Appendix D_Shorebird_survey_report_Final_Jul20_jans edits

B.        Species abundance

Overall, the survey data indicated a steady decline in the total abundance of all water birds observed in
the estuary. Declines in total count numbers from peaks exceeding 10,000 individuals in the early years
of the survey to infrequent counts exceeding 2,000 individuals in later years, were accounted for largely
by the decline in tern numbers, particularly migratory terns (together up to 85% by number of any given
count). Total shorebird numbers including during peak migration, rarely exceeding 200 individuals, hence
robust declines in shorebird abundance had minimal impact on overall survey counts.

To the extent that the small data set permits, Table 5 details population changes by sub-group counts
across in the “early” and “later” years of the surveys to date. The table indicates a near 30% decline on
average across sub-group numbers, most notably amongst migratory shorebirds species.

                Table 5: Change in population by sub-group – early and later survey periods

 Group                                       Average count          Average count                   % Change
                                               2007-2011              2015-2019
 Migratory Shorebirds                             104                    57                             -45%
 Resident – Shorebirds                             24                    27                             +12%
 Gull                                              59                    40                             -32%
 Wading Birds                                       6                     5                             -11%
 Water Birds                                       66                    53                             -20%

 All species (excluding terns)                    259                    182                            -30%

Diagram 1 illustrates both the migratory patterns and long-term decline observed in numbers of migratory
shorebirds frequenting the estuary. These include abrupt declines in numbers of several of the historically more
abundant species such as the Bar-Tailed Godwit, Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper and Double-Banded Plover.

                  Diagram 1: Migratory shorebird (day) count time series – 2005 to present

 400

 350

 300

 250

 200

 150

 100

     50

     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


                                                                                    Three is a crowd!

                                                                                    Individuals from three shorebird species
                                                                                    captured together in the Noosa River
                                                                                    estuary (from left to right) - a Red-Necked
                                                                                    Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Red-Capped
                                                                                    Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) and
                                                                                    Sanderling (Calidris alba) .

                                                                                    Though the Red-Necked Stint and
                                                                                    Sanderling are EAAF migrants, all three
                                                                                    are considered secure in Australia.

                                                                                    Credit: Dorothy Pashniak.




Noosa River – Shorebird Survey Report 2019                                                                       Page 13