eddiewouldgo, 1509695813

"Terry Dennis, who conducted the first comprehensive survey of the population between 2008 and 2010, said refuges around breeding sites were a vital tool to ensure the eagle’s long-term survival.

“Large eagles don’t defend their nests against people, and when approached, they loft and move away to watch the nest from a distance,” he said.

“Most people don’t realise they’re creating disturbance … lots of things can happen to those eggs and small young when left unattended.

“It could be as simple as closing a walking trail or vehicle track within a certain distance of a nest during the crucial part of the season. We know these birds are in decline, so we have to do something.”

eddiewouldgo, 1509702063

July 2016 ospreys in picture .

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHeiDHJj8mi/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFiqUwutFFS/
?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BE8YSLLtFIV/
May 2016 osprey in nest

eddiewouldgo, 1509703587

"Visitors should avoid disturbing nest sites and no approaches should be made to nesting areas.
These birds are particularly sensitive to approaches being made from above the nest and during the breeding season especially,
a wide berth should be made around the nesting area. Adult birds which fly above the nest emitting distress calls are a sure
sign of disturbance and visitors should retreat immediately."

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland/news/131022-conference-hears-sea-eagle-research

"A drone pilot can operate illegally while being hidden in a distant vantage point. The chance of on site apprehension is slim. Yet part of the CASA review involved after the fact capture such as when a user uploads their illegally shot video to the internet. "The rules protect people, property and aircraft from drones," Mr Carmody told the ABC. A pilot was fined $1,440 for flying in Sydney Harbour restricted airspace, and flying within 30 metres of people. Aside from CASA’s new laws, the National Parks and Wildlife Service recently updated their regulations to state that drones cannot fly within 300 metres of migrating whales. The maximum penalty for anyone caught breaching that law is $110,000 and two years jail."

eddiewouldgo, 1509703817

http://www.publish.csiro.au/MU/MU07009

"An exclusion zone has been set up around rare osprey nests on South Australia's west coast.
Bob Minnican, from the Friends of Sceale Bay, says the group has successfully lobbied to help protect endangered ospreys that have been in the area for more than 200 years.
He says the noise of jet skis near the nests has a detrimental effect on the habitat.
Mr Minnican says there is now a hefty penalty for anyone caught breaking the law.
"It's a maximum $10,000 fine and two years in jail, so it's a very significant penalty," he said.
"I think that's done because these are an endangered species that's been listed.
"These are non-migratory birds, there's probably less than 50 pair(s) in South Australia, most of them on the Eyre Peninsula, so they're very significant and they are under threat like all these other shore birds."

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2008-06-02/osprey-protection-zone-for-sa/2456672

tubeshooter, 1509705111

As an old sea dog I know of many osprey nests on the east coast. Many are located near or on Marine Radio stations ,and sometimes we build special ones just for them around heavily populated and utilised areas.,I've hand fed many and had them take a small fish from my fingers at top speed. Watched one steal my mates pet budgie off his shoulder on a boat , no shit..As far as human traffic goes , I've watched them going about their business catching small fish out of a creek on a packed Australia Day weekend. The sea eagles on the beaches I fish don't mind picking off anything undersized I throw back in the shorey either, and are quite willing to follow the old 4wd if I change location.
Of course respect should be shown to these birds ,especially during nesting season, but I,m not sure closing access to anything is going to help, and obviously flying a drone near a nesting predatory bird is totally stupid , chances are you won't get it back.
These birds will not abandon a nest lightly, and even if they watch it from a distance they will come back to smash a cheeky goanna or any other opportunist . Perhaps there maybe other reasons to look at if it's a localised problem, ie food , disease , genetics etc
But thanks Eddie , not having a go, awareness is always a good thing.

barley, 1509706848

There is 2 main ones in sa that do it. Both are from adelaide, which speaks volumes..i heard the breeding pair have left monnies?

barley, 1509708285

I have been told the raptors have left monies?..

tubeshooter, 1509709413

Perhaps the crew at Swellnet could take a stroll over to river mouth at Kingscliff and see if the Osprey who live next to the coast guard tower are either indignant or indifferent of their arrival.

eddiewouldgo, 1509710014

Barley they were positively seen recently (Sept"17)
Someone certainly did see (either one or two) at the nest.
That was after a nine month absence.

If humans respect the territory and Cease droning , then the raptors most probably should return.
The pair of raptor around cummins monument have another nest a few km south . This is usually common for a pair to have two nests in close proximity.
They are still in the area at that nest and therefore could return if the conditions are favorable.
Everyone should give the osprey respect or they will vacate the nest .
This would be a shame if they left, all most likely because surfers prioritized filming over preservation of nature.

barley, 1509710760

Man, we saw a breeding pair up near streaky and its always so wicked to see how huge their nests are apart from other things...

eddiewouldgo, 1509712364

Endangered listing in SA .

The breeding population in South Australia was estimated at 52 pairs in 2005 (Dennis 2007a).
The population suffered a sizeable contraction in range and a possible concurrent decline in population size during the 20th century.
Eastern Ospreys bred at Spencer Gulf (including Port Germein, Mambray Creek, Port Broughton and Corny Point) in the early to mid 1900s, but each of these sites has been vacant for more than 50 years. Pairs also formerly bred along the lower Murray River, with the most recent records of breeding activity from near Waikerie (breeding sites occupied in 1974 but deserted thereafter) (Dennis 2007a) and near Nildottie (breeding recorded in 1980) (Robinson 1980).
In South Australia, some breeding sites on Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island are considered vulnerable to human disturbance (Dennis 2007a).

The current main threat to the Eastern Osprey in Australia is loss, degradation or alteration of habitat for urban or tourism development (Clancy 1989, 1991; Dennis 2007a; Olsen 1998).

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=82411

eddiewouldgo, 1509712981

"When speaking to the lady at the Ceduna Information Centre, she said we were very lucky to have seen them.
Lucky? No – we were thrilled."

Bloggers awesome close up photos of the ospreys in nest .

https://clare-n-dean.com/2015/11/04/what-else-we-found/#comments

eddiewouldgo, 1509713571

“At Cummings Monument (Eyre Peninsula), I had a couple of Osprey trying to nail the drone,” Jesse said. “I’ve had a fair few birds try and knock it out of the sky and even had a swarm of bees try and take it down, because it sounds like a swarm of bees.”

http://www.victorharbortimes.com.au/story/4473591/a-new-way-to-look-at-the-south-coast-photos/#slide=25

https://open.abc.net.au/explore/149701

middy, 1509713701

Their are distinct differences between Raptors on the East Coast and those on the West Coast of South Australia. The Rainforests and River systems of Queensland and NSW provide prolific habitat and nest sites for both Ospreys and White Bellied Sea Eagles from which they range to fish and feed and as a result are found in much greater numbers than those on the arid Western Eyre Peninsula where they seek Coastal Sea Stacks and high cliff lines for their nest sites. These are distinct and crucial differences in why Eyre Peninsula which is the Southern most range of the species nest sites continue to fail. Also eastern Species migrate while western species do not. They are sedentary and therefore more reliant on permanent nesting sites which result in such spectacularly large nests often hundreds of years old, rebuilt and repaired prior to each breeding season. It is also the reason they have been exposed over two hundred years to human interference resulting in very few breeding pairs now left in Southern Australia specifically Western Eyre Peninsula. In terms of surfing some of the best waves are at the base oh these Stacks and results in interactions but for the most part the nest sites have survived due to the activity being below the nest sites although increasing numbers, car parks etc do put pressure on these sites. Drone photography has come on so quickly that I'm sure operators have little idea of how critical a threat this activity is to a predator that relies on holding the high ground is. There is really no middle ground with Drones around the few remaining active nest sites left on the Eyre Peninsula. I'm sure photographers have the best intentions in recording the coastline but they need to accept that this could literally be the last straw for the cumulative human negative interactions over Two Centuries. Surfers also have a positive role to play by organising and informing the wider community and themselves and look for a way forward in protecting these magnificent birds. We are custodians as we share their habitat. Let's keep it positive.

barley, 1509715551

I have asked jesse about the illegality of flying drones there and he said he could not find within CASA, rules not permitting him to fly there..then again, what photographer obeys the rules when they want to get 'the shot'.

eddiewouldgo, 1509718754

Thanks Middy great information.

Alternate nest sites :
Primary nest – the most frequently used nest within a territory.
Alternate nest – one of sometimes several nest-structures within
a territory.

Selection of nesting sites:
Continuous use of one favoured nesting site was apparent in most territories monitored, with new nests, or relocation to a nearby alternate site recorded infrequently (n = 7 of 164 records); alternate sites were <200 m distant from the favoured nesting
site in each case. Three territories had tree nests, one was completely sheltered inside a cave opening on a vertical cliff-face and the rest were on ledges of cliffs, ranging in height
from ~8 to ~110 m above mean sea-level. All but one nest were
<250 m (horizontally) inland, and visible from the sea; the exception was situated on a cliff ledge in a steep watercourse
~350 m inland.


Effects of human disturbance on productivity of White-bellied
Sea-Eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster)pdf

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw05FEULJCyHbkp6Rmh5dGw4bmc/view?usp=drivesdk

eddiewouldgo, 1509719778

General Distribution.
On the Australian continent the majority of the Osprey population is found across the northern tropical and subtropical regions, where high population densities occur, extending southward through temperate climes where they are more sparsely distributed along the southern coastline (Marchant and Higgins 1993, Johnstone and Storr 1998, Barrett et al. 2003, Dennis et al.
2011).
With a scarcity of permanent inland lakes and major rivers over much of Australia, Osprey breeding habitat
is primarily confined to coastal areas, including along estuaries to their tidal limit (Marchant and Higgins 1993).
Despite apparent suitable habitat along the southeast coast of the continent, there is a broad gap in the breeding
range (Fig. 1) that extends from southern New South Wales (below 35u309S) westward to the southern coastline of Kangaroo Island (35u509S, 137u159E) in South Australia
(Barrett et al. 2003, DSEWPC 2010, Debus 2012).
This distribution gap is not well understood, but may reflect
the apparent adaptation of this subspecies to specific bio-climatic factors (Dennis 2007a).
From Kangaroo Island westward there is a small geographically isolated subpopulation of 55–60 pairs in South
Australia, which are likely on the edge of the species’ optimal range, where their persistence may be associated with
prevailing mild climatic conditions (Dennis et al. 2011).
The marine and near-shore environment in this region is
episodically influenced by the warm-water Leeuwin Current, which originates in the tropical western Pacific region, from where it flows southwest through the Indonesian Archipelago into the Indian Ocean (Johnstone et al.
2013). The current then sweeps south along the outer
continental shelf off Western Australia, then east into the
Great Australian Bight, where it provides a climate-tempering influence to the otherwise cold southern ocean waters
(Butler et al. 2002). This current, and the sheltered foraging areas available in extensive shallow warm-water bays
and gulfs of the region’s coastline, combine to provide habitat suited to this subspecies (Dennis 2007a).


