Shorebirds
Black-winged stilt
© Phil STRAW
Shorebirds are among the most spectacular migratory species in the world, travelling some of the furthest distances of any migratory birds by flying up to 10,000 km non-stop. Many travel a round trip of 20,000 km each year between Australia and their breeding grounds in Siberia, northern China and Alaska.
Shorebirds under threat
Twenty per cent of shorebird species that regularly migrate along the East Asian Australasian Flyway have been officially classified as globally threatened with substantial population decline.
Migratory shorebirds share their flyway with nearly half of the world's human population The birds and the habitats on which they depend are particularly under threat from rapid economic development and population growth in east and south-east Asia.
Resident (beach-nesting) shorebirds in Australia are also vulnerable to human disturbance. Four wheel drives and dogs on beaches frighten the birds, leaving exposed eggs and chicks vulnerable to predators such as dogs and trampling by people and vehicles.
Threats to shorebird habitat in Australia include:
- loss (reclamation) of coastal and inland wetlands
- invasive weeds
- introduced predators
- human-related disturbance
- climate change
Why shorebirds are important
Shorebirds are sensitive indicators of change in their environment and can provide early warnings of environmental problems, including those caused by climate change and deteriorating habitat quality.
Other important reasons for protecting shorebirds include:
- the economic benefit to local communities through nature-based tourism
- the ecosystem service they perform by helping to maintain a balance among benthic communities
- the law - we are legally required protect migratory shorebirds as they are recognised as a matter of national environmental significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
WWF's Shorebird Conservation Project
WWF-Australia, with funding from the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust, has developed a Shorebird Conservation Toolkit to help protect and enhance shorebird habitat across Australia.
The toolkit builds on the success of the national Shorebird Conservation Project (2001-2005), drawing from over 31 on-ground and community-driven shorebird conservation projects.
The toolkit is a comprehensive resource that enables users to:
- understand and appreciate shorebirds, their habitat and conservation needs;
- locate important shorebird sites in Australia and access population estimates;
- develop site survey and monitoring programs;
- identify/assess site management needs, and implement/evaluate management actions;
- write grant applications, site communication plans and media releases;
- access existing resources;
- identify and advocate international/national conservation options; and
- access organisations with knowledge/expertise in practical shorebird and wetland conservation.
The Shorebird Conservation Project is also supporting conservation efforts in regional Australia by helping individuals and groups to undertake one or more of the following activities:
- Education and awareness-raising (field identification training, public talks, slide nights, posters and postcards, signage etc);
- Habitat management through fencing and placement of interpretive shelters and trails to regulate public access, etc; and
- Building the foundations for a solid management plan or strategy to conserve shorebirds and their habitat, through surveying and mapping important habitat, preparation of an issues paper and facilitating consensus building via workshops with local communities.
How you can help
If you would like to know how you can do your bit to protect shorebirds in your area, visit the online Shorebird Conservation Toolkit (or obtain a copy on CD), or contact WWF-Australia's National Coordinator for the Shorebird Conservation Project, Bianca Priest.
WWF Shorebird Partners
The Shorebird Conservation Project forms part of Wetland Management Solutions - a new partnership of wetland practitioners and experts working together for better management of Australian wetlands.
