Discover the natural environment of Port Stephens with Mambo Wetlands Bush Discovery Tours

MAMBO-WANDA Wetlands Conservation Group has hosted its last Mambo Wetlands Bushwalks of the year, inviting children, families and anyone curious to discover and learn about the local ecosystem.

Chloe Smithers, a Port Stephens Council Environmental Operations team member, held a guided bush discovery tour on Saturday 31 October, exploring the wildlife and the unique bushlands of Port Stephens’ Mambo Wetlands.

Next day, Miranda Moore, a Hunter Bird Observers Club Education Team member, taught children about local birds and their habitats along the coast.

Each walker was given a bush explorer’s kit, with binoculars to help spot faraway animals, and useful information to learn about all the wetland’s flora and fauna.

Ms Moore explained how anyone could identify bird calls, thanks to the wide variety of free mobile apps. These range from the more sophisticated, utilising AI-recognition to analyse sound and match it to its species, to classic guides that aid visual identification.

Children joining the walk were enthusiastic about the experience, asking questions and carefully observing the native species.

While these free guided bush walks, sponsored by the council and supported by EcoNetwork, are a fantastic learning opportunity, the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group is fighting to improve access to the wetlands so that anyone can explore the wilderness.

Many of the entrances to the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands are currently marked only by unwelcoming gates, with no signage.

The group has been active in campaigning for grants to add signage, as well as for better pathways to allow walkers to take a shortcut through the oasis of quiet without getting lost.

“It shouldn’t be up to us to do that sort of stuff,” Mambo Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group president, Irene Jones said.

By Nico LOMBARDO