Hitchcock Park Archives

Osprey Nesting Platform Installed in Avalon

A 23-metre nesting platform has been installed at Hitchcock Park in Avalon to provide a safe habitat for Eastern Ospreys.

Background

On 1 September 2025, a 23-metre pole topped with a nesting basket was installed at Hitchcock Park in Avalon. The project aims to support the threatened Eastern Osprey, a bird of prey that prefers elevated sites near waterways to build large stick nests.

In recent years, ospreys on the Northern Beaches have been found nesting in unsuitable man-made structures, such as sports field lighting and cranes. One pair even established a nest on a construction crane in Pittwater in 2024, creating safety risks for both the birds and workers.

Osprey nesting platform Avalon — Photo Credit: NBC

Purpose of the Project

The new platform provides a safe alternative that replicates natural nesting habitats, which have declined due to urban development. Similar artificial nesting towers have been successfully used in northern New South Wales, South-east Queensland and South Australia.

The Avalon installation is among the first of its kind in Sydney and is expected to help breeding pairs raise their young in a secure environment above the tree canopy and close to local fishing grounds.

Community Involvement

From May to June 2025, consultation was held with residents, with 164 people sharing their views. Feedback was overwhelmingly supportive of the project. The platform was placed in a cleared area behind the Careel Bay sportsfields to minimise disruption to regular park use.

Project Delivery

The nesting platform was funded with the support of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, along with Council. Installation works were carried out from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with temporary fencing in place for safety.

The project followed an environmental assessment under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Once the installation was complete, an osprey was observed inspecting the new structure.

Next Steps

The platform will now be monitored to determine if it is taken up by a breeding pair. If successful, it could serve as a model for further installations across Sydney to assist in the long-term protection of the species.

Published 9-Sep-2025

Avalon Bulldogs Mark 50 Years of Coaching with Local Hero’s Milestone Match

Photo Credit: Avalon Bulldogs/Facebook

The Avalon Bulldogs have celebrated a historic double on their home turf, with long-time coach Brian “Friendly” Friend marking 50 years guiding junior footy players, and club mainstay Kurt Stevenson running out for his 350th game in front of a packed community crowd at Hitchcock Park.

A Milestone Worth Cheering

On Saturday, June 21, over 1,000 people gathered at Hitchcock Park in Avalon to celebrate Brian “Friendly” Friend’s 50 years of junior footy coaching. The event also marked Kurt Stevenson’s 350th game for the Avalon Bulldogs during their Round 9 win over the Asquith Magpies.

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The 34–14 victory kept the team on top of the Sunday Gold Competition ladder. Friend began coaching in 1975 when his son needed a coach and has since guided players from Under 6s to Under 14s. Volunteers estimate he’s led more than 2,000 training sessions and supported over 1,500 young athletes.

Local Recognition and Support

The celebration brought together community members and local leaders, including Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby, who presented Brian Friend with a formal recognition from the NSW Parliament. The statement praised his decades of service and commitment to youth sport.

Friend’s impact extends beyond the Avalon Bulldogs, having helped run junior football programs that have welcomed hundreds of local kids. He’s widely respected for teaching the game’s fundamentals while promoting fairness, respect and inclusion.

A Club Built on Loyalty

Kurt Stevenson’s 350th game was a major highlight of the day, celebrating his long-standing loyalty to the Avalon Bulldogs. His milestone came during the A-Grade team’s win over Asquith, cheered on by families and junior players.

Stevenson represents the club’s strong culture of commitment and community spirit. While juniors remain central to the Bulldogs, senior players like Stevenson inspire the next generation.

The Bulldog Spirit Continues

The Avalon Bulldogs remain a strong part of Sydney’s northern beaches, known for both their on-field success and deep community ties. Events like this highlight how local sport brings people together and celebrates shared achievements.

For Brian Friend, the day was a moment to reflect on the many young players he’s mentored over the years. For the community, it was a chance to thank someone who has given so much. The celebration captured the spirit that has kept the club thriving for generations.

Published 10-July-2025

Beloved Dog Dies Due to Illegal Baiting Activity in Careel Bay

Photo Credit: Stacey Demarco / Facebook

The recent death of a dog due to illegal dog baiting activity in Hitchcock Park, near the Careel Bay playing fields, has sparked heightened security checks and sparked calls for the installation of CCTV cameras in the area.

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon on the 6th of February 2022. Stacey and her husband had to stay indoors with their dogs, Malu and Hector, but a brief break in the weather gave them the opportunity to take their pets to Careel Bay sports field and the nearby Hitchcock dog park for a 30-minute walk.

Malu was let off the leash and explored the park unsupervised for about five minutes. It was presumed that during that time Malu ingested the substance but she would not exhibit signs of poisoning until the day after.

“Our beautiful, gentle, wise and calm companion Malu died on Monday 7th of February after ingesting a poison last Sunday evening the 6th of February at Careel Bay fields and dog park. Understand clearly there was no other place she went that whole week, no one she met and she was an inside dog. It was poor weather on Sunday so she and her dog brother were inside our home and did not go out without supervision,” Stacey said.

Their beloved companion was rushed to the local veterinarian but then had to be taken to the Northside Emergency Vet Service. Sadly, Malu succumbed to an anticoagulant, a common ingredient used in rodenticides.

“Malu fought hard. So hard. She had a team of incredible vets from two practices working on her but she succumbed to the poison which according to blood work was an anti-coagulant commonly found in rat poison.

“She was murdered. It wasn’t a kind death. From what I now know, other dogs have also fallen victim. This has to stop.

“To say my husband and I are devastated to lose her doesn’t scratch the surface of what we are currently experiencing, and as Malu was beloved by so many in our community, there has been an outpouring of support and grief from all who knew her from vets, trainers, walkers and dog people of all kinds. One person yesterday I know said to me that they ‘were not really a dog person, but I’m a ‘Malu person’.”

Stacey had the incident reported to Northern Beaches Council who confirmed that it was not undertaking any fox baiting in the area but has proactively carried out patrol checks in the Careel Bay area to deter future illegal baiting activities. So far, no evidence of baiting has been found.

Northern Beaches Police has also been notified and said that it is “a difficult crime to solve” because of the lack of lighting at the fields and perpetrators would often come at night and take advantage of the darkness to accomplish their illegal activities.

“They agreed though better lighting and CCTV would be useful. They were aware of baitings over the last few years but not these new ones at Careel.”

Anticoagulant rodenticides prevent blood from clotting resulting in internal bleeding, however, it can take days for its toxic effects to manifest. Signs of bait poisoning include loss of appetite, blood in the stool, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, seizures, difficulty in breathing, weakness, and even sudden death.
Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Centre on 1300 869 738 immediately if you suspect that your dog has eaten rat poison.