When we took on the role of wardens in 2019, ‘global pandemics’ was not listed in the index of our manual.

That being so, like many other non-for-profits, business’ and households, we are learning as we go.

We started the year off roughly the same as usual. We hosted the AWSG (Australasian Wader Study Group) in early February (when COVID-19 was an occasional story in the news) and have been inducting our new Assistant Wardens and familiarising ourselves with the birding and guiding landscape of 2020.

As we do every year after returning from the Wet season we scrubbed, weeded, restored, wiped and de-frogged every surface we could. Track maintenance always needs doing and the long process of removing pindan from every crevice at the BBO. So, this is business as usual.

First job of the year: digging in our new water pipe

Our old nemesis Hyptis (weed) is back as it always is after the Wet.

As the news of COVID-19 spread and moved closer to home we have had to adapt what we do significantly. We have had to make quite a few changes in different areas of the BBO.

Only the threat of a global pandemic is a big enough motivator for Mattea to allow Jane to cut her hair.

Sadly, our tremendous Assistant Warden Lachy had very little option but to return home in March given the impending border closures and uncertainty of the flight availability in the future. In the months Lachy was here he did an outstanding job co-guiding on tours, hosting migration watch, being our post-tour ANZAC biscuit maker in chief and contributing with our research projects. We hope to see him back at the BBO as soon as we are back up and running.

Luckily Lachy got to join in on a few tours while he was here.

Some things have thankfully managed to stay the same. We still conduct Migration Watch each evening on the pindan cliffs of the BBO. One of our absolute treats is to show people shorebird migration for the first time, while we can’t do this we have worked to post as many migration videos as possible to keep you in the loop – as well as our migration watch tally you can view on our website.

Shorebird Disturbance Monitoring, our 12-month project funded through DBCA is continuing ahead. We have had to make some adjustments, again one of the highlights is introducing new volunteers to the project, but for the moment we can only have one person at each site at a time. The restrictions obviously change our data slightly as there are less people on the beach to disturb our shorebirds. However – think how relaxing these few quiet beach months will be for shorebirds. They should be able to roost with a bit more peace, and beach-nesting birds won’t have to content with so many of our feet!

Bird Log still carries on every night in the Shadehouse with the five of us (2 wardens, 1 assistant warden and 2 camp-ground hosts) and we still carry out our maintenance checks and duties.

One thing that unfortunately always remains the same at the BBO: vehicle maintenance and issues

The biggest change of course is that unfortunately we cannot have guests here. As an education and research facility, engaging with the public is arguably the foundation of our work. This isn’t simply going into schools or running a shorebird tour. It often plays out in discreet interactions like the vast numbers of guests who stumble upon the BBO with the old ‘we’ll just camp for the night’, and ten days later they are still here, contributing to Bird Log, borrowing a scope and taking this knowledge as they go to appreciate birds on the rest of their travel.

The other practical side of not being able to host guests is that the BBO is entirely self-funded. The payment for camping, tours, markets, courses and items purchased in our shops go directly back to fuel the research and educational work the BBO does. Naturally, this has taken a hit for 2020.

Despite these set-backs rest assured we are still out here at the BBO working hard to make our facility squeaky clean for your eventual visit. This cavern of time that has opened up, usually spent chatting with guests and running tours means we have more time for (well, let’s be honest, birding) but all those jobs we want to do all year but never have the time for.

Getting the tracks ready for our eventual visitors!

We’re also using this time to enjoy our surroundings. On Good Friday we watched the giant 10.59m tide. From left: Nyil (warden) Mattea (assistant warden) and Jane (warden).

Mattea and Nyil are collaborating with the Australasian Wader Studies Group to have a look at some data that we haven’t had the opportunity to previously. Jane is working on a multidisciplinary lesson plan for those of you teaching at home, based on Roebuck Bay’s shorebirds alongside some extra resources to help you out. We have also stocked up our online shop with some new designs and books for you to have a look at, these purchases go straight back to the BBO and are a big help in these challenging times.

When we do get around to updating our warden’s manual and placing ‘Global Pandemic: A Guide’ in between ‘Bushfire Procedure’ and ‘Snake Bite First Aid’ we’ll be sure to note the one major thing that has not changed: I’m sure you’ve noticed in your own isolated states how humbling it is to see how nature carries on regardless. Take solace from the fact that while the news cycle reports cases, you can always take a moment to turn off the device, look out the window and enjoy the simple act of watching birds.

Stay safe.

Jane

Running a Bird Observatory during a Pandemic: A Guide