Shorebirds 2020 Migratory Shorebird Population Monitoring Project
Report To DEWHA & WWF
31 July 2009
Robert Clemens, Joanne Oldland, Lainie Berry & Chris Purnell
Birds Australia
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Recommended citation: Clemens, R. S., Oldland, J. M., Berry L. & Purnell, C. 2009. Shorebirds 2020: Migratory Shorebird Population Monitoring Project. Final Report to DEWHA & WWF. Birds Australia, Melbourne.
Report prepared for the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and WWF-Australia by Birds Australia, Melbourne.
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Table of Contents
1. Acknowledgements ...... 4 2. Executive summary ...... 6 3. Summary of achievements in year 2 ...... 7 4. Scope of project and report...... 9 5. Counter and mentor training and capacity building, Broome, Western Australia ..... 14 6. Counter & mentor capacity building, shorebird surveys and identification of monitoring sites within Shark Bay, Western Australia ...... 16 7. Redesign, update and reprint of Birds Australia’s “Shorebird Conservation in Australia” supplement to Wingspan 2002...... 17 8. Redesign and update of the Shorebirds 2020 website ...... 18 9. Development of web-based data entry facility and further improvement of the Australian Shorebird Count Database ...... 20 10. Fundraising ...... 22 11. Summer 2008/09 count coordination and refinement of methods ...... 23 12. Refinement of site identification and sampling...... 26 13. Volunteer recruitment, retention and training ...... 33 14. What the data is telling us about shorebird populations in Australia ...... 42 15. Data use, management implications, awareness raising...... 45 16. Counter & mentor capacity building, shorebird surveys and identification of monitoring sites within the Gulf of St Vincent, South Australia...... 46 17. Overview of future plans ...... 47 18. References ...... 48 19. Appendices ...... 49 Appendix 1: Shark Bay report...... 50 Appendix 2: Draft shorebird counts: summer 21008/09 at 155 shorebird areas in Australia ...... 60 Appendix 3: Example Site Map: Shallow Inlet...... 68 Appendix 4: Change in shorebird numbers at inland wetlands of southern Australia; comparisons of average maximum summer count from the 1980’s and the counts from the same areas in the summer of 2008-2009 ...... 71 Appendix 5: Gulf of St Vincent - report summary...... 76 Appendix 6: Revised shorebird Count Form……………………………………...77 Appendix 7: Summer 2009/10 draft workshop schedule…………………………79 Appendix 8: National site contacts list……………………………………………80 Appendix 9: Shorebirds 2020 summer 2008/09 and autumn 2009 newsletters…..85 Appendix 10: Shorebirds 2020 brochure…………………………………………92
3 1. Acknowledgements
First we would like to thank the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country and Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and WWF-Australia for providing funding for this project.
We would like to thank the many people and organisations who gave their time, energy, and shared information to assist with this project. This project is only possible because of the work and cooperation of hundreds of volunteers throughout Australia.
We would like to thank the following shorebird experts who gave their time (again and again) to provide us answers to questions, valuable feedback, and access to data: Danny Rogers (AWSG), Ken Gosbell (AWSG), Phil Straw (NSW WSG), Eric Woehler (Birds Tasmania), Doug Watkins (Wetlands International), Roger Jaensch (Wetlands International), and Clive Minton (VWSG).
We would also like to thank Nuno Oliveira, Ashley Chase, Laura Sisson, Elly Love, Brett Whitfield, Sara Krepp, Tess Grieves, Natalie Bateman, Mary Satchell, Kunthavi Sribalan, Karen Lau, Jemima Connell, Jacqui Slingo, Heather Maginn, Daniel Smith, for all their volunteer efforts entering and cleaning the high volume of data which was contributed this year.
We would also like to thank the following people who coordinated counts at one or more shorebird areas, and who agreed to be contacted by new volunteers interested in the project: Richard & Margaret Alcorn, George & Teresa Baker, Chris Baxter, Dawn Beck, Rod Bird, Stuart Blackhall, Anne Bondin, Jack & Pat Bourne, Linda Brannian, Peter & Hazel Britton, Nigel and Mavis Burgess Mike Carter, Denis Charlesworth, Maureen Christie, Greg Clancy, Jane Cleary, Jane Cooper, Ralph Cooper, Trevor Cowie, Phil Craven, Chris Davey, Xenia Dennett, Peter Driscoll, Peter Duckworth, Len Ezzy, Rob Farnes, Winston Filewood, Shirley Fish, Duncan Fraser, Les George, Alan Gillanders, Ken Gosbell, Travis Hague, Margaret Hamon, Birgita Hansen, Judy Harrington, Chris Hassell, Jane Hayes, Bruce Haynes, Colin Heap, Janice Hosking, Roger Jaensh, Roz Jessop, Steve Johnson, Peter Langdon, Michael Lenz, John Lowry, Hans Lutter, Sue Mather, Clive Minton, Alan Morris, John Newman, Gavin O'Brien, Jan Olley, Kim Onton, Max O'Sullivan, Rosemary Payet, Robyn Pickering, Ken Read, Danny Rogers, Dick Rule, Mike Schultz, Bob Semmens, Paul Shelly, Simon Starr, Phil Straw, Bryce Taylor, Ian Taylor, Margie Tiller, Kent Treloar, Paul Wainwright, Toni Webster, Tom Wheller, Jim & Anthea Whitelaw, Bill and Evelyn Williams, Eric Woehler, and Jon Wren.
We thank the Australasian Wader Studies Group (AWSG) for providing data and doing much of the field work related to this project. We would also like to thank the members of associated groups including the Queensland Wader Study Group, Birds SA (South Australia), New South Wales Wader Study Group, Western Australian Wader Study Group, Birds Australia Western Australia, Birds Tasmania, various branches of Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA) - in particular Hunter Bird Observers Club, Sunraysia BOCA and TRBOC (Townsville Region), the Victoria Wader Study Group, the Albany Bird Club and Eyre Bird Observatory, for their major contributions in on-ground counting, local knowledge and expertise that they shared with us.
We would especially like to thank the many individuals who gave incredible amounts of time and energy to provide local expertise and data on shorebird areas throughout Australia (apologies if we have missed anyone):
From New South Wales: Alan Stuart, Ann Lindsey, Chris Brandis, David Adams, David Rohweder, Gary Whale, Hans Lutter, Joy Pegler, Judy Harrington, Liz Crawford, Chris Herbert,
4 Phil Craven, Ricki Coughlan, Lisa Collins, and Phil Straw helped us reach new levels of coverage in this state.
From the Northern Territory: Gavin O’Brien has taken over as the count coordinator, continuing the excellent coverage and organising to grow the program in the NT; thanks also to Ian Hance, and Tony Hertog.
From Queensland: Andrew Geering, Alan Gillanders, David Niland, Dawn Beck, Gay Deacon, George Baker, David Milton, Linda Cross, Matt Bloor, Peter Driscoll, Sandra Harding, Arthur and Sheryl Keates, Roger Jaensch, Peter Driscoll and Tim Murphy are helping grow coverage in this state.
From South Australia: Jane Cooper organised counts throughout the Eyre Peninsula, Maureen Christie covered much of SE South Australia, while Paul Wainwright organised the Coorong count, and helped with surveys on the Eyre Peninsula. Trevor Cowie (Birds SA) helped coordinate more counts from central SA than ever conducted previously. Members of Birds SA visited still more areas including a complete count of Gulf of St Vincent, which was made possible through supplemental funding from the Adelaide and Mount Loft Ranges NRM Board.
Thanks also to the many others in South Australia who made this last year the best ever in terms of shorebird count coverage: Bryan and Toni Haywood, Chris Baxter, David Close, Dave Donato, Deane Morgan, Derek Carter, Graham Carpenter, Iain Stewart, Jack & Pat Bourne, Jeff Campbell, John Eckert, John Mullins, Kent Treloar, Len Underwood, Lynn Pedler, Peter Langdon, Richard Owen, Rick Hawthorne, Rob Tanner, Travis Hague, Vicki Natt, and Wally Klau.
From Tasmania: Eric Woehler, Bianca Priest, Peter and Hazel Britton, Priscilla Park, Ralph Cooper, Peter Duckworth, Chris Coleborn, Richard Ashby, Denis Charlesworth, Liz Znidersic and Stuart Blackhall continue to generate excellent coverage of the historic shorebird areas in this state. Roz Jessop and Penny Johns also conducted counts on King Island.
From Victoria: John Newman and many counters in the Bellarine Peninsula have worked hard to generate repeated counts at many areas. Rob Farnes continues to do a fantastic job coordinating large counts along the west coast, Thanks also to Barbara Garrett, Bernie McCarrick, Bill Wright, Bob Cook, Bob Semmens, Mark Barter, Chris Coleborn, Dave Ryan, Dave Warne, David McCarthy, Donna Smithyman, Doris Graham, Doug Phillips, Duncan Fraser, Heather Gibbs, George Appleby, Hugo Phillipps, Jim and Anthea Whitelaw, Iva Graney, Jane Hayes, Jim Reside, Jonathon Stevenson, Heather Gibbs, Kelvin Williams, Ken Harris, Keith Davis, Marilyn Hewish, Penny Johns, Roz Jessop Peter Anton, Peter Dann, Peter Menkhorst, Phil Du Guesclin, Ren Millsom, Richard Loyn, Rick Ressom, Rod Bird, Rohan Clarke, Simon Starr, Stephen Johnson, Toni Ryan, Tim Allen, Tom McRaet, Wendy Davies, and Will Steele for their support of the project.
From Western Australia: Kim Onton, Les George, Anne Bondin, Bill Rutherford, Chris Hassell, Chris James, Eric Sedgwick, John Lauri, Rob Breeden, Sue Mather, Colin Heap, Ken Read and Robyn Pickering have helped generate unprecedented coverage in Western Australia.
From Birds Australia we would like to thank Andrew Silcocks, Glenn Ehmke, Dean Ingwersen, Chris Tzaros, Grainne Maguire, Guy Dutson, Jen Sutfin, Amy Butcher, Clare Jones, Ashley Herrod, Chris Purnell, Lainie Berry and James O’Connor for their support, photos, and help over the last year.
5 2. Executive summary
Shorebird populations continue to decline according to reports released this year from northwest Western Australia, Queensland, and the Coorong. Similarly reports of habitat loss throughout the flyway have continued, and a recent review by Birds Australia found evidence that 21 shorebird species are decreasing in at least one area in Australia. As shorebird numbers and available shorebird habitat continue to decline, it is critical that we are able to increase the confidence with which we can report national population changes. In this past year significant steps were made toward meeting the objectives of the Shorebirds 2020 Program, and if continued these steps will provide the required data, resources and capacity to adequately inform on required steps for shorebird conservation and management.
The expansion of the program this year exceeded our expectations. Incredibly, in the summer of 2008-09 between 500 to 1000 volunteers conducted shorebird counts at 155 known shorebird areas, with additional less methodical counts done at over 225 other areas.
Resources were also developed over the last year which will increase the programs capacity to reach out to and train more volunteers, communicate with the large expansion in the numbers of people involved, and accurately manage increasing volumes of data. Training workshop materials, summary information on shorebirds, and a variety resources increasingly available on-line this year have increased the quality of information available to counters, the public as well as resource planners and managers.
Last year analysis revealed that statistically significant declines in shorebird species populations (50% over 5 years for some species) could be obtained if around 150 areas were monitored around the country. Additional analysis done this year based on this past summers data suggests that monitoring at 113 areas may yield sufficient statistical power (80%) to detect “national” trends of: 25-52% change in five years for 19 shorebird species and 50-80% change for seven species in ten years.
There are, however, a number of challenges to face in order to meet the long-term project objective of obtaining reliable population trends for shorebirds in Australia, namely: 1) the base of volunteers involved and trained in shorebird monitoring needs to grow significantly to ensure sustainable participation levels; 2) population trends will not become available unless the consistency of counting methods used each year are increased at many areas; 3) funding for the Shorebirds 2020 Program needs to be secured into the future.
Considerably more work is required in order to ensure that enough trained observers are able to participate in counts. Outreach and training workshops done in the last year have increased participation in many areas, but in some areas the burden of expanded count coverage has fallen on the same dedicated (and overworked) volunteers. If this project is going to be sustainable in the long term, new counters will need to be added rather than simply increasing the work load of existing counters in these areas.
Once sufficient participation is achieved, population trends can only be identified if observers collect data within each shorebird area consistently from now on. This ensures that differences in counts reflect changes in the numbers of birds, not changes in the way an area was counted. These steps and others needed to meet objectives will require long-term funding.
6 3. Summary of achievements in year 2
Throughout summer 2008/09 between 500 to 1000 volunteers surveyed shorebirds at 155 shorebird areas, as well as an additional 25 count areas and over 200 opportunistic sites, resulting in the best count coverage ever achieved in some areas. Surveys included data collected on disturbance, threats, habitat change, and was more spatially explicit than in previous years, with counts being broken up into over 1000 smaller “count areas” within shorebird areas. Successful counter training and capacity building workshops held at Broome, Western Australia. Shorebirds 2020 participants gained confidence and renewed interest in shorebird monitoring. The survey conducted as part of the training resulted in a more complete count of the area than has ever been achieved previously. Participants then returned to their local areas and became more active as volunteer coordinators and mentors. Successful survey and mapping of shorebird distribution and abundance in Shark Bay, Western Australia. This also provided a training and awareness raising activity for volunteers from southwest Western Australia. ‘Shorebird Conservation in Australia’ Supplement to Wingspan 2002 successfully updated and reprinted as a Birds Australia Conservation Statement. This new publication will serve as an important education and awareness raising tool regarding shorebird conservation. Shorebirds 2020 Conservation website www.shorebirds.org.au successfully redesigned to become the primary communication and education resource for the Shorebirds 2020 Program. Further improvements and vetting of the Australian Shorebird Count Database and the successful development of an online data entry interface. The online data entry interface will save significant amounts of time in data processing and is crucial to the long-term sustainability of the program http://data.shorebirds.org.au. 174 community volunteers took part in the first four shorebird training workshops held from Oct 08 – March 09 (as part of Caring For Our Country Community Coastcare grant). Over $6500 of count support & coordination funds were distributed in WA, SA, NSW and Vic. Outreach and training resources were developed including: a Shorebirds 2020 newsletter; six PowerPoint presentations for use in training workshops, a Shorebirds 2020 brochure, and a revised shorebird count data sheet. 2000 Shorebird ID booklets and 1000 ID sheets were reprinted to be made available to likely new counters.
7 Statistical analyses were conducted to determine if the shorebird areas visited in the summer of 2008-2009 would have sufficient power (80%) sufficient to detect long-term population changes (of varying magnitudes and time frames) in shorebird species. Analysis was conducted on shorebird data to investigate the declining abundance of shorebirds at non-coastal wetlands in southern Australia. A comparison of counts from the 1980’s compared to 2008/09 summer count totals suggest that in southern Australia, shorebird numbers at non-coastal wetlands have decreased by nearly 80%. Mapping of shorebird areas, count areas and shorebird habitat within a national GIS data set continued. New detailed mapping concentrated on NW Western Australia (WA), Shark Bay (WA), Gulf of St Vincent (SA), Eyre Peninsula (SA), Kangaroo Island (SA), King Island (Tas), as well as some areas in Victoria and NSW. The mapping of fixed count areas is seen as a critical step in ensuring future counts cover consistent areas on the ground. GIS shapefiles now include 241 ‘shorebird areas’, 1450 areas of feeding or roosting habitat, and 2019 ‘count areas’. Over 150 extractions were made from the shorebird count database for a variety of stakeholders including: existing counters, consultants and state or local government organisations. A project was completed in Gulf of St Vincent, South Australia which included: counter & mentor capacity building, shorebird surveys, and regional mapping of the distribution and abundance of shorebirds within a GIS. Funded by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM with Shorebirds 2020 support, this project resulted in Shorebird count data being collected to national standards from all the known shorebird habitats within the Gulf of St Vincent. A report including an overview of historic count data in the region, threats to shorebirds in the gulf, and identification of knowledge gaps is available upon request. Successful application for a two year Caring for Our Country Community Coastcare grant to expand the capacity of the Shorebirds 2020 Program to recruit and train more shorebird counters and better support counting efforts nationally.
8 4. Scope of project and report
The Shorebirds 2020 project seeks to address the shortcomings of existing shorebird population monitoring programmes by implementing a nationally coordinated monitoring programme that produces robust, long-term population data able to support the conservation and effective management of migratory (and resident) shorebirds and their habitat. Specifically, this project seeks to understand shorebird population trends in both the long- and short-term, and explore what may be causing those changes. Further, this project strives to understand the relationship between habitat, habitat quality, and threats on the distribution and abundance of shorebirds.
The Birds Australia proposal: “Shorebirds 2020: A proposal to monitor migratory shorebirds in Australia” (May 2007) outlined an initial 5 year plan to implement and manage the monitoring program. The name “Shorebirds 2020” was adopted in acknowledgement that it was likely to take 10 years or more to achieve the ambitious aims of the project. Therefore the achievements of Shorebirds 2020 after the first 2 years should be viewed in light of these longer-term goals.
Objectives The objective of the project is to collect data that increases our ability to confidently report on changes in shorebird populations in a manner which can be utilised to aid their conservation and management.
With the overall aims of the project being: To better understand the relationship between habitat, habitat quality, or pressures and changes in shorebird populations;
To provide information and advice to those charged with conserving and managing shorebirds and the habitats they use;
To collect and disseminate information on shorebird conservation and wetland habitats.
Objectives and Actions of the Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds that the project contributes to:
Objective 1. Increase international cooperation for migratory shorebirds and ensure that countries of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway work together to conserve migratory shorebirds and their habitat. Action 1.5. Develop and support training programs in population monitoring and habitat management for site managers in Australia and throughout the Flyway.
Objective 2. Identify, protect and sustainably manage a network of important habitat for migratory shorebirds across Australia to ensure that healthy populations remain viable into the future. Action 2.9. Develop and support training programs in population monitoring and habitat management for site managers in Australia.
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Objective 3. Increase biological and ecological knowledge of migratory shorebirds, their populations, habitats and threats in Australia to better inform management and support the long term survival of these species Action 3.5. Develop and implement a consistent national method to monitor migratory shorebird populations Action 3.6. Encourage ongoing population monitoring programs for species covered by this plan.
The Key Outcomes of the Project Include: Improved conservation and management of shorebirds, their habitats and sites Improved understanding of the impact of changes in habitat and management and their influence on the suitability of conditions for shorebirds An increase in the number of skilled shorebird counters active in Australia and an established network of shorebird counters An increase in the number of regularly monitored shorebird sites An improved knowledge of trends in shorebird populations A practical model for community-based shorebird monitoring suitable for use by communities throughout East Asia
These outcomes contribute to the following Principal National Investment Stream Priority Outcomes and other National Investment Stream Priority outcomes:
Principal NIS Outcome Protecting and restoring the habitat of threatened species, threatened ecological communities and migratory birds Other NIS Outcomes Protecting and restoring significant freshwater, marine and estuarine ecosystems
Performance measures The performance of the activity, Shorebirds 2020, will be monitored in relation to:
(a) The Objectives: Collect data that increases our ability to confidently report on changes in shorebird populations in a manner which can be utilised to aid their conservation and management;
(b) The Outcomes, and both Principal National Investment Stream Priority Outcomes and other National Investment Stream Priority outcomes; c) The Activities (or ‘Scope of works’) and their associated Milestones and Output Measures as outlined in: The agreement between Birds Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia, dated Dec 2008, and associated Birds Australia proposal, entitled “Shorebirds 2020: Migratory Shorebird Population Monitoring Program”; The agreement between Birds Australia and WWF-Australia, dated 15 June 2007, entitled “Shorebirds 2020”; and the Birds Australia proposal, dated May 2007, entitled: “Shorebirds 2020: A proposal to monitor migratory shorebirds in Australia”.
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Reporting As part of the monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements of the agreement between Birds Australia, and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; and Birds Australia and WWF-Australia, Birds Australia are required to provide a Report by 31 July 2009 for the Shorebirds 2020: Migratory Shorebird Population Monitoring Project.
This Report includes: DEWHA 2009 contract: Details of the works undertaken to complete Milestones: o Counter and mentor training and surveys conducted in Broome and Shark Bay, Western Australia o Wingspan Supplement “Shorebird Conservation in Australia” redesigned, updated and printed o Redesign and update of Shorebirds 2020 website www.shorebirds.org.au o Further improvement of Australian Shorebird Count Database (ASCD) and development of a web-based data entry interface http://data.shorebirds.org.au.
Table 1: Milestones
Milestone Date
Stage 1 – December 2008
Counter and mentor training conducted in Broome and Shark Bay
Stage 2 – May 2009 (extended to 31 July)
Finalise database alterations including web-based data entry capacity.
New Wingspan supplement designed
Redesign of Shorebirds 2020 website
WWF 2-year Contract ended July 2009: Updates on the progress of the Shorebirds 2020 Program at Year 2, including completing Year 2 Output Targets, under the following areas: o Fundraising o Summer 2008/09 count coordination & refinement of methods o Refinement of site identification & sampling o Volunteer recruitment, retention & training
11 o Database modification and web-based data entry And additionally we have reported on: o What the data is telling us about shorebird populations in Australia o Data use, management implications, awareness raising o Counter & mentor capacity building, shorebird surveys and identification of monitoring sites within the Gulf of St Vincent, South Australia Outputs: Development of a tractable, improved method for counting shorebirds Production of a Shorebird Counters Toolkit Training workshops Annual reports on findings that are distributed to counters and other relevant influential stakeholders First progress report; 2007 Second progress report; 2008 Final Report; 2009
Additional Output Measures:
Table 2. Deliverable or performance Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 measure Number of mentors 0 4 6 8 10 Number of counters 0 30 40 40 40 Number of sites monitored 20 30 40 40 40 Number of applications of the data 10 10 Toolkit completed Web-interface completed Report on the way forward completed Glossy brochure Completed completed (Wingspan)
Timeline The proposed timeline of the project is five years. This is required in order to ensure that the increasing momentum of the project results in standardised data collection throughout the country that will continue into the future. A minimum of five years of data collected consistently at around 113 areas in Australia is required before national shorebird population trends can be reported with confidence.
Table 2: Key Activities in relation to proposed timeline.
Phase Year1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Fundraising * Development of methods and a toolkit * Site identification * * Recruitment and training * * * * * Monitoring * * * *
12 Reporting and transition strategy * * *
For details of progress and achievements in Year 1 of the project, refer the following reports:
Haslem, A., Clemens, R. S., Oldland, J.M., Weston, M.A., Spencer J., Milton D. Rogers D., Rogers K., Gosbell K, Ferris, J., and Bamford, M. 2008. A Population Monitoring Program for Shorebirds in Australia. Birds Australia report. The Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Oldland, J. M., R. S. Clemens, A. Haslem, and L. D. Shelley. 2008. Final Report: Shorebirds 2020: Migratory Shorebird Population Monitoring Project. Birds Australia.
