A community birthday party will be held at GJ Walter Park, Cleveland from 10am to noon on Saturday, October 20 and everyone is invited.
Redlands2030 president Steve MacDonald said the event celebrated the safe return of thousands of migratory shorebirds to Moreton Bay as well as the signing 25 years ago of an international Ramsar agreement to protect the waterway.
“It’s a family event with a sausage sizzle, children’s face painting and a very special birthday cake,” he said.
“We’ll also get a bird’s eye view of the shorebirds in Toondah Harbour through high-power birdwatching scopes.”
Mr MacDonald said it was a great opportunity to find out from experts the importance of this part of Moreton Bay to migratory shorebirds, which flew thousands of kilometres from Alaska and Siberia to feed in the same place every year.
“Sadly many of these birds are now endangered because of habitat loss,” he said.
Visitors would also hear about threats from coastal development and find out about what was being done to protect wildlife in the Moreton Bay Marine Park, Ramsar site and plans for World Heritage Area listing.
As a bonus, G.J. Walter Park and its surrounds were also home to a healthy koala colony.
“It’s one of the best locations to see these iconic creatures in the wild in south-east Queensland,” Mr MacDonald said.
Updates on the proposed $1.3 billion Toondah Harbour project would also be discussed.
He said the high density development aimed to build 3600 units on reclaimed land in Moreton Bay and would bring up to 10,000 residents into this sensitive area.
There will also be another Ramsar 25th anniversary celebration at the Moreton Bay Pumicestone Ramsar site.
A Wetlands Festival from 10am to 2pm on Sunday, October 21, has been organised by the Redcliffe Environmental Forum and the Moreton Bay Regional Council.
It will be held at Captain Cook Park, Deception Bay.
Food, coffee and family entertainment is available. Experts will talk about wetlands, mangroves and shorebirds and the wonders of migration. Visitors can take a guided walk through the mangroves and saltmarsh and learn about the ecosystem and the birds and animals that live there.
