Gosford City Council is asking local primary school children to celebrate National Threatened Species Day this Friday by participating in an Eastern Osprey naming competition.

National Threatened Species Day is held annually on 7 September to commemorate the extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger in 1936. In NSW over 880 species of native plants and animals are threatened species, including the two Eastern Ospreys nesting at Gosford City Council’s Erina Depot.

Council’s Environmental Assessment Officer Kendal Caynes said National Threatened Species Day reminds us of our special responsibility to protect vulnerable and endangered species and their habitats.

"Eastern Ospreys are a threatened species with about 120 breeding pairs and a total population of less than 300 remaining in New South Wales. The species had not been recorded in the Gosford area since 2003.

"When Council realised there was a breeding pair of Eastern Ospreys nesting on a telecommunications tower at the Depot we had to act quickly and build a new nesting platform to protect the birds from radiation and maintain the efficiency of Council’s infrastructure.

"The successful relocation of the Eastern Ospreys is a great local example of how animals and humans can coexist in harmony.

"We hope the naming competition will spread the message of Threatened Species Day throughout our region," Ms Caynes said.

The naming competition requires each primary school class in the Gosford Local Government Area to work together to decide on one female name and one male name for the breeding pair.

"The Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park at Calga has come on board to promote this special day and encourage all schools to take part in the competition by providing wonderful prizes for the winning class and school."

The winning class will be awarded an excursion to Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park and receive a Wildlife Park arm band. The class will also win an incursion for their school with a wildlife presentation for all classes by the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park.

"We encourage schools to use this competition as a fun classroom activity and hope it will promote discussions about Australia’s unique biodiversity and our important role to protect the habitats of plants and animals," Ms Caynes said.

Entries are due by 21 September and should be emailed to osprey@gosford.nsw.gov.au. Entries should include the school name, class and one female and male name for the Eastern Ospreys. One entry per class.

- - ENDS - -