Clemens, R. S., Haslem, A., Oldland, J., Shelley, L., Weston, M.A., and Diyan, M.A.A. 2008. Identification of Significant Shorebird Areas in Australia: Mapping, Thresholds and Criteria. Birds Australia report the Australian Government’s Department of Environment and Water Resources.
13 5. Counter and mentor training and capacity building, Broome, Western Australia
Stage 1 Milestone: Counter and mentor training and surveys conducted in Broome and Shark Bay
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts recently provided funding for shorebird coordinators from throughout the country to travel to Broome from 7-14 December 2008 to take part in a training, and information sharing workshop. This training was conducted and in conjunction with the Monitoring Yellow Sea Migrants in Australia (MYSMA) survey of shorebirds in NW Western Australia and international training workshop. The details of this successful expedition, training, and shorebird survey are detailed in a separate report (Rogers et al. 2009), but here we’ve highlighted the activities specific to the Shorebirds 2020 Program.
The objectives specific to the Shorebirds 2020 Program were: 1. Train Shorebirds 2020 mentors and count coordinators from throughout the country in shorebird identification and count methods. 2. Provide regional shorebird count coordinators with information on the Shorebird 2020 program, methods and objectives. 3. Increase awareness of unique methods related to shorebird population monitoring, and outline requirements for building successful monitoring programs in different regions in Australia. 4. Exchange information with other shorebird counters, including counters from China and Korea. 5. Assist with a large scale count of the shorebirds in one of the most important regions for shorebirds in Australia.
The training component included four indoor training sessions, introductory field sessions and the count itself. Together these allowed for improvements in counting and shorebird identification from all participants, and for those with relatively little experience their skill levels were raised to a level that allowed them to begin counting and help training others in their local areas. The speed of learning would not have been possible without the large numbers of shorebirds, and the many experienced shorebird experts who provided assistance and training as part of the MYSMA project.
Two indoor presentations introduced the Shorebirds 2020 Program, its background and methods to all participants. Informal meetings and discussions then followed throughout the following week regarding any specific questions and issues specific to each coordinators region.
During informal meetings and discussions with regional count coordinators we learned of some of the different methods used, and of challenges in finding and training enough volunteers to achieve the goals of the program. We also reviewed some of the sites in Australia that could be monitored in some regions. Participants then gave indoor presentations on shorebird monitoring in their local areas.
14 While skill levels varied, all Shorebirds 2020 Program participants assisted with the actual shorebird count, which provided more distribution and abundance data from the region than ever before collected.
One of the most important outcomes of the training in north-western Australia was a new or in some cases renewed interest in shorebirds, and shorebird monitoring. The experience of shorebird monitoring in north-western Australia is one that generally inspires those with an interest in birds to become more involved. Five of the attendees were volunteers that were relatively new to shorebird monitoring and each of these people went on to take larger roles in shorebird monitoring over the following summer than they had committed to previously. They also all increased their skills in counting and identification substantially. The remaining five improved their understanding of what is happening throughout Australia regarding shorebird monitoring, and at least three of those five (the Shorebirds 2020 staff) increased our counting and identification skills as well. This experience will prove useful as we deliver shorebird identification and counting workshops to volunteers throughout the country.
Attendees from the Shorebird 2020 Program included: Alan Gillanders from Birds Australia Northern Queensland, Arthur Keates from the Queensland Wader Study Group, Phil Straw from the New South Wales Wader Study Group, Jo Oldland, Rob Clemens, Ash Herrod from the Shorebirds 2020 staff in Victoria, Trevor Cowie from Birds SA, Sarah Pearson a new volunteer coordinator from South Australia, Kim Onton a new count coordinator for Western Australia from BAWA in Western Australia, and Gavin O’Brien a new count coordinator from the Northern Territory.
Participants of the north-western Australia training workshop and survey at Broome Bird Observatory, December 2008. Photo: Ashley Herrod, Birds Australia.
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6. Counter & mentor capacity building, shorebird surveys and identification of monitoring sites within Shark Bay, Western Australia
Stage 1 Milestone: Counter and mentor training and surveys conducted in Broome and Shark Bay
The following taken from the attached report – Appendix 1:
Since the extensive “Waterbirds at remote wetlands” surveys (Jaensch & Vervest 1990) of the late 1980s conducted by the then Royal Australian Ornithologists Union (RAOU), very little survey work had been undertaken in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and surrounds. In November 2008 a small, lightly funded team from Birds Australia Western Australia (BAWA) undertook a repeat survey in order to obtain comparative waterbird (including shorebird) data for the site, and to map important shorebird areas within the region. Counter training workshop sessions on shorebird identification and counting methods were also held during the expedition.
In summary, the Shark Bay WHA has been confirmed as a significant site for waterbirds on both national and international scales. Surveys of the site should be repeated over time to detect changes in bird numbers in accordance with surveys of other sites of importance throughout the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. In addition, further surveys, possibly utilising aircraft to count areas with difficult ground access, should be undertaken to comprehensively survey the site and better allow for comparisons in total numbers with the 1987 survey. The significance of the area for waterbirds must be acknowledged and considered in the management of the area. Please refer to Appendix 1 for further details, a count summary and site maps.
16 7. Redesign, update and reprint of Birds Australia’s “Shorebird Conservation in Australia” supplement to Wingspan 2002
Stage 2 Milestone: New Wingspan supplement designed Output Measures, Year 5: Glossy brochure
The “Shorebird Conservation in Australia” supplement to Wingspan (2002) has been revised and updated as a Birds Australia Conservation Statement (No. 14), thanks to funds recently provided by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
The original publication has been a very popular resource, having been reprinted a number of times. When Birds Australia once again ran out of the current print run in 2008 it was decided that the current publication was out of date. A lot has happened in the area of shorebird conservation (and unfortunately threats to shorebirds have increased) in Australia and throughout the Flyway over the last seven years. The resulting new publication, written and compiled by Jo Oldland, Danny Rogers, Rob Clemens, Lainie Berry, Grainne Maguire and Ken Gosbell has been extensively updated and revised, with additional material and all new stunning wildlife images (Refer to copy of publication submitted with this report).
In addition to updated material, the new publication contains: A four-page spread on the five main shorebird habitats in Australia – tidal flats, ocean beaches, rocky shores, inland wetlands and grasslands – and the main threats affecting them, including: loss of tidal flats, coastal development and disturbance, loss of inland wetlands and native grasslands, and climate change; A feature on the Saemangeum reclamation project and the subsequent decline of the Great Knot; A two-page spread on the Shorebirds 2020 Program and national population monitoring activities, including preliminary indications of shorebird trends; A two-page spread on Birds Australia’s ‘Promoting coexistence between recreationists and beach-nesting birds’ Project; A two-page spread on international shorebird research including: banding, colour flagging and related programs; the Global Flyway Network; the Pacific Shorebird Migration Program; The Forth of Thames and Yalu Jiang sister-site partnership; and Australasian Wader Studies Group activities; Up-to-date information about international shorebird conservation agreements and Australian measures including the Korea-Australia Bilateral Migratory Birds Agreement 2007, Flyway Partnership and the Australian Government’s Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds; Three pages dedicated to recent case studies of shorebird conservation projects and research in Australia.
Birds Australia had 10,000 copies printed, which will get distributed to Shorebirds 2020 stakeholders, Birds Australia members, Government facilitators in each state, NRM boards, land managers and members of the community to name a few.
17 8. Redesign and update of the Shorebirds 2020 website
Stage 2 Milestone: Redesign of Shorebirds 2020 website
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts recently provided funding to design a new and improved website to replace the Shorebirds 2020 Shorebird Conservation Toolkit website www.shorebirds.org.au. Whilst there have been some delays in getting the new website ready to go live due to the workloads of Shorebirds 2020 staff and Freshr Websites, who were contracted to build the new site, it should go live over the next week or so. The new website has a fresher, sleeker look that visitors will find easier to navigate to the information or resources they are seeking. The new look and layout is shown below on the test site homepage.
18 The main new features of the website include:
Direct access to the new online data entry interface; Updated count form and instructions; New state & territory pages for Shorebird Area maps with state maps showing the location of Shorebird Areas and corresponding table with site names and new pdf maps made in Google Earth with site descriptions / instructions available for some sites; New Google Earth file available for download with all Shorebird Areas, Count Areas, Random sites and roosting and feeding areas nationally; National count schedules; Downloadable files of six new PowerPoint presentations on: Shorebirds 2020, shorebird identification, identification test, how to count shorebirds, shorebird ecology and migration and shorebird threats and declines; Details and schedule of upcoming Shorebirds 2020 identification and counting training workshops; Updated information about Shorebirds 2020, priority sites for monitoring, how the data is used, recent results & reports including Summer 08/09 draft national count summary; Downloadable pdf of new Shorebirds 2020 brochure; News and updates blog page with recent Shorebirds 2020 newsletters, other news and announcements and ability for users to register to receive notification emails for new items and be able to post comments on the blog; Downloadable pdf of the new “Shorebird Conservation in Australia” Birds Australia Conservation Statement; New and updated information on shorebirds: ecology, species list ,migration, habitats, threats and declines; Updated information on conservation frameworks; National shorebird site contacts list; Links to other shorebird organisations and resources; Quick links tabs on homepage for quick access to counting tools: online data entry, maps, count schedules, workshops and identification and counting learning resources; Increased ability to track website and page visits.
19 9. Development of web-based data entry facility and further improvement of the Australian Shorebird Count Database
Stage 2 Milestone: Finalise database alterations including web-based data entry capacity Output Measures, Year 2: Web-interface completed
Online data entry website
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts recently provided funding to develop an online data entry website for national shorebird surveys. The website was completed and announced to over 1100 contacts in June 2009. The site was developed by Utility Creative, a small company in Fitzroy, Victoria. In July over 200 winter surveys had been entered using the web site http://data.shorebirds.org.au.
Functions available on the web-site:
1. An observer can enter and edit data from surveys completed at any shorebird area, with instructions for each item to be entered included within the site. 2. An observer can view all of the data they have contributed over the last 28 years. 3. An observer can download all their own records in excel format, and administrators can download all data entered on the website. 4. Users can be added, or deleted, and details can be edited. 5. Different roles can be assigned to each user, and actions within the web-site can be permitted depending on the role that any user is assigned. This system is flexible and can be changed by system administrators. 6. The kinds of data to be entered can be adjusted. 7. Spatial data and species data can be added, deleted, or edited as needed.
Remaining work to be done:
1. We will be looking to move toward having one database that can be edited and updated. Currently, the web-database allows us to enter and edit new records, but historic records are edited in our old access system, and new records are uploaded to this system. Moving toward one system would avoid the complication of having to update both systems with changes or new uploads of larger data sets. This step will require considerable work, and some funding to facilitate.
2. Some fine tuning of the website data entry tool will be recommended if funding is available, and in a couple months a fresh upload of all the data in the Access database to the web database will occur (this has been budgeted for already). The fresh upload is required as many tens of thousands of records are being added to what we hope becomes a more truly “national” shorebird database.
20 Conclusions The creation of the online data entry website took considerably more work than initially envisioned. The existing database had to be cleaned and updated, and some structural changes were required. While time consuming this process has led to a cleaner and better functioning Access database as well as providing the data needed to be uploaded onto the web in mysql format. The creation of a functional and user friendly data capture and editing system is seen as critical to the long-term success of this project. Without it existing staff and coordinators would be overwhelmed by the volume of data that needs to be entered and vetted.
Database Modification
2347 surveys have been submitted for counts from the first of June 2008 to the present, this includes over 73000 records.
10729 historic surveys have been entered into the database since the first of June 2008, with the addition of many historic records from around the country, this includes over 243,000 records. In total there are now over 840,000 records from over 35,000 visits in the database.
A data sharing agreement has been drafted, and is currently being revised by lawyers. This agreement will allow for major data contributors to share a more truly national shorebird database. Once finalised, partners will be encouraged to sign on and share data. A combined national data set should provide an excellent source of information to shorebird researchers, and will increase the profile of shorebird data allowing more data to be shared with managers and planners.
Historic records are being completely vetted one shorebird area at a time to ensure that no questions remain regarding the accuracy of the historic data housed within the database. While time consuming this will continue for the over 30 shorebird areas with long-term historic data. So far records have been completely vetted for Corner Inlet (VIC), Shallow Inlet (VIC), Anderson Inlet (VIC), Gulf St Vincent (SA), and Hunter Estuary (NSW). Areas that are currently being updated and vetted include Botany Bay (NSW), Cape Portland (TAS), SE South Australia, Eyre Peninsula sites (SA), and NW WA sites. Some areas are thought to be in fairly good shape, and will not require additional vetting, but as the project continues data from each shorebird area will be vetted one area at a time.
21 10. Fundraising
Developing a comprehensive, adequate, and sustainable funding base The key to this project is accessing enough funds to adequately conduct the required tasks over the time frame of the project. It is anticipated that the funds may take some time to raise from one or a number of sources.
Funds for the initial two years of the Shorebirds 2020 Project were raised by WWF- Australia ($180,000 + gst from Philanthropic donors), and were matched by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust (a further $180,000 + gst). These funds were also supplemented in Year 1 by remaining funds from the “Programme for Population Monitoring of Shorebirds in Australia” Project, also funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust ($49,500 + gst). In December 2008 Birds Australia also received an additional $93,463 + gst to undertake additional activities from the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for the 08/09 financial year.
In terms of securing funds for years 3-5, Birds Australia was successful in securing a Caring for our Country Community Coastcare grant, entitled “Shorebirds 2020: Community-based Monitoring and Conservation of Migratory Shorebirds in Australia”, worth $250,000 gst incl. over 2 years to the end of 2010. This will fund the delivery of the roll-out and facilitate the uptake of the new, ‘best practice’ shorebird counting methodology and counter ‘toolkit’; expand the delivery of workshops to improve communities skills, knowledge and engagement in shorebird monitoring and conservation at a number of key sites; and increase the level of support for regional count coordinators/mentors.
WWF-Australia has also confirmed that they will provide $80,000-90,000 base funding for Shorebirds 2020 for the 2009/10 financial year. Funding after the 2009/10 will need to be reassessed on a yearly basis.
Recently, Birds Australia was unsuccessful in a proposal for a medium sized project under Caring for our Country with Wetland Care Australia and other partners. The ramifications of this are that Shorebirds 2020 has had to drop one full-time position immediately and faces budget shortages over the next year and an uncertain future. Whilst there are sufficient funds to continue with the program for the next year, core project activities and priorities will have to be reassessed and scaled-down to a degree. This is unfortunate given the momentum that the project has built-up over the last 2 years.
22 11. Summer 2008/09 count coordination and refinement of methods
Output Measures, Year 2: 4 mentors recruited, 30 new counters recruited and 30 new sites added to the survey program
Achieved: 9+ mentors recruited; 1100 contacts overall, 600 new within last year (estimated counters between 500 &1000); 155 sites surveyed last summer, up from an average of 30 before Shorebirds 2020.
Summary of work related to the counts and on-going development of methods:
A remarkable 155 shorebird areas were counted in the summer of 2008-09, up from around 70 sites during summer 2007/08 (Appendix 2). This data included data on disturbance, threats, habitat change, other potential covariates, and was more spatially explicit than in previous years, with counts being broken up into over 1000 smaller “count areas” within shorebird areas.
Between 500 to 1000 volunteers throughout the country conducted shorebird counts at these 155 shorebird areas. Over its first two years the Shorebirds 2020 Program has significantly exceeded its Output targets for recruiting new counters to the program, with hundreds of new volunteers and counters that have not counted for years are returning. In terms of mentors/count coordinators, there are at least nine people (and most likely more) that have taken on significant responsibilities of coordination of shorebird counts at state, regional or local levels and acted as a contact point and mentor for new, less experienced volunteers since the Shorebirds 2020 Program started in 2007. This does not include the long-term dedicated volunteers who were already acting as count coordinators and mentors before Shorebirds 2020 started. The counter and mentor training in Broome in Dec 2008 was an extremely useful exercise for mentors, increasing the confidence and commitment to the program of existing mentors and bringing on board four to five new mentors.
The ongoing mapping of shorebird areas and count areas is encouraging consistent coverage of fixed areas on the ground during each count. The GIS layers also provide useful summary information to managers, planners and stakeholders on the distribution and abundance of shorebirds throughout Australia. The GIS shapefiles identifying known important shorebird habitats in Australia continued to be updated over the last year. These shapefiles (n=3) now include 241 ‘shorebird areas’, 1450 areas of feeding or roosting habitat, and 2019 ‘count areas’ (including 330 randomly selected areas stratified geographically). A fourth shapefile has been created, which is a point coverage of all shorebird survey locations across Australia, and includes raw count data. All shapefiles except the point data layer will be made publically available in both Google Earth format or as ESRI GIS shapefiles.
This year refinement and mapping of new areas concentrated on NW Western Australia (WA), Shark Bay (WA), Gulf of St Vincent (SA), Eyre Peninsula
23
The Shorebird count form has been revised once again to try to improve the quality and consistency of data coming in (Appendix 6). We have found that the majority of people generally don’t read the separate instructions so it is imperative that the count form is user-friendly enough that it can be filled out correctly without having to read the detailed instructions. Further, changes to the order of species listed and threat scores sections have been amended to match the new online data entry form.
Overall there have been improvements in the number of volunteers adhering to the recommended methods since the program started. A rough estimate is that the number of shorebird counters using the official “Shorebirds 2020” count form has risen from approximately 10% in 2007/08 to 40% in 2008/09, the number of people filling in threat scores rose to 17%, and the number of counts conducted within the official mapped count areas also rose.
A revised manuscript of a scientific paper has been submitted to a peer reviewed journal which outlines the need for national criteria to identify important shorebird habitats in Australia (currently in revision). The paper is entitled “Identification of significant shorebird areas: thresholds and criteria” by Clemens R.S., Weston M.A., Silcocks A., Haslem, A., Ferris J.
Additional detail
The counts conducted in the summer 2008/09 resulted in continued coverage of historic areas, and marked the first time that many of these sites have been counted in around 20 years. Some of the regions counted this season were covered more thoroughly than ever before, and a handful of areas not previously surveyed were also counted.
This expansion of the program exceeded our expectations and should allow long-term program objectives to be met if this level of survey coverage can be sustained and built upon in future years. Some fine-tuning of coverage in future years is required and this is outlined in the next section. Meeting the objectives of the Shorebirds 2020 Program will require surveys at all sites to be standardised, that is, the same area covered in the same manner each survey. In this way analysts can be sure that differences in counts reflect changes in the numbers of birds, not changes in the way an area was counted. At 34 of the 155 areas surveyed during summer 2008/09 there remain large knowledge gaps about how the shorebirds use the area, or how best to count the area so that each years totals are as comparable as possible. At approximately half of the 155 areas surveyed this last summer available maps now clearly show the count areas within each shorebird area that should be surveyed. These maps in combination with instructions on how to conduct each count are being further developed for each area (Appendix 3). Site boundaries at a further 50 shorebird areas still require slight refinement based on observer feedback received in recent months.
The largest expansion of areas surveyed occurred in South Australia, where population monitoring counts were organised at 44 shorebird areas, and many additional
24 opportunistic counts were submitted (compared to around 18 sites surveyed the previous summer). The expansion of counts in Western Australia was similarly impressive with organised counts at 28 shorebird areas. Many of these areas are comparatively larger than those in much of the country, and require large teams to complete surveys. Many new areas were surveyed in the southwest and surveys at Shark Bay and in the northwest were conducted more comprehensively than in the past, covering many new areas.
The number of areas being surveyed in New South Wales and Queensland continued to grow this year, and impressively many of these areas have volunteers or organisations conducting monthly counts. Counts in Tasmania continued with an increase in the amount of data being processed, including many historic surveys. The areas around Darwin in the Northern Territory continue to be surveyed regularly with an increase in the frequency of counts in many count areas. In Victoria, the number of areas counted also grew, and the parallel Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site shorebird monitoring and habitat mapping project saw the frequency of counts grow markedly in this area.
Conclusion
This was a remarkable year in terms of survey coverage throughout the country, but considerably more work is needed in order to ensure that enough trained observers are able to participate in the counts. In some areas the burden of expanded count coverage fell on the same dedicated (and overworked) volunteers. If this project is going to be sustainable in the long term, new counters will need to be added rather than simply increasing the work load of existing counters. Along with recruiting enough counters, the largest challenge for the program is to ensure that data within each shorebird area is collected consistently from now on.
Recommendations for further work:
Continue to work to ensure that counts in each shorebird area become as standardised as possible. Data for population monitoring will only be valuable if consistent methods are used for each count of an area.
Reselect those random areas where shorebird surveys can not be accessed, with the constraint that these reselected sites must be either on public land, and/or in close proximity to roads.
Continue to update maps of where to count, with instructions for each shorebird area.
Update spatial attributes to include the most recent data.
Update spatial boundaries; at least 50 require some refinement based on shorebird experts from each shorebird area.
Encourage spatial analysis of habitat data, combined with shorebird distribution layers and abundance data.
25 12. Refinement of site identification and sampling
Summary of work related to identification of sites, and sampling:
Conducted statistical analyses to determine if the shorebird areas visited in the summer of 2008-2009 would be sufficient to detect long-term population changes in shorebird species. If sampling continues at 113 of the 155 shorebird areas visited this last year, there will be sufficient power (80%) to detect “national” trends of:
o 25-52% change in five years for 19 shorebird species. Adding up to 38 additional shorebird areas would increase the sensitivity of trends that could be detected for many of these species, and provide a buffer against sites dropping out.
o 50-80% change for seven species in ten years; however 15-25 sites would need to be added for each of these species to expect a trend to be detected in five years.
o National trends for 18 shorebird species are unlikely to be detected given predicted sampling or the species distribution in Australia. Evidence of trends that are not “national” can still be reported for eleven of these species, but detecting statistically significant trends for any of these species would likely require revisions to sampling and methods used in the existing program.
Shorebird areas were assigned priorities ranging from one to four to reflect their relative importance in contributing to the detection of national trends for target species (Table 2).
Entered and vetted shorebird surveys from 155 shorebird areas, and updated spatial boundaries where needed.
Further details of recent statistical work:
In 2008 a total of over 150 shorebird areas were identified which would need to be monitored if the “top 30” areas for 35 species of interest were to be monitored (Haslem et al. 2008). It was understood at the time that some adjustments to that list of sites would be needed, depending on what was possible. This year 155 shorebird areas were surveyed, however approximately 40 of those areas were alternate to what was suggested in the original list, and not all areas held the number of shorebirds that were predicted. For these reasons more statistical analysis was conducted to get a more complete idea of what kinds of “national” population changes we might be able to detect for which species, assuming monitoring could continue at these sites, and the counts from this year would be similar in future.
