WABN #170 2019 Jun.Pdf
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Western Australian Bird Notes Quarterly Newsletter of the Western Australian Branch of BirdLife Australia No. 170 June 2019 birds are in our nature Figure 6a. Google Earth map of the Western Lease, Dampier Saltworks and (below) Figure 6b. Google Earth map of the Eastern Lease, Dampier Saltworks (see report, pages 17-19) See report, page 20. Figure 1. Months in which Hooded Plover flocks larger than 100 were recorded (1982-2019). Front cover: Fairy Tern, Rous Head Fremantle. Photo by Claire Greenwell (see report, page 4) Page 2 Western Australian Bird Notes, No. 170 June 2019 Western Australian Branch of ExECuTiVE COMMittee, 2019 BirdLife Australia Office: Peregrine House Chair: Mr Viv Read 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014 Vice Chair: Dr Mike Bamford Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am to 12.30 pm Telephone: (08) 9383 7749 Secretary: Lou Scampoli E-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: Beverly Winterton BirdLife WA web page: www.birdlife.org.au/wa Chair: Mr Viv Read Committee: Alasdair Bulloch, Max Goodwin, Mark Henryon, Andrew Hobbs, Jennifer Sumpton and one vacancy (due to BirdLife Western Australia is the WA Branch of the national resignation of Plaxy Barratt) organisation, BirdLife Australia. We are dedicated to creating a brighter future for Australian birds. General meetings: Held at the Bold Park Eco Centre, Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat, commencing 7:30 pm on the 4th Monday of the month (except December) – see ‘Coming events’ for details. Executive meetings: Held at Peregrine House on the 2nd Monday of the month. Communicate any matters for consideration to the Chair. Western Australian Bird Notes Print ISSN 1445-3983 Online ISSN 2206-8716 Joint WABN Editors: Allan Burbidge Tel: (08) 9405 5109 (w) Tel/Fax: (08) 9306 1642 (h) Fax: (08) 9306 1641 (w) E-mail: [email protected] Suzanne Mather Tel: (08) 9389 6416 E-mail: [email protected] Production: Margaret Philippson Printing and distribution: Daniels Printing Craftsmen Tel: (08) 9204 6800 danielspc.com.au Notes for Contributors Red-throated Pipit, Meekatharra (see Observations, page 11). Photo by John Bass The Editors request contributors to note: • WABN publishes material of interest to the WA Branch; • contributions should be written or typed with double spacing—a copy on disk or emailed would assist, especially if in MS Word as a document without styles; do not embed pictures or graphics in MS Word; • contributions to be sent direct to the Editors, either at the C o n t e n t s office or by email: Sue Mather: [email protected] 4. The role of managed sites 32. Members’ contributions. Allan Burbidge: [email protected] and citizen science in 36. Crossword. • WABN uses BirdLife Australia recommended English names; conserving the threatened 37. Notices. • except for Observations, contributions will be published Australian Fairy Tern. unless the contributor is informed to the contrary; 8. Letters to the Editors. 36. New members. • Full Editorial Policy is in WABN 74:10-12; 8. Book review. 39. Regional Groups. • WABN is not peer reviewed. 9. Observations. 43. Excursion reports. 13. BirdLife WA reports. 49. Observatory reports. Printing Deadlines (at BirdLife WA Office) 28. Across the Nullarbor: 55. Coming events. September 2019 issue: 1 August news from National December 2019 issue: 1 November 61. Crossword answers. Office. March 2020 issue: 1 February 62. Calendar of events. June 2020 issue: 1 May 29. Obituaries. Western Australian Bird Notes, No. 170 June 2019 Page 3 The role of managed sites and citizen science in conserving the threatened Australian Fairy Tern In June 2018, I commenced my PhD project on the surfing locations), has made many former colony sites Australian Fairy Tern, Sternula nereis nereis, to understand unsuitable for the formation of breeding aggregations. The the factors controlling colony formation. The 2018/19 remaining sites are often sub-optimal (e.g. in low-laying breeding season was my second season of monitoring and areas subject to flooding) or subject to disturbance. I’ve learned a tremendous amount of new information When approached by people or unleashed dogs, nesting about the species in a short period of time. My project is terns take flight, exposing their eggs or small chicks the first detailed study for the species and documenting to potential predators. If the birds are approached too new information about their behaviour, movement, life- frequently, particularly during the early stages of a breeding history and feeding ecology has been very exciting. I hope attempt, the adults will readily abandon their nest to protect to use this information to inform future conservation efforts themselves. but also to raise awareness of the threats faced by beach nesting birds and foster local conservation efforts. Last year Four-wheel drives on beaches are a significant problem I took on the role of Convenor for the WA Fairy Tern Network for beach nesting birds like the Fairy Tern, particularly on