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Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea SHOREBIRDS OF THE YELLOW SEA Importance, threats and conservation status Mark Barter This work is a component of the: • East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Action Plan: 2001-2005 • Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 2001-2005 Wetlands International Global Series 9 International Wader Study Group International Wader Studies 12 2002 Copyright 2002 Wetlands International ISBN 90 5882 009 2 This publication should be cited as follows: Barter, M.A. 2002. Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea: Importance, threats and conservation status. Wetlands International Global Series 9, International Wader Studies 12, Canberra, Australia. Published by: Wetlands International – Oceania, GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. www.wetlands.org Available from: Natural History Book Service, 2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5XN, UK. Cover image: provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE. Printed by: Panther Printnet Australia. Printed on: Text - 115g GSM Monza Satin; Cover – 260 GSM Snowcard printed in 4 colours + Matt cello. DISCLAIMERS The presentation of material in this report and the geographical designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Wetlands International concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory, or concerning the delimitation of its boundaries or frontiers. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Commonwealth Government of Australia or the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth of Australia does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea CONTENTS FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................................... VI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................... VII SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... VIII SUMMARY IN CHINESE .................................................................................................................................. X SUMMARY IN KOREAN.................................................................................................................................. XI 1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 SHOREBIRDS AND THE CONSERVATION CHALLENGE......................................................... 1 1.2 THE EAST ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN SHOREBIRD FLYWAY AND THE YELLOW SEA ............ 1 1.3 PURPOSE AND CONTENTS OF THE MONOGRAPH................................................................ 2 2 THE YELLOW SEA ................................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 LOCATION AND SIZE .................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 CLIMATE....................................................................................................................................... 4 2.3 RIVERS......................................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 INTERTIDAL SHOREBIRD HABITAT .......................................................................................... 4 3 METHODS............................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 SURVEY LOCATIONS, FREQUENCY AND COVERAGE........................................................... 6 3.2 COUNT METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 COUNT ACCURACY .................................................................................................................... 7 3.4 CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING THE PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT NUMBERS OF A SPECIES.................................................................................... 8 3.5 DETERMINING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE YELLOW SEA FOR INDIVIDUAL SPECIES....................................................................................................................................... 9 3.6 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE SPECIES AND SITE ACCOUNTS........................................ 10 4 SHOREBIRDS OCCURRING IN INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT NUMBERS AT YELLOW SEA SITES ........................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 ORGANISATION OF SPECIES ACCOUNTS............................................................................. 11 4.2 MAJOR SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS ............................. 12 4.2.1 Subspecies and distribution............................................................................................ 12 4.2.2 Yellow Sea count and migration information .................................................................. 12 4.3 SPECIES ACCOUNTS SUMMARY............................................................................................ 12 4.3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 12 4.3.2 Usage of the Yellow Sea ................................................................................................ 12 4.3.3 Importance of the Yellow Sea......................................................................................... 14 4.3.4 “Missing” and undercounted species.............................................................................. 15 4.4 SPECIES ACCOUNTS ............................................................................................................... 15 4.4.1 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa................................................................................. 16 4.4.2 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica ............................................................................... 17 4.4.3 Little Curlew Numenius minutus ..................................................................................... 19 4.4.4 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus....................................................................................... 20 4.4.5 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata............................................................................... 21 4.4.6 Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis................................................................ 23 4.4.7 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus............................................................................. 24 4.4.8 Common Redshank Tringa totanus................................................................................ 26 4.4.9 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis ................................................................................ 28 4.4.10 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia ......................................................................... 29 4.4.11 Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer................................................................................ 31 4.4.12 Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus ................................................................................... 33 4.4.13 Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes ...................................................................... 35 4.4.14 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres............................................................................... 36 4.4.15 Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus................................................................ 37 iii Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea 4.4.16 Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris....................................................................................... 39 4.4.17 Red Knot Calidris canutus .............................................................................................. 40 4.4.18 Sanderling Calidris alba.................................................................................................. 42 4.4.19 Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis ................................................................................. 43 4.4.20 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata .................................................................... 45 4.4.21 Dunlin Calidris alpina ...................................................................................................... 46 4.4.22 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea............................................................................. 48 4.4.23 Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus........................................................ 48 4.4.24 Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus .................................................................... 49 4.4.25 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus ................................................................... 51 4.4.26 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus..........................................................
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