Appendix D_Shorebird_survey_report_Final_Jul20_jans edits

Appendix 2: Survey schedule

A total of 151 (day) surveys were conducted over the period October 2005 through October 2019. In
addition, 128 evening surveys of migratory terns were carried out over the period from October 2005
through April 2018, each coinciding with the date of day surveys. Table 8 sets out the survey schedule.

                             Table 8 – Schedule of surveys conducted by month

    Calendar Year                       Surveys                              Survey month
                                       conducted
                                                   J   F     M     A     M     J    J       A    S    O   N      D
    2005                                   2
    2006                                   9                 2
    2007                                   4
    2008                                  12
    2009                                  12
    2010                                  12
    2011                                  11
    2012                                  11
    2013                                  11
    2014                                  12
    2015                                  12
    2016                                  12
    2017                                  12
    2018                                  11
    2019 YTD                               8
    Total                                151


Appendix 3: Day and evening tern survey variations

Anecdotal observations upon commencement of surveys in 2005 indicated that large numbers of terns,
particularly migratory species, spent considerable portions of each day feeding outside the Noosa River
estuary. These terns were observed returning to the estuary late in the day and early evening to roost.
This behavior suggested surveys conducted during daylight tidal cycles would under-estimate tern
numbers roosting in the Noosa River estuary each evening.

To examine this thesis, a second early evening count either side of sunset was commenced in October
2005 to capture terns returning to the Noosa River estuary to roost. Observers noted terns returned almost
exclusively through the narrow river mouth proper and when observed against the evening light permitted
accurate surveying in flight. A total of 128 evening surveys from October 2005 through April 2018 have
been conducted to further examine this thesis.

As Diagram 3 below illustrates, surveys conducted in the early evening (from a sample of 23 of 128
surveys) observed an average 12,000 individuals returning to the Noosa River estuary, as compared to
2,000-3,800 individuals on average recorded within the estuary during daylight hours.

Hence, migratory tern numbers have been recorded and analysed using evening counts.

                    Diagram 3 – Noosa River migratory tern counts by day and evening
.
    12,500
A.           Sub-group species count numbers over survey period

    10,000



     7,500



     5,000



[Insert
   2,500graphs of species sub-group count numbers x 6 over survey period].



         0
                        Low tide - Day                 High tide - Day                          Evening
Noosa River – Shorebird Survey Report 2019                                                                    Page 21