And in southern
temperate regions (South Australia, 34u–36uS), egg-laying
occurs from mid-August to early October (Dennis 2007b).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw05FEULJCyHQmVXLWNUNlVTQXc/view?usp=drivesdk

eddiewouldgo, 1509720806

Barley the attitude of some drone photographers seems to be blase, in denial, that simply they must stop droning there .
It is most certainly illegal and wildlife officers know only too well. .


"It’s also worth considering that evidence shows animals are physically affected by a drone’s presence, and the technology is banned in all US National Parks due to its impact on wildlife, especially birds nesting birds of prey."

https://theconversation.com/when-eagles-scare-there-are-other-ways-to-stop-a-rogue-drone-54296


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw05FEULJCyHQmVXLWNUNlVTQXc/view?usp=drivesdk

eddiewouldgo, 1509721043

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland/news/171025-steering-drones-away-from-wildlife

Ms Paterson said that they detract from the quality of experience provided in our parks, can be a risk to other visitors and also disturb wildlife.
“There is concern that drones being flown over nesting grounds are having a negative impact on white-bellied sea eagles and ospreys during their breeding season.
“Kangaroo Island’s threatened coastal raptors are particularly sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season, it is important to avoid locations they inhabit as much as possible, both within parks and on private nesting grounds.
“If these birds are disturbed they may fly up from their nest, leaving eggs or chicks exposed to the elements and predators, which may be fatal.

eddiewouldgo, 1509721518

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/vancouver-sun/20170403/281711204494984

Overlooked has been the ban on flying within 75 metres of animals. And in case anyone should have any doubts about this, birds are animals.
As we approach nesting season on the West Coast, it’s particularly important to get the word out that flying drones near birds and their nests is not allowed.

eddiewouldgo, 1509722827

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXEQ3TTALHt/

Comments here from the photographers

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVwuMHbgtqm/

eddiewouldgo, 1509724556

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2008-06-02/osprey-protection-zone-for-sa/2456672

Osprey protection zone for SA
UPDATED MON 2 JUN 2008.

An exclusion zone has been set up around rare osprey nests on South Australia's west coast.
Bob Minnican, from the Friends of Sceale Bay, says the group has successfully lobbied to help protect endangered ospreys that have been in the area for more than 200 years.
He says the noise of jet skis near the nests has a detrimental effect on the habitat.
Mr Minnican says there is now a hefty penalty for anyone caught breaking the law.
"It's a maximum $10,000 fine and two years in jail, so it's a very significant penalty," he said.
"I think that's done because these are an endangered species that's been listed.
"These are non-migratory birds, there's probably less than 50 pair(s) in South Australia, most of them on the Eyre Peninsula, so they're very significant and they are under threat like all these other shore birds."

trippergreenfeet, 1509754683

From CASA's Can I Fly Here page [url]https://casa.dronecomplier.com/external[/url] regarding drone flights at Cummings Monument ...type in Cummings Monument in the search bar, site defaults to Darwin.

[quote]Flight Restrictions:

You are permitted to fly here provided you follow the standard conditions outlined by CASA.
Do not exceed 120 metres (400FT) above ground level.

The ‘Can I fly there?’ app covers aviation rules about where you can and can’t fly your drone to ensure the safety of manned aircraft and people on the ground.

Check before you fly! There may be other rules you must comply with, such as local government/council rules, national parks and privacy.[/quote]

Flying at the monument finally comes down to local regs above and beyond CASA for this site.

middy, 1509758420

Just looked at some of the instagram sites eddiewouldgo posted. It's pretty clear that there is little to no understanding by most people of the level of disturbance taking place around Osprey nest sites and particularly the Cummins Monument Sea Stack nest site. The problem stems initially from it being a Tourist coastal viewing site and a popular surfing location. The constant stream of human activity has to be managed to mitigate disturbances. Even standing on the cliff overlooking the nest can cause failure as a breeding site. Behaviour such as the birds circling and screeching while nesting are immediate indications that they feel threatened. The various Drone footage shows flights by numerous operators around and directly over the nest. There are numerous failed nesting sites spread along the West Coast that correspond with a cliff line higher than the nest. I have seen the failure of both Primary and secondary sites further West due to increased numbers of people and increased human activity. There are different thresholds for each sites but Jet skis and Drones by their ability to access and disturb are well documented. There is a lot of data and studies both nationally and internationally that record this. eddiewouldgo is posting those studies by ornithologists directly relating to Australia and South Australia directly. The problem is how can this be communicated to the Public including Surfers and Surf related activities. Interpretive Signage and fencing would be the starting point but this can only happen through collaboration between local community users including the Drone Operators, the relevant state government department which is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Local Government. There are Parks and Wildlife Offices with Rangers in Both Pt. Lincoln and Streaky Bay. These would be starting points in working towards a resolution to preserving the nest. The size of the actual nest in one of the instagram photos indicates it could well have been there in Pre European times. This isn't about being a killjoy but addressing what needs to be done to give these species to continue to survive.

trippergreenfeet, 1509760529

While living in WA I assisted in the relocation of three pairs of Ofspray in the Mandurah region. This was in 2006/7 when there was whole scale land clearing by Mirvac Finni at the time for housing development on the Peel Inlet side and ocean side between Erskine and Wannanup, and past the Dawesville Cut ... MF were brutal about that task but that's another story for another discussion.

The job was bigger than Ben Hur ... first up was the capture of the birds which is no easy feat when they are 20m off the ground. Once captured a crane was used to access and take the nest with a metre or two of the tree itself. Then the nest itself was attached to a twenty metre pole and platform concreted in the ground at locations in the A Class reserve at Lake Clifton.
Poor results in the end, one pair stayed together and bread the next season, second pair were never seen again and the third had the female die from what was thought to be shock. The male hung about the nest for a couple of months then never to be seen again.
Total cost was nearly 100k for that job ...
I went back recently and while there I checked out the nest sites to see if any new pairs had taken up residence ... no luck as the fires a few years ago had destroyed the platforms .

As usual the general public have no idea/show no care to the sensitivity of large Raptors ... getting the right shot or footage for an ego boost is far more important to these people than long term care for wildlife.
Once it's gone it's gone forever... these same crew will sit back in the future and reminisce of how great it was when the big birds were so close but not realising the direct connection they played in the birds demise ... all for 2:30 of an ego stroke.

timcosh, 1509788319

As a keen observer over the years of nature and change around the Cummins area I have noticed an increased amount of activity there. It would be a great pity if we as the current generation of surfers or visitors changed the natural process of these magnificent birds. It starts and ends with us. Informing others is really important.

I have enjoyed the birds while chasing waves and have found my binoculars very handy. They allow me to stealthily view from a distance without causing a disturbance. They have also helped me locate and identify other interesting things over the years such as whales, dolphins and empty waves. We all have a responsibility to conserve the present.

If saying No to oil in the bight was important to you then you understand that why this issue needs addressing.

As much as it is an experience to locate and view the nest from above we have to realise those days of minimal impact are over. This is because far far more surfers are frequenting the area. This is FACT. Things are not what they once were. To all people who frequent the area it is our responsibility to make the change. If you know someone who is going to go check it out too close have the courage to inform them politely of the cons to their behaviour. If you like walking right above, buy some binoculars and change your habits. I know Its out dated in thinking every one will listen but if the majority do it will lessen the impact and keep the birds around.

Cummins without these birds wouldn't be Cummins, so lets keep it special. Its something to be proud of in a funny South Australian way. Locals aren't assholes they just notice and care about things not everyone knows about. Like any local, things around the home are important to them. It's not a them vs us mentality every time one of them brings up the coast, rather a call out for visitors and locals to be responsible for now and the future. We need to think before we act. We don't need more rules and regulations or fences to tell us what we already know is right. It is pointless arguing over the birds and the threat they face. We as visitors to their area are responsible regardless wether they flourish or fail. And we will be remembered for it.

trippergreenfeet, 1509790226

@eddie wonder what happened to the 2008 list of occupied nest that the Friends of Sceale Bay worked on ... why didn't CASA consult that I wonder?

eddiewouldgo, 1509791449

All of these instagram links are showing drone flying & human disturbances to the endangered ospreys at Cummings Monument .

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaoEPXDDgiJ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZQphIXjVOk/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BND7QB7AJ_g/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMGaGYVltbI/

 https://www.instagram.com/p/BTC5I1Qj0Ay/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWuR-VPjuvK/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVYDMEmFBhd/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVeb5ZAgCd6/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVCO8z2gxP5/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP-9Cr6lR7o/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMGaGYVltbI/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPmil2lYEu/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BENO6Q4k2ME/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTC5I1Qj0Ay/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSiaHwmjpgl/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT8RyYej8j7/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZGSsDYj9I1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVGAi3wh-Zc/

eddiewouldgo, 1509792190

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV0YkEjlSSj/

Comments here from the photographer

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYfjhO5nVb4/

eddiewouldgo, 1509795059

Hi TGF , does this answer your question?

