‘Feathering the Future’ Shorebirds in the Burnett Mary Region Tamara van Polanen Petel & Ashley Bunce Centre for Environmental Management, Central Queensland University

Shorebirds (or waders) are typically wetland birds, include: - Stints - Stilts - Sandpipers - Curlews - Plovers - Godwits etc A total of 75 species of shorebirds occur in Australia: - 18 resident species - 36 migratory species - 22 vagrant species (occasionally recorded) Shorebirds

The East Asian-Australasian Flyway stretches from Siberia, northern China, and Alaska (the breeding areas) southwards to Australia and New Zealand where the birds rest and feed during the austral summer. - The flyway passes through 22 countries - 55 migratory species (5 million birds) travel along the flyway - 36 migratory species (2 million birds) reach Australia each year - Southwards migration July to October - Northwards migrationMarch to early June East Asian-Australasian Flyway

Migratory shorebirds travel a round trip of 25,000km each year Shorebirds fly at speeds of approx. 30 to 60 km/h Shorebirds can fly non-stop for 3-4 days Red-necked stint weighs only 30 g (fits into a wine glass!) but can fly up to 2500 km without stopping Shorebirds need to eat up to 1/3 of their body weight each day to satisfy high energy demands  important that birds can feed and rest when arrive at destination Shorebirds – Interesting Facts

Threats to shorebirds include: - Loss (reclamation) of coastal and inland wetlands - Changes to wetland hydrology - Invasive weeds - Introduced predators - Human-related disturbance - Climate Change Shorebirds under threat Over 80% of wetlands in east and south-east Asia are classified as threatened 20% of shorebirds that regularly migrate along the east Asian Australasian flyway are classified as globally threatened Conservation measures/efforts International agreements (e.g. JAMBA, CAMBA)

Surveys undertaken by QWSG (December 2005 – March 2007) Total population of shorebirds in the region was in excess of 28, species of migratory and resident shorebirds were encountered Over 150 high tide roosts were recorded Important sites - Pancake Creek3,700 shorebirds16 species - Fraser Is3,900 shorebirds11 species Risk Analysis/Priority Sites Dr Mays Is Gables Pt Rocks Pt Vernon Bundaberg Port Swamp Shorebirds of the Burnett Coast

Aim Develop and undertake specific management activities aimed at protecting internationally significant populations of shorebirds within the Burnett Mary NRM region and to evaluate the effectiveness of these actions in order to guide future on- ground shorebird conservation activities.

Aims con’t The specific aims of the project are:  Identify the major risks to shorebirds within the Burnett Mary NRM region and develop management activities accordingly  Enable community-group participation in delivering on-ground shorebird conservation measures and the protection of ‘top priority’ shorebird areas  Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of management activities for ensuring the protection of sensitive shorebird populations  Develop guidelines for future community-based/local government shorebird conservation projects

Workshop 1. Stakeholder and local community involvement 2. Facilitate knowledge exchange - Knowledge about shorebird species, threats, or sites - Current shorebird management actions - monitoring and research - on-ground works - people or groups involved in shorebird conservation projects

Threats to Shorebirds of the Burnett Coast Human disturbance - beach activities - 4WDs - dogs - other: camping, bait collection, water sports, boating, kite surfing etc Predation e.g. foxes, cats, dogs, gulls Coastal Development - Habitat loss/decline in quality Lack of awareness/community education

Pilot projects selected  Human disturbance  Compliance of beach users to temporary beach closures (TBC).  Effectiveness of TBC’s on hatching success (egg crushing)  Effects of human activity on behaviour of terns on off-shore islands  Predation  Effectiveness of baiting on egg and chick predation  Lack of education & awareness  Survey of knowledge and awareness of shorebirds  Education drive  Follow up survey

Human disturbance  Temporary beach closure  8 sites in the Burnett Mary NRM region  Four observation days at each site  before,  day the signs erected  7 days post sign  21 days post sign  Measure compliance of people (incl. dogs) between 0700 – 1800  All human activity around TBC (50 m either side) recorded  gender  age group  location on beach  activity e.g. sunbaking, walking 50 m 15 m Sign

Preliminary results 92.6% of activity below high tide 96.2% of people were compliant, but 71.6% were ‘truly’ compliant, i.e. at or below low tide (incl. people who have and haven’t read the sign) TreatmentRead‘Truly’ compliant CompliantUncompliant Day of sign53.9%70.6%26.3%3.1% 1 week after22.1%74.2%23.2%2.5% 3 weeks after 33.8%39.2%48.5%11.8%

Human disturbance con’t Effectiveness of TBC on hatching success – egg crushing Grid with artificial nests with 1 egg resembling beach stone-curlew –8 in TBC –8 out of TBC Inspect eggs at end of day Three times per site Edge of TBC o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o In dunes At High tide mark

Preliminary results Eight sites, and treatments 1-3 = 368 eggs Inside TBC = no crushed eggs ∴ TBCs safe guard eggs, however... when uncompliant = ‘lucky’ Outside TBC = 10 eggs crushed (2.7%) Value of TBC in protecting eggs (hatching success) is good, but… 7.4% of people using the area above the high tide, are TBCs worth it?

Off-shore islands  Behaviour of roseate terns nesting on Lady Elliot Island in response to human activity  Two colonies  high level of disturbance  low level of disturbance

Preliminary results 18.8% of time people in area bird(s) took flight (388 occurrences of people, 73 flight occurrences) 529 birds took flight over 19 hr of obs. due to people Mean number bird per disturbance event is 7 ± 7 (1-35) Flight time s Mean FID = 7.3m (0-20m) Most frequent FID = 7m

Time (hr) Number # people # birds

Predation Predation on eggs and chicks at Burrum Coast National Park 40 artificial nests –20 with an egg –20 with a chick Before/after baiting experiment Five days of nest inspections –dawn and dusk checks –sand pad checks for fox tracks

Education/awareness Survey of knowledge of shorebirds and threats they face, prior to TBC signs on beach Education drive –School artwork competition –Dog walkers breakfast –Pamphlets –Stickers –Stubby holder Follow up survey to determine whether education drive effective

Projected outcomes An assessment of the effectiveness of the management techniques trialled for the conservation of shorebirds in the Burnett Mary NRM region Management outcomes for each technique with specific management actions and a greater understanding of conserving shorebirds in our region Educational material to raise awareness and/or increase participation in shorebird conservation

Any questions! For more information please contact me! Tamara van Polanen Petel Centre for Environmental Management Central Queensland University PO Box 1319 Gladstone 4680, QLD ph: