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And just like that, we’ve closed another wetland to duck shooting 🦆🎉
Although internationally recognised for its rich birdlife and as an important habitat for threatened waterbirds, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve had been open to duck shooting since March this year.
However, following the recent sighting of significant numbers of the endangered Blue-winged Shoveler, the Reserve has now been closed to shooters.
Last month, BirdLife Australia recorded around 275 Blue-winged Shovelers on the lake, a number well above the 108 threshold that triggers a suspension of shooting. The endangered birds – the only species excluded from the “game species” list – face enough threats from human interference without the risk of being shot by hunters. This rare concentration of a declining species prompted Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell to immediately push for the suspension of shooting at the wetlands.
The closure is a welcome and long-overdue outcome.
This decision reflects growing public recognition that wetlands like Tower Hill Reserve provide critical sanctuary for migratory and threatened species, and also play a vital role in supporting biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and water health.
It’s a clear win for wildlife at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, and for every bird that will now be spared this season.
It’s a welcome outcome for now — but true protection means these sanctuaries should never be opened to shooting in the first place. We’ll keep pushing until duck shooting is ended for good.
How you can help
Write to your MP to demand a ban on duck shooting in Victoria.
