Friends of Lillico Penguins
Lillico Beach Conservation Area
Our name
The Friends of the Lillico Penguins CARes group
Where we work
The Lillico Beach Conservation Area is located 6km West of Devonport alongside the Bass Highway. It is a long narrow reserve, 2.5km long and 14 hectares in size, mainly sand dune with an interesting beach made of large round (even polished!) stones locally referred to as shingle. Lillico Beach is a very important wildlife corridor allowing wildlife to move from the bush on the banks of both the Mersey and Don Rivers to Lillico Beach, with the bush along the Forth River only a few kilometres away.
Many shore and sea birds, such as Pied Oystercatchers, Red-capped Plovers, Pelicans and of course the Penguins and Shearwaters and land birds such as the Native Hen (endemic to Tasmania) and the magnificient Swamp Harrier which spends Spring and Summer in Tasmania to breed, are seen in the Reserve.
Ringtail and Brushtail possums, Tiger snakes and Bandicoots are common.
A steel mesh fence prevents the Penguins straying onto the highway. For more information about Penguins check out the Parks and Wildlife webpage www.parks.tas.gov.au
What we do
We are the only group of volunteers assisting the Parks and Wildlife Service to supervise the visitors to the Penguin viewing platform from late September to the first week in the following May. We interpret the wildlife through talks, question and answer sessions, handing out fact sheets and so on. We also watch out for breaches of the National Parks and Wildlife Regulations and report them to the Rangers and/or Tasmania Police.
We have also adopted the roadside in partnership with the Department of Infrastructure Energy and Resources to keep it clean, particularly in relation to plastics and other rubbish that inevitably ends up in the ocean and along the coast - potentially causing problems for wildlife.
New members who have the confidence to talk to fairly large groups of visitors are always welcome members. Training is provided. Hopefully you would be able to make a commitment to work a particular night on the roster on a regular basis. Members who operate on the Roster are eligible for a WILDCARE vest under the volunteer recognition scheme.
How to join the Friends of the Lillico Penguins CARes group
To participate in the activities of the Friends of Lillico Penguins, it is as simple as joining WILDCARE and registering for Friends of Lillico Beach Peguins on the membership form. Your name will be entered on the membership database as a member of the Lillico group and you will receive information about upcoming events, working bees and activities. Your name will be made available to the groups President.
For further direct information about our group, contact:
President: Patricia Ellison
Secretary: John Coombes
WILDCARE Friends of Lillico Penguins carries out an annual penguin count. Listen to ABC TV News report about the 2012 count here
If you are not yet a WILDCARE member and would like to join this group, join WILDCARE Inc (either online, by mail or in person at any Service Tasmania outlet, Parks Visitor Centre or the WILDCARE Inc Office) and then list this group on your membership form.
If you are already a member and would like to join this group, either go to your personal details in the members only area to include the group or contact office@wildcaretas.org.au to change your details.
