Another awesome reason to plant your verge is to reduce polluted runoff from your property entering magnificent Roebuck Bay – a international Ramsar site, Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park and National Heritage site. Here is a list of Coastal plants for a Broome verge »
Tips on how to go about planting a verge in Broome…
- Draw a map of your verge then populate with favourite local trees, shrubs, herbs and groundcovers. Medium trees such Gubinge and Jigal are best planted furthest back from power lines, shrubs in the middle and annual herbs such as Mulla Mulla mass plant along the roadside (don’t mulch annual herbs so they propogate themselves).
- Avoid plants that will block line of sight along your driveway.
- Dig water swales to capture rainwater and recue run-off into stormwater drains that discharge into Roebuck Bay.
- Fill out a Street Tree Order Form and email to Broome Shire to receive a free allocation of local coastal plants.
- Get a copy of the free book Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome Not only does the book identify local coastal plants that do well in Broome conditions, it lists the local nurseries who sell native plants.
- Use a burr hoe to remove common weeds before you plant out your seedlings. To ensure you don’t plant weeds take Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome with you to the nursery as the book includes pages on the weeds not to plant i.e. ‘DONT PLANT a garden escapee’.
- The optimum time to plant your seedlings is from September when the soil warms up and plants come of dormancy.
- Irrigate seedlings daily for for one to two months with a drip system, then twice weekly for a year. Thereafter only water once a week., although vine thicket species do well twice weekly.
Oct 21 2021
Shorebird disturbance
Shorebird disturbance on Roebuck Bay
Presenter Dr Nyil Khwaja
Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park is one of the most important wetlands in the world for migratory shorebirds. These shorebirds feed at low tide on the mudflats but come under stress at high tide as they are pushed onto beaches they share have to share with us and birds of prey. This talk presents new research on when, where and how shorebirds are disturbed at high tide and what this means for conserving these amazing birds.
Nhil Kwaja has been the Broome Bird Observatory Warden since 2019 and coordinated this project with funding from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The important data collection has been done by volunteers. We hope the talk shows what a superb contribution they have made to shorebird conservation science.
Where The Main Hall, University of Notre Dame, 88 Guy Street, Broome
When Thursday 28th October 5.30-7.00pm
Free Gold coin donations welcome
More info www.roebuckbay.org.au or gracemaglio@outlook.com
Sep 6 2021
Welcome news
Roebuck Bay Working Group continues its outstanding work, with an innovative Science on the Broome Coast series, a popular Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest, a cool as can be sign on the foreshore of Roebuck Bay and a Coastal Garden book that is creating a positive trend toward endemic gardens in the coastal town of Broome.
Read all our news in the latest Roebuck Bay Working Group e Newsletter »
Aug 24 2021
Train to be a dolphin watch volunteer
Do you love dolphins and getting out on the Bay
Dolphin Watch Training…
become a trained dolphin watch volunteer
Attend our FREE training evening and…
– Learn more about the Australian Snubfin Dolphin
– How to identify dolphins with your free Finbook
– How to record sightings in a new Smartphone APP
– Apply your knowledge gained in the training session on Yawuru Nagulagun and in the Snubfin Dolphin Census in April 2022
– A draw for a door prize – a free dolphin watch cruise
Where Lotteries House 20 Cable Beach Rd Broome
When Tuesday 7th September 5.30-7.30pm
Free Gold coin donations welcome
More info www.roebuckbay.org.au or gracemaglio@outlook.com
Aug 24 2021
Snubfin Dolphins or Roebuck Bay
Snubfin dolphins of Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay
Presenter Alex D’Cruz
Yawuru Nagulagun/Roebuck Bay in Broome northwest Australia, hosts the highest density of any studied snubfin dolphin population. This presentation draws on data collected by cetacean researchers over 13-years to determine the importance of the area for individual dolphins and the population.
Alex recently finished Honours at Edith Cowan University exploring the ecology and population dynamics of snubfin dolphins in Yawuru Nagulagun/Roebuck Bay. The results from this study contributes important insights into the ecology of a highly valued species and supports continuous effective joint management of the snubfin dolphin population in Yawuru Nagulagun.
Register by September 1, 2021 to Holly Raudino
Holly.Raudino@dbca.wa.gov.au or phone 97246177
Where Lotteries House 20 Cable Beach Rd Broome
When Wednesday 8th September 6.00-7.30pm
Free Gold coin donations welcome
More info www.roebuckbay.org.au or gracemaglio@outlook.com
DOOR PRIZE Absolute Ocean Charter Snubfin Dolphin Cruise for 2 people
Jun 29 2021
Composting Helps Roebuck Bay
Jardine Macdonald, a hydrogeologist and Program Manager for Rangelands NRM, is passionate about how soil health and composting can help Roebuck Bay. Jardine has provided a fantastic power point for those who missed out on the presentation in the Science on the Broome Coast series and wish to get into Soil Health and composting »
Kandy Curran has also provided a hyperlink to the FREE garden book produced by Roebuck Bay Working Group, Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome on the Dampier peninsula » 
The local coastal plants (endemics) selected, thrive in Broome soils and climate, most are cyclone resistant, require less water than introduced plants and resistant to tropical pests. The book includes plants to avoid – with many weeds in Broome, escaped garden exotics.
Funded by Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government Landcare Program.