Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The fibreglass hoax, created by Milton artist Neal Cameron, drew the attention of media outlets including the Daily Mail last year. It will now be used to fund shelter and security for nesting shorebirds and their chicks.
Neal also volunteers with the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Shorebird Recovery Program and, along with Col Ashford, decided wooden bird boxes would be more eco-friendly than plastic buckets which they had previously used to keep little tern chicks safe.
Neal approached the Milton Ulladulla Men's Shed with Col's prototype and the group was able to supply the volunteers with a number of boxes to use for the little terns' upcoming nesting period.
Over the past week Col has seen six little terns arrive, but many more have been sighted further north. Col expects many more to arrive over November.
There's not much vegetation around so the wooden nesting boxes will give the chicks shelter from the hot summer sun and offer some security from avian predators, Col said.
However, the shorebird recovery program has had a successful start this year. The two regular pairs of endangered Pied Oystercatchers, which Col has assisted for about 15 years, have one chick each that have almost fledged.
To fund the boxes Neal will be auctioning the over-sized bluebottle at an upcoming show he will hold in Milton. The venue and date are yet to be finalised, he said.