Cover Letter, DA Form 1, Plans, Owners Consent, Coastal Environment Assessment · OPW21/0049

                                                             A Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) captured in non-
                                                             breeding plumage. The species breeds in Mongolia prior to its
                                                             annual migration along the EAAF to Australia.

                                                             The species is considered vulnerable in Australia but has been
                                                             sighted in 11 of the 15 years of the Noosa River survey, albeit in
                                                             small numbers.

                                                             Credit: Queensland Wader Studies Group (2010).




 A rare visitor indeed!

 An Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella)
 captured here, has been observed only
 once in the Noosa River estuary in
 September, 2013.

 The species is more common to northern
 and inland Australia and does not generally
 migrate. It is considered secure in Australia.

 Credit Jill Dening.




Numbers of resident shorebird species have demonstrated greater resilience than migratory species, as
indicated in Diagram 2, with resident shorebirds on average 12% more abundant in the later years of the survey.
This trend is largely attributable to the breeding success of the Red Capped Plover, by some margin the most
abundant of resident shorebirds, though only one of five resident species witnessed a decline in numbers
otherwise.

                       Diagram 2: Resident shorebird (day) count time series – 2005 to present
 60


 50


 40


 30


 20


 10


   0
   Oct-05 Oct-06 Oct-07 Oct-08 Oct-09 Oct-10 Oct-11 Oct-12 Oct-13 Oct-14 Oct-15 Oct-16 Oct-17 Oct-18




Noosa River – Shorebird Survey Report 2019                                                                            Page 14