Australia’s waterways and coasts are home to a variety of seabirds — gulls, cormorants, pelicans, terns, and swans. These birds are highly vulnerable to fishing hooks, plastic, boat strikes, and storm events.
This category includes pelicans, swans, cormorants, gulls, and terns— which are frequently impacted by human activity near our rivers, beaches, and lakes. Common threats include entanglement, pollution, and injury from boats or vehicles.
🧐 When People Encounter These Birds
Typical situations include:
- Entanglement in fishing line or hooks
- Injuries from boats, cars, or storms
- Grounded swans or seabirds, appearing weak, disoriented, or waterlogged
Image: WIRES Wildlife Rescue
🛑 What To Do
- Approach quietly, keeping people and pets well away
- Do not handle large birds (e.g., pelicans, swans) without professional advice — they can inflict serious injury with beaks or wings
- If the bird is entangled, do not cut the line and release — this can worsen injuries. Call Wildlife Rescue Australia for guidance
- If the bird is grounded and unable to fly, provide a calm, shaded space and monitor it until help arrives
- Note the location, the number of birds, and any visible injuries to assist rescuers
⚠️ Important to Know
Feeding seabirds human food (e.g., bread, chips) can lead to malnutrition, deformities, and aggressive behaviour.
Injuries from discarded fishing lines, hooks, and nets are among the leading causes of rescue calls for these species.
🌱 Why This Matters
Seabirds are essential to the health of aquatic ecosystems, helping maintain balance by controlling fish and invertebrate populations. Human activity—especially pollution and recreational fishing—is a growing threat. Timely, informed intervention saves lives and supports environmental sustainability.
🔍 References:
- WIRES Wildlife Rescue. (2024). Seabirds and Waterbirds. Retrieved from: https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-info/seabirds-and-waterbirds
- Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue. (2024). https://www.seabirdrescue.org.au/
- NSW DPI. (2023). Fishing and wildlife safety. Retrieved from: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/fishing-and-wildlife
