Ecosure has over 14 years experience in developing and implementing management programs for overabundant populations. We have developed programs for Pigeons, Cattle Egrets, Rainbow Lorikeets and in particular Australian White Ibis. Most of these species serve an important role within our ecosystem, however through a range of direct and indirect human interactions have become abundant in urban areas of Australia.
Since its inception, Ecosure has been the technical consultant for Australia’s largest and longest running ibis management program; The Ibis Management Coordination Group (IMCG), here is the 2010-2011 Annual Report. As a component of this multi faceted stakeholder group the Ibis Education Program won the 1997 Banksia Environmental National Award. Ecosure’s Gold Coast Ibis Management Program was presented at an international conference in Vancouver where it was hailed as one of the very best of its type in the world. If you find any injured wildlife, call (07) 5527 2444.
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Our Services
A selection of wildlife management services that Ecosure offers are:
Animal Capture and Handling
Ecosure understands the need to minimise impacts of capturing and handling wildlife. Our staff are trained in safe, effective and humane animal trapping and restraint methods. We have the experience and permits required to relocate problematic wildlife, including snakes, possum and birds species. We also have the capacity and licenses to deploy ethical anaesthesia of wildlife, for example, to facilitate taking tissue samples and attaching tracking devices.
Bird Dispersal
Ecosure is a leader in developing innovative strategies for dispersing birds at airports and in urban environments, including methods to discourage birds from feeding, roosting and nesting. Our staff are skilled in bird identification, wildlife management protocols and using state of the art equipment. We can actively assist clients in implementing their existing bird management programs or develop these for specialist bird management units.
Wildlife Management Committees
Ecosure provides scientific and technical expertise for wildlife management committees. Our staff understand that successful wildlife management requires an integrated approach involving multiple stakeholders. We can also chair committees to achieve optimal community consultation.
The Ibis Management Coordination Group (IMCG) was developed in early 1996 to provide an integrated approach to facilitate research and management of the regional Australian White Ibis population. It has successfully drawn together various local governments, private sectors and community groups to coordinate ibis management with the resources available. It is a template for solving wildlife management problems around Australia and is now one of the longest running and most successful programs of its kind in the world.
Ecosure Pty Ltd has successfully organised the IMCG meetings on the Gold/Tweed Coast for 13 years and is currently managing the Australian White Ibis Management Program's throughout the region. This experience in ibis management, both in stakeholder liaison and field work, will allow Ecosure to effectively drive sub groups of the IMCG in other regions.
Wildlife Management Plans
Ecosure develops wildlife management plans for a broad range of contexts. This involves:
- assessing habitat and species present
- auditing wildlife management practices
- appraising wildlife reporting procedures
- ecological data analyses & interpretation for presentations
- ranking species according to their hazard risk or human-wildlife conflict risk
- prioritizing recommendations to improve wildlife management practice
- producing specific management plans for each of the most hazardous species
- developing species action plans
Education
Ecosure develops and delivers public awareness programs that help provide an effective two-way flow of information on wildlife management. The use of signage and other educational material available from Ecosure is used to curb public feeding and increase public understanding of wildlife issues. Input from the public on problematic wildlife is important in ensuring complete information that can be incorporated into comprehensive management programs.
Fauna Surveys
Ecosure conducts comprehensive fauna surveys to monitor wildlife population trends and assess the effectiveness of management actions. Our staff are experienced in visual and auditory recognition of birds and identification of flying-fox species and other wildlife. We also deploy a range of sampling and trapping methods to ascertain species presence and abundance.
Habitat Mapping
Ecosure is experienced in assessing and mapping wildlife habitat. Our staff draw upon their knowledge of wildlife ecology to thoroughly investigate the known habitat requirements and food preferences of the target species. We are able to advise on the likely resource attractants for birds and flying-foxes and information management decisions accordingly.
Species Impacts Statements (SIS)
Ecosure understands that compliance assessments are important for developers or landowners whose operations and activities may contravene the relevant state and/or federal legislation. Our staff are experienced in conducting legislative compliance assessments and land use assessments. We conduct EIA, Review of Environmental Factors, significance tests and SIS.
Technical Equipment Advice
Ecosure understands that technological advances frequently revolutionize the way we work. Our staff keep up-to-date with developments in the operation of the best equipment and its suppliers worldwide. We can provide technical advice and training for appropriate deployment of the latest equipment.
Wildlife Crisis Management
Ecosure can assist in wildlife rescue during floods, fires and other catastrophic events. Our veterinarian staff can triage and rehabilitate injured animals. We also assist with wildlife crisis events through our collaboration in the MDEU.
Wildlife Disease Ecology
Ecosure can be involved in investigations into wildlife diseases in a range of capacities. Our staff can conduct wildlife health assessment and disease transmission risk assessment in the context of habitat and land use. We can also assess how nutritional and reproductive requirements relate to rates of mortality, morbidity and fecundity in a population.
Wildlife Tracking
Ecosure has experience in deploying both radio- and satellite-telemetry to track a range of wildlife including birds and flying-foxes. Our staff are proficient in mapping movements of tracked animals, deriving home ranges, and habitat usage profiles. We have considerable experience in fitting wildlife telemetry devices and in training people in efficient telemetry techniques.
Our Projects
Australian White Ibis Management Program, Rockhampton - Sydney
Ecosure is now in its 14th year of managing ibis populations in South-East Queensland. We developed an ethical and sustainable management program based on reducing resource availability and restricting breeding success. We have successfully arrested population growth in what is now one of the most successful and long-running programs of its type in the world. Ecosure currently manages and monitors ibis populations for councils from Sydney north to Rockhampton. A key component to this management program is landfill management. Ecosure currently provide and implement management options for landfills within the Tweed Shire, Gold Coast City, Brisbane City and Redland Shire Councils.
