This article was originally published in the June 2025 editon of Ecotone. Read the full edition here. 

For six months each year, one Island, part of a tiny archipelago off the east coast at Cardwell, is home to a huge breeding colony of the iconic Pied Imperial Pigeons (Ducula bicolor). Every September, the birds arrive from their winter territory in New Guinea to breed on NorthBrook Island, the largest in the Brook Islands archipelago, which lies 5 nautical miles east of Hinchinbrook Island.

The data they, and countless volunteers have collected, tells an extraordinary story of the population rising back from near extinction to a much healthier number, although still vulnerable to habitat loss and climate change, which is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.

Each count begins mid-afternoon, as the first flocks return to the island after the day’s feeding on the mainland. Volunteer counters are paired up (one counter, one scribe) to cover the northern and southern approaches. Counters call the numbers as each flock is in view, while scribes record these on prepared data sheets. As the afternoon progresses, the pace accelerates and intense concentration is needed to ensure an accurate count. When it is too dark to see the last few flocks, the count concludes and the boat turns towards Cardwell with its tired but happy band of counters.

By the 1980s, populations were around 14,000 & the National Parks service was involved, coordinating up to five counts a year. Ranger Dave Green became a passionate advocate and a mentor for the mostly volunteer counters. Today, Girringun rangers are also closely involved.

The devastation from Cyclone Yasi in 2011 hit hard, damaging both the pigeons’ island habitat and the coastal forests they feed on. Despite a promising bounce-back, the birds have never reached pre-Yasi totals, plateauing around 23,000 after averaging around 34,000 in the first decade of this century. The reasons remain unclear and are being investigated by Dr John Winter, a veteran of fifty counting seasons.

The count is a true labour of love — for the couple who started it, those who return each year, and every first timer. As we enter the 60th season, it’s a reminder that to ensure a future for these important birds and the rainforest they help regenerate, we must keep watching — and keep counting.

Join this years count when dates are announced at www.pipwatch.net

After almost four years of collaboration, the biosecurity plan for Amazon frogbit has been finalised!

CAFNEC has been working alongside FNQ Regional Organisation of Councils, Mareeba Shire Council, Mitchell River Watershed Management, Qld Water & Land Carers, Wet Tropics Waterways and key individuals including Paul Fisk, to develop this plan while also managing current and emerging infestations.

Amazon frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) is an introduced aquatic plant which was first detected in the Wet Tropics region in McCutcheon, Cassowary Coast, in 2010. This was also the first detection of it as a naturalised plant in Queensland. Known from naturalised sites in the Cairns lowlands (where it is now removed), it was first recognised as a serious weed in the Mareeba/Atherton Tableland area of North Queensland in 2016. 

In 2020 it was detected in the Peterson Creek, a tributary of Tinaroo Falls Dam. Biosecurity agencies, councils, volunteers and Muluridji Tribal Aboriginal Corporation (MTAC) have responded to this threat with management programs, community actions, and public education efforts. A network of interested parties has formed to progress the management of Amazon frogbit in the Wet Tropics (and adjoining) bioregions in the form of a working group facilitated by CAFNEC to develop the response plan.

The Amazon frogbit Biosecurity Response Plan provides an overview of the weed’s management options, invasive biology, and impacts. It makes recommendations regarding management actions required to respond to the current infestations and to prevent spread to new catchments in the Wet Tropics (and neighbouring regions). The plan also outlines the current legislative requirements and future options supported by a communication, education, and engagement plan.

Download and read the full plan here:

Developed in proud partnership

Every morning, as I set out for a peaceful walk with my furry companion, little did I know that a small aquatic plant would leave a lasting impact on me. It all began when I noticed the vibrant green patches floating on the surface of the nearby creek. Curiosity got the better of me, and I soon discovered that these delicate plants were Amazon frogbit.

With each passing day, as I strolled along the creek, I couldn’t help but observe the expanding presence of the frogbit. The once tranquil water now became partially covered by dense mats of this invasive species. It was both fascinating and concerning to witness its rapid spread.

As I walked, I couldn’t ignore the ecological changes that accompanied the frogbit invasion. The sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick mats, casting a shadow over the underwater world. Native aquatic plants that once thrived were now scarce, their beauty and importance diminished.

While my dog happily explored the surroundings, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency. The negative impact of the frogbit was evident. It disrupted the delicate balance of the ecosystem, affecting the life that depended on the creek’s health.

It saddened me to think about the consequences for the local wildlife. How would this invasive plant affect the fish, frogs, and insects that called this creek home? The disruption caused by the frogbit extended far beyond the water’s surface. It had the potential to disrupt the entire food web and the intricate relationships within the ecosystem.

Walking among the frogbit-infested creek, I realised the importance of all of us taking action. Working on frogbit alongside other key stakeholders has helped me find solace in knowing that my actions are making a difference. The frogbit invasion has transformed my casual stroll into a purposeful mission.