The Chain of Bays coastline is one of the few remaining areas in South Australia, along with Kangaroo Island, where the Osprey is breeding successfully. Due to the lack of tall trees, nesting sites in South Australia are confined to remote cliffs and coastal island stacks, where the birds construct large mounds of sticks, which are decorated with seaweed, kelp and marine debris during the breeding season, which occurs in Spring, between September and October. The nest selection period prior to breeding, from July to September, is also critical to the breeding success. A number of potential nests exist within a breeding territory, and a breeding pair will select one of these in each season. Ospreys have also been known to establish nests atop power-poles and even the masts of boats, where these features are left undisturbed. Eggs are hatched after five weeks, and fledging occurs after two months in the nest, in December or January. Birds may live for 20-25 years.
Raptor expert Terry Dennis has surveyed the Chain of Bays coastline and he has determined that up to eight active breeding territories exist in the region, making it critical for the survival of this species in South Australia. The geographically varied coastline of the Chain of Bays provides ideal feeding habitat in a range of wind conditions, and the isolated cliffs provide suitable nesting sites. Terry Dennis has recommended a number of management strategies for the protection of this species, including reduced disturbance pressures, especially from above the nest sites, and significant development buffers, in the order of 1000 meters, from nesting territories.

http://www.chainofbays.com.au/index.php?page=35

eddiewouldgo, 1509796270

Casa didn't know there was an osprey nest did they trippergreenfert ...that needs to be changed on the website !

Leo Cummings memorial pictured here:
https://goo.gl/images/r69aP2

"Located 60 km south of Elliston on the coast is a monument to Leo Cummings, a local who was drowned when his crayfishing boat was wrecked at the site in 1959. The importance of this lookout is that offers uninterrupted views of Point Drummond and superb views up and down the coast. The sign at the monument explains the sad story of Leo Cummings: "On 29 June 1959, near Eagles Nest, the fishing cutter 'Wangaree' was wrecked whilst retrieving craypots with the loss of crew member Leo (Lew) Cummings. The other two crew members, skipper Eric Tapley and son Barry made it ashore and were later rescued. The boat became stricken when a craypot buoy line fouled the propellor. Efforts to free the propellor were unsuccessful and when the anchor parted, the cutter was brought ashore by the sea where it struck a reef. The crew sent a radio message before jumping overboard where they struggled against strong undertow currents. Barry made it ashore, but re-entered the water to help his father who was in difficulty and successfully brought him ashore. Barry once again entered the water to help Leo who was also having difficulties, but Leo disappeared before he could get to him. Despite intensive and risky searches over the next few days in Barry was again instrumental, Leo's body was never found."

eddiewouldgo, 1509803085

When the wilderness quality of remote coastlines is diminished, the habitat and survival of sensitive wildlife
species can be seriously threatened,
Eagles for example, require large foraging territories and nest site sanctity with surrounding wilderness as
buffer areas, for successful breeding.
Both the Osprey and the white-bellied sea eagle have recently been listed as “Endangered” in South Australia .

Dr Olsen is also concerned for the habitats of Osprey in South Australia, since these are part of the
southern-most osprey populations in Australia, and the world.
Osprey are not found in Victoria or Tasmania.

Records of Ospreys from throughout
Australia suggest that the South Australian Osprey population is significantly isolated from the west and east coast populations, and there is no doubt South Australia supports the major population across the southern Australian coast.
Ospreys in South Australia almost invariably breed on rock stacks or cliffs overlooking the sea, often in positions that are inaccessible from the ground.
Both the male and female take part in the building or rebuilding of the nest, and some pairs use the same nest site year after year, adding more sticks each year until the nests become very large structures indeed.
The nests are often lined with seaweed.
The female usually incubates the eggs and is fed by the male, who may also take a minimal share of incubation (which takes 34-36 days).
In Europe and North America, Osprey
numbers have declined seriously since
the 1950s.
Much of this decline can be
attributed to the effects of pesticides such as DDT, which accumulates in the birds' bodies and causes the production of eggs with too-thin shells.
Since DDT has been banned in much of the Northern Hemisphere, Osprey populations seem to be making a spectacular recovery. In much of Australia the problem does not
appear to have been as great, but this is no cause for complacency as the relatively small numbers of breeding Ospreys in South Australia are still extremely vulnerable to this type of disturbance.

[PDF] South Australia's offshore islands - Department of Environment, Water and ...
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au › assets

eddiewouldgo, 1509805710

Changing nest sites ;
"Ospreys have re-occupied primary nest sites in some areas despite displacement to alternative sites
following disturbance or increased human activity (Dennis 2004).
For example, ospreys have returned after development of cliff-top walkway and tourist lookout at Cape Bauer
in 2000, and after site-works and residence construction at Searcy Bay in 2003".

eddiewouldgo, 1509807519

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNEYrxojmeS/

Comments from photographer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTBLjP5Du8S/

eddiewouldgo, 1509856869

Just in news.... Apparently last week
2 Ospreys were in the nest there at cummings , and were photographed from a distance mind you and not above the nest .
There might be chicks in the nest now.

eddiewouldgo, 1509948726

Tubeshooter , did the osprey eat the budgie ?
They are a fish-eating raptor so its unlikely !

eddiewouldgo, 1509948929

'There is evidence for regional decline in South Australia where former territories at locations in the Spencer Gulf and along the lower Murray River have been vacant for decades.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the main threats to osprey populations were egg collectors and hunting of the adults along with other birds of prey, but osprey populations declined drastically in many areas in the 1950s and 1960s; this appeared to be in part due to the toxic effects of insecticides such as DDT on reproduction. The pesticide interfered with the bird's calcium metabolism which resulted in thin-shelled, easily broken or infertile eggs. Possibly because of the banning of DDT in many countries in the early 1970s, together with reduced persecution, the osprey, as well as other affected bird of prey species, have made significant recoveries. In South Australia, nesting sites on the Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island are vulnerable to unmanaged coastal recreation and encroaching urban development.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey

"The call is a series of sharp whistles, described as cheep, cheep or yewk, yewk. If disturbed by activity near the nest, the call is a frenzied cheereek!"

eddiewouldgo, 1509949061

There are a number of mitigation strategies that can reduce social conflict associated with the Osprey. These include:
Ensure the availability of nest sites (large dead trees or similar artificial structures) with a buffer zone. (As a minimum 100m for low sites, less for high towers).
Identify and protect regular feeding areas, perch (feeding) trees and nest material collection sites, particularly vegetation surrounding nest trees.
Consider direct and indirect impacts on the species and its habitat in planning processes including adequate field survey to identify nest trees, buffer protection zone, perch trees and feeding areas.
Implement or continue programs monitoring the breeding status of the species across its range incorporating surveys of the number of active nest trees, breeding success at nests and protection of buffer zones and nest trees. Monitoring should be undertaken for a minimum of 5 years. Reassessment of the need to monitor sites can be made after this time.
Undertake community awareness initiatives such as media campaigns, brochures and interpretive signs.
These should cover issues such as the threat of discarding fish with fishing tackle attached, protection of potential and future nest trees.
Initiate or continue ecological research to determine whether availability of potential nest trees and/or food resources are limiting to the species as well as potential impacts of pesticides and pollutants on the species’ breeding success.
Work with managers of infrastructure to minimise the risks to Osprey feeding and/or nesting habitats and resources. This may include relocating infrastructure to avoid nest sites, particularly in cases where long term existing nests occur or installing artificial nesting or roost sites to replace natural sites that need to be removed. As a last resort, new nests constructed on existing or new infrastructure may be moved to artificial nest sites if there is a threat to the birds or the infrastructure.

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=952

eddiewouldgo, 1509949205

We have received several reports of drones being flown in parks, especially on Kangaroo Island and Eyre Peninsula” Mr Ellis said.

“This increase in drone use is a result of changing technology, affordability of the devices and the desire to film and photograph native fauna in their natural environment.

“Flying a drone or any remotely piloted aircraft in a park poses a very real hazard to native fauna, especially our nesting threatened coastal raptors like the white-bellied sea eagle and eastern osprey.

“If these birds are disturbed they may not return to their nests, resulting in the death of their chicks.

“Drones are also a potential nuisance because they impact on the privacy and enjoyment of visitors."

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland/news/Drone-regulations-for-national-parks

eddiewouldgo, 1509949719

'Protecting threatened species, like the osprey, is one reason private drones are banned in national parks.'
"We have received several reports of drones being flown in parks, especially on the Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island," DEWNR regional programs director Grant Pelton said.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-20/councils-clamp-down-on-use-of-drones-in-public/8369020

"Flying a drone, or any remotely piloted aircraft, in a park presents a potential nuisance because they impact on the privacy and enjoyment of visitors, but they can also pose a very real hazard to native fauna.
"We have even had reports of drones disturbing nesting birds such as ospreys, which are a threatened species.
If these birds are disturbed, they may not return to their nests, resulting in the death of their chicks.
"It is therefore vital that we are able to regulate the use of drones in parks to protect our native fauna as well as the community.

eddiewouldgo, 1509950036

A DRONE that forced a pair or parent ospreys to leave their nest and their chick has been caught on camera.
Wellington Point resident Paul Harper lives near osprey nest and caught the drone hovering near the nest — forcing the parents away from it and their baby. “It certainly caused some concern for them, the adults just kept circling the nest and didn’t come back for some time,” Mr Harper said. He said he was not sure if the controller was trying to harass the birds or film them.
But anyone would know that flying a drone around the nest would cause them distress, so the person who did it is either arrogant or ignorant about wildlife,” he said.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/camera-catches-drone-scaring-wellington-point-ospreys-away-from-chick/news-story/f048767b71ecad174ecab470fbdf0a1d

eddiewouldgo, 1509953821

Some pictures have been deleted and may not work anymore .
1 particular ig account with lots of flying directly over the nest, drone shots has been deleted & shut down , (no idea why)?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCuk6hTPsSr/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQTqUrXFBt_/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP8UizHjI9u/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOVdHgMDybq/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNgukD7DCPW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWTwK7WDvjW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVYDMEmFBhd/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXe3SVNgPv_/

middy, 1509953898

Not a lot of response Eddie. I hope all surfers across Australia including photographers and Professional surfers who make their living surfing remote locations and having it filmed are digesting the information you are providing. timcosh this forum began with South Australia's foremost expert on coastal Raptors pointing out that intervention such as closing Walking Trails in breeding season is mandatory. The issue apart from Drones is people overlooking the nest site. If they have no idea of the threat this poses for nesting Ospreys then they will continue to do it. That's why I suggested interpretive signage as this gives information about the species and educates visitors. You also need to directly address the issue of people walking to the top of the cliff overlooking the Nest. Cummins Lookout is a Tourism Attraction not just a surf ing location. I've done the Drive along the coast many times and always stop there for a break. Most of the time there were no surfers there because the conditions were not suitable. How do you inform visitors when there is no one there. There is a road and a car park but nothing to give visitors interesting information relating to European, Indigenous and Natural Heritage which would be a great way to address the Ospreys. Doing nothing does not seem a viable option and it does take effort. The local surfers have to be the catalyst and initiators to bring about some strategy.