26 The statistical analyses performed here were simply an extension of that done last year (Haslem et al. 2008). Once again the power analysis program Monitor (software by J. P. Gibbs: available online www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/ software/monitor.html) was used in a simulated route regression to generate power predictions. For all simulations an exponential trend was assumed (Thomas and Martin 1996), and 1000 replications were run. While assumptions regarding the initial values used in these calculations may have overestimated predicted power somewhat; a lack of weighting of trends, the assumption of only having one summer count per site, and the lack of covariates likely underestimated predicted power. Consequently these simulations should have resulted in a much improved understanding of the trends likely to be identified if sampling continues at the sites visited during summer 2008/09. The parameters we allowed to vary in program Monitor were simply the number of independent areas monitored, and the mean and variation in count estimated across sites. The initial value for the mean at each site in these simulations was set at the average abundance across sites for the totals recorded in the summer 2008-09 survey. The variation term was then estimated based on the average standard deviation of residuals from linear regressions from shorebird areas with at least ten years of count data for each species (maximum of 40 shorebird areas with sufficient data for any species). The ratio of the mean counts in the historic data to the average standard deviation of residuals across historic sites was then applied to the 2008-09 count data to get an average variation term that was used for each site added to the power simulation.
Forty-four shorebird species were recorded in the 2008-09 counts and power analyses were focused on these species (Table 1). Results demonstrated that the likelihood of detecting a population trend varied considerably between species; however, this year’s coverage, if continued, would result in better sensitivity than predicted last year for some species (i.e. a good chance of detecting a 20%-35% change in five years in ten species). Species were broken into three categories based on the likelihood of detecting trends of different sensitivities:
Species were given a trend likelihood of “1” if the 2008/09 summer counts suggested that there will be sufficient power (80%) to detect national trends of 50% or less in five years if sampling continued at the sites visited (19 species, see Table 1). The trend sensitivity is also reported for these 19 species if 35 areas with the mean abundance observed this last summer were visited.
Species were given a trend likelihood of “2” if this past summer’s counts suggested that there will be sufficient power (80%) to detect “national” trends of varying sensitivities (50-80%) in 10 and 25 years (seven species, see Table 1). Given the level of sampling achieved during summer 2008/09, detecting national trends in five years for any of these seven species is unlikely.
Species were given a trend likelihood of “3” if this past summer’s counts suggested that there will be insufficient power (80%) to detect “national” trends (18 species, see Table 1).
27 Prioritising the list of sites:
Shorebird areas were assigned priorities ranging from one to four (Table 2). The 113 shorebird areas needed to detect shorebird population changes of 50% or less in five years for nineteen species, and to be able to detect a population trend in at least 10 years for another seven species as mentioned above were given priority rankings of 1 to 3.
Priority 1 shorebird areas include the top sites in terms of abundance for these species, and should be viewed as unreplaceable. Priority 2 shorebird areas are also important, but given they do not hold target species in quite the same numbers as priority 1 shorebird areas it may be possible to replace these shorebird areas with alternates in the coming year. Priority 3 shorebird areas are of less importance for the target species with relatively small numbers reported, and could likely be replaced with alternate areas that contain similar or greater numbers of target species in the next year. Priority 4 shorebird areas, contribute little to the likelihood of detecting “national” population trends, but these areas should continue to be monitored as possible for other reasons.
Other reasons identified for monitoring at areas that do not directly contribute to detection of national shorebird population trends include: 1) Tracking the health of what we would argue are nationally important shorebird areas; 2) Increasing the geographic representation of sampling to monitor possible movement between areas as conditions change across large regions; 3) Providing data with low or zero values that can be used to model what makes good shorebird habitat in Australia.
Recommendations for further work:
Continue to evaluate if the selected sites are sufficient to meet objectives.
Evaluate the results of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site Shorebird Monitoring project, and the recent analysis carried out by the University of Queensland on the QWSG’s Moreton Bay shorebird dataset, which are both informing on the value of repeat counts in determining site-based and national trends.
Explore the use of covariates, threat scores etc as they become more available in the data being collected.
Assess the value of surveying at random sites as part of the monitoring program.
28 Table 1. The likelihood of detecting a national population trend for shorebird species in Australia based on summer 2008-2009 count coverage, and estimates of count variation taken from historic data, to compute if there will be sufficient power (80%) to detect national trends with minimum trend and time frame reported.
Trend total sum of counts estimated STDV of 5 yr 5 yr 35 Likelihood Species 2008 count >10 >10 average counts >10 residuals mean/STDV trend sites 10yr trend 20yr trend 1 Bar-tailed Godwit 110099 48 110038 2292 961 0.419 25% 30% not calc. not calc. 1 Black-winged Stilt 8530 35 8464 242 313 1.296 50% 50% not calc. not calc. 1 Common Greenshank 6778 43 6616 154 96 0.627 35% 40% not calc. not calc. 1 Curlew Sandpiper 14826 42 14786 352 221 0.627 35% 40% 30% 20% 1 Double-banded Plover 150 21 2842 135 86 0.634 50% 40% 40% 35% 1 Eastern Curlew 6766 36 6694 186 84 0.451 30% 30% not calc. not calc. 1 Great Knot 195492 30 195447 6515 5405 0.8297 50% 45% 40% 35% 1 Grey Plover 3947 28 3890 139 68 0.488 40% 30% 30% 20% 1 Masked Lapwing 4665 60 4534 76 48 0.64 30% 40% not calc. not calc. 1 Pacific Golden Plover 2261 31 2199 71 66 0.926 50% 45% 40% 35% 1 Pied Oystercatcher 8217 65 8089 124 52 0.414 25% 30% not calc. not calc. 1 Red-capped Plover 25941 97 25839 266 198 0.742 25% 40% not calc. not calc. 1 Red Knot 32322 25 32294 1292 1032 0.799 50% 40% 37% 40% 1 Red-necked Stint 161876 100 161855 1619 916 0.566 20% 35% not calc. not calc. 1 Ruddy Turnstone 6710 44 6682 152 97 0.641 35% 40% not calc. not calc. 1 Sanderling 8602 25 8562 342 275 0.8039 50% 40% 40% 35% 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 22825 60 22751 379 343 0.905 35% 45% not calc. not calc. 1 Sooty Oystercatcher 2234 27 2102 78 43 0.551 45% 35% 30% 20% 1 Whimbrel 3973 21 3929 187 153 0.816 50% 45% 40% 35% 2 Black-tailed Godwit 3041 12 2995 250 201 0.805 none not calc. 60% 40% 2 Greater Sandplover 36660 15 36632 2442 1673 0.685 none not calc. 50% 40% 2 Grey-tailed Tattler 12916 20 12841 642 708 1.103 none not calc. 50% 40% 2 Hooded Plover 612 14 511 37 29 0.806 none not calc. 50% 40% 2 Lesser Sandplover 1960 12 1899 158 139 0.878 none not calc. 60% 40% 2 Marsh Sandpiper 717 10 686 68 79 1.154 none not calc. 80% 60% 2 Red-necked Avocet 5365 17 5349 314 343 1.089 none not calc. 50% 40%
29 Trend total sum of counts estimated STDV of 5 yr 5 yr 35 Likelihood Species 2008 count >10 >10 average counts >10 residuals mean/STDV trend sites 10yr trend 20yr trend 3 Asian Dowitcher 5 0 0 0 0 0 none none none none 3 Banded Lapwing 282 4 266 67 not available none none none none 3 Banded Stilt 192760 14 192732 13767 19686 1.43 none none none none 3 Beach Stone-curlew 14 0 0 0 0 0 none none none none 3 Black-fronted Dotterel 354 8 256 32 52 1.612 none none none none 3 Broad-billed Sandpiper 169 2 166 83 not available none none none none 3 Bush Stone-curlew 0 0 0 0 0 0 none none none none 3 Common Sandpiper 166 3 64 21 63 2.94 none none none none 3 Latham's Snipe 163 7 133 19 25 1.34 none none none none 3 Little Curlew 3107 5 3107 621 not available none none none none 3 Long-toed Stint 48 1 35 35 not available none none none none 3 Oriental Plover 24217 5 24217 4843 7168 1.48 none none none none 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 9 0 0 0 0 0 none none none none 3 Red-kneed Dotterel 397 7 363 52 48 0.928 none none none none 3 Ruff 2 0 0 0 0 0 none none none none 3 Terek Sandpiper 5675 6 5629 938 785 0.837 none none none none 3 Wandering Tattler 4 0 0 0 0 0 none none none none 3 Wood Sandpiper 435 3 429 143 not available none none none none
Trend Likelihood: 1 = trend of 50% or less likely to be detected if sampling done in the summer of 2008-09 continued; 2 = trend not likely to be detected in five years given current or likely future sampling, but trends could be detected in 10 and 25 years; 3 = unlikely to detect a “national” population trend for these species given recent or likely sampling.
Total 2009 = total count at all 155 sites surveyed in the summer of 2008-09
Count > 10 = number of shorebird areas in 2008 where the summer count for that species exceeded 10
Estimated STDV of residuals = the average variation term used in program monitor
Mean/STDV = the ratio of the mean to standard deviation of residuals of historic data, STDV of residuals was only computed for species with at shorebird areas with at least 10 years of data, and the mean value was taken across up to 40 shorebird areas with sufficient data.
5 yr trend = the percentage change in number of shorebirds counted over five years (rounded up to nearest 5%) at which there is >80% power to detect a change with the number of sites set to “Count >10”; 5 yr 35 sites is the same but with the number of shorebird areas set to 35; 10yr, and 20yr trend use the “count > 10” value to set the number of sites. Computed in Monitor (software by J. P. Gibbs: available online www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/ software/monitor.html)
30 Table 2. List of Priority shorebird areas for future sampling in order to detect national population trends Shorebird Area Name State Priority Shorebird Area Name State Priority Botany Bay NSW 1 Franklin Harbour SA 2 Clarence River NSW 1 Goldsmith Beach to Wattle Pt SA 2 Hastings River NSW 1 Lake Eliza SA 2 Hunter Estuary NSW 1 Lake St Clair SA 2 Manning River Estuary NSW 1 Sleaford Bay (EYRE) SA 2 Port Stephens NSW 1 Guichen Bay (SESA) SA 3 Richmond River estuary NSW 1 Gunyah Beach SA 3 Shoalhaven Estuary NSW 1 Horse Peninsula SA 3 Tuggerah Lakes NSW 1 Lake George SA 3 Parkes Sewage Farm NSW 2 Munderoo Bay to Tickera Bay SA 3 Parramatta River NSW 2 Pine Point (Yorke) SA 3 Tullakool Saltworks NSW 2 Port Victoria SA 3 Tweeds Estuary NSW 2 Stansbury / Oyster Point SA 3 Brunswick Valley (Byron Bay) NSW 3 Winninowie CP - Northern Spencer Gulf SA 3 Lake Bannitup NSW 3 Bool Lagoon SA 4 The Broadwater NSW 3 Coobowie Inlet SA 4 Barren Box Swamp NSW 4 Fox and Pub Lakes SA 4 Brunswick River estuary NSW 4 Lake Hawdon SA 4 Dubbo Sewage Ponds NSW 4 Lake Robe (SESA) SA 4 Fivebough Swamp NSW 4 Legoes Swamp SA 4 Lake Illawarra NSW 4 Mullins Swamp SA 4 Lake Macquarie Entrance NSW 4 Nadzab Lagoon SA 4 Nericon Swamp NSW 4 Port Augusta Saltfields SA 4 Ulladulla NSW 4 Telowie Beach - Norhern Spencer Gulf SA 4 Darwin Harbour NT 1 Cape Portland (check totals) TAS 1 North Darwin NT 1 Derwent TAS 1 Bar Plain Beach - Broad Sound QLD 1 King Island TAS 1 Bowen QLD 1 Moorland Point TAS 1 Burdekin River Delta (Wunjunga Beach) QLD 1 Robbins Passage/Boullanger Bay TAS 1 Bushland Beach QLD 1 George Town Reserve TAS 2 Cairns area QLD 1 Georges Bay TAS 2 Charon Point QLD 1 Kelso, Tamar Estuary TAS 2 Haughton River QLD 1 Marion Bay & Blackmans Bay TAS 2 Mackay (incomplete count) QLD 1 Moulting Lagoon TAS 2 Moreton Bay QLD 1 Policemans Point TAS 2 Townsville (incomplete count) QLD 1 Great Musselroe Bay TAS 3 Great Sandy Straight QLD 2 Lades Beach (NE) TAS 3 Kinka Beach QLD 4 Maurouard Beach TAS 3 Maroochy River QLD 4 Narantapu National Park TAS 3 Avoid Bay SA 1 Lake Dulverton TAS 4 Baird Bay SA 1 Scamander TAS 4 Carpenter Rocks SA 1 Anderson Inlet VIC 1 Coorong (7-8 March) SA 1 Corner Inlet VIC 1 Gulf of St Vincent SA 1 Lake Connewarre area VIC 1 Kangaroo Island SA 1 Moolap Saltworks VIC 1 Lake Newland SA 1 Port Fairy VIC 1 Long Nose SA 1 Shallow Inlet VIC 1 Murat Bay SA 1 Swan Bay & Mud Islands VIC 1 Port MacDonnell SA 1 Werribee / Avalon VIC 1 Port Pirie Coast SA 1 Western Port Bay VIC 1 Rivoli Bay (SESA) SA 1 Discovery Bay to Glenelg River VIC 2 Sceale Bay SA 1 East Port Phillip VIC 2 St Peter Island SA 1 Lake Corangamite area VIC 2 Streaky Bay SA 1 Laverton/Altona VIC 2 Tourville Bay SA 1 Begola VIC 3 Troubridge Island / Shoal SA 1 Belmont Common VIC 3 Black Point SA 2 Fitzroy River Mouth VIC 3 Canunda National Park (SESA) SA 2 Mildura VIC 3
31 Table 2 (cont.)
Shorebird Area Name State Priority Shorebird Area Name State Priority Swan Hill VIC 3 ADITIONAL AREAS NOT COUNTED THIS YEAR Bendigo Sewage Farm VIC 4 BUT WOULD BE GOOD TO COUNT IN FUTURE Black Rocks / Breamlea VIC 4 Alva Beach QLD 1 Douglas area (Wimmera) VIC 4 Armstrong Beach QLD 1 Hamilton VIC 4 Bellambi Point NSW 1 Jack Smith Lake VIC 4 BHP Saltfields SA 1 Kerang Lakes VIC 4 Bowen QLD 1 Lake Albacutya VIC 4 Brisbane Water NSW 1 Lake Bulloke VIC 4 Camila Beach QLD 1 Lake Hindmarsh VIC 4 Cape Portland TAS 1 Lake Lorne VIC 4 Cooke Point WA 1 Lake Reeve VIC 4 Dampier Saltworks WA 1 Lake Wyn Wyn area VIC 4 George Town Reserve TAS 1 Mallacoota VIC 4 Gladstone QLD 1 Point Richards VIC 4 Great Sandy Straight QLD 1 St. Leonards Salt Lake VIC 4 Lacepedes Islands WA 1 80 Mile Beach WA 1 Lake MacLeod WA 1 Albany WA 1 Yarrawonga Point QLD 1 Broome WA 1 Yellow Rock Beach TAS 1 Bush Point (Roebuck Bay sth) WA 1 Wardang Island SA 2 Coast north of 80 Mile WA 1 St. Lawrence Creek saltmarsh QLD 2 Roebuck Bay WA 1 Second Creek SA 2 Shark Bay WA 1 Nuytsland Nature Reserve WA 3 Wilson Inlet WA 1 Ocean Beach TAS 3 Dampier Peninsula WA 2 Wallis Lake (Pelican Island) NSW 3 Peel & Yalgorup Lakes WA 2 Three Mile to Stinky Bay (Nora Creina) SA 3 Roebuck Plains Lakes WA 2 Paiwalla Wetlands SA 3 Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary WA 2 Big Swamp SA 3 Garden Island WA 3 Surprise Bay TAS 3 Hutt Lagoon WA 3 Port Paterson - Northern Spencer Gulf SA 3 Lake Gore WA 3 Swan Coastal Plain Lakes WA 3 Swan River & Rottnest Island WA 3 Wagin Lake WA 3 Barker Inlet (WA) WA 4 Broadwater (Busselton) WA 4 Harry Davies Farm WA 4 Helm's Lake WA 4 Lake Banje-Benjenup WA 4 Stokes Inlet WA 4 Warden Lakes (Esperance) WA 4 Woodman Point WA 4
32 13. Volunteer recruitment, retention and training
Output Measures, Year 2: 4 mentors recruited, 30 new counters recruited
Achieved: 9+ mentors recruited; 1100 contacts overall, 600 new within last year (estimated counters; between 500 &1000).
Summary of work related to volunteer recruitment, retention and training: There are now over 1150 contacts in our database; Between 500-1000 volunteers counted at 155 shorebird areas, 25 count areas and 200 incidental areas during summer 09/08; At least nine mentors recruited as state or regional count coordinators; 174 community volunteers took part in the first four shorebird training workshops held from Oct 08 – March 09 under the Caring For Our Country Community Coastcare grant; $6640.36 (ex gst) worth of coordination funds distributed for boat hire, count coordination & counting in WA, SA, NSW and Vic, and revised mapping of shorebird area boundaries nationally during summer 08/09 counts; A Shorebirds 2020 newsletter developed and first two editions released; Additional resources developed or reprinted: 2000 more Shorebird ID booklets and 1000 more ID sheets, six new PowerPoint presentations on shorebirds, new Shorebirds 2020 brochure, 10,000 copies of ‘Shorebird Conservation in Australia’ Birds Australia Conservation Statement printed, and national site contacts list developed and available on web.
Recommendations for further work: In collaboration with local coordinators and site contacts, organise follow-up, informal workshops or field visits after main workshops to provide further training and experience for new people and hopefully increase the number of people who become involved in the program; If funds allow, organise further counter and mentor training sessions like that held in Broome, to help volunteers increase their skills and confidence in shorebird monitoring techniques, enable them to coordinate and mentor other counters, and also to offer a chance for counters from different parts of the country to exchange knowledge and experiences.
Volunteer recruitment:
Over its first two years the Shorebirds 2020 Program has significantly exceeded its Output Targets for recruiting new counters to the program, with hundreds of new volunteers signing up and counters that have not counted for years returning to the program. There are now over 1150 contacts in our database, up from around 500 last year and we estimate that somewhere between 500-1000 took part in shorebird surveys last summer. At least nine people (and most likely more) have taken on significant count coordination responsibilities at state, regional or local levels since the Shorebirds 2020 Program started in 2007. This does not include the long-term dedicated volunteers who were already acting as count coordinators and mentors before Shorebirds 2020 started. The counter and mentor training in Broome in Dec 2008 was an extremely useful exercise for mentors, increasing the confidence and commitment to the program of existing mentors and bringing on board four to five new mentors.
33
Despite these impressive efforts, further work is needed to ensure that enough trained observers are able to participate in the counts, and that this year’s level of survey coverage can be sustained and built upon in future. A further challenge is to increase the skill level among counters to improve the consistency of counts and quality of shorebird population data coming in.
The Shorebirds 2020 program was successful in gaining funds over the next two years to December 2010 through the Australian Government’s Caring For Our Country Community Coastcare program. The successful grant, entitled “Shorebirds 2020: Community-based Monitoring and Conservation of Migratory Shorebirds in Australia”, is enabling us to run a series of around 25 workshops nationally to introduce the Shorebirds 2020 program, train volunteers in shorebird monitoring techniques, and facilitate the uptake of ‘best-practice’ shorebird counting methodology. We are also able to provide modest funds to support counting efforts in each state & territory.
Training workshops
Between Oct-08 and Mar-09 four community shorebird training workshops were held nationally as part of the Caring for Our Country Community Coastcare grant:
1. Merimbula, NSW, 18 October 2008: 20 participants gathered at Manna Park to hear a shorebird information session given by Phil Straw (NSW Wader Study Group) on shorebird migration, identification and counting, followed by a field visit to a nearby shorebird area.
2. Adelaide, SA, 22 February 2009: Over 80 participants gathered at the Watershed Function Centre, Mawson Lakes for presentations on Shorebirds 2020, shorebird threats and declines, count methods and shorebird identification by Lainie Berry and Rob Clemens (Shorebirds 2020 staff), followed by field visits to shorebird sites at Barker Inlet Wetlands and Thompson Beach.
3. Adelaide, SA, 15 March 2009: 29 participants gathered at the Royal Society Rooms, SA Museum to hear presentations by Shorebirds 2020 staff Lainie Berry and Chris Purnell, followed by a field visit to Thompson Beach.
Both Adelaide workshops were also supported by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board.
4. Cairns, QLD, 21 March 2009: 45 participants gathered at the RSL Club, Cairns to hear presentations by local count coordinator Alan Gillanders, local shorebird expert Keith Fisher, QWSG member David Milton, and Lainie Berry. This was followed by a field visit to Cairns Esplanade.
Overall 174 community volunteers took part in our first four shorebird training workshops held from Oct 08 – March 09. An online feedback survey was developed for participants from the Adelaide and Cairns workshops. The number of participants that completed the survey was high – between 40-48%. The overall feedback from the surveys was excellent (see summaries below). The percentage of participants who rated the workshops as “excellent” or “good” was between 85-98%. The workshops were also successful in encouraging people to participate in the Shorebirds 2020 counts. The percentage of people who stated they would “probably” or “definitely” complete a shorebird count was 59% for the first Adelaide workshop, 64% for the second Adelaide workshop and 39% for the Cairns workshop. See below for detailed reports of the Adelaide and Cairns workshops.
34 A further 21 or more workshops are planned to be run at various locations around the country over the next two years. Refer to Appendix 7 to see the draft schedule of workshops for summer 2009/10.
Report on Shorebird Counting and ID workshops Adelaide, 22 February and 14 March, 2009
The first Shorebird Counting and ID workshop was held Adelaide on 22 February at the Watershed Function Centre, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, with field trips to Thompson Beach and Barker Inlet Wetlands. Approximately 80 people participated in this workshop. Lainie Berry gave a presentation on shorebird ecology, threats and declines, and the Shorebirds 2020 program. Rob Clemens gave a presentation covering shorebird identification and counting methods.
The field trip to Thompson Beach after the indoor session was a huge success. We saw several thousand birds at the site, including Red Knot, Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Red-capped Plover. The number of birds at Barker Inlet was much lower, but participants were able to see a variety of species, including Marsh Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Greenshank, Black- winged Stilt, Red-kneed Dotterel, and a late arrival of a Red-necked Stint flock.
For the second workshop on the 22nd of March, we gave an indoor presentation at the Royal Society Rooms at the South Australian Museum. A total of 29 people attended this workshop. Lainie Berry again presented on shorebird ecology, threats and declines, and the Shorebirds 2020 program, and Chris Purnell gave a presentation on shorebird identification and counting methods.
After the indoor session we again visited Thompson Beach for a field trip. Owing to huge tides and strong winds that day, viewing conditions were less than ideal, but we saw several dozen Bar-tailed Godwits, as well as Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstones, Red-capped Plovers, Red-necked Stints and Marsh Sandpipers at the salt pans behind the beach.