We provide ongoing theoretical and technical support to the Ibis Management Coordination Group which is a regional multipartite body established in 1996 to respond to the growing ibis problem on the Tweed/Gold Coast. Here is the 2007-2008 Annual Report. In 2006 we also hosted the inaugural Australian Ibis Management Conference, held on the Gold Coast.
Conservation Ranking of Australia’s Offshore Islands, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)
Ecosure recently completed an independent national assessment for DEWHA of the conservation value of Australia’s offshore islands, and the specific vertebrate pest management issues on these islands.
There are over 8000 offshore islands, from which the top 100 priority islands were ranked in order of conservation value. The main objective of this study was to provide a solid foundation on which investment decisions can be made for Australia’s offshore islands.
Fox and Hare Management, Gold Coast Airport
Following a number of fox strikes by aircraft, Gold Coast Airport enlisted Ecosure to manage the fox and hare populations on the airport. Fence breaches were identified along with an active search for evidence of pest activity. Den fumigation was undertaken along with implementation of a trapping and baiting program.
Risk Management of Elapidae on the Spit, Sheraton Mirage Resort, Gold Coast
Frequent observations of elapids, in particular, Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) along the dune foreshores of the Spit present an apparently increasing hazard to both tourists and locals that use this area for recreation. Given that this species is potentially dangerous there is a strong indication to develop a proactive, long term and science based risk management program.
We carried out an initial risk management audit on the Sheraton Mirage facility at the southern end of the spit, involving interviews with staff and contractors, an assessment of management strategies currently used, and an onsite habitat assessment. The purpose of the audit was to define the problem and to recommend detailed investigations to achieve practical long term risk mitigation strategies.
Bird and Wildlife Management Program, Gold Coast Airport
Gold Coast Airport is the first airport in Australia to formulate a Bird and Wildlife Management Plan which complies with the National Framework for Bird and Animal Management at airports. The Bird and Wildlife Management Plan was produced by Ecosure, this builds on a nine year relationship with the airport where we have undertaken:
Regular bird surveys both on and off airport,
- Risk assessments
- Annual reviews
- Coordinated multi-stakeholder committees
- Operations Officer training
- Forensic assessment of bird carcasses
Other Bird Management
In addition Ecosure has also developed a number of management plans for other over-abundant native species, including:
- a Rainbow Lorikeet management plan for Hervey Bay City Council;
- a Cattle Egret management plan for Cooloola Shire Council;
- a Cattle Egret management plan for Murwillumbah; and
- a management plan for Seagulls in Tasmania.
- a Silver Gull management plan for Seaworld on the Gold Coast
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Our Staff
Phil Shaw. BSc, Dip Ed. Director.
Phil has an extensive background in pest management having taught Pest Control Courses at Tertiary institutions. Phil is internationally regarded as a wildlife management professional and sits on the International Birdstrike committee and the Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Working Group.
Jessica Boswell. BAppSc (Wildlife Biology).Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Management Team.
Jess has had more than seven years experience handling wildlife with positions in the veterinary, zoo and consulting industries. During this time Jess has had extensive surveying experience using a variety of terrestrial and aquatic techniques, including pitfall, Elliott, cage, harp, turtle hoop net traps as well as soil plots, timed habitat searches and spotlighting. Jess also has spotter/catcher experience and specific experience in the removal and relocation of problem wildlife.
Josh Bassett. BAppSc (Wildlife Biology). Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Management Team.
Josh is a Wildlife Biologist with experiance working with wildlife both in the field and in a captive environment. He has extensive knowledge of wildlife and pest managagment. His degree in Animal Studies, specialilsing in Wildlife Biology compliments his skills, knowledge and passion for the environment and its inhabitants.
Dr Jeff McKee. BSc (Vet) (Hons), BVSc, CPL. Principal Research Scientist.
Jeff has post graduate experience in molecular biology and wildlife virology. For the last fifteen years has supervised field based wildlife health assessment programs along the east coast of Australia. Jeff is a member of the Wildlife Disease Association and International Society for Infectious Diseases, an associate PhD supervisor at the University of Queensland and an instructor with 213 SQN AAFC.
Nadine Newton. B App Sc. grad. Cert. Antarctic Studies. Biologist.
Nadines main focus is ornithology and Australian Wildlife. As a graduate in Wildlife Biology, Nadine has extensive experience in a variety of scientific monitoring programs including work for the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Nadine currently manages a number of bird and wildlife management programs in South-east Queensland including the Gold Coast Airport. These projects involve the management of feral species including European Red Fox and European Hare. As part of these programs, Nadine is involved with baiting and trapping activities as well as spotlighting and culling.
Ibis Field Officers.
Our Ibis Field Officers are an experienced member of Ecosure’s Wildlife Management team with a primary role in the Australian White Ibis Management Plan. They undertake direct management of ibis breeding colonies and foraging sites using a range of active and passive management techniques. They carry out surveys of breeding colonies, roost sites and foraging sites of AWI.
Our Research
Ecosure has conducted trials and research projects including:
- The breeding ecology of ibis, which has provided key data to better understanding the ibis breeding cycle
- The use of birds of prey, motorcycles and remote controlled aeroplanes at landfills to disperse ibis
- Shredding waste to deter ibis feeding at landfills
- Aluminium ammonium sulphate at landfills as a taste deterrent
- Egg pricking, egg replacement and egg oiling as alternatives to egg removal
- Radio tracking ibis to determine home range and movement patterns
- Glossy Black Cockatoo: Ecosure is assisting with research which is being conducted by Griffith University (Gold Coast Campus) on the movement and habitat selection of Glossy Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus lathami
- Ibis Foraging Ecology and Disease Screening : Stomach content analysis and virus isolation.