eddiewouldgo, 1509955881

Middy said:::
"Just looked at some of the instagram sites eddiewouldgo posted. It's pretty clear that there is little to no understanding by most people of the level of disturbance taking place around Osprey nest sites and particularly the Cummins Monument Sea Stack nest site. The problem stems initially from it being a Tourist coastal viewing site and a popular surfing location. The constant stream of human activity has to be managed to mitigate disturbances. Even standing on the cliff overlooking the nest can cause failure as a breeding site. Behaviour such as the birds circling and screeching while nesting are immediate indications that they feel threatened. The various Drone footage shows flights by numerous operators around and directly over the nest. There are numerous failed nesting sites spread along the West Coast that correspond with a cliff line higher than the nest. I have seen the failure of both Primary and secondary sites further West due to increased numbers of people and increased human activity. There are different thresholds for each sites but Jet skis and Drones by their ability to access and disturb are well documented. There is a lot of data and studies both nationally and internationally that record this. eddiewouldgo is posting those studies by ornithologists directly relating to Australia and South Australia directly. The problem is how can this be communicated to the Public including Surfers and Surf related activities. Interpretive Signage and fencing would be the starting point but this can only happen through collaboration between local community users including the Drone Operators, the relevant state government department which is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Local Government. There are Parks and Wildlife Offices with Rangers in Both Pt. Lincoln and Streaky Bay. These would be starting points in working towards a resolution to preserving the nest. The size of the actual nest in one of the instagram photos indicates it could well have been there in Pre European times. This isn't about being a killjoy but addressing what needs to be done to give these species to continue to survive."
Middy.

Well said Middy you really know your osprey !
The rangers are aware of this and it could take time for something to be done at the site .... In the meantime spreading awareness to the general public and convincing the potential drone users is the message here.
Its been a hot topic on some regular drone / surfer associated instagram accounts for months but it seems some of the persons think they are going to decide if they fly their drone if they think its ok ;...if the osprey isn't to be seen...or flying above the surfers a little bit away from the nest. Get the awesome photo...no worries?
With summer time ahead more drones will be there flying unless they are aware or told its not permitted.
Because as yet theres only very old faded signs from decades ago..when it was less frequently used.
You would think surfers would be quick to understand and hopefully Everyone agrees... No drones in the area of the both two nest sites.

freeride76, 1509957946

Good luck gents.
It was interesting to hear about the different populations and abundances between east coast and SA.
Here in Ballina there are two artificial nest sites (at least) that all seem to be occupied by breeding ospreys.
And a natural tree nest in the mangrove swamp near an artificial lake that is full of mullet, whiting, gar and herring.
Beautiful to watch them hunting and listen to them calling to each other.

middy, 1509959844

Glad to see you are following free ride yeh they are a charismatic bird not an eagle but a cousin. Sounds u live in a beautiful spot. Can't help being effected when you are surrounded by nature.

freeride76, 1509960351

I wonder what the range of white-bellied sea eagles is, I see them here from time to time...but not frequently.

btw, for anyone who crosses the Tweed River bridge, there is an artificial nest with osprey parents and chicks on the west side of the bridge, south bank of the river.
If you are travelling south, look to the west as you reach the NSW side and you'll look straight into the nest.

tubeshooter, 1509969302

Again I certainly don't condone flying a drone near any nesting bird , yet alone a bird of prey. And I wasn't aware the southern species were so different .But for arguments sake alone it would seem to me the populations down there have been in trouble before drones , or at least regular use of them . Land clearing and pesticides have been presented as concerns so far , as has their migratory habits, could there be others?
To that not all populations on the east coast migrate , and seem quite content working around people. You have me curious as to why the South Ozpreys are declining as a whole , given that few of their nesting sites would be affected by drone use.
www.bigvolcano.com.au/stories/ospreys/ospreys.htm
https://www.echo.net.au/2011/11/fishing-line-kills-threatened-osprey/
simple things like discarded fishing line etc need to need to addressed too. cheers

timcosh, 1509969312

I agree with this point of view. Do what needs to be done. The times have changed and at the end of the day I want a positive outcome for these birds. I have enjoyed reading these posts and the detailed information provided. A chance to learn something new and hopefully a positive step forward for the area. Signage and area protection are needed. All the best to the birds and local communities involved. Keep up the good work.

Blowin, 1509993867

Fuck signage.

The world is full of that visual pollution. The crew flying the drones are well aware of the issue , to the point they are claiming to be bullied about it on social media .

Don't give those with the power an excuse or it'll look like the parks around where I'm at right now.

Signs , coppers logs , signs , coppers logs , signs.

Fuckers try to turn the bush into a museum.

Natural is best.

Long live the ospreys. Amazing creatures.

middy, 1510013680

So Blowin you are happy to accept roads and carparks (through the bush I presume)to your surf spot but that's it. Somehow signage will destroy the natural experience excluding the man made access that delivered you there. Your advice is to do nothing. Before access was put there the nest was occupied for centuries and successfully bred each season. The reason the nest sites have collapsed in SA is due solely to human intervention. Cummins Monument is next to the main road that sees more and more visitors and drones are only one more of these numerous pressures the Ospreys are under. I'm interested to hear some alternative ideas from you on how to solve the specific issue that actually might work rather than informing the numerous people who stop there. What would stop you from going for a walk along the cliff and have a look at the nest site if you stopped there. It would seem like a 'natural ' thing to do unless you were otherwise informed.

Blowin, 1510014537

Are the people on the cliff disturbing the birds or is it the drones.

As you're asking , fuck the car parks and the roads too. A couple of minimalist wheel ruts is plenty. Less impactful and imbues a sense closer to the pristine environment we all need to be happy.

Signs , fences etc are a blight.

" Interprative " signage makes me want to scream.

middy, 1510015056

Both. I can hear your scream from here. Stay on the tracks.

eddiewouldgo, 1510045089

Thanks for the input here...from some knowledgeable type people.
Am noticing more photos and drone footage is disappearing off instagram.... many of the links show up blank now so the next best thing you can do is search the hashtag #Cummingsmonument !
There is some non-drone pictures available still there.
Unbelievable Also... is how people are standing on a very sketchy overhang for a photo...yet in other pictures...people are 5 metres back from the edge looking worried !
And the photo captions say "too close to the edge"

A recently released international surfing clip "Shadow Companys -The Film" ...filmed in s.a. has drone footage at cummings monument featured.
That photographer has deleted his drone shots of flying over the nest on his instagram page.
The pictures online will probably continue to be deleted as awareness is raised...more than likely to stay off CASA's radar !
One of the instagram sites with lots of photos.....now removed... is a Bus tour advertising the spectacular lookout over the osprey nest as a stopping point with shots of people standing precariously on the overhanging edge...

eddiewouldgo, 1510050764

Yes Blowin, in a perfect world theres no signs of course.....but you have to understand its a tourist attraction... and is advertised on websites & brochures & tours...caravans not allowed...then caravans recommended on another site? There's no area to turn a caravan around in the small carparks....

Here are some things that some non surfing type travelers have to say about it....

'Our first stop along this stunning ocean drive is at the Leo Cummings monument lookout, for views of Point Drummond and the cliffs of Sheringa. The craggy pinnacle opposite the lookout is home to a family of osprey.'
From Sacred earth 9 day safaris tour guide.


Cummings Lookout Rest Area
OVERNIGHT REST AREA
This drive-through rest area is beside the highway and has no shade. The lookout is 500 metres off the highway. Caravans and motor homes must not proceed past the rest area section beside the highway.
Facilities include : Picnic tables : NO barbecues : NO toilets : NO water : Rubbish bins provided : Dogs are OK : Suitable for all sized caravans'
From HighwayTravelers guide.


'Cummings Monument Lookout
affords an uninterrupted view from Point Drummond in the south to the rugged cliffs of Sharinga in the north.
It is also home to a family of osprey, which nest on a craggy pinnacle adjacent to the lookout.
The lookout is serviced by a short, well-formed access road and carpark, with plenty of room for caravans. It is well worth a stop for tourists travelling the Flinders Highway.'
From Great Aussie holidays.

'We again set off for our next destination. This was Leo Cummins Monument that was erected to honour a very popular young and talented sportsman who died in a boating accident after getting into difficulties. This monument also required a lot of walking as it was necessary to climb a big hill to the monument and also to a lookout with great views of the cliffs and sea.'
https://www.australiancaravanclub.com.au/index.php/51-myblog?start=42

https://www.caravancaravan.com.au/entity/cummings-monument-rest-area/sa

There are lots of comments on social media about the dangerous looking overhang...one IG site it says 'too close to the edge' on every picture...and theres lots of them. This is one on Twitter.
https://mobile.twitter.com/southaustralia/status/676514515274432512

Gary G, 1510108832

If you're interested in watching things without being seen yourself, Gary G is your man. Gary has quite a history of bird watching - male or female - Gary is all about watching for watching's sake.