As the fight against Amazonian frogbit continues, your support becomes crucial in sustaining the progress made so far. By donating to CAFNEC, you directly contribute to our work in controlling and managing this invasive species. Together, we can make a tangible difference in protecting our environment and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our ecosystems. Join us today by making a donation to CAFNEC and become a part of the collective effort to create a healthier and more balanced natural habitat for all. Now when I walk my dog each morning, I will see beyond the surface. I will see the interconnectedness of our actions and the impact they have on the environment.

We’re sad to announce that CAFNEC has formally discontinued the Drain Stencil Project and Boomerang Bags.  Boomerang Bags and Drain Stencil Project were projects CAFNEC led to amplify the plastic pollution problem in the Cairns community. On September 1st, 2021 the Queensland Government banned the use of single-use plastic including straws, stirrers, plates, unenclosed bowls, and cutlery, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway food containers and EPS cups. This new legislation is a win for reducing the amount of plastic pollution in waterways and as a result CAFNEC made the decision to end these two projects and focus on other campaigns.

Drain Stencil Project tought the community that our neighbourhoods are connected to the ocean via the urban stormwater drain system. We brought the community together to spray paint the message “Drains to the Reef” next to our waterways and created informed advocates for our waters, and left a physical, long-lasting message behind for the entire community.

Traveling to schools to engage students in waterway and reef health through art resulted in kids becoming environmental stewards who think about their plastic intake and disposal.

Boomerang Bags was a community-driven initiative tackling plastic pollution at the grassroots level where volunteers got together to make re-useable bags out of recycled material.

We want to celebrate those who dedicated their times to these projects. Thank you for your time and resources to create street art and beautiful bags that can be shared with the Cairns community.

Drain Stencil Project has been handed over to Small World Journeys. Contact Laurie at laurie@nullsmallworldjourneys.com.au if you are interested in this project and would like to participate.

We’ve been running monitoring sessions in Far North Queensland estuaries since 2019 and will continue to monitor between now at 2023. The data we collect gives us the opportunity to inform on-ground action plans responding to estuary-specific threats. How do we get the data? You’re about to learn what it takes to plan a MangroveWatch monitoring session.

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When is the best time to monitor Mangroves? The dry season. Between April and October are generally the best monitoring times with more predictable weather patterns. So that leaves about 6-7 months to get on the water and collect data. Not so fast. We have to consider the tides. Any good boater will know what the conditions are going to be like before getting on the water. The best tide to go out for MangroveWatch is on a rising tide or sometime around what’s called a neap tide. Neap tide happens twice a month and occurs when high tides are a little lower than average and low tides are a little higher than average. I go to willyweather.com to check on the tides to determine when is the ideal time to monitor. What does this look like? It’s best to start at the mouth of the estuary and travel upstream on a rising tide to avoid running aground or getting stuck in shallow water.

A rising tide may happen in the morning or afternoon and with that, you will have to determine the position of the sun at that time of day. We cannot collect good quality data if we are shooting into the sun because the glare interferes with the picture. It is best to film with the sun on our backs. For example, if the rising tide is in the morning and we are traveling north upstream, we will film on the left side of the boat facing the western shoreline.

After a monitoring plan has been put in place we need to resource a boat and a skipper. CAFNEC does not own a boat for MangroveWatch and unless we have the proper facilities to store one or the time to maintain one we never plan to. We rely heavily on volunteers with their own vessel and boating experience to collect data and if we can’t find anyone to donate a vessel we do budget for vessel hire as a last resort.

Now we begin to recruit Mangrove Champions (dedicated volunteers) for data collection. We have 5 roles necessary to complete shoreline video assessment: boat driver, photographer, videographer, GPS operator, and notetaker (plus me as I teach everyone how to do their roles). It’s good to have 5 people, it’s possible with 4, you can get by with 3 on board and combine jobs if necessary. Generally, volunteers are available on the weekend so we need to find a neap tide that happens on a weekend (or close to it) to make the most of the conditions and give volunteers enough time to practice and collect a substantial amount of data.

A few days before we offer a training workshop, we need to make sure the equipment is charged, there is enough space on the memory cards, and we have enough blank data sheets and cheat sheets to guide the process. Don’t forget the first aid kit as well.

After we recruit Champions, we offer a PowerPoint training session as an introduction to the program so that participants feel more prepared to collect the data and identify threats and values in the mangroves more easily. 

There have been times when MangroveWatch has been planned for weeks, sometimes months, in advance and then a sudden rainstorm develops the day before and is projected to last for a few more days. We can’t control the weather or the moon so we just reschedule and adapt to the situation. This year has been a demonstration of how climate change has impacted CAFNEC’s ability to do its citizen science work. The wet season usually ends in early April but this year it lasted through May and impacted our monitoring schedule. MangroveWatch is more enjoyable with sunny conditions and no rain to damage the equipment or dampen spirits.

If the conditions are good and we have enough volunteers and resources, a successful MangroveWatch is guaranteed. Volunteers make our work possible so we can always benefit from having locals participate in our work. Volunteers don’t have to have any scientific background or experience, we will teach you everything!