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

Appendix 5: Shorebird population research and survey trends

Given the small sample size and inconsistent sample periods, statistical comparison of the Noosa River
survey results against national or trans-national (EAAF) shorebird population trends was considered
problematic. Nevertheless, Table 6 provides a “high level” comparative summary of population trends
derived by Clemens et al (2016) at a national level for 19 species of migratory shorebirds and 7 species
of resident shorebird common to Australia and examined over the period 1973 – 2014 30. These results
are compared to those attained by the SSG in the Noosa River estuary over the period 2005 - 2019.

Whilst considerable disparity exists on a species-level basis, overall the population declines witnessed
amongst migratory species as compared to the relative resilience of resident shorebirds on a national level
broadly concur with those observed in the Noosa River estuary.

These trends extend to comparison on a regional basis, along a North-South axis at latitude 27.8 degrees
(the Noosa River estuary is located at approximately 26.4 degrees South or comparable to the “Northern”
data set), though again due care should be considered given the disparity in survey periods and the size
of the data set.

                 Table 9 – National shorebird population trends and Noosa survey results

     Common name                      Population –         Slope –              Slope –              Recent Noosa   Noosa Count
                                      National             National 31          Northern             peak           trend
     Migratory Shorebirds
     Curlew Sandpiper                 118,500              -9.53%               -0.98%               1              Declining
     Lesser Sand Plover               25,360               -7.16%               -10.63%              2              -
     Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper           140,550              -5.73%               8.34%                2              Declining
     Terek Sandpiper                  22,760               -5.40%               -4.90%               1              -
     Black-tailed Godwit              69,850               -5.38%               -12.71%              -              -
     Red-necked Stint                 270,800              -3.35%               -3.06%               10             Declining
     Bar-Tailed Godwit                185,760              -3.22%               -3.83%               43             Declining
     Ruddy Turnstone                  19,500               -3.17%               -1.09%               3              -
     Far Eastern Curlew               28,000               -2.97%               -2.91%               1              Declining
     Pacific Golden Plover            7,350                -2.02%               -0.17%               52             Stable
     Grey Plover                      11,650               -2.02%               0.22%                1              -
     Common Greenshank                18,900               -1.98%               0.36%                1              Declining
     Red Knot                         134,850              -1.65%               1.08%                1              -
     Marsh Sandpiper                  12,750               -0.90%               -0.03%               -              -
     Sanderling                       10,010               0.08%                7.48%                1              -
     Greater Sand Plover              74,330               0.54%                0.34%                1              Stable
     Whimbrel                         30,170               0.65%                -1.12%               37             Stable
     Great Knot                       364,100              1.43%                0.01%                2              -
     Grey-Tailed Tattler              44,810               1.93%                2.65%                1              Declining

     Resident Shorebirds
     Red-Necked Avocet                -                    -2.87%               29.63%               1              -
     Pied (Black-Winged) Stilt        -                    -1.81%               7.64%                3              -
     Black-Fronted Dotterel           -                    -2.48%               -0.07%               -              -
     Red-Kneed Dotterel               -                    -2.10%               -2.09%               -              -
     Red-Capped Plover                -                    -0.67%               0.27%                45             Increasing
     Sooty Oystercatcher              -                    0.89%                -1.30%               -              -
     Pied Oystercatcher               -                    1.43%                0.31%                2              Stable




30
     “Continental-scale decreases in shorebird populations in Australia” (Clemens et al, 2016).
31
     Slope = estimate of log-transformed counter per year (approximates % change in population per year).

Noosa River – Shorebird Survey Report 2019                                                                                      Page 27