With all those craggy cliffs around the area, there would be plenty of little coves, or Glory Holes as Gary calls them, to stuff oneself into and observe the action from afar.

Gary can however sympathise with the desirability of the bedroom-ceiling-mirror perspective offered from the drone, although not if it's overly intrusive.

eddiewouldgo, 1510118959

This photo dated 15-10-17, seems to be of Osprey occupying the nest with new season chicks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaoEPXDDgiJ/

Standing on a dangerous unstable
cliff overhang together in group overlooking the nest.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BarLLCrhXNy/

tubeshooter, 1510133627

As for an earlier post query , yes,, the osprey ripped the bird apart, on top of a light pole not far from it where it snatched it ,, and they will attack rodents, if they have to put food on the plate . All well documented .

eddiewouldgo, 1510137145

Tubeshooter that sounds like a rare occasion...in Sa they seem to only eat fish.
The information in this forum linked below... people say they will eat birds etc...when desperate perhaps? Although some people did not agree... they said that the osprey Only eats fish !

https://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/403462/Osprey_diet.html

Wikipedia.
'Fish make up 99% of the eastern osprey's diet. It typically takes fish weighing 150–300 g (5.3–10.6 oz) and about 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in) in length, but the weight can range from 50 g (1.8 oz) to 2 kg (4.4 lb). Virtually any type of fish in that size range are taken.

Ospreys have vision that is well adapted to detecting underwater objects from the air. Prey is first sighted when the eastern osprey is 10–40 m (33–131 ft) above the water, after which the bird hovers momentarily then plunges feet first into the water.'

middy, 1510137174

That would be the Eastern Coastal Budgie Smuggler. Ask Gary he's recognised in this field

Gary G, 1510186105

The eastern coastal budgie smuggler most often located around the Victorian coastline: and whilst the creature is rarely sighted on the southern coast it is known to be always watching. There have been no confirmed sightings of the budgie smuggler in Victoria since the closure of the Stereosonic festival, it's last known urban habitat.

Displaying its full plumage during its annual transit to Schoolies week on the gold coast and occasionally as far away as the island of Bali, it is attracted by the smells of fake tan, coconut oil, and Guava Vodka Cruisers.

tubeshooter, 1510222794

haha... classic
but yes , they are fisho's by trade and hence one of my favourite birds. I don't pretend to know jack about the south oz population , but I have spent a fair amount of my working and normal life around harbours and wharves etc on the east coast to have seen a thing or two. Part of my job as a mullet/bait fisherman was to sit on the same breakwalls , headlands etc as these guys , hunting the same fish.Endless hours spent sitting and watching , often taking advantage of their, and other birds superiour spotting skills .Seen them nailing crabs of the rocks , small rats and pidgeons and even a lizard, although I agree its a bit of a rarity. Most areas where they on the east have a lot of man made structures like bridges , jetties ,etc to attract enough small fish to keep them happy, .Lived and worked on boats all over the coast , and often we'll hold a fresh fish in the air ,and it's a bit of a test of nerve , as the osprey flies down and grabs it at top speed from your fingers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F6nIT0Hpdw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v-EUYmQv_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek9jzk2EAzA

freeride76, 1510223615

I just found a rat in the chook pen.....I tried to belt it with an axe handle as it ran out and slipped and landed on my arse in the mud.

eddiewouldgo, 1510565652

Drones misbehaving again !

'Police are yet to find the offender, and some of the women have told the ABC they are living in constant fear of another visit which usually happens late at night or very early morning.
One of the women, who like the rest of the group did not want to be identified, was asleep and alone at home on her relatively remote hobby farm.
She was woken by a bang on her bedroom window and when she looked out into the darkness was confronted by a camera attached to a drone, hovering within centimetres of her window.olice are yet to find the offender, and some of the women have told the ABC they are living in constant fear of another visit which usually happens late at night or very early morning.
One of the women, who like the rest of the group did not want to be identified, was asleep and alone at home on her relatively remote hobby farm.
She was woken by a bang on her bedroom window and when she looked out into the darkness was confronted by a camera attached to a drone, hovering within centimetres of her window.'

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-02/drone-stalking-several-women-in-port-lincoln-rural-community/9112926

tubeshooter, 1510648089

Forgive me for saying Eddiewouldgo , but I think this transgression from Ospreys to stalking women leads to a deeper hatred of either drones or drone users , don't get me wrong , I don't own one, but I know few people who do , and they don't swing that way.

eddiewouldgo, 1510820965

A survey of osprey and sea eagles is taking place at the moment along the sa coastline.......Numbers of Osprey are down so far... this is bad news for an already endangered listed species.
Sea eagles may have held out in numbers without much decline...
Everyone who frequents the areas of osprey nests need to be aware....
Don't disturb the Osprey or sadly they might not be there in future.

Ospreys being disturbed as seen by a drone viewpoint on youtube
https://youtu.be/CjXK32Z1ouc

eddiewouldgo, 1510848296

Surveys Conducted
'In South Australia, opportunistic and targeted surveys were conducted from 1977–2005, including: ground searches of western Eyre Peninsula coastline and offshore islands from 1977 to 1983 and opportunistic surveys of the same areas between 1995 and 2002; a systematic survey of western Eyre Peninsula in 2003; an on-foot excursion from Point Adieu to Wilson Bluff in 1994, plus follow-up point surveys in 1995 and 2001; visits to offshore islands of South Australia between 1995 and 2005; and surveys on Kangaroo Island from 1983 to 2003 conducted concurrently with systematic monitoring of breeding sites from 1985 to 2001 and in 2004 (Dennis 2004, 2007a, 2007b).

The breeding population in South Australia was estimated at 52 pairs in 2005 (Dennis 2007a). The population suffered a sizeable contraction in range and a possible concurrent decline in population size during the 20th century. Eastern Ospreys bred at Spencer Gulf (including Port Germein, Mambray Creek, Port Broughton and Corny Point) in the early to mid 1900s, but each of these sites has been vacant for more than 50 years. Pairs also formerly bred along the lower Murray River, with the most recent records of breeding activity from near Waikerie (breeding sites occupied in 1974 but deserted thereafter) (Dennis 2007a) and near Nildottie (breeding recorded in 1980) (Robinson 1980). In South Australia, some breeding sites on Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island are considered vulnerable to human disturbance (Dennis 2007a).'

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=82411

eddiewouldgo, 1510849865

Pandion cristatus — Eastern Osprey

Help the conservation of the Eastern Osprey,
Protect the breeding habitat by establishing a buffer zone around the nest site...
Ensure consideration of the species and its habitat requirements in planning processes...
'Increase local and surf community awareness of the species and its requirements through initiatives such as media releases, brochures and signage.'

Craig, 1510886984

How's this..

The life and death struggle of an osprey chick tossed from its nest by sibling.

tubeshooter, 1510898305

www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=82411

John Eyre, 1510986394

Hey Middy, you summed up the situation well here when you said this :
"They have been exposed over two hundred years to human interference resulting in very few breeding pairs now left in Southern Australia specifically Western Eyre Peninsula.
In terms of surfing some of the best waves are at the base oh these Stacks and results in interactions but for the most part the nest sites have survived due to the activity being below the nest sites although increasing numbers, car parks etc do put pressure on these sites. Drone photography has come on so quickly that I'm sure operators have little idea of how critical a threat this activity is to a predator that relies on holding the high ground, is.
There is really no middle ground with Drones around the few remaining active nest sites left on the Eyre Peninsula.
I'm sure photographers have the best intentions in recording the coastline but they need to accept that this could literally be the last straw for the cumulative human negative interactions over Two Centuries.
Surfers also have a positive role to play by organising and informing the wider community and themselves and look for a way forward in protecting these magnificent birds.
We are custodians as we share their habitat."



The future of these wildlife creatures is in trouble, for example the whale observations at the head of the bight and all the traffic on land and Air has scared the raptor birds of prey away from that area. The birds nest below the cliffs and when humans drive along the cliffs there the birds move away . Lets look after the remaining ospreys at monnies and share the territory respectfully .

John Eyre, 1510986915

Middy do you think that the nest there is centuries / hundreds of years old ?

This is well said here Middy, so very interesting and informative knowledge:

"Before access was put there the nest was occupied for centuries and successfully bred each season. The reason the nest sites have collapsed in SA is due solely to human intervention. Cummins Monument is next to the main road that sees more and more visitors and Drones are only one more of these numerous pressures the Ospreys are under. I'm interested to hear some alternative ideas from you on how to solve the specific issue that actually might work rather than informing the numerous people who stop there. What would stop you from going for a walk along the cliff and have a look at the nest site if you stopped there. It would seem like a 'natural ' thing to do unless you were otherwise informed."

middy, 1510997073

Yeh John Eyre Mathew Flinders sailed West to East to map Australia's coastline in the early 1800's. He had on board Austrian Naturalist Ferdinand Bauer one the greatest artist in this field of all time. He recorded all the flora, fauna and landscapes of this voyage of discovery. There are drawings of Osprey nests on Kangaroo Island that are still there to this day. Their size and structure are similar to some on Eyre Peninsula including the one on Cummins Monument Sea Stack. Coastal Raptors have territories and nest sites that when left undisturbed are used by succeeding generations to breed. Sea stacks are probably the last safe places rather than Cliffs since the introduction of feral species particularly foxes and cats with the coming of Europeans. So they are very specific sites and also much fewer in numbers compared to the broader habitat than their East Coast cousins.

tubeshooter, 1510999595

https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/plants-animals/documents/is-wl-osprey-nest.pdf

eddiewouldgo, 1511010153

Thanks for that article Craig.... thats great how they setup the nest for the Osprey......more of those nests would be the way to help the species survive.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-17/osprey-struggle-captured-on-camera/9161104?pfmredir=sm

'Sibling rivalry has nearly claimed the life of an osprey chick which belonged to a family of endangered raptors that has attracted a cult following online.
For three years, a camera has been monitoring a nest of eastern ospreys on a pontoon near the coastal city of Port Lincoln in South Australia.
But tensions boiled over on Wednesday, when a larger, more dominant chick managed to eject its smaller sibling - prompting an urgent rescue by an anxious group of people, who watched the drama unfold on a live video feed.
It has now been flown to its new home at Kangaroo Island's Raptor Domain with the blessing of South Australia's Environment Department.
"They leave the nest, fly over the Port Lincoln Marina, and it's surrounded by houses," she said.
"[The male osprey] sits on the light pole on the bridge, looks at the fish, and dives down and catches them - a lot of the local photographers are over there waiting to see when he comes in.
"It's really good for the people in the town that are interested in birds to be able to see them like they do."
In 2005, it was estimated there were as few as 52 breeding pairs of eastern ospreys in South Australia, but numbers nationally are thought to have increased in that state and New South Wales.'