We asked participants to complete an online survey following both workshops. . Thirty-seven people (46% of participants) completed the survey for 22 February, and 11 people (38% of participants) completed the survey for 14 March. . The experience of workshop attendees was 65% beginner and 35% intermediate on 22 February, and 50% beginner, 50% intermediate on 14 March. . 53% of workshop attendees on 22 February and 67% on 14 March stated that they “learned enough to begin to try some counting on my own, but would prefer to be paired with more experienced counters for any official counts”. . 59% stated they were “probably” or “definitely” going to complete a shorebird count following the workshop on 22 February, and 66% on 14 March. . Overall, 40.5% of participants rated the workshop and field trip as excellent, and 56.8% rated them as good on 22 February. On 14 March, 64% of participants rated the workshop and field trip as excellent, and 18% as good.
Below are the ratings given to individual aspects of the program:
Sunday 22 February Excellent Good Neutral Fair Poor N/A Registration process 46% 46% 5% 3% 0% 0% Presenters' knowledge of subject material 68% 32% 0% 0% 0% 0% Presenters' ability to gain and keep my attention 30% 51% 14% 5% 0% 0% Overall presentation - indoor session 30% 65% 3% 3% 0% 0% Overall presentation - field session 20% 26% 11% 17% 9% 17% Length of workshop 22% 62% 11% 5% 0% 0% Quality of handouts 81% 16% 3% 0% 0% 0%
Saturday 14 March Excellent Good Neutral Fair Poor N/A Registration process 58% 33% 0% 0% 0% 8% Presenters' knowledge of subject material 83% 8% 0% 0% 0% 8% Presenters' ability to gain and keep my attention 67% 17% 0% 8% 0% 8% Overall presentation - indoor session 67% 17% 0% 8% 0% 8% Overall presentation - field session 33% 33% 0% 8% 0% 25% Length of workshop 42% 42% 8% 0% 0% 8% Quality of handouts 75% 8% 8% 0% 0% 8%
35
Rob Clemens gives shorebird identification presentation, Sunday 22 February. Picture: Lainie Berry
At Thompson Beach field site, Sunday 22 February. Picture: Lainie Berry
36
Looking for shorebirds at Thompson Beach salt pans, Saturday 14 March. Picture: Lainie Berry
Chris Purnell (3rd from right) gives shorebird ID advice at Thompson Beach, Saturday 14 March. Picture: Lainie Berry
37 Shorebird Workshop Cairns Saturday 21 March 2009 - response to survey
Number of respondants:18 (40% of participants)
How would you rate your shorebird identification skills before attending the workshop? Beginner 56% Intermediate 39% Expert 6%
How would you rate your shorebird identification skills improved as a result of the workshop? I didn't learn anything new as the subject material was too hard 0% I didn't learn anything new as I knew the subject material presented already 11% I learned some interesting new tips but still don't feel prepared to do a count 39% I learned enough to begin to try some counting on my own, but would prefer to be paired with more experienced counters for any official counts 39% I've learned enough today to count shorebirds anytime anywhere 11% How likely are you to complete a shorebird count after this workshop? Definitely not 0% Probably not 28% 50/50 33% Probably 11% Definitely 28%
Please rate the following aspects of the workshop Excellent Good Neutral Fair Poor N/A Registration process 61% 28% 0% 11% 0% 0% Presenters' knowledge of subject material 78% 22% 0% 0% 0% 0% Presenters' ability to gain and keep my attention 28% 56% 6% 11% 0% 0% Overall presentation - indoor session 44% 50% 6% 0% 0% 0% Overall presentation - field session 44% 39% 6% 6% 0% 6% Length of workshop 44% 44% 11% 0% 0% 0% Quality of handouts 61% 28% 11% 0% 0% 0%
Overall, how do you rate the workshop and field trip? Excellent 71% Good 29% Neutral 0% Fair 0% Poor 0%
38 Volunteer retention:
While it is difficult to track volunteer retention rates with a volunteer program of this size (i.e. a national scale monitoring program), the growing numbers of volunteers in our database indicate that we are adding, rather than losing volunteers to the program. Finding ways to maintain this large volunteer base and grow it further will be critical to the long-term success of the project. Managing and nurturing such a large national volunteer base with the limited resources we have available to us (two full-time staff) is challenging. However, there are a number of ways in which we try to support, train and communicate with volunteers, aside from daily phone and email contact with volunteers on a one to one basis, these include:
1. Supporting counting efforts: Through the Caring For Our Country Community Coastcare grant we are able to make available funds to the value of $4000 (ex gst) each year over two years to each state and territory to support counting efforts. These funds are sometimes administered via a state count coordinator (as in NSW) and sometimes on an individual basis via the Shorebirds 2020 team. Funds can and have been used for covering the costs of boat and ATV hire and fuel, reimbursement for travel and accommodation to remote sites, the purchase of equipment such as scopes, funds to organise additional training workshops, and reimbursement for volunteers time when coordinating counts, collating data or running workshops etc. During summer 2008/09 over $6,500 was distributed. The aim of distributing these funds is to achieve more comprehensive coverage of shorebird sites, help volunteers to feel supported and valued for their efforts, and also to assist with the large tasks of coordinating national surveys. Some of these funds were also used to pay a volunteer at Birds Australia national office to refine shorebird area maps for volunteers to use, and to help collate the large volumes of survey data.
2. Building a national network of counters: Over the last two years much work has gone into developing a coordinated network of national shorebird counters. A large part of this has been (and continues to be) identifying and finding people to act as coordinators or main site contacts for each shorebird area and in some cases count areas. The role of a count coordinator varies but usually involves organising a team of volunteers to conduct counts within their local shorebird area, then collating and sometimes entering and vetting all the survey data collected. The count coordinator is usually also the main point of contact with Shorebirds 2020 staff or in some cases a regional or state count coordinator. Further to this count coordinators or main site contacts are often also more experienced shorebird counters that are able to mentor new volunteers.
The counter and mentor training workshop and surveys in Broome in December 2008 proved to be a valuable exercise in increasing the skills and confidence in a number of key people who are now taking on count coordination and mentoring responsibilities in their area or state. In states where there is a state coordinator in place to oversee the counting activities throughout their state, such as NSW, Tas and now WA and SA, this can significantly ease the pressure on Shorebirds 2020 staff in the national office.
Over the last year much work has gone into identifying a coordinator or main site
39 contact for around 200 shorebird areas nationally. This list will be available on the Shorebirds 2020 website and will be of great assistance to Shorebird 2020 staff, state or regional coordinators and new volunteers looking to find out who counts shorebirds in their area (see Appendix 8).
3. Communication: In order to improve communication with volunteer counters and provide more regular ands interesting updates, Shorebirds 2020 newsletter has been developed, and the first two editions produced (see Appendix 9). As well as being more visually appealing than email updates, the newsletter also includes articles about other shorebird research and issues throughout Australia and the flyway, volunteer profiles etc. The newsletters will be produced quarterly and volunteers will still be updated as needed via phone and email at other times.
In addition to the direct updates provided to counters, Shorebirds 2020 staff also make use of a wide variety of other media to provide updates on the program and at times provide comment on other shorebird conservation matters. Media and events utilised:
Print: Birds Australia Wingspan magazine: Conservation Directions & In Brief September 09, June 09, March 09, December 08 Birds Australia monthly e-news: regular updates Shorebirds 2020 newsletters: summer 09 and autumn 09 issues AWSG ‘Stilt” journal: October 08 AWSG ‘Tattler’ newsletter: September 09, February 09, October 08 Threatened Bird Network ‘Volunteer’ newsletter: March 09, September 08 BA Vic Group ‘Vic Babbler’ newsletter: September 09, June 09, Dec 08 BA WA ‘WA Birds Notes’ newsletter December 08 Birds SA newsletter: Nov 08 ‘Shorebirds 2020 national summer shorebird counts’ Queensland Wader Study Group (QWSG) newsletter 09 ‘Report on MYSMA and Shorebirds 2020 Projects’ by Arthur Keates Australian Government’s Wetlands Australia National Wetlands Update 2009: ‘Monitoring migratory shorebird populations in Australia: The Shorebirds 2020 Program’ The Sydney Morning Herald Eco News Wrap: ‘Making it count’ 4/2/09 The Age: ‘The Coorong is dead but can be revived’ 23/7/09 The Gippsland Sentinel Times: ‘Bass Coast bird count results in’ 24/2/09 Greening Australia Victoria, Around the Lakes: The borrell-a-kandelup project newsletter, edition 21 Autumn 2009 ‘Report on summer 2009 Shorebirds 2020 surveys in the Corangamite Lakes region’ Biological Society of South Australia (BSSA) newsletter, issue 38, April 2009 ‘Volunteers contribute to national shorebird monitoring program’
Radio: Radio National Bush Telegraph segment on the Coorong, 23 July 2009
Events: Barwon Heads ‘Summer by the Sea Festival’ 2009 display
40 Pearcedale and Gembrook Farmer’s Markets 2008, 2009 displays Edithvale / Seaford Wetlands Welcome Day 19th October 2008 display
Other: Museum of Victoria ‘Victorian Environments’ exhibit (opening October 2009): video interview on shorebirds and coastal environments for the ‘Coastal Wetlands’ section
4. Learning resources: Another way to keep volunteers interested to help increase their shorebird identification and counting skills is to provide them with information and training resources. Additional resources that have been developed or reprinted over the last year include: 2000 more Shorebird ID booklets and 1000 more ID sheets; six new PowerPoint presentations shorebird ecology, conservation, identification and counting developed for workshops that we can now supply on CD along with a collection of other resources and information; a new Shorebirds 2020 brochure (Appendix 10); and 10,000 copies of the ‘Shorebird Conservation in Australia’ Birds Australia Conservation Statement. We have also developed a handout for workshops with identification tips for every species which have been very popular. Since the beginning of the year we have distributed over 600 Shorebird Identification booklets and 100 sets of laminated shorebird ID sheets. These resources are also all available for request or download on the website www.shorebirds.org.au.
41 14. What the data is telling us about shorebird populations in Australia
In the short term the data are telling us a great deal about the distribution and abundance of shorebirds throughout Australia, and in some cases the changes that have occurred in areas that have not been surveyed in decades are obvious.
The most obvious example of changes in Australian shorebird distributions have been the declining abundance of shorebirds at non-coastal wetlands in southern Australia. After nearly 10 years of drought, many wetlands have dried out, while others are becoming degraded due to a lack of freshwater inflows. It is therefore not surprising that shorebirds are less abundant in the non-coastal wetlands of southern Australia (Nebel et al. 2008). However, this summer’s remarkable count coverage allowed us to further quantify those changes in abundance at inland wetlands. Twenty-nine shorebird areas were identified in southern Australia that were non-coastal wetlands that had been counted in the 1980’s and again this past summer (Figure 1). This past summer’s count marked the first time in many years that most of these areas have been surveyed.
In the 1980’s the number of surveys varied between sites, so the average maximum summer count from 1980-89 was used for comparison. The results of this simple comparison suggest that in southern Australia, shorebird numbers at non-coastal wetlands have decreased by nearly 80% (Table 3 and Appendix 4), and other species have declined by anywhere from 50% to 99%. The only exception to this in the areas surveyed was the Pacific Golden Plover, which may have been recorded in higher numbers in wetlands adjacent to the coast this past summer because coverage was better, and there was less water around so there was less potential habitat to search for what can be an elusive species. The Coorong data (not included in these comparisons) is showing similarly large declines in many shorebird species, with the notable exception of Banded Stilts which have been recorded in the Coorong in numbers exceeding 170,000 this year. The Banded Stilt is one of the few shorebirds tolerant of the increasing salinity of the much of the Coorong (especially the southern half). The Coorong data was not included in these comparisons because there is much better data to draw from in order to report on the changes occurring in the Coorong due to less freshwater inflows (Brookes et al. 2009, Gosbell 2005).
42
Figure 1. Location of 29 non-coastal wetlands where shorebird counts were compared between the 1980’s and the summer of 2008-2009.
Table 3. Comparison of counts in the 1980's with those recorded in the summer of 2008-2009 at 29 inland wetlands for selected species.
Average max annual summer count 1980's Summer 2008-2009 count Wilcoxen Rank-Sum Species MEAN (N=29) SE Total MEAN (n=29) SE Total p - value Black-fronted Dotterel 6.0 2.0 171 1.4 1.0 41 0.0007 Black-winged Stilt 153.9 69.6 4379 29.3 13.5 850 0.0006 Common Greenshank 15.5 4.0 416 2.8 1.2 82 0.0003 Curlew Sandpiper 107.1 43.0 3107 0.2 0.2 5 0.0000 Marsh Sandpiper 8.5 2.9 245 0.6 0.4 16 0.0001 Masked Lapwing 101.1 37.2 2930 24.3 6.9 706 0.0031 Pacific Golden Plover 0.2 0.2 7 5.8 4.0 169 0.9531 Red-capped Plover 136.4 29.1 3955 73.0 31.3 2116 0.0022 Red-kneed Dotterel 15.0 4.4 418 1.8 0.9 53 0.0004 Red-necked Avocet 94.3 26.1 2733 12.7 7.6 367 0.0000 Red-necked Stint 457.1 156.2 13256 267.6 124.4 7759 0.0027 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 396.5 124.0 11417 28.1 20.4 814 0.0000 TOTAL all shorebirds 2373.4 563.3 68595 487.6 164.8 14140 0.0000
For the areas where changes have not been as drastic, it will take up to five years to generate enough data to show national shorebird trends. In the meantime there are many things that can be reported that will add to the evidence regarding how shorebird populations are tracking. First, in areas where standardised counts are happening, simply reporting on the changes in the numbers seen each year will allow some understanding of how much shorebird populations are being affected by things like habitat destruction in the flyway. The recent count of the whole of Eighty-mile Beach in north-western Australia provides an excellent example of the power of simply reporting changes in two complete annual counts (Rogers et al. 2009). Second, reporting trends from shorebird areas with historic data needs to continue, and be
43 expanded to include those areas that have not yet been reported on individually. This process will build the evidence of population trends, and will also result in a more completely vetted set of data from each shorebird area. While over 20 areas have reported trends (Gosbell and Clemens 2006), there remain a handful with historic data which need to be fully vetted and reported on. Where data at individual sites has been collected in the same way for longer periods, more rigorous reporting is possible, and there are encouraging signs that using new analytical techniques might allow these data to be used more fully (Fuller et al. 2009, Rogers et al. 2009). Together these steps will help increase our understanding of shorebird population trends in Australia, while we work to make more conclusive data available to report on national trends in the future.
The number of areas visited this last summer and the amount of data generated will provide a useful foundation to planners and managers for years to come. The increasingly spatially explicit data will be especially useful for planners, and those looking to do habitat analysis in order to further explore what is driving population changes. However, these data will only be useful for population monitoring if counts are standardised. If the same areas are not counted by similarly skilled personnel, in the same way, under the same conditions, the utility of these data will be diminished for monitoring populations. To demonstrate, a quick glance at this year’s data from many of the new sites when compared to last years, suggests that shorebird numbers are increasing. This, however, is thought to be more likely a function of having many new observers getting involved in the counts, which is allowing for greater coverage of these areas, and those observers are also getting better at finding the shorebirds in each area. This learning process will likely take one to several years, particularly for the large shorebird areas that can not be completely surveyed. Therefore, patience is required before drawing too many conclusions from the counts being initiated in new areas, and by new shorebird observers.
The need to determine what precisely is happening to shorebird populations is growing. When all available sources were recently reviewed by Birds Australia there was evidence of 21 shorebird species decreasing in at least one area in Australia, while only four species were showing evidence of increases in at least one area (Oldland et al. 2009). Given the large population declines being reported in shorebirds and the threats to shorebirds, it is critical that we build on the evidence of what is happening so that improved knowledge can guide management and conservation of shorebird habitat (Gosbell and Clemens 2006, Oldland et al. 2009).
44 15. Data use, management implications, awareness raising
Shorebird count data is routinely extracted for a variety of stakeholders: many of these extractions are for existing counters, around 5 were for consultants, and as many as 20 were for state or local government organisations. Over the last year 150 extractions were made from the database and passed on to a variety of stakeholders (again mostly the existing shorebird counters or experts).
Existing GIS shapefiles of shorebird habitat are also passed on to a variety of stakeholders, but given these are also freely available on the web, we do not track how many people have used them. We have passed on the GIS layers at least 20 times to stakeholders not directly involved in the project, and counters are routinely contacted regarding help with refining these boundaries.
The growing resources available on the www.shorebirds.org.au website including information on management will continue to be refined, and efforts will be made to track the number of visits to different sections of the web-site.
We regularly contribute advise and input on a variety of issues directly and indirectly related to shorebird conservation which include:
o Writing at least 5 letters or submissions to management organisations regarding the protection of shorebird habitat in specific areas. o Contributed time and knowledge to the recent State of the Environment report, specifically on evidence of population trends in shorebirds. o Contributed information to the ‘Melbourne @ 5 million’ Strategic Assessment regarding the potential impact to shorebirds of possible expansions to Melbourne’s urban growth boundary. o Fielding phone calls from consultants, interested stakeholders and members of the public regarding areas important for shorebirds, and potential impacts to shorebirds of proposed developments or actions.
Considerable work remains to refine the information on shorebird conservation that can be made available to planners and managers, including specific recommendations, materials, and back ground information.
45 16. Counter & mentor capacity building, shorebird surveys and identification of monitoring sites within the Gulf of St Vincent, South Australia
This project was funded by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM with supplemental support from the Shorebirds 2020 budget including contribution of staff time. This project aimed to reinvigorate the monitoring of migratory shorebirds in the Gulf of St Vincent. Over the last 25 years counts of migratory shorebirds have been conducted in the Gulf of St Vincent by volunteer counters from organisations such as the Australasian Wader Studies Group, Birds SA and others. These counts have informed on the importance of the region for shorebirds, especially migratory shorebirds, but more work was needed to ensure counts were comprehensive enough to allow them to contribute to the national population monitoring of these species, and to increase the chances of detecting population trends within the Gulf of St Vincent. This project engaged a coordinator to: lead volunteers in a comprehensive count, recruit volunteers through at least two training workshops, review existing data, map count areas and shorebird habitat within a GIS, and report on outcomes.
The GIS layers, and the data generated from this work were incorporated into the national data sets, and the complete report (93pp) is available upon request. The Executive summary has been attached (Appendix 5).
Outcomes Shorebird count data from all the known shorebird habitats within the Gulf of St Vincent was collected to national standards, and refined mapping of shorebird habitat in the Gulf within a GIS was conducted. Two training workshops were conducted to increase the available pool of volunteer counters. A report was submitted including an overview of historic count data in the region, threats to shorebirds in the gulf, and identification of knowledge gaps regarding shorebirds in the Gulf of St Vincent.
46 17. Overview of future plans Fundraising Continue to work with WWF, the Australian Government and other potential funders as necessary to try to secure future funding for the program Ongoing refinement of methods Continue to work to ensure that counts in each shorebird area become as standardised as possible. Reselect random areas where shorebird surveys can not be accessed as needed Continue to update maps of where to count, with instructions on how to count for each shorebird area Update spatial attributes to include the most recent data Update spatial boundaries as needed Encourage spatial analysis of habitat data, using shorebird distribution layers and abundance data Shorebird Counters Toolkit Maintain and update resources as necessary, using the website as the primary tool for resources, information and updates Refinement of site identification & Sampling Continue to evaluate if the selected sites are sufficient to meet objectives Evaluate the results of other shorebird research projects in Australia (and overseas), on their ability to inform on the value of repeat counts in determining site-based and national trends etc Explore the use of covariates, threat scores etc as they become more available in the data being collected Assess the value of surveying at random sites as part of the monitoring program Volunteer recruitment, retention and training Undertake 21+ remaining training workshops nationally by April 2011 Organise follow-up, informal workshops or field visits as possible Funds allowing, organise further counter and mentor training sessions like that held in Broome 2008 Coordinate Monitoring Nationally Distribute remaining funds available to support counting efforts nationally Maintain the national site contacts list Continue to collate a national schedule of summer count dates and circulate to counters in a timely fashion. Continue to collate a national count summary to circulate to counters and other stakeholders on an annual basis Database modification and web-based data-entry Move toward having one database that can be edited and updated Fine tune the website data entry tool Data use, management implications, awareness raising Refine information on shorebird conservation that can be made available to planners and managers.
47 18. References
Brookes, J.D., Lamontagne, S., Aldridge, K. T., Benger. S., Bissett, A., Bucater, L., Cheshire, A.C., Cook, P.L.M., Deegan, B.M., Dittmann, S., Fairweather, P.G., Fernandes, M.B., Ford, P.W., Geddes, M.C., Gillanders, B.M. , Grigg, N.J., Haese, R.R., Krull, E., Langley, R.A., Lester, R.E., Loo, M., Munro, A.R., Noell, C.J., Nayar, S., Paton, D.C., Revill, A.T., Rogers, D.J., Rolston, A., Sharma. S.K., Short, D.A., Tanner, J.E., Webster, I.T., Wellman, N.R. and Ye, Q. 2009. An Ecosystem Assessment Framework to Guide Management of the Coorong. Final Report of the CLLAMMecology Research Cluster. CSIRO: Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship, Canberra.
Clemens, R. S., Haslem, A., Oldland, J., Shelley, L., Weston, M.A., and Diyan, M.A.A. 2008. Identification of Significant Shorebird Areas in Australia: Mapping, Thresholds and Criteria. Birds Australia report the Australian Government’s Department of Environment and Water Resources.
Fuller, R., H. Wilson, H. Possingham. 2009. Monitoring shorebirds using counts by the Queensland Wader Study Group. Unpublished report, Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.
Gosbell, K. and R. Clemens. 2006. Population monitoring in Australia: some insights after 25 years and future directions. Stilt 50: 162-175.
Gosbell, K., and M. Christie. 2005. Wader Surveys in the Coorong and S.E. Coastal Lakes, February 2005. Unpublished report, Australasian Wader Study Group.
Haslem, A., Clemens, R. S., Oldland, J.M., Weston, M.A., Spencer J., Milton D. Rogers D., Rogers K., Gosbell K, Ferris, J., and Bamford, M. 2008. A Population Monitoring Program for Shorebirds in Australia. Birds Australia report. The Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Nebel, S., J. L. Porter, et al. (2008). "Long-term trends in shorebird populations in eastern Australia and impacts of freshwater extraction." Biological Conservation 141: 971-980.
Oldland, J. M., R. S. Clemens, A. Haslem, and L. D. Shelley. 2008. Final Report: Shorebirds 2020: Migratory Shorebird Population Monitoring Project. Birds Australia.
Oldland, J., D. Rogers, R. Clemens, L. Berry, G. Maguire, and K. Gosbell. 2009. Shorebird Conservation in Australia. Birds Australia Conservation Statement, no. 14.
Rogers, D., C. Hassell, et al. (2009). Monitoring Yellow Sea Migrants in Australia (MYSMA): North-western Australian shorebird surveys and workshops, December 2008. H. Department of Water, and the Arts. Heidelberg, Victoria, Arthur Rylah Institute.
Rogers, D. I., K. G. Rogers, K. B. Gosbell, and C. J. Hassell. 2007. Causes of variation in population monitoring surveys: insights from non-breeding counts in north-western Australia. Stilt 50:176-193.
Thomas, L., and K. Martin. 1996. The importance of analysis method for breeding bird survey population trend estimates. Conservation Biology 10:479-490.
48 19. Appendices
Appendix 1: Shark Bay report Appendix 2: Draft shorebird counts: summer 2008-09 at 155 shorebird areas in Australia Appendix 3: Example Site Map: Shallow Inlet Appendix 4: Change in shorebird numbers at inland wetlands of southern Australia; comparisons of average maximum summer count from the 1980’s and the counts from the same areas in the summer of 2008-2009 Appendix 5: Gulf of St Vincent - report summary Appendix 6: Revised shorebird Count Form Appendix 7: Summer 2009/10 draft workshop schedule Appendix 8: National site contacts list Appendix 9: Shorebirds 2020 summer 2008/09 and autumn 2009 newsletters Appendix 10: Shorebirds 2020 brochure
49 Appendix 1: Shark Bay report Shark Bay Shorebird Survey November 2008
By Bill Rutherford & Kimberly Onton
Introduction Since the extensive “Waterbirds at remote wetlands” surveys (Jaensch & Vervest 1990) of the late 1980s conducted by the then Royal Australian Ornithologists Union (RAOU), very little survey work had been undertaken in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and surrounds. In November 2008 a small, lightly funded team from Birds Australia Western Australia (BAWA) undertook a repeat survey in order to obtain comparative waterbird (including shorebird) data for the site.
Area of Study Shark Bay is a recognised World Heritage Area (WHA) forming the western extreme of the Australian continent. Access to coastal areas is complicated with privately owned cattle stations adjoining much of the site. A number of low lying islands, including Faure Island, form a major component of much of the shorebird habitat in Shark Bay and pose significant logistical challenges regarding access.
The astronomical tidal range varies, with a maximum of 1.2 metres in the Guinchenault Point area to a minimum of 0.6 metres in the Hamelin Bay area.
Significant areas of mangroves exist on the eastern shores of Shark Bay which in turn support significant populations of mangrove specialist bird species.
A total of 30 count sites were surveyed and mapped for the 2008 survey (see maps below). This included the various sectors of the Shark Bay, and the Carnarvon area on the eastern side of Shark Bay.
Methods and Timing The 2009 expedition relied primarily on the methodologies used by Jaensch & Vervest in the 1987 survey of the area. Aerial surveys were not conducted during the 2009 survey as funding was not sufficient, however, extensive boat and land based counts were successfully achieved including in the ‘outer bay’ sectors of the site. Standard ‘direct’ count survey methods were adopted, relying on counter groups comprised of at least one ‘expert’ (or experienced) observer and one dedicated data recorder. Participating Birds Australia (BA) members supplied the four wheel drive vehicles required to access all but one of the count sites.
Two boats were used to survey the outer bay sectors provided in-kind specifically for the survey by the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Department of Fisheries (DoF) based in Denham. The provision of these vessels was and is a prerequisite for this and all future surveys of the Shark Bay WHA. The first of the BA operations hubs in the 2008 survey was based in Denham. The second and third hubs were based on Faure Island and in the township of Carnarvon. The count teams based on Faure Island were housed in the Australian
50 Wildlife Conservancy volunteer quarters, and the Carnarvon based teams were billeted at one of the town’s caravan parks.
No reconnaissance of the count sites was carried out prior to the survey, other than the routine Shorebird 2020 counts of the Carnarvon and upper eastern mud-lands of the bay carried out by Les George, the regional Shorebirds 2020 coordinator. Information relating to general waterbird presence in the Shark Bay complex was also provided by the local DEC and DoF officers who assisted with the survey.
Where possible counts were conducted at each site from at least one hour before high tide, continuing for at least one hour after high tide. All waterbird species were recorded as well as mangrove endemics and EPBC listed species (such as the Slender- billed Thornbill).
The survey was planned to coincide with peak abundances of post migration assemblages of shorebirds in the Shark Bay WHA. It was assumed that most of the birds encountered during the survey would be birds on or near their usual wintering grounds. Observations of colour flagged Bar-tailed Godwit and Great Knot in one particular survey confirmed that they were the same colour flagged birds that had been using the site for at least two years.
Tidal Conditions Tides during the survey were relatively low and in the middle of the lunar cycle. A short series of rising tides were chosen with high waters that occurred in mid to late morning. The tidal ranges experienced in Shark Bay during November were similar to those in the previous two months.
The choice of tides on which to conduct the survey was driven primarily by the recourses available to the survey team. High tides on the eastern side of the site can impede access with four wheel drive vehicles which were the only transport options in that sector. DEC staff advised that vessel access to all of the outer bay area was achievable given a medium tide at most times of the year.
Results and Discussion Ground coverage achieved by the 2008 expedition was probably greater than the 1987 expedition, particularly in the outer sectors of the Shark Bay WHA. Coverage in 2008 included areas around Carnarvon and areas further north. Significant areas of shorebird habitat that were covered by aerial surveys in 1987 were not surveyed in the 2008 expedition, primarily in the south eastern sector of the site, but not including Faure Island.
A total of 20,986 water birds were counted in the 2008 survey, including 12,536 shorebirds. Interestingly, no Banded Stilt were recorded in the 2008 survey where as 9,100 were recorded in the 1987 surveys. This could be due to the lack of coverage of any of the salt fields and industrial brine pools located in the southern half of the site. The totals reported here however, may not reflect the final numbers as some vetting of data may still be required.
Twenty-seven species of shorebird were recorded in the 2008 survey compared to 28 species in 1987. The three most abundant species recorded in 2008 were Pied
51 Cormorant (5,453), Red-necked Stint (4,177), and Bar-tailed Godwit (3056). In comparison, the three most abundant species recorded during the 1987 ground surveys were Pied Cormorant (7,000), Banded Stilt (3,623 - with none recorded in 2008) and Bar-tailed Godwit (1,575).
Specific comparisons between the two surveys are confounded by the lack of aerial surveys in the 2008 survey, and greater ground coverage in 2008. However, the numbers of Eastern Curlew warrant comment as the majority of this species recorded in the two surveys were found in the same area using the same methods. A total of 313 Eastern Curlew were recorded in 1987 compared to 167 in 2008, suggesting a reduction in numbers, something also seen throughout sites in the rest of Australia.
Limitations Significant areas of shorebird habitat covered in the 1987 survey were not covered in the 2008 survey due to resource limitations. In addition no attempt was made to count the egret colony or cormorant rookery in the Carnarvon township site. If counted it is likely that the numbers of all egret and small cormorants would be significantly higher. Observations would suggest that the numbers of Eastern Great Egrets using the Shark Bay WHA are much higher than those recorded in this survey and warrant conservation measures in their own right.
Numbers Counted The total number of waterbirds counted in this survey was lower than expected and the 20,986 waterbirds counted for the entire 2008 survey was considerably lower than the 1987 RAOU survey. It is likely, however, that the actual total number of birds present during the survey would have been significantly higher if coverage had been more complete in the south eastern and south western sectors of the site. The areas not covered in this survey include the significant shorebird habitats to the east of Faure Island, including the Wooramel River mouth and the Gladstone area; as well as the salt works in the Useless Loop area. Refer to Table 1 for the complete draft count summary.
Grey–tailed Tattlers were found to occur in internationally significant numbers (573). The highest concentration of this species was centred on the Boat Harbour and Mangrove Point count zones in the Carnarvon count sector. Here birds were counted at their regular roost site alongside the creek in the Boat Harbour frequently using the grey mangroves as perches. The mangrove forest is relatively large in this count sector and could possibly conceal additional birds of this and other species as has been found in other WA shorebird sites.
Red-necked Stint were also recorded in internationally significant numbers (4177).
Pied Cormorant numbers were significantly lower in 2008 than in the previous survey. The largest concentration of this species was found in a count zone not previously surveyed at Dirk Hartog Island. As extensive observations were made from boats in the 2008 survey, far more so than the 1987 survey, this decline in numbers may actually reveal a genuine decline in this species numbers within the Shark Bay count site.
52 Species Recorded The species assemblage of the 2008 survey was similar to that found in 1987. Fifty- three waterbird species were recorded on the 1987 survey, compared to 63 in 2008. This small increase is likely to be due to the increased coverage of freshwater habitats on the boundary of the site and in the Carnarvon township area (i.e. McNeil Clay Pan and the large freshwater pools on the estuary of the Gascoyne River).
Table 1 Draft total counts from Shark Bay, November 2008
Australian Little Grebe 17 Lesser Sandplover 24 Australian Pelican 59 Little Black Cormorant 5 Australian Shelduck 10 Little Egret 75 Banded Stilt 0 Little Pied Cormorant 80 Bar-tailed Godwit 3056 Little Tern 2 Black Swan 6 Long-toed Stint 8 Black-faced Cormorant 3 Marsh Sandpiper 1 Black-fronted Dotterel 93 Nankeen Night-heron 2 Black-winged Stilt 126 Pacific Black Duck 56 Caspian Tern 227 Pacific Golden Plover 3 Common Sandpiper 18 Pacific Gull 10 Crested Tern 1224 Pied Cormorant 5453 Curlew Sandpiper 64 Pied Oystercatcher 281 Eastern Great Egret 175 Red Knot 312 Eastern Reef Egret 4 Red-capped Plover 624 Eurasian Coot 29 Red-kneed Dotterel 21 Fairy Tern 81 Red-necked Stint 4177 Far Eastern Curlew 167 Royal Spoonbill 8 Glossy Ibis 1 Ruddy Turnstone 119 Great Cormorant 32 Sanderling 43 Great Knot 1099 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 189 Greater Sandplover 513 Striated Heron 9 Silver Gull 577 Greenshank 316 Terek Sandpiper 7 Grey Plover 63 Whimbrel 141 Grey Teal 37 Whiskered Tern 40 Grey-tailed Tattler 573 White Ibis 4 Gull-billed Tern 48 White-faced Heron 93 Hardhead 16 Wood Duck 6 Hoary-headed Grebe 2 Wood Sandpiper 18 Indian Darter 22 Yellow-billed Spoonbill 2 Intermediate Egret 2 Unidentified Shorebirds 480 Lesser Crested Tern 33 Total Shorebirds 12536 Total 20986
53 Distribution As was found in the 1987 survey the bulk of the shorebird population was centred on the eastern shore of Shark Bay and on Faure and Pelican Islands. The number of birds using the north-eastern Peron Peninsular was much lower than found in the 1987 survey (Table 4). The reasons for this are as yet unclear.
Large numbers of egrets, especially Eastern Great Egret were counted in the Carnarvon and adjacent Greenough Flats - Long Point zones. This concentration of breeding egrets and the associated cormorant rookery is in itself worthy of a detailed survey as it is likely to be of national and international significance for Eastern Great Egret and possibly two cormorant species.
The count of 2750 Pied Cormorants at Whitnall Point on Dirk Hartog Island is one of the largest counts in recent history from Western Australia.
Conservation All of the marine and inter-tidal sites surveyed in this expedition are inside the Shark Bay WHA and as such are afforded some protection under local and international legislation. The freshwater sites surveyed are administered primarily by the Shire of Carnarvon. McNeil Clay Pan is the only exception, and the tenure of this area is unclear. This is a highly significant site as it holds at least one pair of breeding Australian Painted Snipe.
Recommendations In summary, the Shark Bay WHA has been confirmed as a significant site for waterbirds on both national and international scales. Surveys of the site should be repeated over time to detect changes in bird numbers in accordance with surveys of other sites of importance throughout the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. In addition, further surveys, possibly utilising aircraft to count areas with difficult ground access, should be undertaken to comprehensively survey the site and better allow for comparisons in total numbers with the 1987 survey. The significance of the area for waterbirds must be acknowledged and considered in the management of the area.
References Jaensch, R. P. & Vervest, R. M. (1990). Waterbirds at remote wetlands in Western Australia, 1986-8. Part Two: Lake Macleod, Shark Bay, Camballin Floodplain and Parry Floodplain. RAOU Report no. 69. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne
54 Maps of the Shark Bay study area, including Carnarvon.
1. Carnarvon Town and surrounding land-based count sites.
55
2. Miaboolya Creek land-based count site north of Carnarvon.
56
3. Overview of Carnarvon land-based count sites, including sites south and inland.
57
4. Bush Bay and New Beach count sites, southern range of Carnarvon land- based counts.
58 5. Shark Bay sites accessed via vessel from Denham base. Yellow line across water indicates vessel route.
6. Dirk Hartog Island sites accessed via vessel from Denham base. Yellow line across water indicates vessel route.
59 Appendix 2: Draft shorebird counts: summer 21008/09 at 155 shorebird areas in Australia SUMMER 2008 SA SA SE coast SE lakes Coorong GSV
Species Great Sandy Straight (no count received) count Straight (no Sandy Great Carpenter Rocks Port MacDonnell Fox and Pub Lakes Eliza Lake Lake George Lake Hawdon Lake St Clair Lagoon Nadzab Bool Lagoon count) check zero (double Mullins Swamp March) (7-8 Coorong Gulf ofSt Vincent Port Victoria Inlet Coobowie Point Black Pt to Wattle Goldsmith Beach Asian Dowitcher 0 Banded Lapwing 90 Banded Stilt 0000000000 170024 12062 0 0 0 0 Bar-tailed Godwit 0000000000 557 42 0 0 0 Beach Stone-curlew Black-fronted Dotterel 0030000000 25 0 0 0 0 Black-tailed Godwit 0000000000 2000 0 Black-winged Stilt 0000010000 341 358 0 0 0 0 Broad-billed Sandpiper Common Greenshank 002025110000 382 617 11 1 18 8 Common Sandpiper 0000000000 4000 0 Curlew Sandpiper 2005000000 41 391 2 0 2 0 Double-banded Plover 0000000000 112002 0 Eastern Curlew 1000000000 47 28 2 0 0 0 Great Knot 0000000000 930 0 0 0 0 Greater Sandplover 0000000000 8000 0 Grey Plover 0000000000 242 8 0 0 3 Grey-tailed Tattler 0000000000 4000 0 Hooded Plover 2000200000 30 5 0 0 5 0 Latham's Snipe 17 Lesser Sandplover 0000000000 8000 0 Little Curlew Long-toed Stint Marsh Sandpiper 0000000000 1350015 0 Masked Lapwing 30 32 3 49 26 84 23 0 0 0 402 154 2 0 0 0 Oriental Plover Pacific Golden Plover 100900078000 318005 2 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Pied Oystercatcher 17 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 118 158 40 2 0 8 Red Knot 0000000000 2677 0 0 0 0 Red-capped Plover 11 56 4 259 93 37 33 0 0 0 1075 4480 5 7 650 50 Red-kneed Dotterel 0 0220 000000 4152000 0 Red-necked Avocet 0000100000 186 696 0 0 0 0 Red-necked Stint 481 502 160 692 1081 0 13 0 0 0 3355 11558 150 45 830 457 Ruddy Turnstone 148 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 125 2 0 21 44 Ruff Sanderling 0000000000 87 0 0 0 0 0 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 60 30 200 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 3009 2452 56 0 0 0 Sooty Oystercatcher 4000000000 11 239 1 0 6 3 Terek Sandpiper 0000000000 1000 0 Wandering Tattler Whimbrel 0000000000 18 0 0 0 0 Wood Sandpiper 1 2 Unidentified Shorebird 0 0 120 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 313 360 451 0 0 0 TOTAL 0 757 786 411 1145 1236 133 147 0 0 0 179431 38469 772 55 1554 575 No. of species 0 116 86 644000 19 33 124108
60 SUMMER 2008 SA SA Eyre Peninsula
Species Stansbury / Oyster Point Oyster / Stansbury Point (Yorke) Pine Island / Shoal Troubridge Avoid Bay Bay Baird Harbour Franklin Gunyah Beach Horse Peninsula Lake Newland Long Nose Bay Murat Sceale Bay St Island Peter Streaky Bay Bay Tourville Bay(EYRE) Sleaford Asian Dowitcher Banded Lapwing 2 Banded Stilt 0 0 0 0 00003040011003507 0 Bar-tailed Godwit 0 0 0 0 5200000157144720 Beach Stone-curlew Black-fronted Dotterel 0 0 0 0 0 000000 0 0 Black-tailed Godwit 0 0 0 0 0 00000060 0 Black-winged Stilt 0 0 0 0 0000500000 0 Broad-billed Sandpiper Common Greenshank 11 18 2 0 1139000413927135461900 Common Sandpiper 0 0 0 0 0100000020 0 Curlew Sandpiper 29 4 47 0 70000053511464550260 Double-banded Plover 0 0 0 0 0000000000 0 Eastern Curlew 0 0 0 0 010000201505 0 Great Knot 0 0 7 0 14400002201274902690 Greater Sandplover 0 0 0 0 60000000104 0 Grey Plover 0 0 9 0 360 32 0 1 5 40 70 5 112 263 141 0 Grey-tailed Tattler 0 0 0 0 00000000401 0 Hooded Plover 0 0 0 0 00160600650754 Latham's Snipe Lesser Sandplover 0 0 0 0 1000630100 0 Little Curlew Long-toed Stint Marsh Sandpiper 0 0 0 0 00000003 0 0 Masked Lapwing 0 0 0 0 48007201806121 0 Oriental Plover 0 000 Pacific Golden Plover 0 0 0 0 0000000059 0 Pectoral Sandpiper Pied Oystercatcher 0 0 9 0 47 17 56 43 25 84 88 5 258 96 225 6 Red Knot 0 0 48 0 7800002700497705530 Red-capped Plover 0 150 3 0 119 0 15 5 90 28 41 79 128 167 170 16 Red-kneed Dotterel 0 0 0 0 0 000000 0 0 Red-necked Avocet 0 0 0 0 0000142003400 0 Red-necked Stint 163 310 500 0 788 208 0 2 444 251 635 721 951 1137 1429 152 Ruddy Turnstone 0 0 57 0 35 0 0 0 0 14 23 222 101 25 63 0 Ruff Sanderling 0 0 0 245 20003042240451007101 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 5 0 5 0 133 81 0 0 0 133 196 160 136 82 773 0 Sooty Oystercatcher 18 2 11 3 712323116331194129329834 Terek Sandpiper 0 0 0 0 00000000100 0 Wandering Tattler Whimbrel 0 0 0 0 00000001000 0 Wood Sandpiper Unidentified Shorebird 000 080004518800000 0 TOTAL 226 484 698 248 2056 361 119 86 1472 956 1366 2935 4072 2132 4040 363 No. of species 5 5 11 2 16 10 4 5 13 13 11 18 22 14 18 6
61 SUMMER 2008 SA SA TAS New areas SE ta)
Species Canunda National Park (SESA) Park National Canunda Guichen Bay(SESA) (SESA)Lake Robe (SESA) Bay Rivoli TelowieBeach - Norhern SpencerGulf Gulf Spencer Northern CP - Winninowie Swamp Legoes Port Augusta Saltfields Port Pirie Coast (includes spit Ward etc) Bay to Tickera Bay (Port Augus Munderoo Island Kangaroo Derwent Bay & Blackmans Bay Marion (ceck Portland totals) Cape ReserveGeorge Town Asian Dowitcher Banded Lapwing 15 0 Banded Stilt 0000000450039000000 Bar-tailed Godwit 00000000221016857824 Beach Stone-curlew Black-fronted Dotterel 00000000 000020 Black-tailed Godwit 00000000 000000 Black-winged Stilt 00000004 0580000 Broad-billed Sandpiper Common Greenshank 000025000106317000 Common Sandpiper 000000000020000 Curlew Sandpiper 0000091001860821901121 Double-banded Plover 1301000000000100 Eastern Curlew 000023001503300023 Great Knot 0000000040430000 Greater Sandplover 000000004000000 Grey Plover 0000000010001040000 Grey-tailed Tattler 000000000000000 Hooded Plover 1000000000021011110 Latham's Snipe Lesser Sandplover 000000000000000 Little Curlew Long-toed Stint Marsh Sandpiper 000000000000000 Masked Lapwing 0016103000002796704021 Oriental Plover Pacific Golden Plover 230000000000300980 Pectoral Sandpiper Pied Oystercatcher 62034826003203165201145628 Red Knot 000000007750232000 Red-capped Plover 22 34 25 21 384 770 0 54 396 11 112 42 19 75 0 Red-kneed Dotterel 000000000000000 Red-necked Avocet 000000000000000 Red-necked Stint 50 18 0 65 800 1021 0 58 1249 28 517 971 600 1151 25 Ruddy Turnstone 2170710000620105002911 Ruff Sanderling 26100000001000000 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 000001001803300350 Sooty Oystercatcher 03000800 087103484 Terek Sandpiper 00000000 000000 Wandering Tattler Whimbrel 00000000 000004 Wood Sandpiper Unidentified Shorebird 0000000000000000 TOTAL 394 67 41 171 1277 1920 0 4616 3103 39 1864 1793 754 0 1675 141 No. of species 86267704152171160139
62 SUMMER 2008 TAS TAS VIC NW
Species Georges Bay Georges Kelso, Tamar Estuary Lake Dulverton Beach Maurouard Moulting Lagoon National Park Narantapu Policemans Point Scamander MusselroeGreat Bay Passage/BoullangerRobbins Bay Point Moorland King Island BeachLades (NE) Begola Belmont Common Breamlea / Rocks Black Lake Lorne Salt Lake St. Leonards Point Richards Saltworks Moolap Asian Dowitcher Banded Lapwing 5 2 Banded Stilt 0 00 000000000 0 0 000 0 0 Bar-tailed Godwit 22 00 1120000 3500 10 0 0 000 0 0 Beach Stone-curlew Black-fronted Dotterel 2 00 000000 0 0 20 615090148 Black-tailed Godwit 0 00 000000000 0 0 000 0 0 Black-winged Stilt 0 00 000000000 011050 1245 Broad-billed Sandpiper Common Greenshank 6 00 0220 0 015 0 0 30 2 0 100 0 67 Common Sandpiper 0 00 000000050 0 0 000 0 0 Curlew Sandpiper 0 15 0 000000 72022 0 0 0 000 0211 Double-banded Plover 6 10 2002310 4 017 0 0 0 000 0 0 Eastern Curlew 20 00 0915000 890 00 0 0 000 0 0 Great Knot 0 00 000000 8020 00 0 0 000 0 0 Greater Sandplover 0 00 000000000 0 0 000 0 0 Grey Plover 0 00 0000065000 0 0 000 0 0 Grey-tailed Tattler 0 00 000005000 0 0 000 0 0 Hooded Plover 0 2031 1450 49012 2 0 0 600 0 0 Latham's Snipe 1 15 31 13 3 Lesser Sandplover 0 00 000001000 0 0 000 0 0 Little Curlew Long-toed Stint Marsh Sandpiper 0 00 000000000 0 0 000 0 62 Masked Lapwing 62 200 21 0844306 31115112 3 2 6 23 13 15 47 97 Oriental Plover Pacific Golden Plover 0 00 0000093410 8 0 0 000 0 0 Pectoral Sandpiper Pied Oystercatcher 264 89 0 7 206 63 26 16 56 663 2 33 48 0 0 002 0 20 Red Knot 0 00 0000019000 0 0 000 0 0 Red-capped Plover 36 69 0 7291214304 56 6 32 11 0 0 30 0 10 17 107 Red-kneed Dotterel 0 00 000000000 0 0 000 0 0 Red-necked Avocet 0 00 000000000 0 0 000 0 1 Red-necked Stint 660 420 0 0 0 115 52 140 180 10984 0 1200 44 0 0 410 0 0 53 1028 Ruddy Turnstone 0 14 0 23 0 31 0 0 1355 120 136 0 0 0 000 0 0 Ruff Sanderling 0 00 0 0 170 0 0 5 0 35 0 0 0 000 0 0 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 0 00 00000570721 0 0 000 7491 Sooty Oystercatcher 2 19 0 5101011329028 3 0 0 000 0 1 Terek Sandpiper 0 00 000000000 0 0 000 0 0 Wandering Tattler Whimbrel 0 00 000000 1 0 00 0 0 000 0 0 Wood Sandpiper Unidentified Shorebird 0 00000000 0 0000 000000 0 TOTAL 1080 834 21 76 363 210 324 192 272 15310 147 0 1658 140 25 63 470 40 27 139 2341 No. of species 10101776956 2050188 44543613
