CHASA 2015 Duck Season insights

The Eastern Australia Waterbird Survey 2014 (Porter et al 2014) has recorded the lowest breeding index and dry conditions in the northern survey region since surveys began.

2015 Duck Season insights The 2007 and 2008 EAWS also recorded low breeding index and dry conditions in the northern survey region Species Breeding 2 Breeding index Species Breeding 5Breeding index Species Breeding 1Breeding index 12

2015 Duck Season insights Where are waterbirds distributed in Australia in dry years, and what is their abundance? The National Waterbird Survey of 2008 provides some answers. Towards the end of 2008 (October, November) during the Millennium Drought, Kingsford, Porter and Halse (2012) surveyed the waterbirds in the wetland regions of Australia. RT Kingsford, JLPorter and SA Halse (2012). National Waterbird Assessment Waterlines Report Series No. 74, March 2012.

NWS 2008 insights The 6 major game species in South Australia, Grey Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Hardhead, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Shelduck and Wood Duck were in the 20 most abundant waterbirds recorded in Australia. A total of 4.6million waterbirds including 874,640 ducks (of the 6 major species) were counted on approximately 10% of Australia’s wetlands, providing an important indication of their total abundance Australia wide, and the increase in population size in wetter years.

2015 Duck Season insights In dry years (ie 2008 drought) the 6 most important game species in SA were widely distributed and highly abundant throughout Australia. Each of the 6 duck species were in the 20 most abundant waterbirds in Australia. In Southern South Australia, there are record numbers of ducks in 2014 (October) due to drying conditions in the north and wetter/permanent wet conditions in the south.

2015 Duck Season insights Because “the 6 main species of ducks” are highly mobile and responsive to inland rain events, it is highly likely that many of the birds counted in SA in October 2014, will disperse to wetter inland rainfall events. Because “the six main species of ducks” are abundant and well dispersed throughout Australia in dry years (2008 National Water bird survey), there is no “hunting” risk to abundant species in dry years.