News Service from House Harris

NSW: Calls for security after destruction of rare birds' nests

SYDNEY, Dec 30 AAP - The NSW opposition is calling for better protection of wildlife sanctuaries at risk of vandalism following the destruction of a rare bird's nesting sanctuary on the NSW south coast.

On Boxing Day, a rare hooded plover's nesting area at Cudmirrah Beach near Sussex Inlet was wrecked by vandals who reportedly pulled apart the wooden security fence for a beach party fire before crushing the birds' eggs.

Hooded plovers are listed as "critically endangered" in NSW, where it is believed there are only 50 left.

As yet no one has been questioned in relation to the crime.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on wildlife refuges in southern NSW.

Opposition environment spokesman Catherine Cusack condemned the destruction of the nesting sanctuary at Cudmirrah Beach.

"The birds face a host of difficulties breeding in beach dunes and the population is still in decline," she said in a statement.

"The Cudmirrah Beach is a terrible setback for the future of the east coast version of the species."

Ms Cusack said there was a need to raise awareness and respect for the fragile habitats of rare wildlife.

She has proposed the installation of special wildlife webcams, better signage, more secure fencing, and better security of areas known to be at risk of attack.

"The NSW Labor government must take these basic precautions that would have the overwhelming support of our community," Ms Cusack said.

National Parks and Wildlife spokesman Stuart Cohen described the Boxing Day attack as "devastating".

"We're absolutely outraged," he said.

"It's absolutely mindless, incomprehensible vandalism."

Shore birds were extremely vulnerable, he said, because they nested in just a scrape in the sand and their eggs were very well camouflaged so they look like shell grit.

He said a "huge amount" was already being done to protect the species of rare and endangered birds along the NSW coastline.

"We have a very extensive public awareness campaign, we have an army of volunteers and we're fencing areas off," he said.

"We've got people watching the animals but it's very difficult to get someone to watch one egg or two eggs all night and I don't think it's very practical."

He said using webcams to monitor nesting areas on beaches was "a nice idea" but it was hard to hide a video camera on a beach.

"When you put (a camera) on the beach it stands out ... it gets vandalised and knocked off."

He said he hoped public outrage over acts of vandalism would help to deter offenders.

"I want the community to be talking about this vandalism in horrified terms, so that those who do it know there are eyes and ears out there," he said.