63 SUMMER 2008 VIC VIC Bellarine Peninsula Port Phillip Bay and doub and cs
Species SwanBay & MudIslands Lake Connewarre area Inlet Corner Inlet Anderson Inlet Shallow Par to Add East(need Port Phillip Laverton/Altona Werribee / Avalon Lake Smith Jack Reeve Lake River Glenelg to Bay Discovery Fitzroy RiverMouth Fairy Port Hamilton area Corangamite Lake Port Western Bay Asian Dowitcher Banded Lapwing Banded Stilt 0 0 00000 0000000 00 Bar-tailed Godwit 449 6 10070 0 58 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 110 0 0 402 Beach Stone-curlew Black-fronted Dotterel 0 7 0006027000000 00 Black-tailed Godwit 104 004800 6000000 00 Black-winged Stilt 29 400 0 0 3 207 42 208 0 0 1 0 91 4 40 0 Broad-billed Sandpiper Common Greenshank 56 154 77 146 95 1 9 17 0 3 9 2 19 1 0 67 Common Sandpiper 0 0 00030 1000000 00 Curlew Sandpiper 430 833 295 40 417 0 1030 1077 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1415 Double-banded Plover 4 8 60200 4200320004 Eastern Curlew 42 1 857 154 219 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 675 Great Knot 180 504200 0000000 00 Greater Sandplover 0 0 40000 0000000 00 Grey Plover 520 2500000 0000000 00 Grey-tailed Tattler 4 0 00200 0000000 039 Hooded Plover 6 0 72000 00034663000 Latham's Snipe 55 525 Lesser Sandplover 1 0 100000 0000000 03 Little Curlew Long-toed Stint Marsh Sandpiper 016400190191000000 00 Masked Lapwing 64 120 5 29 57 208 28 186 30 14 18 0 202 56 168 170 Oriental Plover Pacific Golden Plover 21 40 0 0 204 0 22 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 13 Pectoral Sandpiper 14 Pied Oystercatcher 14 12 1037 5 4 0 15 90 0 0 105 13 40 0 0 357 Red Knot 203 1100400 0000000 07 Red-capped Plover 407 229 20 6 35 13 25 88 55 0 12 39 327 0 450 97 Red-kneed Dotterel 0480000013002001000 Red-necked Avocet 0 0 000055175000000153 Red-necked Stint 2850 7142 15489 2128 3024 0 2810 11581 37 2212 0 223 1984 0 2791 5477 Ruddy Turnstone 340 300001 00000450018 Ruff Sanderling 001500270000002832320000 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 361 3145 25 200 91 102 304 2941 0 0 14 65 246 15 592 275 Sooty Oystercatcher 2 0 549 1 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 Terek Sandpiper 0 0 00000 0000000 00 Wandering Tattler 2 Whimbrel 0 0 80200 0000000 019 Wood Sandpiper Unidentified Shorebird 0 750 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTAL 4874 13072 29004 2715 4633 545 4360 16421 124 2229 448 399 3497 86 4056 9041 No. of species 21 19 20 10 21 8 12 17 4 3 10 10 15 5 6 17
64 SUMMER 2008 VIC WA Gippsland West coast ) amp
Species Bendigo Sewage Farm Hill Swan Kerang Lakes Albacutya Lake Hindmarsh Lake Bulloke Lake Wyn area Lake Wyn Douglas area (Wimmera) Mallacoota Mildura (Lake Ranfurly & Bysouth Sw Beach Mile 80 sth) Bay (Roebuck Point Bush Roebuck Bay Lakes Plain Coastal Swan Island & Rottnest River Swan Lakes & Yalgorup Peel Asian Dowitcher 23 Banded Lapwing 149 12 Banded Stilt 0 0 00000000 0 2 10 15 Bar-tailed Godwit 0 0 000000330 51719 19103 9879 0 6 13 Beach Stone-curlew Black-fronted Dotterel 29 0 00000000 0300 Black-tailed Godwit 0 0 00000000 52 1 685 0 0 6 Black-winged Stilt 26 58 0000000260 10 2 381 191 78 2419 Broad-billed Sandpiper 35 1 131 Common Greenshank 0 5 00000000 2534 3 560 22 22 46 Common Sandpiper 0 0 00000000 6326117 Curlew Sandpiper 0 0 00000000 3292 27 1403 0 30 76 Double-banded Plover 0 0 00000000 0000 Eastern Curlew 0 0 00000020 423 196 638 0 0 11 Great Knot 0 0 00000000128653 9489 21342 0 7 10 Greater Sandplover 0 0 00000000 22885 5258 4513 0 0 1 Grey Plover 0 0 00000000 1146 260 254 0 24 18 Grey-tailed Tattler 0 0 00000000 7950 196 2765 0 1 5 Hooded Plover 0 0 00000000 00076 Latham's Snipe Lesser Sandplover 0 0 00000000 7124340 2 0 Little Curlew 784 37 1229 Long-toed Stint 14 Marsh Sandpiper 0 7 00000000 127 0 0 0 3 Masked Lapwing 0 43 000000554 0000 Oriental Plover 17452 5364 1373 Pacific Golden Plover 0 0 00000000 73 33 39 1 2 0 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Pied Oystercatcher 0 0 000000130 809 365 36 0 84 7 Red Knot 0 0 00000000 23123 27 3171 0 0 14 Red-capped Plover 15 32 000000082 6752 1480 1682 800 162 112 Red-kneed Dotterel 19 0 00000000 0100 Red-necked Avocet 0 0 0000000173 39 29 13 295 Red-necked Stint 5 108 00000000 28443 1905 4384 66 1225 5962 Ruddy Turnstone 0 0 00000000 2433 189 287 0 55 0 Ruff Sanderling 0 0 00000000 3605 1129 0 0 64 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 0 12 000000064 205 263 2 1 1952 Sooty Oystercatcher 0 0 00000030 25 33 0 0 0 Terek Sandpiper 0 0 00000000 4628 199 726 0 2 0 Wandering Tattler Whimbrel 0 0 00000000 363 379 1188 0 0 4 Wood Sandpiper 267 Unidentified Shorebird 0000000000 0 0 0 0 5 0 TOTAL 94 414 0 0 0 0 0 0 56 633 307536 46040 57061 1120 1806 11057 No. of species 5800000055 282626132023
65 SUMMER 2008 WA New areas North West
Species Broadwater (Busselton) Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary Albany Inlet Wilson Bay Shark Broome Coast north of 80 Mile Dampier Peninsula Garden Island Hutt Lagoon Lake Gore Roebuck Plains Lakes Warden Lakes (Esperance) (WA) Inlet Barker Asian Dowitcher Banded Lapwing 7 Banded Stilt 0 3 0 0 0 0 150 32 200 0 Bar-tailed Godwit 0 0 14 0 3056 52 852 0 0 0 0 0 Beach Stone-curlew Black-fronted Dotterel 122 00113 20202120 Black-tailed Godwit 0 0 00 0 000 00 Black-winged Stilt 0 800 0 78 126 23 0 77 5 252 0 0 Broad-billed Sandpiper Common Greenshank 0 8358176 565046900 Common Sandpiper 0 107131617109031210 Curlew Sandpiper 0 1 10 2115 10350100 Double-banded Plover 0 0 00 89 000 00 Eastern Curlew 0 0 10 0 522 000 00 Great Knot 0 0 119 2 167 211 415 1 0 3 0 0 0 Greater Sandplover 0 0 24 0 1099 1244 933 179 0 0 0 0 0 Grey Plover 0 0 65 0 513 31 74 24 0 1 0 14 0 0 Grey-tailed Tattler 0 0 10 0 63 8 143 102 0 0 0 0 0 Hooded Plover 0 0 00573 000 652 Latham's Snipe 0 Lesser Sandplover 0 0 40 7392000 00 Little Curlew 24 727 330 0 Long-toed Stint 35 0 Marsh Sandpiper 0 1 00 8 2 00017700 Masked Lapwing 0 0 02 1 44 000370 Oriental Plover 0 14 14 0 Pacific Golden Plover 0 0 210 14121000100 Pectoral Sandpiper 13 1 Pied Oystercatcher 0 0 164 21 29 78 7 2 0 0 0 0 Red Knot 0 0 10281 27000 00 Red-capped Plover 69 200 23 98 312 109 548 50 12 133 0 24 18 0 Red-kneed Dotterel 0 0 00624 000300 Red-necked Avocet 0250421 600506 00 Red-necked Stint 207 802 535 368 1 302 483 23 0 86 0 21 10 17 Ruddy Turnstone 0 0 2 0 4177 157 237 39 0 11 0 0 0 Ruff 119 2 Sanderling 0 0 0 0 251 208 23 1 4 33 0 0 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 0 21561643315060430014 Sooty Oystercatcher 0 0 133306533200 00 Terek Sandpiper 0 0 10 4 24 000 00 Wandering Tattler 7 Whimbrel 0 0 5 0 25 96 34 0 0 0 0 0 Wood Sandpiper 141 138 Unidentified Shorebird 0 0 8 5 408 000000000 TOTAL 288 1948 1120 775 12640 3369 4125 647 24 565 83 1478 244 83 No. of species 3 11 20 12 28 25 19 20 5 14 6 19 7 3
66 SUMMER 2008 WA TOTAL South West South
Species Harry Davies Farm Helm's Lake Lake Banje-Benjenup Stokes Inlet LakeWagin Lake Bannitup Woodman Point areas shorebird ALL Asian Dowitcher 0 Banded Lapwing 0 Banded Stilt 0 0 70 0 1080 2 0 1152 Bar-tailed Godwit 0000000 0 Beach Stone-curlew 0 Black-fronted Dotterel 0000000 0 Black-tailed Godwit 0000000 0 Black-winged Stilt 0040000 4 Broad-billed Sandpiper 0 Common Greenshank 0000100 1 Common Sandpiper 0000000 0 Curlew Sandpiper 005003080 88 Double-banded Plover 0000000 0 Eastern Curlew 0000000 0 Great Knot 0000002 2 Greater Sandplover 0000000 0 Grey Plover 0000004 4 Grey-tailed Tattler 0000001 1 Hooded Plover 93900000 48 Latham's Snipe 0 Lesser Sandplover 0000000 0 Little Curlew 000000 0 Long-toed Stint 000000 0 Marsh Sandpiper 0000000 0 Masked Lapwing 0000000 0 Oriental Plover 000000 0 Pacific Golden Plover 0000000 0 Pectoral Sandpiper 0 Pied Oystercatcher 0000000 0 Red Knot 0000000 0 Red-capped Plover 39 73 23 0 55 27 22 239 Red-kneed Dotterel 0000000 0 Red-necked Avocet 0000000 0 Red-necked Stint 78 130 127 0 195 2000 1 2531 Ruddy Turnstone 0000008 8 Ruff 0 Sanderling 0000005 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 1404087110 116 Sooty Oystercatcher 0000000 0 Terek Sandpiper 0000000 0 Wandering Tattler 0 Whimbrel 0000000 0 Wood Sandpiper 0 Unidentified Shorebird 0000000 3535 TOTAL 140 242 278 0 1448 2048 43 918827 No. of species 4360657 43
67 Appendix 3: Example Site Map: Shallow Inlet Example of the mapping and instructions being created for each shorebird area to identify areas and allow for increased standardisation of surveys.
Shallow Inlet shorebird area: Count Areas mapped above and below
68
69
SHALLOW INLET INSTRUCTIONS:
Coordinator / main contact: Rob Clemens [email protected]
How surveys are conducted: Surveys are done by four teams using both boat walking surveys. Two teams should walk SHI 01 and SHI 02; both should be dropped off at the end of the spit with a boat and walk back toward sandy point on either side of the spit as soon as the tide peaks. One team should walk the shoreline along the western side of SHI 04 and SHI 05, with care to survey within the saltmarsh (a wet and muddy hike that should be started well before high tide in order to get to the NW boundary of SHI 05 an hour before high tide, then walk slowly back to the boat launch area. The remaining areas should be surveyed by boat, starting at least one or two hours before high tide taking care to survey as much of the areas that are not under water within these areas, starting at the tip of the spit and working NW.
Access / restrictions / contacts: There are no restrictions or permissions required to survey at this site, but access by foot or vehicle is restricted by terrain and limited road access. Surveys start at Sandy Point, and boats are launched from SHI04.
Additional Information: A boat is available for just over $100 / per day from the Sandy Point Store (03) 5684 1362
Count Area Names, codes from the maps and locations:
Shallow Inlet Western salt marsh SHI07 -38.81295 146.14155 Shallow Inlet Central flats neap roost SHI05 -38.82032 146.1574 Shallow Inlet Far north-west end flats SHI10 -38.79637 146.1307 Shallow Inlet Northern small spit roost SHI08 -38.80283 146.1406 Shallow Inlet Flats north of boat ramp SHI04 -38.83194 146.15678 Shallow Inlet Shallow Inlet: Sandy Point - inland side SHI02 -38.85112 146.16044 Shallow Inlet South-east flats SHI03 -38.83798 146.16733 Shallow Inlet Shallow Inlet: Sandy Point SHI01 -38.85133 146.15322 Shallow Inlet North-east flats neap roost SHI06 -38.80845 146.15926 Shallow Inlet Far north flats SHI09 -38.7959 146.13947
70 Appendix 4: Change in shorebird numbers at inland wetlands of southern Australia; comparisons of average maximum summer count from the 1980’s and the counts from the same areas in the summer of 2008-2009 NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW SA SA SA SA SA SA Barren Box Swamp Box Barren Swamp Box Barren SwampFivebough SwampFivebough Nericon Swamp Nericon Swamp Tullakool Saltworks Tullakool Saltworks Bool lagoon Bool Lagoon Lake Eliza Lake Eliza Lake George Lake George N of annual counts in 1980's 31 71 41 41 51 31 71 year Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Banded Lapwing 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Banded Stilt 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 2 0 1667 0 8376 0 Bar-tailed Godwit 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Black-fronted Dotterel 27 14030 00 10 00 10 Black-tailed Godwit 00 10 30 10 00 00 00 Black-winged Stilt 84 10 206 0 41 0 413 250 111 0 12 0 2 0 Common Greenshank 34 7 12 0 1 0 52 2 25 0 0 0 91 25 Common Sandpiper 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 Curlew Sandpiper 0 0 2 0 0 0 60 0 1 0 0 5 994 0 Double-banded Plover 00 00 00 00 10 00 10 Eastern Curlew 00 00 00 70 00 00 00 Great Knot 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 Grey Plover 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 Hooded Plover 00 00 00 00 30 10 42 Latham's Snipe 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Lesser Sandplover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Little Curlew 0000000 Long-toed Stint 0100000 Marsh Sandpiper 1 0 50 0 28 0 44 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 Masked Lapwing 3 25 55 37 9 0 68 2 1080 0 1 49 66 26 Oriental Plover 0000000 Pacific Golden Plover 00 10 00 00 00 09010 Pectoral Sandpiper 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Pied Oystercatcher 00000010000000 Red Knot 00 00 00 00 00 00 160 Red-capped Plover 2 25 37 2 50 0 414 100 55 0 1 259 176 93 Red-kneed Dotterel 17 2 60 14 11 0 9 7 8 0 0 0 2 0 Red-necked Avocet 1 1 63 0 42 0 230 0 7 0 29 0 116 1 Red-necked Stint 0 0 3 0 3 0 58 300 11 0 0 692 4170 1081 Ruddy Turnstone 00 10 00 00 50 00 00 Ruff 0101000 Sanderling 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 10 0 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 82 3 527 6 248 0 701 70 253 0 0 50 1139 0 Sooty Oystercatcher 00000010000000 Wood Sandpiper 0 7 0 0 1 0 0 unidentified 6 0 14 0 8 0 8 0 10 0 6 0 14 8 TOTAL 232 80 1053 63 446 0 2087 740 1608 0 1716 1145 15179 1236
71
SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA VIC VIC VIC VIC Lake Hawdon Lake Hawdon Lake Robe Lake Robe Lake St Clair Lake St Clair Mullins Swamp Mullins Swamp Nadzab Lagoon Nadzab Lagoon Bendigo Sewage Farm Bendigo Sewage Farm (Wimmera) area Douglas (Wimmera) area Douglas N of annual counts in 1980's 21 41 11 51 41 41 81 year Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Banded Lapwing 0000000 Banded Stilt 0 0 75 0 0 0 29 0 250 0 0 0 2574 0 Bar-tailed Godwit 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 Black-fronted Dotterel 14000 00 00 00 542930 Black-tailed Godwit 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Black-winged Stilt 0 1 11 0 0 0 83 0 0 0 62 26 1 0 Common Greenshank 21 11 0 0 2 0 46 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Common Sandpiper 10 00 00 00 00 10 00 Curlew Sandpiper 1 0 0 0 0 0 143 0 5 0 1 0 1 0 Double-banded Plover 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 Eastern Curlew 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Great Knot 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Grey Plover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Hooded Plover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Latham's Snipe 0000010 Lesser Sandplover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Little Curlew 0000000 Long-toed Stint 0000000 Marsh Sandpiper 00 00 00 10 00 10 00 Masked Lapwing 32 84 11 16 0 23 129 0 9 0 116 0 81 0 Oriental Plover 0000000 Pacific Golden Plover 00 00 078 00 00 00 00 Pectoral Sandpiper 0003000 Pied Oystercatcher 00000000000000 Red Knot 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Red-capped Plover 5 37 37 25 0 33 0 0 163 0 0 15 114 0 Red-kneed Dotterel 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 57 19 1 0 Red-necked Avocet 0 0 13 0 0 0 82 0 0 0 3 0 20 0 Red-necked Stint 20 0 690 0 0 13 327 0 114 0 5 5 45 0 Ruddy Turnstone 00000000000000 Ruff 0000000 Sanderling 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 0 0 25 0 0 0 224 0 4 0 40 0 25 0 Sooty Oystercatcher 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Wood Sandpiper 0002000 unidentified 4 0 8 0 2 0 10 0 8 0 8 0 16 0 TOTAL 95 133 871 41 4 147 1098 0 552 0 349 94 2880 0
72 VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC Hamilton Hamilton Jack Smith Lake Lake Smith Jack Lakes Kerang Lakes Kerang Albacutya Lake Albacutya Lake Buloke Lake Lake Bulloke Lake Corangamite area Lake Corangamite area Lake Hindmarsh Lake Hindmarsh N of annual counts in 1980's 21 41 51 51 41 51 41 year Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Banded Lapwing 0080030 Banded Stilt 1 0 0 0 343 0 0 0 0 0 1814 0 1 0 Bar-tailed Godwit 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Black-fronted Dotterel00006090100080 Black-tailed Godwit 00 00 10 10 00 00 00 Black-winged Stilt 30 4 5 0 271 0 67 0 291 0 286 40 39 0 Common Greenshank 01 60 90 20 50 10 20 Common Sandpiper 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 Curlew Sandpiper 0 0 75 0 536 0 17 0 30 0 652 0 19 0 Double-banded Plover 00 12 10 00 00 00 00 Eastern Curlew 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Great Knot 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Grey Plover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Hooded Plover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Latham's Snipe 0001000 Lesser Sandplover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Little Curlew 0010000 Long-toed Stint 0000000 Marsh Sandpiper 0 0 1 0 38 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 Masked Lapwing 222 56 61 30 88 0 39 0 218 0 125 168 37 0 Oriental Plover 01300000 Pacific Golden Plover 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 Pectoral Sandpiper 0010000 Pied Oystercatcher 00000000000000 Red Knot 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 Red-capped Plover 30 0 33 55 378 0 140 0 265 0 71 450 61 0 Red-kneed Dotterel 1 10 1 0 17 0 53 0 8 0 0 0 42 0 Red-necked Avocet 12 0 0 0 244 0 138 0 381 0 11 15 168 0 Red-necked Stint 1 0 913 37 681 0 86 0 3 0 1177 2791 54 0 Ruddy Turnstone 00000000000000 Ruff 00100000000 Sanderling 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 2 15 191 0 1857 0 194 0 3019 0 1324 592 75 0 Sooty Oystercatcher 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Wood Sandpiper 0000000 unidentified 4 0 8 0 10 0 10 0 8 0 10 0 8 0 TOTAL 301 86 1310 124 4487 0 761 0 4232 0 5478 4056 514 0
73 VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC WA WA WA WA VIC VIC WA WA Lake Wyn Wyn area Lake Wyn Wyn area Mildura Mildura Swan Hill Swan Hill Lake Gore Lake Gore Warden Lakes Warden Lakes Lake Reeve Lake Reeve Swan CoastalPlain Lakes Swan CoastalPlain Lakes N of annual counts in 1980's 61 41 41 31 41 51 91 year Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Banded Lapwing 0 76 0 149 0 0 2 Banded Stilt 5207 0 534 0 37 0 378 32 950 200 0 0 192 2 Bar-tailed Godwit 00 00 00 00 10 00 10 Black-fronted Dotterel 17 0 16 0 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 19 3 Black-tailed Godwit 00 10 10 00 00 00 10 Black-winged Stilt 56 0 222 260 152 58 0 5 5 0 0 0 2013 191 Common Greenshank 1 0 40 0 6 5 6 6 35 0 12 3 40 22 Common Sandpiper 00 10 00 11 31 00 11 Curlew Sandpiper 5 0 27 0 222 0 7 0 19 0 3 0 226 0 Double-banded Plover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Eastern Curlew 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Great Knot 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Grey Plover 00 00 00 00 10 00 10 Hooded Plover 0 0 0 0 0 0 131 0 106 6 0 0 1 0 Latham's Snipe 0 0 0 0 0 Lesser Sandplover 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Little Curlew 00000 Long-toed Stint 0 0 0 0 0 17 1 Marsh Sandpiper 1 0 25 0 37 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 Masked Lapwing 77 0 150 54 227 43 0 0 0 7 8 14 0 0 Oriental Plover 0 0 0 0 0 Pacific Golden Plover 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 Pectoral Sandpiper 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Pied Oystercatcher 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Red Knot 00 00 00 00 13000 00 Red-capped Plover 243 0 175 82 240 32 165 0 53 18 13 0 614 800 Red-kneed Dotterel 11 0 96 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 Red-necked Avocet 17 0 525 173 61 0 3 6 37 0 0 0 433 29 Red-necked Stint 120 0 149 0 355 108 237 0 265 10 928 2212 1443 66 Ruddy Turnstone 00000000000000 Ruff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Sanderling 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 302 0 251 64 238 12 0 0 51 0 361 0 177 2 Sooty Oystercatcher 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Wood Sandpiper 0 1 0 0 0 13 unidentified 12 0 8 0 8 0 6 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 TOTAL 6068 0 2294 633 1601 414 935 83 1548 244 1323 2229 5206 1120
74 SA SA SA SA Lake Newland Lake Newland Total Total Coorong Coorong N of annual counts in 1980's 1 1 various 1 5 1 year Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Avg 80's 2009 Banded Lapwing 2 89 151 50 Banded Stilt 2400 304 24830 542 18591 170024 Bar-tailed Godwit 0 0 22 0 3 Black-fronted Dotterel 0 0 171 41 7 Black-tailed Godwit 0 0 10 0 64 Black-winged Stilt 0 5 4379 850 263 341 Common Greenshank 2 0 416 82 270 382 Common Sandpiper 0 0 10 3 3 Curlew Sandpiper 62 0 3107 5 10647 41 Double-banded Plover 0 0 5 2 0 1 Eastern Curlew 0 0 7 0 8 47 Great Knot 0 0 1 0 2 Grey Plover 0 5 3 5 1 Hooded Plover 0 6 246 14 59 30 Latham's Snipe 4 0 1 Lesser Sandplover 0 6 0 6 0 Little Curlew 1 0 0 Long-toed Stint 18 1 0 Marsh Sandpiper 0 0 245 16 2 1 Masked Lapwing 24 72 2930 706 553 402 Oriental Plover 13 0 5 Pacific Golden Plover 0 0 7 169 128 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 7 1 0 Pied Oystercatcher 0 25 1 25 344 118 Red Knot 0 0 30 0 25 Red-capped Plover 423 90 3955 2116 2016 1075 Red-kneed Dotterel 0 0 418 53 6 4 Red-necked Avocet 100 142 2733 367 1824 186 Red-necked Stint 1400 444 13256 7759 21180 3355 Ruddy Turnstone 0 0 6 0 1 Ruff 0 0 3 0 0 Sanderling 0 304 44 337 271 87 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 192 0 11417 814 15872 3009 Sooty Oystercatcher 0 16 1 16 9 11 Wood Sandpiper 24 0 1 1 unidentified 0 51 216 59 10 313 TOTAL 4603 1472 68595 14140 72213 179431
75 Appendix 5: Gulf of St Vincent - report summary (entire report available on request) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Shorebirds (also known as “waders”) appear to be declining throughout the world, and their long-term survival will require the identification and protection of their habitat. The importance of migratory shorebird conservation has been recognised in several international conservation agreements that Australia has signed, as well as Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 which recognises migratory shorebirds as species of national significance. To achieve the protection of migratory shorebirds, managers and planners first need to be able to identify the areas that are important for shorebirds. This report: (a) describes two workshops conducted to raise awareness of the need for shorebird conservation and to recruit and train new counters; (b) describes the number of people involved and the methods used in the most complete known shorebird count ever conducted in Gulf St Vincent; (c) describes the methods and results of mapping important shorebird habitat in Gulf St Vincent (maps and attributes of shorebird areas are provided in the appendices); and (d) provides management-relevant information on shorebirds and the threats they face in Gulf St Vincent with additional references on where to get further information.
