FERAL animals, domestic pets, weeds and nesting sites disturbed by humans are wreaking havoc on our shorebirds and their habitats.

MidCoast’s littoral rainforests are home for over 100 types of trees and shrubs.

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They provide habitat for over 70 threatened plants and animals.

They also provide an important buffer to coastal erosion and wind damage.

More than $70,000 in funding will support MidCoast Council projects to restore coastal vegetation and protect endangered shorebirds including the Pied Oystercatchers, which are listed as endangered in NSW.

Oystercatchers are typically seen probing the sand or mud with their long bills in search of sandworms, molluscs or crabs, sometimes hammering at their shells.

They can be seen roosting at high tide, sometimes with other species such as gulls, cormorants, waterfowl or other waders.

Most of these funds will go towards regenerating our littoral rainforests.

They are at risk due to land clearing and weed invasion.

Another project will control Bitou Bush on the frontal dunes between Crowdy and Harrington Beach.

Bitou is an invasive weed which smothers native vegetation and contributes to coastal erosion.

Fox control measures at Harrington Beach will protect the endangered little tern and pied oystercatcher.

These endangered shorebirds nest on the sand’s surface and are at risk to attacks from feral animals.

The birds migrate from Asia every year and MidCoast beaches are some of their favourite nesting places.

These projects are jointly funded by the NSW Government’s Crown Reserves Improvement Fund and Council’s Environmental Rate.

Council’s Natural Systems team will work with Hunter Local Land Services, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Taree Indigenous Development and Employment (TIDE).

By Marian SAMPSON