Shorebirds are birds that are regularly found along our coastal and river shorelines. Shorebirds can be migratory (fly overseas) or non-migratory (stay in Australia). Migratory shorebirds can travel over 20,000km in a year. The Bar Tailed Godwit has been tracked flying non-stop for 11,700 kilometres over nine days
(3).
Bar Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (Source HBOC)
The Hunter Estuary is the most important estuary in NSW for shorebirds as it home to a large number, and great diversity, of shorebirds
(4). Our estuary is one of only 20 sites in Australia that forms part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway
(5). The East Asian-Australasian flyway is a path that migratory shorebirds fly, which extends from Alaska and Russia, down to Australia and New Zealand
(6). There are 23 countries within the flyway, and 54 species of migratory shorebirds use the flyway
(6). The East Asian-Australasian flyway is one of nine flyways across the world that is used by migratory shorebirds
(6).
The Hunter Bird Observers Club undertook a
study in 2007 to identify the bird species that can be found in the Hunter Estuary.
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) (Source HBOC)
Unfortunately, since records commenced in the 1970s, there has been a significant decline in the numbers of shorebirds found in the Hunter Estuary
(4). The decline in bird numbers is due to both local and international issues, with the leading cause of decline being habitat loss
(7). In the Hunter Estuary, large areas of mudflats have been lost to land reclamation and the expansion of mangroves, which has considerably reduced the habitat available for shorebirds
(7).
Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes) (Source HBOC)
As migratory shorebirds rely on habitats in different countries to survive, they require international protection. Australia has signed three international agreements to help protect migratory shorebirds, including:
- Japan - Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA)
- China - Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA)
- Republic of Korea - Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA).
In Australia, migratory shorebirds are protected by Federal legislation called the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Council is working with the
National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Hunter Bird Observers Club,
Kooragang Wetlands Rehabilitation Project, and others, to ensure the future of shorebirds in our estuary.