Gulf St Vincent supports internationally significant numbers of migratory shorebirds, which feed and roost on its extensive mudflats, sandy beaches, salt-marshes and commercial saltfields. The needs of resident shorebirds are met by habitats both along the sandy coastline and within associated environments.
The results of this summers workshops, monitoring, habitat mapping and information review reached out to 110 potential counters, 28 of which were known to have taken part in a count. As a result, 32 discrete count areas that provide important habitat for shorebirds in Gulf St Vincent were identified, including two with high shorebird abundance that had never been surveyed before. The only areas identified as highly threatened in the region were Port Prime, a beach where high visitation is likely to cause reduced breeding success, wader feeding and roosting; and St Kilda and the Coobowie Inlet, two areas highly threatened by human-induced habitat loss. An additional 17 areas were identified as holding both migratory and resident shorebirds under moderate threat from disturbance, pollution, invasive species and the like. Additional threats were believed to be relatively low for the remaining shorebird areas; however, the habitats hold significant numbers of shorebirds will need to continue to be protected completely if shorebird populations are to be maintained in Gulf St Vincent.
We commend current councils and land managers for the progressive steps they have already taken to protect shorebirds in Gulf St Vincent. This report describes the shorebird surveys conducted in Gulf St Vincent in the summer of 2008–2009, and our efforts to recruit and train new counters. The report also identifies shorebird habitat in more detail than has been done previously so that it can be considered specifically in planning and management activities. Further, it is hoped that a review of potential local threats to shorebirds, together with sources for further information, will be useful for the protection of the shorebirds which inhabit Gulf St Vincent.
76 office use shorebird visit Id: Count form observer details For detailed instructions on how to fill out this form refer to “Count Form Instructions” Full Phone name: number: If more than one observer, only name the count leader or main contact total no. years of email: counting experience observers of most exp. counter
TIME & date daY MONTH YEAR hour mins hour mins TIME STARTed: TIME finished: SURVEY DATE: (24 hour clock) (24 hour clock)
survey details If count was conducted in a Shorebirds 2020 count area (count area names and maps available at www.shorebirds.org.au) yes or no SHOREBIRD Count complete coverage of AREA AREA mapped count area?
OR If count was NOT conducted in a Shorebirds 2020 count area: lat/ site name long % E.g. n, ne, nne l,B,A Tide Height in metres Survey AREA under water wind STATE Height or rising, high, type(land, boat, air) falling or low (wetlands only) direction
20 - 28 kph wind 0 - 5 kph (flat to ripples / 6 - 11 kph (small wavelets, crests 12 - 19 kph (large wavelets, crests speed wind not felt on face) not breaking / wind felt on face) begin to break / leaves in motion) (small waves / dust, small
29 - 38 kph (moderate waves, some 39 - 49 kph (large waves with foam,crests >50 kph (sea heaps up, foam beings to foam & spray / small trees sway) and spray / large branches in motion) streak / strong resistance while walking)
Human activity Write down the number of times the following were observed during the count within the count area: people moving boats - at anchor jet ski
people fishing boats - moving atv/motorcycle
dogs - off lead boats - waterskiing cars/trucks
dogs - on lead boats - very loud/fast other (specify)
number of flights Caused by disturbance:
th r e a t s Add timing, scale and severity scores to obtain a total threat score for each threat type TOTA L THREAT timing Scale severity 3 = Occurring now 3 = Will persist for <10 years 3 = >90% population decline S C ORES 2 = Likely to occur within 1-3 years 2 = will persist for next 3 years 2 = 50-90% population decline 0-5 = low threat 1 = Likely to occur in >3 years 1 = unlikely to persist for <3 years 1 = 10-49% population decline 6-7 = medium threat 0 = Not occuring, not likely to 0 = no/imperceptible deterioration 0 = 0-9 % population decline 8-9 = high threat occur in future Habitat Loss + + =
Human D isturbance + + =
Invasive S pecies + + =
Pollution + + =
water level + + =
habitat change yes or no % has habitat changed since last count?: area affected by habitat change: (area used by shorebirds only) Type of habitat change: (mark all that apply) urban development (within 200m) reclamation harvesting/fishing
fish farming/aquaculture change in water levels Erosion pollution
encroachment from native vegetation Invasive species/introduced pests Algal blooms Count forms, count area maps, instructions at www.shorebirds.org.au. Return form to Shorebirds 2020, Birds Australia, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria, 3053. Ph (03) 9347 0757. Email: [email protected]. Online data entry form at http://data.shorebirds.org.au/ shorebirds B = breeding; please enter comments below geese, swans, ducks, grebes Enter ‘P’ for present in box where a species was present but not counted stoneS-curltone-curlewsews Little Curlew B Magpie Goose B Cattle Egret B Bush Stone-curlew Whimbrel B Plumed Whistling-duck B White-faced Heron B Beach Stone-curlew Eastern Curlew B Musk Duck B Little Egret oystercatchers, stilts Terek Sandpiper B Cape Barren Goose B Nankeen Night Heron B Aust. Pied Oystercatcher Common Sandpiper B Black Swan B Glossy Ibis B Sooty Oystercatcher Grey-tailed Tattler B Australian Shelduck B Australian White Ibis B Black-winged Stilt Wandering Tattler B Australian Wood Duck B Straw-necked Ibis B Banded Stilt Common Greenshank B Pink-eared Duck B Royal Spoonbill B Red-necked Avocet Marsh Sandpiper B Australasian Shoveler B Yellow-billed Spoonbill plovers, dotterels, lapwings Common Redshank B Grey Teal B Purple Swamphen Pacific Golden Plover Wood Sandpiper B Chestnut Teal B Dusky Moorhen Grey Plover Ruddy Turnstone B Northern Mallard B Eurasian Coot Little Ringed Plover Asian Dowitcher B Pacific Black Duck gulls, te rns B Red-capped Plover Great Knot B Hardhead B Little Tern Double-banded Plover Red Knot B Blue-billed Duck B Fairy Tern Lesser Sand Plover Sanderling B Australasian Grebe B Caspian Tern Greater Sand Plover Red-necked Stint B Hoary-headed Grebe B Whiskered Tern Oriental Plover Long-toed Stint B Great Crested Grebe B White-fronted Tern B Black-fronted Dotterel Pectoral Sandpiper gannets, cormorants B Common Tern B Hooded Plover Sharp-tailed Sandpiper B Australasian Gannet B Crested Tern B Red-kneed Dotterel Curlew Sandpiper B Australasian Darter B Pacific Gull B Banded Lapwing Broad-billed Sandpiper B LIttle Pied Cormorant B Kelp Gull B Masked Lapwing Ruff B Great Cormorant B Silver Gull jacana Red-necked Phalarope B Little Black Cormorant extra birds not listed above F X B B Comb-crested Jacana pratincoles B Pied Cormorant B snipe, painted snipe Oriental Pratincole B Black-faced Cormorant B B Australian Painted Snipe B Australian Pratincole Pelican, herons, Allies B Latham’s Snipe un i d e n ti f ie d B Australian Pelican B godwits, curlews, sandpipers, allies Unident. small wader B White-necked Heron tBot al b i rds Black-tailed Godwit Unident. med. wader B Eastern Great Egret Total shorebirds Bar-tailed Godwit Unident. large wader B Intermediate Egret Total other birds
comments Enter comments, extra species counts, presence of dead birds, details of habitat change, disturbances and threats here. Attach additional pages if neccessary. yes or no ALL ShoreBIRDS VISIBLE/COUNTED?
yes or no Complete water- bird COUNT? Workshop Schedule summer 2009/10
2009 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Aug 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31123 4 5 6 S2020 & BNB Coastal workshop Hobart, Tas AWSG conference Hobart AWSG conference Hobart Sep 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4 Clarence Estuary, NSW Merimbula, NSW Oct 5678 9 10 11 Hunter Estuary, NSW 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Darwin, NT Darwin, NT 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
Nov 2345 6 7 8 QWSG Moreton Bay workshop 9101112 13 14 15 Western Treatment Plant, Vic 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Eyre Peninsula Eyre Peninsula 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30123 4 5 6
Dec 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31 1 2 3
Jan 4567 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 *Flinders Island, Tas workshop & survey Mid-Jan TBC 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Feb 1234 5 6 7 *Great Sandy Strait, Qld date in Feb TBC 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Other summer 2009/10 workshops planned: Townsville, Qld workshops 1 & 2 Botany Bay, NSW workshops 1 & 2 Vasse-Wonerup,WA Port Fairy, Vic Inverloch, Vic second workshop Western Treatment Plant, Vic State Shorebird Area First Name Last Name Email Phone Alt. phone Mobile NSW Barren Box Swamp Max O'Sullivan [email protected] 02 6953 7376 02 6953 7376 NSW Batemans Bay Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NSW Bellambi Point Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NSW Botany Bay Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NSW Brisbane Water Paul Shelly [email protected] 02 4324 7888 NSW Brunswick River estuary Jan Olley [email protected] 02 6680 3279 0417 693 372 NSW Camden Haven Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NSW Clarence River Greg Clancy [email protected] 02 6649 3153 NSW Dubbo Sewage Ponds Janice Hosking [email protected] 02 6887 2692 NSW Fivebough Swamp Mike Schultz [email protected] 02 6953 2541 0427 535 914 NSW Fletcher Lake Sunraysia BOCA [email protected] 03 5023 3278 03 5025 3773 NSW Hastings River Bryce Taylor [email protected] 02 6584 5158 NSW Hunter Estuary Liz Crawford [email protected] 02 4959 3663 NSW Lake Bathurst Michael Lenz [email protected] NSW Lake Illawarra Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NSW Lake MacQuarie entrance Liz Crawford [email protected] 02 4959 3663 NSW Manning River Estuary Winston Filewood [email protected] 02 6553 4294 NSW Moruya Estuary Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NSW Nambucca River Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NSW Nericon Swamp Max O'Sullivan [email protected] 02 6953 7376 02 6953 7376 NSW Parramatta River Judy Harrington [email protected] 0403 026 660 NSW Port Stephens Alan Stuart [email protected] 02 4952 8569 NSW Richmond River estuary Hans Lutter [email protected] 02 6628 8859 NSW Shoalhaven Estuary Phil Craven [email protected] 02 4422 2345 NSW The Broadwater (NSW) Greg Clancy [email protected] 02 6649 3153 NSW Tuggerah Lakes Alan Morris [email protected] 02 4334 2776 NSW Tullakool Saltworks Tom Wheller 03 5881 4228 03 5898 3000 NSW Tweeds Estuary Linda Brannian [email protected] 02 6672 3006 NSW Ulladulla Margaret Hamon [email protected] 02 4457 1129 NSW Wallis Lake (Pelican Island) Phil Straw [email protected] 02 9597 7765 NT Darwin Harbour Gavin O'Brien [email protected] 08 8927 9284 0437 400 467 NT North Darwin Gavin O'Brien [email protected] 08 8927 9284 0437 400 467 QLD Alva Beach George Baker [email protected] QLD Armstrong Beach Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Blakeys Crossing Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Bowen Jon Wren [email protected] QLD Burdekin River Delta George Baker [email protected] QLD Bushland Beach John Lowry [email protected] QLD Cairns area Alan Gillanders [email protected] 07 4095 3784 0408 953 786 QLD Camila Beach Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Gladstone Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Great Sandy Strait Dawn Beck [email protected] 07 3378 8598 QLD Ince Bay Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Island Head Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Kinka Beach Dawn Beck [email protected] 07 3378 8598 QLD Lake Moondarra Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Mackay Dawn Beck [email protected] 07 3378 8598 QLD Magnetic Island George Baker [email protected] QLD Maroochy River Dawn Beck [email protected] 07 3378 8598 QLD Moreton Bay Dawn Beck [email protected] 07 3378 8598 QLD Port Clinton Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Reeves Lake Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Repulse Bay Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD SE Gulf of Carpentaria Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Shoalwater Roger Jaensh [email protected] 0427 884 979 QLD Toogoom to Point Vernon Dawn Beck [email protected] 07 3378 8598 QLD Townsville (Ross River area) Peter Driscoll [email protected] QLD Cleveland Bay (mudflats, mangroves & ponds) Rosemary Payet [email protected] QLD Yarrawonga Point Rob Clemens [email protected] 03 9347 0757 QLD Bowling Green Bay (Cungulla) Len & Chris Ezzy [email protected] QLD Lucinda Ivor Preston [email protected] SA Baird Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA BHP Saltfields Peter Langdon [email protected] 08 8642 5723 SA Black Point (Yorke) Margie Tiller [email protected] SA Bool lagoon Jack&Pat Bourne 08 8764 7551 SA Canunda National Park Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Carpenter Rocks Jeff Campbell [email protected] SA Coobowie Inlet (Yorke Peninsula) Kent Treloar [email protected] 08 8853 2152 0418 800 785 SA Coorong Paul Wainwright [email protected] 08 8222 9493 0423 030 527 SA Eyre Island Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Fox and Pub Lakes Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Franklin Harbour Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Goldsmith Beach to Wattle Pt (Yorke) Kent Treloar [email protected] 08 8853 2152 0418 800 785 SA Guichen Bay Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Gulf of St Vincent James Cowie [email protected] 08 8263 2531 SA Gunyah Beach Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Horse Peninsula Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Kellidie Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Lake Eliza Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Lake George Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Lake Hawdon Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Lake Merreti James Cowie [email protected] 08 8263 2531 SA Lake Newland Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Lake Robe Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Lake St Clair Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Legoes Swamp Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Long Nose Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Mullins Swamp Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Munderoo Bay to Tickera Bay Travis Hague [email protected] 08 8843 4222 0407 799 611 SA Murat Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Nadzab Lagoon Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Pelican Lagoon Chris Baxter [email protected] 08 8553 5303 SA Pine Point (Yorke) Margie Tiller [email protected] 0409 867 006 SA Port MacDonnell Jeff Campbell [email protected] SA Port Victoria Kent Treloar [email protected] 08 8853 2152 0418 800 785 SA Rivoli Bay Maureen Christie [email protected] 08 8738 0014 SA Rush Lagoon Chris Baxter [email protected] 08 8553 5303 SA Sceale Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Sleaford Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA St Peter Island Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Stansbury / Oyster Point (Yorke) Kent Treloar [email protected] 08 8853 2152 0418 800 785 SA Streaky Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Tolderol Paul Wainwright [email protected] 08 8222 9493 0423 030 527 SA Tourville Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 SA Troubridge Island / Shoal (Yorke) Kent Treloar [email protected] 08 8853 2152 0418 800 785 SA Venus Bay Jane Cooper [email protected] 08 8685 2121 0429 908 884 TAS Cape Portland Ralph Cooper [email protected] 03 6330 1255 TAS Currie Harbour Roz Jessop [email protected] 03 5951 2843 0427 521 857 TAS Derwent Denis Charlesworth [email protected] 03 6245 1921 0405 065 805 TAS George Town Reserve Ralph Cooper [email protected] 03 6330 1255 TAS Georges Bay Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Great Musselroe Bay Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Kelso, Tamar Estuary Ralph Cooper [email protected] 03 6330 1255 TAS Lades Beach Peter Duckworth [email protected] 03 6356 1583 TAS Lake Dulverton Shirley Fish [email protected] 03 6254 1188 TAS Little Swanport Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Marion Bay & Blackmans Bay Denis Charlesworth [email protected] 03 6245 1921 0405 065 805 TAS Maurouard Beach Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Moorland Point Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Moulting Lagoon Stuart Blackhall [email protected] 03 6233 6585 TAS Narantapu National Park Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Ocean Beach Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Policemans Point Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Robbins Passage/Boullanger Bay Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Sandspit Point Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Scamander Eric Woehler [email protected] 03 6223 1980 0438 204 565 TAS Sea Elephant Roz Jessop [email protected] 03 5951 2843 0427 521857 TAS Yellow Rock Beach Roz Jessop [email protected] 03 5951 2843 0427 521857 VIC Anderson Inlet Jim & Anthea Whitelaw [email protected] 03 5674 3598 03 5674 3598 VIC Begola (Bellarine Peninsula) John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Belmont Common (Bellarine Peninsula) John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Bendigo Sewage Farm Jane Cleary [email protected] 03 5448 4396 03 5448 4396 VIC Black Rocks / Breamlea (Bellarine Peninsula) John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Corner Inlet Clive Minton [email protected] 03 9589 4901 03 9589 4901 VIC Discovery Bay to Glenelg River Rob Farnes [email protected] 03 5593 2434 03 5523 2060 VIC Douglas area (Wimmera) Richard/Margaret Alcorn [email protected] 03 9897 4483 VIC East Port Phillip Mike Carter [email protected] 03 9787 7136 VIC Fitzroy River Mouth Rob Farnes [email protected] 03 5593 2434 03 5523 2060 VIC Hamilton Jane Hayes [email protected] VIC Hattah Lake Sunraysia BOCA [email protected] 03 5023 3278 03 5025 3773 VIC Jack Smith Lake (Gippsland Lakes) Duncan Fraser [email protected] 03 5147 1671 VIC Kerang Lakes Simon Starr [email protected] 03 5455 7116 VIC Lake Albacutya (Wimmera) Richard/Margaret Alcorn [email protected] 03 9897 4483 VIC Lake Buloke (Wimmera) Richard/Margaret Alcorn [email protected] 03 9897 4483 VIC Lake Connewarre area John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Lake Corangamite area John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Lake Hindmarsh (Wimmera) Richard/Margaret Alcorn [email protected] 03 9897 4483 VIC Lake Lorne (Bellarine Peninsula) John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Lake Reeve (Gippsland Lakes) Duncan Fraser [email protected] 03 5147 1671 VIC Lake Wyn Wyn area (Wimmera) Richard/Margaret Alcorn [email protected] 03 9897 4483 VIC Laverton/Altona Ken Gosbell [email protected] 03 9729 5524 0429 804 524 VIC Loch Sport (Gippsland Lakes) Duncan Fraser [email protected] 03 5147 1671 VIC Mallacoota Bob Semmens 03 5158 0758 03 5158 0758 VIC Mildura Bill & Evelyn Williams [email protected] 03 5025 1378 VIC Moolap Saltworks John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Point Richards (Bellarine Peninsula) John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Port Fairy Rod Bird [email protected] 03 5572 3639 VIC Shallow Inlet Steve Johnson [email protected] 03 5243 8685 03 5672 1899 VIC St. Leonards Salt Lake (Bellarine Peninsula) John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Swan Bay & Mud Islands John Newman [email protected] 03 5243 8685 VIC Swan Hill Simon Starr [email protected] 03 5455 7116 VIC Telfer's Swamp Richard/Margaret Alcorn [email protected] 03 9897 4483 VIC Werribee / Avalon Danny Rogers [email protected] 03 9710 1345 0427 840 935 VIC Western Port Bay Xenia Dennett [email protected] 03 9457 2816 WA 80 Mile Beach Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Albany Anne Bondin [email protected] 08 9844 1793 WA Ashmore Reef Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Broadwater (Busselton) Kimberly Onton [email protected] 0428 880 580 WA Bush Point (south end Roebuck Bay) Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Cape Gordon to Cape Villaret Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Cooke Point Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Dampier Saltworks Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Esperance Ken Read [email protected] 08 9071 2280 0428 688 634 WA Finucane Island Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Garden Island Kimberly Onton [email protected] 0428 880 580 WA Herdsman Lake John Blyth [email protected] WA Hutt Lagoon Colin Heap [email protected] 08 9525 1114 08 9525 1114 WA Lacepedes Islands Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Lake Gore Ken Read [email protected] 08 9071 2280 0428 688 634 WA Lake MacLeod Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Nuytsland Nature Reserve Eyre Observatory [email protected] 08 9039 3450 WA Peel & Yalgorup Lakes Dick Rule [email protected] 08 9581 1894 WA Port Hedland Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Roebuck Bay Chris Hassell [email protected] 08 9192 8585 0408 954 655 WA Shark Bay Les George contact Kim Onton WA Swan Coastal Plain Lakes Kimberly Onton [email protected] 0428 880 580 WA Swan River & Rottnest Island Kimberly Onton [email protected] 0428 880 580 WA Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary Kimberly Onton [email protected] 0428 880 580 WA Warden Lakes (Esperance) Ken Read [email protected] 08 9071 2280 0428 688 634 WA Wilson Inlet Anne Bondin [email protected] 08 9844 1793 WA Woodman Point Robyn Pickering [email protected] 08 9417 2820 WA Yokinup Ken Read [email protected] 08 9071 2280 0428 688 634 Shorebirds 2020 Newsletter Autumn 2009 Marsh Sandpiper by Dean Ingwersen Shorebirder Update Don’t put those scopes away just yet... We are getting ready for the winter count season in Summer count wrap June/July. Winter counts provide data on residents and While the shorebird migrants have left our shores, overwintering migrants. Winter counts have been con- there are still plenty of shorebird happenings during ducted annually in some key sites and it is extremely Autumn. The Shorebirds 2020 team and dedicated vol- useful to continue this long-term count effort in these unteers have been very busy these past few months sites. They can give us an indication of the success entering all the count forms we have received from the or otherwise of the previous breeding season for mi- summer shorebird counts. This year, due to the won- grants. Reduced numbers of juvenile birds or an ab- derful effort by shorebird counters, around 150 sites sence of first-year juveniles can indicate a poor breed- were surveyed, which is more than double the number ing season. In addition, winter counts are important on of sites surveyed last year. Thank you very much to all the east coast for monitoring Double-banded Plovers the shorebird counters for helping achieve this fantas- that will soon be arriving from their breeding grounds in tic result! We will have a summary of count results for New Zealand. Contact us if you are interested in joining the next edition of the Shorebirds 2020 newsletter. in a winter count in your area.