and have been pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm remote beaches where colonies are not detected by land and willingness of the community to assist with on-ground managers. While the mottled appearance of the eggs and monitoring efforts. it is an absolute joy and privilege to chicks reduces their visibility to predators, this also means spend time with our ‘Fairies’ and being able to share my that eggs and chicks can easily be trampled or crushed. insights with the community gives me great pleasure. The summer breeding cycle of Fairy Terns in south-western Australia coincides with a period of high recreational activity at beaches across the state, making management ABOuT FAiRy TERNS interventions challenging at times. Other known threats to breeding Fairy Terns include The Fairy Tern is the smallest tern to nest in south-western accelerating coastal erosion; increasing sea levels Australia. Like most seabirds, Fairy Terns nest in closely (particularly within the estuaries); extreme spring and packed colonies and their preferred habitat consists of summer storm events resulting in colony inundation; open, lightly-coloured, coarse-grained sandy substrates that predation by domestic and feral animals; and natural comprise little vegetation. Sites with shell or other organic predators, whose populations are exacerbated due to objects in the surface matrix and nearby vegetation or human impacts such as supplementary feeding and rubbish rock cover (to hide the chicks) are preferred. Colony sites bins (e.g. Silver Gulls, Australian Ravens). To reduce these are usually located on shorelines, coastal lagoons and salt extra pressures, the WA Fairy Tern Conservation Network is lakes, and in the lower reaches of estuaries where small working with land-managers to provide safe nesting areas baitfish are naturally abundant. Nest construction involves for Fairy Terns. the excavation of a shallow (~ 2-3 cm deep) scrape into the sand and the surrounding area may be enhanced by the addition or rearrangement of shells. Eggs and chicks are mottled in appearance. Therefore, the incorporation of shells and other organic material in and around the nest enhances camouflage and, ultimately, survival of the eggs and hatchlings. Adults incubate their eggs for about three weeks and after hatching, chicks remain within the nest cup for about three days. After a few days, parents commonly move their young a short distance away from the nest site to areas that provide better protection from predators. The edges of surrounding vegetation, driftwood, and rocky areas make ideal refugia for the growing chicks. Threats faced By FAiRy TERNS AND BEACH-NESTiNG BiRDS Beach-nesting birds, such as the Australian Fairy Tern, face significant challenges during the nesting season and breeding efforts are often Fairy Terns at the Rous Head Fairy Tern sanctuary, within bustling Fremantle characterized by low reproductive success. Port. Chick shelters are installed each season to provide protection from Human impacts, including coastal development potential predators and extreme temperatures. Groups of chicks can often be and intense use of near-shore environments seen creching in the shelters on hot summer days. Photo by Claire Greenwell (e.g., four wheel driving to surfing and wind- (see also front cover) Page 4 Western Australian Bird Notes, No. 170 June 2019 The role of managed sites and citizen science in conserving the threatened Australian Fairy Tern, ctd Managed SITES through a bird-banding project. As part of this citizen science program, chicks and adults are captured and a unique eight- digit numbered metal band is placed onto their leg. Adults Managed sites have frequently been utilized for tern are also given colour bands, which designate the location conservation around the world. They are a valuable tool used where the bird was banded. Re-sightings and photographs to maintain local aggregations of breeding birds and enhance taken by citizen scientists are revealing important insights nesting success where, as a result of coastal development about Fairy Terns. and human population pressures, the number of secure, natural nesting areas is limited. Citizen scientist observations have been instrumental in allowing us to gain a greater understanding of Fairy Terns Managed sites can either be natural (e.g. islands) or movements, their breeding ecology and helping to ensure artificially constructed (e.g. dredge-spoil, floating rafts) and that protective measures (e.g. temporary fencing and are usually protected by appropriate fencing and/or signage. signage) are in place to minimize disturbance when breeding Habitat enhancement, such as the clearing of encroaching colonies are established. There have been numerous vegetation and in the addition shell material may be laid important sightings but one of the highlights from the down to make it more attractive to nesting terns. The 2018/19 breeding season was the photographic recapture of monitoring and control of feral predators, such as rats, foxes two 22-year old Fairy Terns in Mandurah by Cherilyn Corker.