Chapter 9 – Migratory shorebirds and the Australian Painted Snipe

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ABBOT POINT CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT The roosting and foraging opportunities at Caley Valley Wetland, both individually and due to their proximity to each other provide ideal habitat for Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at the project site The BAAM survey found the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in significant numbers at the project site. This is the case even given the fact that between the February and March survey periods the population more than halved (see Table 9-3). This was possibly related to the large amount of rain that fell between surveys (151 mm). The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper forages in shallow water across wetland fringes and much of this foraging habitat disappeared as a result of the substantial post rain rise in water level. Notably the species was found in almost equal numbers in the open and closed marsh zones. Conversely the numbers of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper recorded in March in the open pan zone increased as the raised water level improved rather than detracted from foraging habitat in this area. The habitat mosaic that makes up Caley Valley Wetland is conducive to the foraging and roosting behaviours of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. The species feed opportunistically on the different habitat types, such as intertidal mudflats on bare wet mud or sand, and in shallow water (all provided by the wetland). The June 2012 BAAM survey found 1 (with an estimate of 2) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on the western edge of the open marsh. That is, there was little evidence of a local population of young birds that had not migrated to breed in the northern hemisphere. Typically in Queensland, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper numbers are very low at this time of year (QWSG records). Figure 9-12, Figure 9-13 and Figure 9-14 show the locations and numbers of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper found in the project area for both the wet and dry season surveys. RED-NECKED STINT The Red-necked Stint is the smallest shorebird in Australia. It has a wing-span of approximately 29 to 33 cm and an average body weight of 25 g (Geering et al. 2007). The species breeds during June on the tundra in Siberia and west Alaska (del Hoyo et al. 1996) before migrating to Australia for the austral summer. Over 80% of the global population reside in Australia during the non-breeding season. Australian distribution The Red-necked Stint is distributed along most of the Australian coastline with large densities on the Victorian and Tasmanian coasts. It has been recorded in all coastal regions, and found inland in all states when conditions are suitable (Higgins & Davies 1996). Habitat The coastal locations at which the species is found include sheltered inlets, bays, lagoons and estuaries with intertidal mudflats. Occasionally they are found on protected sandy or coralline shores. They have been recorded in saltmarsh, and ephemeral or permanent wetlands near the coast (Higgins & Davies 1996). ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA & OPEN LINES 9 - 26
Feeding habitat and behaviour ABBOT POINT CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT The Red-necked Stint forages on intertidal and near-coastal wetlands. It uses its bill to jab and probe into the soft mud for small invertebrates. It also gleans from plants in saltmarsh and water (Higgins & Davies 1996). The species prefers the bare wet mud or very shallow water of mud or sandflats. The Red-necked Stint forages on plant seeds (such as from Ruppia spp. and Polygonum spp.) and on a range of marine worms, molluscs, snails and slugs, shrimps, spiders, beetles, flies and ants. It is a highly gregarious species (Higgins & Davies 1996) often found feeding in dense flocks that spread out as the tide recedes. They regularly feed with other species, especially Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (Calidris acuminata) and Curlew Sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea). The Red-necked Stint is known to be very versatile and highly tolerant of disturbance (Driscoll pers. comm 2012). Roosting habitat The Red-necked Stint roosts on sheltered beaches, spits, banks or islets, of sand, mud, coral or shingle, sometimes in saltmarsh or other vegetation. They occasionally roost on exposed reefs or shoals (Higgins & Davies 1996). Large numbers sometimes roost on ocean beaches, though it is probably not a preferred habitat and use of this habitat may increase when high numbers of birds are present (SEWPaC 2012ab). The Red-necked Stint roosting behaviour is linked to its foraging patterns. As the incoming tide makes mudflat feeding unfeasible birds will roost in the same area. Feeding can then recommence on the ebb tide (SEWPaC 2012ab). Red-necked Stint at the project site The BAAM 2012 wet season survey found the species restricted to the open pan and western edge of the freshwater areas. This survey found a total of 134 birds on the western edge of the palustrine area in the north western section of the closed marsh and 1,088 foraging in the open pan zone. During this survey period Red-necked Stints were observed to be foraging in large flocks with other shorebird species, mainly sandpipers. The diversity of habitats at the wetland allow the Red-necked Stint to use the muddy shallows of the open pan zone as well as the edges of the main wetland basin. The BAAM 2012 dry season survey found 47 Red-necked Stints on the south western edge of the open marsh zone. This finding potentially adds to the relevance of Caley Valley Wetland as an important habitat for migratory shorebirds. Red-necked Stints arrive in Australia from August (possible July) with most from early September. Almost all have arrived in Australia by November. They begin the return to breeding grounds from late February through to April although a few remain until May (SPRAT). The 47 Red-necked Stints counted on the site in late June 2012 suggests that that they were young birds, which had not migrated to breed and were spending the northern summer in Australia. Figure 9-15, Figure 9-16 and Figure 9-17 show the locations and numbers of Red-necked Stint found in the project area for both the wet and dry season surveys. ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA & OPEN LINES 9 - 27
Page 1 and 2: Abbot Point Cumulative Impact Asses
Page 3 and 4: ABBOT POINT CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSES
Page 13 and 14: Figure 9-3: BAAM March survey locat
Page 21 and 22: Coastal water and estuarine (intert
Page 27: SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER ABBOT POINT
Page 41 and 42: 9.4 CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES ABBOT P
Page 43 and 44: Table 9-5: Areas of the Caley Valle
Page 45 and 46: 9.5.2 Indirect Impacts ABBOT POINT
Page 47 and 48: GROUNDWATER ABBOT POINT CUMULATIVE
Page 51 and 52: DISTURBANCE RELATED IMPACTS Noise A
Page 69 and 70: 9.9 INTERACTION WITH CLIMATE CHANGE
Page 71: ABBOT POINT CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSES

Chapter 9 – Migratory shorebirds and the Australian Painted Snipe

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