THE BIRDS OF THE NORTH COAST OF NSW AND THEIR HABITATS

vv Shorebirds, Coastal-birds & Coastal Raptors

Habitat is defined as follows: From the Latin = it dwells Encyclopaedia Britannica: place where an organism lives, including all living and nonliving factors or conditions of the surrounding environmentenvironment Free Dictionary: the natural environment of an organism; place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism:

What is a shorebird or wader? Shorebirds (waders) are birds of beaches, estuaries, intertidal flats, saltmarshes and freshwater wetlands

size bills (beaks) - length, shape and colour legs - colour and length 3 points to look for in the field: How do we tell the difference among shorebirds?

Coastal shorebirds’ lives are governed by the tide, not by the sun Usually feed on exposed mudflats Large daily requirement relative to body weight Large birds feed the least - slow metabolism Small birds feed constantly Feeding techniques ; “sandpiper strategy” slow walk and probe – sensory method “plover strategy” run & stop – visual method Good roosting area essential to conserve energy Feeding and roosting in flocks provide predator protection Feeding Ecology

2 types of shorebird in Australia Migratory shorebirds 36 species regularly migrate to Australia 22 species regularly recorded in the Northern Rivers - plus 3 known vagrants Resident shorebirds 18 species live and breed in Australia Northern Rivers - 11

Breed in the Northern Hemisphere from North China, Mongolia, Siberia, Alaska & Japan Migrate to non-breeding areas in the Southern Hemisphere – mainly coastal Aust. & NZ, Some inhabit inland wetlands such as lake Eyre Only ever experience summer (avoiding winter in both hemispheres). Start arriving in Australia in September Start their departure end of February One exception – NZ breeding Double-banded Plover winters in Australia Adults leave the breeding grounds two weeks prior to the young Young and old may over-winter in Australia Migration Facts

5 million shorebirds migrate world- wide 2 million migrate to Australia 56 species regularly migrate world-wide 36 species migrate to Australia 22 species regularly migrate to NR East Asian- Australasian Flyway Breeding Area Migratory Flyways of Shorebirds

20-29,000km round trip Regularly fly up to 8,000km non-stop (3-9 days non stop) Fly by day and night Altitudes 3,000-8,000m Speed 30-60km/hr East Asian- Australasian Flyway Migration - facts AWSG

Prior to migration: Birds feed intensively & their body mass increases by up to 70-80% 2-5% weight gain per day Fat is deposited under the skin Exercise muscles increase in size Digestive organs enlarge Note fat deposited in rear underbody Long, pointed wings for swift, long distance flight Migration - adaptations

Shorebird Habitats ocean beaches riverslakes, dams and sewage ponds sheltered bays I Sutton

HABITAT: The Belongil Estuary – Byron Bay

HABITAT: The Brunswick River & Marshall’s Creek, Brunswick Heads

HABITAT: Flat Rock Lennox Head

HABITAT: West Byron Wetlands

Bar-tailed Godwit – Limosa lapponica Breeds: Artic Tundra Length: 37-39cm Breeding Habitat : Artic tundra - treeless & mossy Habitat Australia: intertidal flats rarely far from coast - at high tide roosts will stand in shallow water as well as dry land Food: – molluscs, worms & aquatic insects Breeding feathers

Flight of the Bar-tailed Godwit E7 E7 in 2007 to undertake the longest non-stop flight of any bird. Travelled from Alaska to NZ The distance between these two locations is 9,575 kms, Actual track flown by the bird was 11,026 kms The flight took approximately nine days. The round trip approx 29,181 kms from March to September (6 months)

Grey-tailed Tattler Pacific Golden Plover - Pluvialis fulva Breeds : Central & Eastern Siberia & Alaska Length : 23-36cm Habitat Australia: Intertidal sand & mudflats & rocky shores. Prefers to roost in saltwater couch Food: small marine invertebrates especially worms, insects & larvae when breeding Breeding Habitat: well drained tundra

Little Tern – breeds in Australia migrates to Japan Little, Common & Crested Terns at Belongil Crested Tern –breeds & lives in Australia Coastal Birds – Terns – feed on the ocean Common Tern – breeds in Siberia & migrates to Australia for summer

Breed in Australia – seven known to breed in NR Some stay in one place all year. Others undertake nomadic movements - depending upon availability of food and breeding opportunities. Some nest exclusively on beaches Others breed on ephemeral & permanent freshwater wetlands Some have moved beyond wetlands (Bush Stone curlew) Resident shorebirds

Grey-tailed Tattler Red-capped Plover - Charadrius luficapillus Breeds : All over Australia Length : 14-16cm Habitat: Sandy beaches, mudflats, saltmarshes, Food: molluscs & small crustaceans Nest

Grey-tailed Tattler Beach Stone-curlew – Eracus magnirostris Breeds : Coastal Australia - mid WA to Victoria Length : 54-59cm Habitat : exposed & sheltered beaches Food: Crabs Nest: bare ground –beach debris Mainly nocturnal but influenced by the tide

Grey-tailed Tattler Pied Oystercatcher – Haematopus longirostris Breeds : Coastal Australia Length : 45-50cm Habitat: Ocean beaches & intertidal mudflats Food: bi-valve molluscs also worms, crustaceans & insects One of a few shorebird that feeds it’s young

Crested Tern Coastal Raptors – Osprey Nests: place with a view, tops of trees, cliffs, man- made poles. Used for many years. Sticks are added each year Habitat: Coastal waters & estuaries Food: Fish only –will dive under water to 1 meter

NON SHOREBIRDS

Grey-tailed Tattler Bush Stone -curlew – Burhinus grallarius Breeds: Australia (endangered in NSW) Length : 52-58cm Habitat: woodlands and cleared areas throughout Australia Food: molluscs, insects, small mammals, seeds. Feeding takes place only at night.

Grey-tailed Tattler Rainbow Bee-eaters – Merops ornatus Breeds: t hroughout Australia (not desert) Length : 23-28cm Habitat: sand dunes, cleared or lightly timbered forests Food: insects

Grey-tailed Tattler Black-fronted Dotterel – Elseyornis melanops Breeds: throughout Australia (like a plover, on the ground) Length : 16-18cm Habitat: near freshwater, not usually coastal Food: aquatic and terrestrial insects

Essential estuaries & wetlands Estuaries & wetlands are a major food source for birds Food resources include plant life, roots and shoots, crustaceans, frogs, molluscs, worms, insects and fish Up to 70% of fish species caught in NSW rely on estuaries at some stage of their life cycle. The mangroves and sea grasses provide shelter for juvenile fish. Estuaries & wetlands provide near perfect conditions for raising chicks. In and around the Belongil estuary alone Byron Bird Buddies has recorded 142 species of birds. Some Important Habitats for the Northern Rivers

The End Principal Bird photography sourced from the Internet Bird Song – A Field Guide to Australian Birdsongs (BOACA) Additional Bird photography courtesy of Debra Pearce, Reid Waters Bird Information from The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds Prizzey & Knight Field Guide to the Birds of Australian M. Morecombe Field Guide to Australian Birds Birds Australia Website Qld Wader Study Group PP Shorebirds of Australia (Geering, Agnew, Harding)