Well..... they haven't increased in numbers in South Australia.... in fact they are declining.
Interesting story nonetheless..... with the cctv security footage experiment for the Raptors Cult following !

eddiewouldgo, 1511010506

Hey Tubeshooter , would you please inform us what the links are?
dont usually click a link if it has no information about it.....dont like those 5 minute pdf downloads unless it necessary.....you know whatta mean ?

eddiewouldgo, 1511013125

Another great picture from a drone above the ospreys nest.... and its cleverly mirrored....

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRxdUhqBfn7/

John Eyre, 1511070953

Thats amazin Middy about the age of the nests that were identified on K.I. !
The big storm last yr September apparently destroyed some nests on EP completely and haven't been rebuilt again.

"There are drawings of Osprey nests on Kangaroo Island that are still there to this day. Their size and structure are similar to some on Eyre Peninsula including the one on Cummins Monument Sea Stack. Coastal Raptors have territories and nest sites that when left undisturbed are used by succeeding generations to breed. Sea stacks are probably the last safe places rather than Cliffs since the introduction of feral species particularly foxes and cats with the coming of Europeans. So they are very specific sites and also much fewer in numbers compared to the broader habitat than their East Coast cousins."

udo, 1511072810

How are the Feral cat numbers on S.A. West Coast ?

tubeshooter, 1511090697

Re link descriptions , my apologies .
Over many, many years , nesting sites often accumulate too much material , and are eventually destroyed by weather events . Its a natural cycle for them .Many artificial and existing nesting sites on the east coast are maintained by actually removing some of the nesting material as the nests expand. It doesn't seem to affect the birds when its done periodically outside of breeding season.
But on the subject of drones , an overseas researcher, James Junder, lost a drone that actually hit a stick and flipped over in an a osprey nest. Apparently an osprey hit it with a stick a couple of times , the osprey then placed the stick over the drone making it part of the nest.

eddiewouldgo, 1515475991

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb4B_Yvn5dm/

It seems that Drones are still being flown above Monuments Osprey Nest !
Not everyone knows about the Drone Ban and theres No Signs up yet, so please spread the word and / or notify any potential drone photographers.
Please do not disturb :
The great news is the endangered Eastern Osprey pair were observed fully using the nesting site in the last ~ 6 months during the normal season
Fabulous news and hope for the future !
Please help to preserve this natural amazing surf break site and the beautiful amazing Osprey that reside there.
Keep it clean and beware of rockfall collapses everyone.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdQyiQcHMsO/

John Eyre, 1516174202

Still in denial he said, "its cool i wont fly the drone of the ospreys around ✌ ".
Well theres no 'if or buts' you cant fly a drone at any time there !

'He has had to content with birds and even bees trying to attack his drone – a DJI Phantom 3.
“At Cummings Monument (Eyre Peninsula), I had a couple of Osprey trying to nail the drone,” Jesse said. “I’ve had a fair few birds try and knock it out of the sky and even had a swarm of bees try and take it down, because it sounds like a swarm of bees he said.'

http://www.victorharbortimes.com.au/story/4473591/a-new-way-to-look-at-the-south-coast-photos/#slide=25

eddiewouldgo, 1516184969

Hi John Eyre yeah bloke thats right ,
this is the reply from jesse when @Sa_rips advised him to put the drone away ;
"Don't worry mate i dont even bring it out if they are around! "

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYfjhO5nVb4/

eddiewouldgo, 1516447736

Just as we reached the halfway point, near the beautiful clear waters of the loch at Coire Lagan, I heard a noise like a dentist’s drill. It got louder and louder until I saw its cause: a drone. It whizzed round the boulders, sped over the loch, then hovered in close to film me, like the world’s most annoying midge, the high-pitched whine of its four rotors ripping right through the spell this place, ringed by mighty cliffs, casts on climbers. I looked around for a rock to chuck. But then it occurred to me that, despite being halfway up one of Britain’s finest peaks, I was effectively on CCTV.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jul/24/flying-drones-in-the-uk-wild-places

eddiewouldgo, 1516497613

http://www.theday.com/article/20170927/NWS01/170929399

"On one occasion, the birds were in their roost when the drone flew very close over the top of the phragmites, causing the birds to come up in a wave-like pattern after the drone went by, Yuknat said. On another occasion, the drone appeared to move through a column of birds on their way to the phragmites, so the column separated and half of the birds went up and half went down.
Andersen said the swallows congregate in the marshes from late August to early October, to rest and feed and build up energy and protein and nutrients to take them through their migration.
"If they have to spend energy avoiding the drone instead of feeding on mosquitoes and other bugs and resting, that's energy they won't have to migrate, and it may lower the success of their migration," he said.
We certainly encourage people to be sensitive to wildlife and bird species in all of their behavior and avoid contact and avoid disturbing wildlife and birds," he said.
He said that while no one can say with certainty that the drone is affecting the birds' flight patterns, he too observed a drone flying a couple of feet from the reeds where the birds were, causing a wave of birds to come up and go back down.
"That was definitely harassment," he said. "It's kind of acting like a predatory bird. It's acting as if it was going to go down and eat them."
Yuknat said the island, thick with phragmites, is a safe place for the swallows to rest, but he wondered if people keep harassing the swallows, if the birds would go somewhere else.
"That's the question on people's minds: where are they going to go if they don't feel safe here?" he said."

inzider, 1516594099

It ain't Fucking rocket science is it.
By all means take a photo of something, but leave it to the viewers to wonder where it is on the planet.

John Eyre, 1516601851

'The sharing of stunning photos on social media is becoming a destructive force as Instagram trophy hunters beat a path to Tasmania's natural gems, warns professional photographer Jason Futrill.
Jason Futrill, aka Tassiegrammer, has had a serious rethink about the photos he shares.
Futrill said waterfalls and alpine areas were being trampled underfoot by Instagrammers seeking to claim their own version of shots they've admired online.
And, as he is the first to admit, Futrill has been part of the problem — some of the degradation he has witnessed has been a direct result of his own photos being widely shared.
In a blog post, he called for photographers, tourism accounts and travel websites to reflect on their own impact and take more responsibility for the conservation of the photos they post and share.
Futrill described a chain of events starting with ego-massaging reactions to a nice photo, followed by requests for the location, followed by a travel account sharing the photo with a multiplier effect, followed by a swelling number of people sharing it or adding it to their Tasmanian itinerary or weekend wish list.
Before long, a stream of snappers and bushwalkers will be beating a path to that (often fragile) location.
The process prompted Futrill to ask:
"Are we slowly but surely causing some of the most beautiful, previously out-of-reach, unknown and hard-to-find locations to die a slow [or in some cases, a very, very quick] death?"
The awareness of his own direct role in the degradation of places like Chasm Falls in the Meander State Forest forced Futrill to reflect on the consequences of his photo sharing.
"I was the first to publish it [Chasm Falls] to a large social media profile and literally a week later a huge amount of traffic started to go into the area," he told the ABC.
"I've been in recently and all of the moss has gone.
"The whole area had just become degraded now as a result of sharing that location."
'It will never recover'
New visitors have forged new paths and stripped away moss. New visitors have forged new paths and stripped away moss.
At not-so Secret Falls in Wellington National Park near Hobart, Futrill said the toll of an Instagram-fuelled spike in visitation was alarming.
He said there were paths appearing that weren't there just a few years ago.
"There's just literally tracks that are just now mudslides. All of the ferns, the foliage, the moss — everything that used to be in there — has just been torn out because people just don't respect the area, and the foot traffic that we've caused," he said.
"Unfortunately, what we've done to it now from sharing that location is it will never recover.
"Everyone's chasing their own unique compositions which leads to the whole area being destroyed."
How could Instagram trophy hunters take more responsibility for conservation? '

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-22/instagram-trophy-hunters-beating-destructive-path-in-tassie/9344444?pfmredir=sm

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-20/esperance-instagram-tourism-boom/9345614

John Eyre, 1518521417

Drone safety: DJI forces drone pilots to pass safety test before lift-off in Australia FEBRUARY 13, 2018.

"The mandatory exam, created by DJI in conjunction with Australia’s Civil Aviation and Safety Authority, will automatically appear in the app used to fly its drones and follows a risky year for Australian drone users in which 32 were issued fines and “hundreds” received written safety notices for flying the devices in a dangerous manner.

DJI Asia Pacific public policy head Adam Welsh said the company launched the drone flight exam to ensure new users knew how to legally fly drones in Australia and didn’t give the technology a bad reputation.

Mr Gibson said CASA issued a record 32 fines for dangerous drone use in Australia last year, and sent out “hundreds” of warning letters to users who appeared to have broken the rules.
Australian drone laws stipulate drones must not be flown within 30 metres of other people, must only be flown during the day, cannot fly higher than 120m, and cannot fly within 5.5km of an airport.

Australian drone users can check whether it’s legal to fly a drone in their area by using CASA’s Can I Fly There app or checking droneflyer.com.au."

Its not likely that these laws factor in endangered species that are in their natural habitats ! ......... Just because its ok with CASA’s Can I Fly There app or checking droneflyer.com.au... it doesn't mean its allowed !...........Surely wildlife protection is priority ?
But they dont even mention it in their article.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/cameras/drone-safety-dji-forces-drone-pilots-to-pass-safety-quiz-before-liftoff-in-australia/news-story/6467acb75b0920f1a61870a68cd66516

The Fire, 1518575153

Looking forward to meeting the next jerk who has a uav controller in their hands @monies this year.

The Fire, 1518598300

Jesse ehlers

eddiewouldgo, 1521624066

The drones live on instagram still !
Kaptain kinky releases a new clip here :
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgdPResFA75/

barley, 1521633401

Kane Overall, doesn't get it. Whats he trying to make friends? Pro-hoing
Fuck off with the drones and the prophotog/prosurfer bullshit..leave SA for the underground core and adventurous

John Eyre, 1521695770

Promoting drone camera footage at the osprey nest break is a bad idea..........
The mistake should be acknowledged by removing all footage publically available online etc......so as to not encourage more drone fanatics to follow in the footsteps.......these are osprey endangered....and in rapid decline......everything that can be done to protect the species should be done....if you've been to the place and seen the situation its obvious that encroaching tourism could be the nail in the coffin of these nesting beauties.....
Get your priorities right surfers....and Photographers

John Eyre, 1521707294

"We're getting used to outrage about Instagrammers faking their exotic travels to impress their followers or their advertising clients.
But this influencer faked some shots for a rather different reason.
Instagrammer Carolyn Stritch took 10 years off her age and Photoshopped herself into a trip to Disneyland that never happened - just to show how easy it is to fake a life on social media".

https://honey.nine.com.au/2018/03/22/10/45/instagrammer-fakes-disneyland-holiday

bigredcouch, 1521747287

Kaptain Kooky aka Kane Overal seems to have had a little boost of confidence the past month or so after going quiet after some serious threats. He'll be put back to sleep soon enough

eddiewouldgo, 1525508326

This tourism instagrammer website has been informed about the illegal drone photography many times over. They continue to fly the pictures on their social media account. The photographer jesse elhers continues to publish them all the while claiming to respect the osprey?!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiLAMgLBPbH/

udo, 1525511814

Victor Harbour Times photographer eh ?
Jesse admits while flying his Drone at Cummins Monument he has had Osprey Attack his Drone Feb 24th 2017.....!
If over 12mths on you are still doing it Jesse ....you deserve a fucking good Slapping.

tubeshooter, 1525518216

Just had a look at that link eddiewouldgo... It seems Jesse Ehlers doesn't like criticism , and has obviously deleted some of the less than flattering stuff it seems ,, "got no time for haters hahaha",,J.E
Never heard of the guy before , but that sort of thing is as weak as the Michelob Ultras they'll be serving at the surf ranch this weekend.. If he can't answer his critics with a rational and reasoned response ,and his only alternative is to block his ears and silence those who discredit him , he leaves me with no choice but to think he is a self absorbed arsehole that cares more about his own image than the ones he posts on instagram.

eddiewouldgo, 1525566469

Yes udo thats right !
Yep tubeshooter apparently @jesse elhers does quickly delete comments and blocks the account. Anything that isnt to his liking. whereas @kaptainjerky kane overall (although arguing initially) was courteous enough to acknowledge the drone ban after being persuaded with legit evidence of the ospreys decline and endangered status. The next problem is the increasing tourism boom that encourages tourists to stand overlooking the nesting stack and take photos of it??!! Osprey are particularly bothered by things "Above the nest" which is exactly what Overlooking it is. That scenic photo shot is encroaching tourism which they promote heavily on the tourism route. Tourism instagrams like @portlincoln @goinoffsurfaris @southaustralianbeaches regularly advertise the osprey nest lookout site which could most certainly speed up the ospreys decline..

BaSz, 1528120419

Drone views from in the osprey territory recently, by the looks of @antstagram the drone enthusiast an this other jesse guy. Hope those osprey return becos they arent there anymore!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BidzuVflR8L/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiJbZsUAlgf/

barley, 1528152707

Seems like this jesse ehlers is as much a cockhead as kane overall..when will these fuckwits learn?..wont be too far off i wouldnt think..the most hated people who visit the w.c
Soo sick of the look at me bullshit

eddiewouldgo, 1528167192

Hi Barley yes actually the word is @kaptainkirky has acknowledged that the drones must not be used at Cummings Monument area so hes doing something good. Jesse seems to be still keen to ignore the advice. It doesn't help that the big tourism instas continue to post shots even though they are aware of the endangered osprey vs drones. It beggars believe that they promote the site for tourism knowingly contributing to the destruction and possible desertion of the osprey nest. The osprey are the losers in the end and the people who enjoyed the very wild natural environment there.Plus anyone that is involved with a rockfall event. The last few times i went there was two big cars parked on top of the overhang, meanwhile surfers walk underneath it,and a crack seems to be more obvious seen. With winter ahead makes more dangers with rain saturation of the limestone weakening the rock strength. The district council need to do something fast to the carpark its become 4wd stuff just driving into it.

eddiewouldgo, 1529451358

A sign will be displayed to warn the public that Drone use isn't permitted at this surf break. This is because of encroaching tourism resulting in consistent and increasing disturbance to the endangered eastern osprey. This nest is confirmed as 200 years old by white fellas but most likely a lot longer before they arrived in the area. It could be thousands of years .
The recent survey of the osprey numbers in SA revealed a 25% decline in numbers of osprey, this last year it was completed. Considering there was less than 50 pairs in SA this is now down to approximately 30 something pairs of osprey.
Recently drones are being used despite advice given and warnings given to certain @drone_users, they are still uploading the shots to instagram and or the internet despite being informed. That is just In the last few weeks, This is absolutely disgraceful. Jesse_elhers encouraged this, by continuously publishing his drone view shots, ignoring ospreys territory. And when another droner asks for information, follows and does the same sort or worse. Of course this new droner in the area @anstagram deletes and Blocks anyone if they try to raise the topic with them. There will be severe trouble if the Osprey deserts the nest, drone guys be warned.
Lets hope the sign goes up asap and this droning behavior is enforced by law and stops immediately.

@ Newportdc :
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdYpzerBsoP/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=19qguvc611tnm

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeWTGQUlxKd/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1ukwccu51fvyb

@ Anstagram_sa
https://www.instagram.com/p/BidzuVflR8L/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=gg9y8mq9kfv1

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhYm8jaFPnZ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=lwvc94zcfdzr

stunet, 1529451772

Who's enforcing it EWG? What organisation?

eddiewouldgo, 1529456567

Hi Stunet,
I think it might be "Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula"
I have just been informed its going to happen soon. A quick look at this departments work shows they protect wildlife. : Example of the sort of thing they manage; Whale Season :

"And I want to remind whale watchers to take care of their own safety along the cliff tops, keeping to designated lookouts and boardwalks.
Many cliffs are overhung and could collapse at any time,” he warns.
“The vegetation and soil structure along the cliffs are also very fragile and can be damaged by foot and vehicle traffic.
“In the harsh conditions of South Australia’s West Coast it takes plants and soil a long time to recover from human impacts, it’s also timely to remind everyone that there are regulated safe distances for boats and aircraft when whales are around - rules which are designed to protect the safety of the operators and welfare of the whales, In a boat you must be at least 100 metres away from a whale and are not allowed to approach them. Jet skis are not allowed within 300 metres of any marine mammal and it is the responsibility of the driver of any vessel to maintain a distance.
“If approached by a whale, slowly move away at a speed no greater than 4 knots.
“Whales may appear slow and gentle but they can easily overpower boats with their speed, particularly when surfacing from below."

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/marineparks/home/media/articles/150504-reminder-gab-closure?responsive=false

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/eyrepeninsula/news/140702-whale-watching

And yep also its Osprey nesting season in the next few months in SA!

eddiewouldgo, 1529458362

Now is the high risk phase for nesting osprey and sea eagles. Hopefully the osprey will be nesting this season and they havent been scared away by the recent disturbances by human and drones.

"The likely phases of greatest sensitivity and corresponding risk of nest desertion during the Eastern Osprey breeding season in South Australia. Note; the risk of desertion increases through the courtship phase, is highest from mid- June to mid-September,
and declines with increased parental investment thereafter."


http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/files/72fb45ef-fe34-43b7-b9c9-a2610110aafc/Distribution_and_status_of_White-bellied_Sea-Eagle_Haliaeetus_leucogaster_and_Eastern_Osprey_Pandion_cristatus_populations_in_

truebluebasher, 1529473659

Re: eddiewouldgo posted 6 Nov 2017 "Wellington Point" sums it all up...
Wildlife Interference/Endangerment applies to either/or and all.

All would support [eddiewouldgo] clause to be inserted into CASA Drone Regulations.

1(a) Native Flora/Fauna Act incorporated into CASA (Drone Regulations)
(b) NO FLY in WEATHER or over PEOPLE/FAUNA/FLORA + Universal N.P./M.P./ WSR Bans.
(Current Penalties apply... 2 years jail (Not Suspended)/$120,000 fines in all OZ States).

Similar laws have long been humanely universally accepted!
CASA paints Aussies as some retarded uncaring throwbacks not match fit for wild kingdom.
How can CASA police World's largest drone playground with lowest % resource base?

One Rule! Any language- [Rack off! Get Lost! Beat it before I call the cops]

CASA Drone conjures I dream of Jeanie burials with Fluoro Seed'n'Weed of Jabreen's Tomb.
Jabreen is first Surfer and Pointbreak designer of Burleigh N.P./ WSR

Pilots skirt Burleigh N.P. - GCA Runway approach also swing take offs from The Headland.
Rouge N.P. Drones give only seconds warning for International Pilots to abort a landing.
Drone terrorist troupe inherently have a fear of flying. Catastrophe by joystick the reason.

That's right! Drone operators & Pilots are demanding CASA attend drone rehab.
Huddled on a fading speck of The Blue Planet..Be only fair to call off CASA Drone Invasion.

The Fire, 1529486050

last drone op i saw there.. i challenged him to put it away for the birds sake and the kiwi fukwit was all ' who are you the drone police' im just taking a few pics of my mate.

Absolute retard dont come back if you read this.

