Careel Bay (formerly 'Evening Bay')[1] is a bay and adjacent locality in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The locality is within the suburb of Avalon Beach. The bay lies adjacent to the suburbs of Avalon Beach and Palm Beach in the north east of Pittwater.
The bay has the largest stand of mangroves and sea grass beds in Pittwater. The Bay is also a fish nursery important to Pittwater and nearby coastal waters.
A total of 116 bird species have been recorded at Careel Bay and its immediate catchment. The endangered Bush Stone-Curlew is a resident of Careel Bay, along with the regionally significant Mangrove Gerygone and international
migratory species such as the Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit. Some of these birds, from East-Asia, use Careel Bay as a stop off area. The Federal Government and Australian people are committed to a number of agreements to protect these birds and their habitat, including the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement and the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement agreements.[2]
Careel Bay is the most significant area of estuarine wetlands in the Northern Beaches. It contains a combination of natural features, rare in the Sydney region, that provide habitat for a variety of marine life and bird species
Nature sign provided by Pittwater Council located in Currawong Avenue Reserve:[3]
Migratory shorebirds of Careel Bay
For thousands of years migratory shorebirds have been global wanderers. They make an annual journey of over 24,000 kilometres from Australia to the top of Siberia or western Alaska and back.
In Australia, with its abundant shorelines and estuaries, they find a warm haven from the northern winter. During our winter, they travel north to breed. They live their lives in an endless summer. Each year around September/October, the shorebirds arrive in Australia. Some visit Careel Bay, its wide mudflats and rich marine life making an excellent habitat for them.
Species which visit Careel Bay include:
The shorebirds return to their breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska in April and May. During March and April, they fatten up for their long journey. The fat will provide them with the fuel they need. Travelling north, most make their first stop in the Yellow Sea, a non-stop flight of four days. There, they fatten up again before heading north to their breeding grounds – another four day flight. Many visit the Yellow Sea when returning to Australia but some fly non-stop from Asia and Alaska – a journey of over 11,000 kilometres.
Which bird is which?
The best way to identify shorebirds is by their bills. Size can help but perspective can be a problem on a mudflat. Common birds here are:
a. Eastern Curlew
b. Whimbrel
Help keep Careel Bay a secure home for these birds
Your care will help to ensure that this wonderful story continues and that future generations can marvel at these amazing birds too.
Some non-migratory birds make Careel Bay their home
These include:
A common heron around Sydney, this bird is regularly spotted feeding among the shorelines.
A stealthy and well camouflaged bird. The Mangrove, or Striated Heron, skulks up to its prey with great care before using its long neck to lunge.
A large white wading bird with a bill that lives up to its name. Spoonbills feed by swinging their bill from side to side as they sift through the shallows in a movement known as "mowing".
Careel Bay is the most southerly home of the Mangrove Gerygone (pronounced jer-igun-ee). If you’re fortunate, you may hear this tiny bird warbling from the nearby mangroves
Barrenjoey Road provides access by bus or car. Bus route 199 operated by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches operates to Manly wharf.