Brunswick Heads is located to the north of Byron Bay. Still forming part of the bay itself, it is at the northern most part of the Cape Byron Marine Park with the township on the shores of the beautiful Brunswick River. The northern most boundary of the Marine Park extends into Marshalls Creek on the northern side of the Brunswick River.
Shorebirds such as Little Terns, Crested Terns, Striated Herons, Cormorants and Osprey breed, rest or feed on the north wall of the river or along Marshall’s Creek. Pied Oyster-catchers breed further up the river on the mangrove sandy flats and then fly down to the beach to feed on pippies. During the 2006 breeding season two chicks were successfully fledged on the Brunswick River.
Another interesting part of the landscape, influenced entirely by tides, is a 4.3ha saltmarsh on the southern side of the Brunswick River. This inconspicous area is home a number of waterbirds. Fifty nine species of bird have been recently recorded at the site including 10 species which are covered by bilateral agreements between Australia and Japan, China and Korea.
Limited food sources available on the outgoing and incoming tides, lack of suitable habitat and a general decline in regional wader populations has resulted in a ‘less-than-ideal’ number of birds utilising the site, however concerted attempts are currently underway to restore, enhance and manage the site with the long- term goal of attracting more birds.