Other happenings Geoff Taylor We are vey close to finishing the data entry website and snapped a should have this online in time for the winter counts. feeding The website will allow any shorebird counter to enter C o m m o n their data online instead of mailing in their forms to us. Greenshank Both the Shorebirds 2020 website and the “Shorebird (above) and Great Knot Conservation in Australia” Wingspan supplement are while conduct- being redesigned, and should be finished by the end ing monthly of June. We have produced a Shorebirds 2020 bro- shorebird sur- chure as well as a new “Shorebird identification and veys on Wil- counting resources” CD, which includes 6 Powerpoint son Inlet, Den- presentations on Shorebirds 2020, shorebird ecology mark, Western and conservation, and shorebird ID available for use by Australia all. Contact us if you would like copies of the brochure or the CD. The list of 150 priority shorebird sites and maps for these sites are being revised and will be avail- able by 30 June.
This project is supported by Birds Australia and the Australasian Wader Study Group, through funding from the Australian Govern- ment’s Caring for our Country and WWF- Australia Shorebird workshop Adelaide 14 March David Milton of the Australasian Wader Study Group spoke to delegates about “Life in the Fast Lane” for Shorebirds 2020 held a second workshop in Adelaide these migrants. North Queenslanders who would like - in March after the success of the first workshop in Feb to get involved in Shorebirds 2020 can contact Alan ruary. Lainie Berry gave presentations on the Shore- Gillanders: [email protected] (Cairns birds 2020 program, shorebird ecology and threats, region), or George Baker: [email protected] and Chris Purnell took participants through shorebird (Townsville region) or the Shorebirds 2020 team at the identification and count methods. Afterwards we vis- BA national office. ited Thompson Beach on the Gulf St Vincent, 1 hour north of Adelaide. Owing to huge tides that afternoon, Alan Gilland- both the birds and intrepid workshop participants re- ers address- treated inland to salt pan roost sites. The strong winds es workshop prevented us from getting a close look, but we saw audience several dozen Bar-tailed Godwits, plus some Com- (Jun Matsui). mon Greenshanks, Ruddy Turnstones, Red-capped Plovers, Red-necked Stints and Marsh Sandpipers. Thanks to the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges NRM On the Cairns Board for supporting this event. Contact Trevor Cow- esplanade ie [email protected] for more information on (Jun Matsui). shorebird counts in this region.
Shorebirders talk to pass- ers-by (Lain- ie Berry).
AWSG Shorebird conference Hobart, Tasmania 4–6 September 2009
The theme of the 7th Australasian Shorebird Confer- Chris Purnell leads shorebird workshop participants ence will be “Resident and Migratory Shorebirds – in ID and counting techniques (left), and participants Managing Their Future”. This will encompass several scan the saltpan behind Thompson Beach (right). Pic- inter-related themes including: tures: Lainie Berry •Future prospects for shorebirds in the East Asian Shorebird Workshop Cairns 22 March -Australasian Flyway •Knowledge gaps in regard to resident shorebirds Alan Gillanders, BANQ •Beach-nesting birds and sea level rise More than 70 bird watchers and passers-by gathered •Conservation status and threats to shorebirds on the Cairns Esplanade on Saturday to wave good- bye to the waders headed for Siberia and Alaska to The registration cost for delegates will be AUD$240 per breed. They have spent the southern summer growing person, and AUD$200 for students. The registration fat and resting before their long and dangerous flight fees include all conference costs, comprising a copy north. Earlier in the day 45 bird enthusiasts attended of the abstracts volume, morning, afternoon teas and a Shorebirds 2020 workshop. Support for the Birds lunches on both days, and tickets to the Conference Australia North Queensland group came from present- dinner and Icebreaker on the Friday evening. Addition- ers who travelled from Melbourne and Brisbane. Local al tickets for the dinner are available. The registration wader guru Keith Fisher took the participants through form is available from [email protected] the salient features used to differentiate the species in the field. Lainie Berry talked about shorebird threats For further information, see and declines, and the Shorebirds 2020 program. http://awsg.org.au/conferences.php Preserving estuary quality in the Murray Large-scale Wetland Reclamation Mouth Estuary: Justine Keuning, PhD candi- of Song Do Tidal Flat, Korea date, Flinders University The Coorong National Park and Murray Mouth Estu- The Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime ary in South Australia are wetlands of international im- Affairs has stated that construction of a large-scale (714 portance, and are known to be an important refuelling ha) reclamation project at Song Do, adjacent to the city site for migratory shorebirds in their annual migration. of Incheon, will start in June 2010. In a letter to the The Murray Mouth Estuary is currently under extreme Chair of the EAAF Partnership, the Chair of the AWSG environmental pressure following reduced flows of wa- Mr Ken Gosbell wrote: “The work the AWSG has con- ter over the barrages into the Coorong. This project is ducted in partnership with Birds Korea has shown that monitoring the health of the Murray Mouth Estuary as the reclamation area and the immediate adjacent tidal a feeding habitat for migratory shorebirds. flats supports over 18 000 shorebirds during northward migration, including 8000 Great Knots from Australia. Of the 20 shorebirds that utilise the wetlands, we have The reclamation site is of international importance for focused on six: Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sand- migratory waterbirds and WILL be important in main- piper, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black- taining some of the populations that spend their non- tailed Godwit and Common Greenshank. We studied breeding period in Australia”. their foraging behaviour and the availability of suitable mud-dwelling food in the mudflats they utilised in the Alison Russell-French, Birds Australia president, has over-wintering periods from 2006 to 2009. Videos of written a letter to the Republic of Korea government to the birds were taken to examine the birds’ feeding express her concern of the approval of the final stage behaviour, such as their foraging techniques, intake of the Song Do reclamation project on behalf of Birds rates and time spent foraging. Samples from the mud- Australia. “The reclamation decision is especially dis- flat were also taken to quantify how much food was appointing in view of the positive position adopted by available to them and to show the depth at which prey the Republic of Korea at the Ramsar Conference of the items are found in relation to the bill length of the six Parties held in Changwon” says Ms Russell-French. focal species. Altogether these investigations will yield She referred to Ramsar Resolution X.22, which wel- a comprehensive understanding on the value of the comes the statement by the Republic of Korea to the Murray Mouth estuary for shorebirds, and further our 35th meeting of Ramsar’s Standing Committee that understanding of trophic interactions in estuarine eco- intertidal mudflats should be preserved and that no systems. large-scale reclamation projects are now being ap- Murray River Mouth (below left) and Justine with a Red- proved in the Republic of Korea. “The approval of the necked Stint (below right). Song Do project is clearly in contradiction to this very positive statement made by your Government” wrote Ms Russell-French.
To keep up to date with developments, visit: www.birdskorea.org
Below left: Banded Stilt, Glenn Ehmke Below right: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Paul Wainwright EAAF symposia in Japan January 2009 Dr. Alexander Andreev from Russia gave a presenta- tion on Great Knot energetic requirements. He showed how Great Knots need at least one good refuelling stop Rob Clemens I had the pleasure of representing the AWSG and Birds to complete their migration. Another highlight was Dr. Australia at three meetings in Fukuoka, Japan in Janu- Gombobaatar’s presentation on the birds of Mongolia. It was a fascinating glimpse into a remote and beautiful ary this year. The first meeting included presentations on waterbird population monitoring activities through- area that supports unique birdlife. There has been very little work done on the shorebirds in Mongolia, and Dr. out the flyway by experts from Korea, Russia,- Mon golia, Australia and Japan. This was followed by an Gombobaatar is looking to hear from anyone inter- international symposium on monitoring activities and ested in some international collaboration on shorebird research. recent research from throughout the flyway, and finally a meeting that included poster session and presenta- tions from counters and researchers from Japan. In the end participants at these meetings all came away with a much improved understanding of the mon- Overall, I was struck by three things during these itoring activities happening in Japan, Australia, Korea, meetings. First, I knew of the increasing pressures China, Russia, and Mongolia. There was an agreed understanding of the important role international com- on migratory shorebird populations throughout the fly- way, but the scale of the loss was brought home at munication, cooperation, and collaboration can play in the meetings, and the threats seem more imposing waterbird conservation. when viewing some of the very urban landscapes left for shorebirds in some areas. Second, I was struck by the similarities in the challenges we face in Austra- lia and those faced in Japan. The common traits and challenges between Japan’s Monitoring 1000 project and the Shorebirds 2020 program were especially ob- vious and refreshing. Finally, I was struck by how a shared concern for waterbird conservation overcame the obvious language and cultural differences of those in attendance.
I came away with an improved understanding of some of the threats sites that outside Australia are facing. In Japan many shorebird sites appear to be threatened by Above: International symposium panel discussion encroaching urban development. In other areas there Below: Expert meeting participants are large-scale changes happening but it remains to be seen what impact these changes will have on shore- birds. One of the most pristine areas is the Awase tidal flat off the island of Okinawa, home to thousands of Pacific Golden Plovers and other shorebirds, which will be lost if development plans proceed there.
To sign a petition to oppose this “reclamation” project, visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ save-awase-tidal-flat
Shorebirds 2020 contacts: The Shorebirds Jo Oldand, Program Manager 2020 team from Rob Clemens, Technical Manager left: Rob, Ash, Ash Herrod, Project Officer Jo and Lainie Lainie Berry, Project Officer, newsletter Picture: Chris Ph (03) 9347 0757 Purnell Website www.shorebirds.org.au Email [email protected] Shorebirds 2020 Newsletter National Shorebird Monitoring Program Summer 08/09 Issue
Black-fronted Dotterel by Glenn Ehmke
THE FINAL PUSH - SUMMER 08/09 COUNT Northern Territory By Rob Clemens, Technical Manager, Shorebirds 2020 In the Northern Territory, Gavin O’Brien has taken over People have volunteered to do shorebird surveys this the count coordination from the Keates family, and has summer at an incredible 145 shorebird areas. This effort done an excellent job at both continuing the program there has been a remarkable demonstration of how volunteers and looking for ways to expand. acting together can make a huge impact toward shorebird conservation. South Australia In South Australia, there has been a remarkable effort at Please let me know if you were not able to get a count done counting led by Birds SA, Trevor Cowie, Jane Cooper, that you had hoped to complete. Also, if anyone is able to Paul Wainwright, and Maureen Christie. The information do a count in the next couple of weeks, the sites we still being collected is providing a more comprehensive would like covered are listed below (some of these may understanding of shorebird numbers and distribution in have been done already, we just have not had confirmation SA than ever achieved in the past. At a glance, the decline that data are coming). in Curlew Sandpiper has become so dramatic at some sites that statistics are hardly needed anymore to document the Western Australia changes, and inland wetlands are often too dry to support In NW WA Great Knot populations appear to have declined waders, with the health of the Coorong in particular by over 20%, most likely as a direct result of the habitat continuing to decline. loss in the Yellow Sea, notably Saemanguem. Also, this year a project in NW WA led by Chris Hassell and Danny Sites still to survey in South Australia Rogers led to a more complete count of habitats in that BHP Saltfields area than ever achieved. Elsewhere in WA, an expedition to Shark Bay has led to a much improved understanding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper by Danny Rogers of the shorebird distributions in this important area, and efforts are continuing in the region. Further south, the amount of data coming in will make a more complete count of the shorebirds found there than has been done in many years. The counts planned in the Esperance area, and other areas not visited for many years, will greatly enhance our big picture of shorebird populations.
Sites still to survey in Western Australia Dampier Saltworks Lacepedes Islands Lake MacLeod Port Hedland Lake Cooloongup Finucane Island Yokinup Herdsman Lake Cooke Point (near Port Headland) Stokes Inlet New South Wales Tasmania Counters have been busy completing monthly counts at In Tasmania, an area with some of the longest and most core sites. These more frequent counts provide a much more consistent data sets in the country, counts have continued at powerful dataset, and often allow for maximum summer these informative sites, with a few new areas being counted counts that are more reliable. There have been many new by a few more people. people and groups getting involved, and they have been sending count data (including historic data) from sites for Sites still to survey in Tasmania which we have not received data in years. Ocean Beach Lake Dulverton Sites still to survey in NSW Wallis Lake (Pelican Island) Nambucca River In summary... Fletcher Lake Batemans Bay This year there have been more shorebird surveys conducted The Broadwater (NSW) Bellambi Point and more people involved in counting than there has been Camden Haven Lake Illawarra since the early 1980’s. There have been many opportunistic surveys of shorebirds in areas that we currently do not have Queensland enough data to designate as important shorebird areas. The Queensland Wader Study Group continues to count The number of shorebirds using an area is an critical factor monthly at some of the nation’s largest and most important in determining an area’s importance, and is often one of the shorebird areas, and new people are getting involved first things looked at by people in government. from BOCA groups and BA NQ. A count by Wetlands International was completed for key parts of Shoalhaven. Your efforts are forming a powerful picture of declining shorebird populations, threats, and habitat loss in areas Sites still to survey in Queensland that no longer support shorebird populations. One Gladstone Lake Moondarra outcome, that perhaps we have known about for some Alva Beach Bushland Beach time but never fully appreciated, is the loss of shorebird Cooktown Reeves Lake habitats and shorebirds that were found in inland wetlands Armstrong Beach Blakeys Crossing in SE Australia. In the 1980’s these areas supported tens of Yarrawonga Point Magnetic Island thousands of shorebirds, and now many of these areas are dry Camila Beach (even Lake Colac in Victoria was dry this year). Combine this with what is happening in the Coorong, and it is clear Victoria that the SE of the country is not capable of supporting as There are early reports of fewer Red Knots, and inland many shorebirds as it once was. Interestingly, some of these wetlands are missing thousands of shorebirds (a less than dry areas are designated as Ramsar wetlands. The data you surprising result of having no water in many inland are collecting will allow us to begin to quantify what is wetlands). Volunteers on the Bellarine Peninsula region happening, and put together a more compelling picture of have conducted many counts over the summer, to help the losses occurring in some parts of Australia. Your data define the habitats in the area and discover how much are helping us to answer these questions, and helping us benefit there is to doing repeat surveys. Also, counting at document how shorebird populations are changing on a the core sites has continued by new people and groups, continental scale. such as Sunraysia Bird Observers Club. We hope to be able to pass on more information including Sites still to survey in Victoria the count data soon, but it will take a while yet to get it all Lake Buloke (Wimmera) Swan Hill entered. Lake Hindmarsh (Wimmera) Lake Wyn Wyn (Wimmera) Telfer’s Swamp (Wimmera next to Wyn Wyn)
Red-necked Stints by Chris Tzaros Foraging Marsh Sandpipers by Dean Ingwersen Adelaide Shorebird Counting and Identification reported to the AWSG. Workshop Sunday 22 February 2009 The number of birds at Barker Inlet was much lower, but By Lainie Berry, Shorebirds 2020 Project Officer participants were able to see a variety of species, including Our most recent Shorebird ID workshop was help at the Marsh Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Greenshank, Watershed Function Centre, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, with Black-winged Stilt, Red-kneed Dotterel, and a late arrival of field trips to Thompson Beach and Barker Inlet Wetlands. Red-necked Stints. The workshop was extremely well attended with over 80 participants. Thanks to the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges We will be holding another Shorebird Counting and NRM Board for supporting this event. ID workshop in Adelaide on Saturday, 14th March. For further information and to RSVP please contact Lainie The field trip to Thompson Beach was a huge success. We Berry, [email protected], ph (03) 9347 saw several thousand birds at the site, including Red Knot, 0757. Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black- tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Red-capped Plover. In addition, five Red Knots with leg flags were seen. These birds were
Rob Clemens discusses shorebird ID at the Adelaide Red Knot flock at Thompson Beach. Photo: Rob Clemens workshop, Sunday 22 February. Photo: Lainie Berry
Workshop participants on Thompson Beach field trip. Red Knots at Thompson Beach, with yellow flag (centre) Photo: Lainie Berry and orange flag (right). Photo: Rob Clemens
Our newest Shorebirds 2020 team member Lainie Berry has joined the Shorebirds 2020 project at Birds Australia. She will run the workshop program and produce the newsletter. If you have any good shorebird pictures, stories or ideas for shorebird site profiles, please contact Lainie at [email protected] or ph (03) 9347 0757 for inclusion in the Autumn issue of the Shorebirds 2020 newsletter.
Shorebirds 2020 contacts: Jo Oldand, Program Manager, [email protected] Rob Clemens, Technical Manager, [email protected] Lainie Berry, Project Officer, newsletter design [email protected] This project is supported by Birds Australia and AWSG, through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country and WWF-Australia Shorebirds 2020 Migratory Shorebirds - the East Threats & Declines in the Flyway Shorebird monitoring has been carried out at Asian-Australasian Flyway Large-scale coastal reclamation projects in the key sites around Australia since 1981. Shorebirds Each year over 5 million shorebirds fly from Yellow Sea are destroying critical stopover sites 2020 was initiated in 2007 to reinvigorate and their breeding grounds in the northern tundra, within the East Asian-Australasian flyway. coordinate national shorebird monitoring. usually stopping over to refuel at staging Migratory shorebirds that rely on these sites grounds in the Yellow Sea, before continuing on for refuelling, such as the Great Knot, have to Australia and New Zealand. Here they spend declined significantly in numbers. the summer resting and feeding on the rich resources at tidal mudflats and wetlands to build up energy reserves for the return flight north.
Left: Shorebird counters © Lainie Berry Right: Black-tailed Godwit roosting with Grey-tailed Tattlers © Danny Rogers Shorebird count data are used to document changes in population numbers, identify Left: Shorebirds at Saemangeum in South Korea © Ken Gosbell Left: Bar-tailed Godwit nesting in the Arctic tundra © Jan van de Kam Right: Saemangeum reclaimed area © Ken Gosbell important shorebird areas such as Ramsar sites, Centre: Great Knot feeding at Saemangeum, South Korea © Jan van de Kam and assess the impacts of human activities on Right: Eastern Curlew at Roebuck Bay, Broome, Australia © Danny Rogers Within Australia, valuable feeding areas for shorebirds. migratory shorebirds are being lost to coastal What are Shorebirds? development, increased human disturbance and the drying of inland wetlands. Beach-nesting Shorebirds belong to the order Charadriiformes, resident species are suffering from increasing and there are 210 species worldwide. Shorebirds levels of disturbance by people, dogs and are mostly found near intertidal habitats or vehicles on beaches. inland wetlands. They usually feed in shallow water, or by probing with their bills in saturated mud or sand.
Three migratory shorebirds: (from left) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint and Left: Beach-nesting resident - Hooded Plover © Glenn Ehmke Curlew Sandpiper © Glenn Ehmke In 2007 scientists fitted satellite transmitters to Right: Vehicles on beaches threaten beach-nesting shorebirds © Grainne Maguire Thirty-eight species migrate annually from individual birds to track their journeys. One In order to reverse declines and effectively their northern hemisphere breeding grounds Bar-tailed Godwit famously made an incredible conserve shorebirds and their habitats, we to Australia, and a further 18 species reside in 9 day non-stop flight 11,600 km flight from need to monitor their populations and identify Australia year-round. Alaska to New Zealand! threats that may be causing declines. How to get involved We aim to survey at least 150 key shorebird Shorebirds 2020 National Shorebird Monitoring Program sites annually in order to detect population trends. The main counting effort occurs in summer from November to February when migratory bird numbers are at their peak. Other counts are held during winter, and at some sites monthly counts are conducted. We rely on dedicated volunteers to collect this valuable data. If you’d like to volunteer, contact the Shorebirds 2020 team at Birds Australia. This project is supported by Birds Australia and www.shorebirds.org.au the Australasian Wader Study Group, through The Shorebirds 2020 website features a funding from the Australian Government’s Caring Shorebird Counting Toolkit with all the for our Country and WWF-Australia. resources needed to get involved in Shorebirds This page: Banded Stilts © Glenn Ehmke 2020 counting efforts, learn more about Cover image: Black-tailed Godwit © Chris Tzaros shorebirds, and how to identify and count them. The website also contains lots of other resources to guide intersted groups in planning their own shorebird conservation projects.
Shorebirds 2020 Birds Australia Workshops Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester Street Shorebird ID workshops are carried out around Carlton Vic 3053 Ph: (03) 9347 0757 the country by the Shorebirds 2020 team. Email: [email protected] These offer a great introduction to shorebird www.shorebirds.org.au counting, as well as the opportunity to meet www.birdsaustralia.com.au other shorebird enthusiasts in your area.