Product Overview

Summary: This Ground Nesting Bird Survey Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, defensible method for identifying and protecting ground-nesting bird habitat before and during works. It helps Australian organisations manage ecological constraints, meet WHS and environmental obligations, and avoid harm to protected fauna while maintaining project schedules.

Ground-nesting birds are highly vulnerable to disturbance, crushing, and habitat destruction from construction, mining, agricultural and land management activities. This Ground Nesting Bird Survey Safe Operating Procedure sets out a rigorous, repeatable process for planning and undertaking surveys, assessing risk, and implementing controls before machinery, vehicles or personnel enter sensitive areas. It links ecological due diligence with practical WHS considerations, ensuring that survey teams and site crews can work efficiently while safeguarding protected species and their nests.

The SOP guides users through pre-survey planning, seasonal timing, survey methodologies suited to Australian habitats, and documentation requirements that align with regulatory expectations and project approvals. It addresses how to communicate survey findings to site personnel, establish exclusion zones, manage access, and integrate bird protection measures into site inductions and Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS). By adopting this procedure, organisations reduce the risk of environmental non-compliance, community complaints, and WHS incidents associated with off-track access, remote work, wildlife interactions and vehicle–fauna conflicts, while demonstrating a clear commitment to best-practice environmental stewardship.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, defensible survey methods for identifying ground-nesting bird habitat across Australian project sites.
• Reduce the risk of harming protected fauna and breaching environmental approvals or wildlife legislation.
• Integrate ecological survey activities with WHS requirements for remote, off-track and vehicle-based fieldwork.
• Streamline communication of survey results to supervisors, plant operators and contractors through clear maps, briefings and controls.
• Support timely project delivery by identifying constraints early and embedding practical exclusion zones and workarounds into planning.

Who is this for?

• Environmental Advisors
• Ecologists and Fauna Spotter–Catchers
• Construction Project Managers
• Site Supervisors and Forepersons
• WHS Managers and Coordinators
• Mine and Quarry Managers
• Civil and Rail Project Engineers
• Local Government Environment Officers
• Utilities and Infrastructure Maintenance Planners
• Land Management and Conservation Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Disturbance, injury or death of ground-nesting birds and destruction of active nests by vehicles, plant and foot traffic
• Slips, trips and falls during field surveys in uneven, vegetated or coastal terrain
• Heat stress, dehydration and UV exposure during prolonged outdoor survey work
• Vehicle incidents during slow driving, off-road travel or verge surveys
• Snake bites and other wildlife encounters while traversing nesting habitat
• Fatigue associated with early-morning or dusk survey periods
• Remote and isolated work risks during surveys in sparsely populated areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms (including ground-nesting bird categories and breeding seasons)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Environmental Advisor, Surveyor, Site Supervisor, Operators)
• 4.0 Regulatory and Project Approval Requirements
• 5.0 Pre-Survey Planning and Risk Assessment
• 6.0 WHS Requirements for Field Surveys (PPE, heat, remote work, wildlife risks)
• 7.0 Survey Timing, Habitat Assessment and Site Selection
• 8.0 Survey Methods and Transect Design
• 9.0 Identification of Nests, Birds and Sensitive Habitat
• 10.0 Recording, Mapping and Data Management Requirements
• 11.0 Criteria for Determining Nest Status and Activity
• 12.0 Control Measures and Exclusion Zones for Active Nests
• 13.0 Communication of Findings to Site Personnel and Contractors
• 14.0 Integration with SWMS, Site Inductions and Daily Pre-Start Briefings
• 15.0 Monitoring, Re-Surveys and Adaptive Management During Works
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Non-Compliance and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 Training and Competency Requirements for Survey Personnel
• 18.0 Document Control, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and state/territory equivalents
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
• Relevant state and territory biodiversity, wildlife and nature conservation legislation (e.g. Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), Nature Conservation Act 2014 (ACT))
• AS/NZS ISO 14001: Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Guide for Managing the Risks of Working in Heat