Appendix D_Shorebird_survey_report_Final_Jul20_jans edits

1.         Introduction

The purpose of this report is to summarise the results to date of the first known longitudinal survey of
shorebirds in the Noosa River estuary. The survey has been conducted by the Noosa Integrated
Catchment Association Shorebird Survey Group (“SSG”) over a 14 year period commencing in October
2005 through October 2019 with funding and technical support provided by the Noosa Shire Council under
the Community Environment Grants Program 2019.

The report provides a basis to better understand the long-term trends in shorebird biodiversity and
abundance in the Noosa River estuary and for comparison against trends observed elsewhere in Australia
and across the East Asian - Australasian Flyway (“EAAF”). All survey data compiled by the SSG has been
contributed contemporaneously to the Queensland Wader Study Group database as part of the national
Shorebirds 2020 program 1 and these surveys continue monthly.

                                                    Shorebirds or “waders” are those birds commonly found on coastal shores,
                                                    including beaches, rocky shores, mudflats, tidal wetlands and lagoons. These
                                                    include the many plovers and sandpipers in the families Charadriidae and
                                                    Scolopacidae, as well as the stone-curlews, snipes, pratincoles,
                                                    oystercatchers, stilts, avocets and the Plains-wanderer. 2

The information in this report is intended to assist the Noosa Shire Council and other relevant stakeholders
in developing appropriate policy settings for the ongoing sustainable use and conservation of the Noosa
River estuary and surrounding shorebird habitat. The report is also intended to inform and engage the
local community regarding the presence of resident and migratory shorebirds, some critically endangered,
in the Noosa River estuary and to highlight the community’s role in their conservation. To illustrate the
biodiversity of the estuary and its high conservation value, survey results for the many other species of
water birds observed has been included. A primer on shorebird taxonomy is provided in Appendix 1 to
assist in interpreting this report.

In addition to this report, NICA has also prepared a 6-part brochure entitled “Migratory and Resident
Shorebirds and Terns” for distribution in the community detailing key species observed, population trends
and information on how to assist in conserving shorebirds in the Noosa River estuary. Distribution of the
brochure will be followed by an information workshop hosted by NICA.


2.         Background


The Noosa River estuary lies toward the southern end of the EAAF, one of nine major flyways for migratory
birds around the globe. Originating within the arctic habitat of Siberia and Alaska, the EAAF traces its way
through East and South East Asia to Australia and New Zealand at its southern extremity and is home to
over 8 million migratory shorebirds plus numerous more resident species.

                                           Diagram 1: Global migration flyways 3




1
  National Shorebird Monitoring program established in 2007 and coordinated by Birdlife Australia (www.birdlife.org.au)
2
  Birds in backyards
3
  EAAF Flyways Partnership (www.eaafflyway.net)

Noosa River – Shorebird Survey Report 2019                                                                                Page 3