So sick of camera cunts and drone operators are the worst type of scum.

Ive Never seen Kane Overall surf this wave yet he thinks he has the right to exploit it and in doing so increase the surf traffic in the line up.

I hate traffic..

And sa rips has no balls and should stick to his own area.

Ospreys rip. You dont.

eddiewouldgo, 1535415198

Drone users are brazenly breaking laws and willing to take the risk because of the time-consuming process to prosecute them.
A brief scan across Instagram reveals countless drone photos shot illegally in Australia, some of which represent a checklist of crimes packed into one photo.
People have published images from no-fly zones, overpopulated beaches, and from altitudes greater than 120 metres
As drone sales increase, so do the number of people breaking the law, but fining them can be difficult.
“Getting that evidence can be difficult because we won’t have seen the activity and we rely on witness statements, video, and photo evidence,” Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) spokesperson Peter Gibson said.
“Someone can see a drone breaking the law, but not identify the person flying it and we can’t prove who was flying it.”
Mr Gibson said CASA issued 30 fines last year for illegal drone use and has already issued 40 this year.
While fine numbers could be increasing, so is drone ownership, with estimates of between 100,000 and 150,000 drones in the country.

CASA has openly warned drone users they will use social media to help prosecute illegal activity.
However, thousands of illegally-shot Australian drone photos remain proudly posted to Instagram pages.

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/08/27/drone-laws-burden-proof-prosecution/

eddiewouldgo, 1535415766

Endangered Eastern Osprey Have been Nesting on the Eyre Peninsula lately.
Now is mid season.
With a lot of luck they could succeed with the chicks surviving as long as people stop overlooking the nest.
Apparently a signs going to be erected at Cummings Monument but it wasnt last time i visited and saw the osprey pair in nest.
Twice i witnessed people approach and the birds flew away and didn't return.
Pretty sad how humans ruin everything,
Thanks alot to social media promotion.
Watch this space..
Will the Osprey succeed or not this breeding season???

truebluebasher, 1538562350

Gold Coast Seaway "Pop's Tinnie Rescue" sabotaged by Drone.
There's plenty of footage on news cams of this maniac.
I don't fly a Drone but I'm certain this operator broke near all laws in one go!

The Spit Aerodrome since 1930's operates 3 runways + 8 Helipads(Tool to fly a Drone here!)
South Stradbroke Island is a Marine Park( Filming with Drones over 2kg requires a permit)
Filming Govt Facilities/Rescues in Prohibited Areas requires permits.
Seaway/Aitcraft Tower co-ordinates rescues (No Drone Zone)
Flying in or around or interfering with a rescuers Craft is if not should be jail-time
30 metre height range is clearly breached
Flying over People + watercraft rule is again clearly breached
After defying near every law Drone then retreats to base with precision.(Not a novice!)

Seaway saboteur does a runner & is still on the run tonight with few or none on his trail.
Line must be drawn with such deliberate sabotage..(Prohibiting a rescue!)
Yet half the lamebrains reckon this bullying of our rescuers is harmless play...Go figure!

Casa state they might cop $1,000 fine...Media scoop worth 10x that(20 x now)- we all know!
Casa's Flymos have run out of extension chords & they know it... reel 'em in boys!

truebluebasher, 1538567196

http://www.facebook.com/7NewsBrisbane/videos/2170858819804580/

truebluebasher, 1545572311

Reading my last post! Unfortunately aviation still don't care to track down drones!
Some flymo retard has just toyed with Gatwick Airport for almost 2 days.(Yep!)
https://news.sky.com/video/gatwick-drone-caught-on-camera-in-unverified-footage-11587927

150,000 commuters wait near 2 days for Tesco Drone to zip in & out of Duty Free.
Tired terrorist tethered to Drone for 2 days in UK 's #1 flyzone & MI5 lose him?
Surely super strength bug spray should work...I mean for the Drone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0rfFFZ332k

truebluebasher, 1545653729

Casa Drone News.
After years of 100's of Oz Airport Drone near misses...Casa finally wake up to themselves...
Australian Transport Safety Bureau have been warning of drone risk to Commercial Aircraft.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/australias-air-crash-investigators-warn-drones-pose-risk-to-planes-ng-2cd45c46ffa824367bbf48d967fcbd77

Major Oz Airports + Regional Airport Pilots/Rescue Choppers have all voiced concern.
Perth police are currently hunting a drone pilot who near took down a Qantas Flight this month.

Good guy Little Ripper was even caught out upskirting the talent at local No Fly Zone...
https://eftm.com/2016/10/exclusive-drone-crash-nsw-shark-spotting-drone-goes-missing-in-ballina-32164

Queensland Police have the answer for the lot of them...
https://www.aviassist.com.au/police-shoot-down-drone-near-restricted-area/

https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/australian-company-says-they-could-solve-gatwick-airport-s-drone-crisis-20181220-p50nkq.html

Hot Tip! CASA intend to lure the wayward brats back into their tamper proof packs.
Identify: (Drone/Serial #/ Owner/Position) Most thought this was standard.(Playing catch up!)
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/australia-to-beef-up-technology-for-drone-crackdown-1967234

udo, 1603853820

Kane Overall not popular ..
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-28/south-australias-wild-west-surf-wars/12816604

factotum, 1603855589

Good to resurrect this thread, Udo. Cheers.

Once a knob, always a knob.

Cowabunga, 1603858785

It was and possibly still is a place you could surf with a few or as often the case was when I lived on the west coast no-one in the water I remember it was the place we would pull into for a surf on the way to or from stinkin with the Mt Hope boys regulars at the spot

It was a long time ago we didn't mess with the Osprey they were just there like the other nest next to a surf spot up the coast no need to hassle the birds we were there for the surf.

I guess with modern technology the advent of social media the invasive nature of those platforms encourage this type of exploitative activity

velocityjohnno, 1603860514

What was the tourism lady thinking? Or was she thinking?

'"The sign was an investment by the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) to give people the opportunity to stop, get out of the car, take a bit of a breather, and have a look at our amazing coastline," Ms Stewart said.'

They probably envision it as a giant version of the computer game 'theme park' where the sprites just go to every new hot dog stand you set up.

Blowin, 1603861664

They do.

I’ve often pondered at the possibilities for remote tourism as I’ve been driving through the middle of bumfuck nowhere. It seems that tourists want a distraction- any distraction - and are willing to pay well for the privilege. Anyone who’s ever been to the Yatala whale viewing platform at the Eastern end of the Bight will attest to this truth.

There you are , fifteen bucks lighter , shoulder to shoulder with other punters staring at the exact same Southern ocean vantage you’ve just driven past for the proceeding 600 kms . The only difference being the price and the lost serenity of those empty hundreds of kilometres.

All you need to do is set up a photo opportunity along some remote but popular stretch of highway , charge a few dollars then stand back and get showered with riches.

There’s a place alongside Shark Bay which would be perfect . The highway gets close to the water but you can’t see it. Construct a little viewing platform with a decent view of the water and charge $5 entry and let the Insta / Facebook crowd make you wealthy beyond your dreams. Nothing else to see for hundreds of kms in either direction and the money is burning a hole in the punter’s pockets.

Sell them coffee and sandwiches- priced accordingly. Charge them to use the drop shitter . Get a government grant to start a tourism venture in an unserviced region.

velocityjohnno, 1603872649

Nice imagery - I've worked at both the Yatala community (& also saw the whales) and the desal plant at Shark Bay :) Love that southern stretch of mostly nothing. I had a contract to survey the towers and repeater stations as well, between Ceduna/Nullarbor/Roe Plains/Norseman. Someone had removed the 'r' from the latter town's name on the road sign which was the source of some mirth.

Lots of scary alone surf if anyone is interested...

factotum, 1603873313

Pedantic perhaps, but you're referring to Yalata.

Yatala is a different kind of 'community', indeed!

velocityjohnno, 1603873963

Pedantry accepted. I also worked at a community on Cape Barren and got to watch one of the fellas making, from scratch, a wooden muttonbirding boat, that was an awesome display of craftsmanship.

Cowabunga, 1603892940

I worked at Yalata in the mid 80's i guess not much has changed spent plenty of time surfing those parts by myself

I remember taking some old radilaide surf buddies out to one of those remote breaks when I had moved to work at Thevenard many years later

it was Easter and the chalkies from town were set up camping there

we pulled up in my old wagon on the low cliff edge as it wouldn't have gone though the sand pit to get to the flat spot closer to the break or if it did we wouldn't have got back out

We had timed it for the tide to be right and it was just starting to break

Climbed down the low cliff to the beach to be greeted with F@#K OFF ya vicos!!

Such a laugh it was a first year chalkie who would have been still in his dad's bag when I started surfing that coast localism from a transplant local gotta love it of course we ignored him and paddled out to score a pretty epic session at this fickle place

stunet, 1603937034

All around Australia tourism bureaus use surfing to sell their stretch of coast and none of it benefits existing surfers. 

charles-barkley, 1603940084

SATC really have no idea. Wheres the community consultation? That sign would have cost $ and will have zero benefit to the local area or SA as a whole. Also if they asked any surfer on the coast the reply would have been straightforward "not a good idea".

charles-barkley, 1603940370

Thanks Stu
This one doesn't benefit any surfers or local business.
Was never gonna last, would look great in the shed.

Cowabunga, 1603943295

True words Charles-Barkley net benifits negative in that environmental issues exasperated

udo, 1603943811

What sort of $ could a Photog ask for a pic like that ?

Jono, 1603944942

The person with the angle grinder also has no idea. Streisand effect resulting in millions of people now realising that Cummings Monument has good waves.

udo, 1603945534

https://www.picuki.com/media/2337763734900869397

velocityjohnno, 1603947930

Everyone uses surfing to sell everything and no current surfers benefit from any of it.

charles-barkley, 1603949106

The sign should say NO DRONE ZONE

The Fire, 1603968696

There is a sign all about the osprey nest so no one can plead ignorance regarding drones.

If you dont wanna get burned, dont throw fuel on the fire.

Easy.