A new mural has been painted at Lake Wollumboola to celebrate the unique and vulnerable birdlife that frequent the Cullburra Beach lake.
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The mural is a join project between Shoalhaven City Council, NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, Lake Wolllumboola Protection Association and Birdlife Shoalhaven.
Kiama-based artist Sam Hall, who has painted murals across the South Coast, was commissioned to paint the artwork.
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He hopes the work starts a conversation and brings attention to the unique wildlife.
"People that have come past here while I've been painting have been really interested," Mr Hall said.
"They may go for a walk every day and not realise there are these birds doing some amazing things.
"The main purpose of the mural was to highlight the unique birds that are here, they all play such an important role in the ecosystem and they all have a interesting story.
"I think it's important for local people to understand and appreciate what they have here."
France Bray wears lots of hats including the president of the Lake Wollumboola Protection Association, member of Birdlife Australia, NPWS shorebird protection coordinator and the key biodiversity guardian for Lake Wollumboola.
Ms Bray said it was important people understand so many species at Lake Wollumboola are threatened species and very vulnerable.
"It's a really special place, we'd love to see people enjoying it but also taking care of it at the same time," she said.
"As places like this start to get more development there is more need for awareness of the repercussions of losing species like this.
"The migratory birds are flying huge distances from Southern Australia onto China and then onto Siberia or Alaska and flying all the way back to Australia and New Zealand."
Lake Wollumboola has supported bird numbers as high as 20,000 and has been recognised by Birdlife International as an important bird area for supporting more than 1 per cent of the world populations of Swans and Chestnut Teals.
Just some of the significant birds found at Lake Wollumboola include Little Terns, Pied Oystercatcher, Red-necked Stints, Bar-tailed Godwit, Royal Spoonbill, Intermediate Egret and Red-necked Avocets.
A sign has also been painted on the toilet block to show recognition of the Jerrinja people.