For the past three decades, Maureen Christie has devoted herself to the conservation of south-eastern South Australia’s shorebirds.

From her home base in Carpenter Rocks, Maureen has coordinated regular monitoring of shorebird nesting sites, led shorebird counts and tracked migratory birds, collecting critical data on these natural wonders.

She has over thirty-five scientific articles published and has become widely accepted as a shorebird expert.

As an active and passionate advocate for the shorebirds of SA, she has raised awareness of the impacts of driving on beaches and the importance of keeping dogs on a leash, which led to the first successful hatching and fledging of the Vulnerable little tern (Sterna albifrons).

Her accomplishments include initiating a plan to trap feral cats at known roost sites of the Critically Endangered orange-bellied parrot and helping establish the Friends of Shorebirds South East, of which she has been the Secretary/Treasurer since its inception in 2005.

Maureen’s contributions have significantly increased the scientific knowledge of the natural history of shorebirds in South Australia and improved the long-term outlook for these irreplaceable creatures.