Timing of migration and population trends

David Wilson (Consultant Zoologist)Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd

3 species◦ Latham’s G. hardwickii

◦ Pin-tailed G. stenura

◦ Swinhoe’s G. megala

Part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

Atlas of Living Australia

Birdlife Australia Shorebirds 2020 program

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Num

ber

of

record

s

Japan◦ Early April - start to arrive in Japan

◦ Late April to early July – breeding

◦ Late July and early August – begin to depart

◦ Early October – last records

Australia◦ Late July – first arrivals

◦ Late May – last departures

Austin and Neroda (1953)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1940 1960 1980 2000 2020

Num

ber

of

report

s

Earlier arrival on average from 17 August in 1950 to 12August in 2012 (8 days = 0.08 days/year)

Earlier departure on average from Australia from 27 April in1950 to 16 April in 2012 (0.16 days/year)

25,000-100,000 individuals (WetlandsInternational 2013)

36,000 (Bamford et al. 2008)

All of which are assumed to overwinter inAustralia

Stable or declining over the last 30 years

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Num

ber

record

ed

0

200

400

600

06-Dec-99 13-Feb-02 23-Apr-04 02-Jul-06 09-Sep-08 18-Nov-10

Count

Powling St, VIC

0

20

40

60

14-Nov-84 07-May-90 28-Oct-95 19-Apr-01 10-Oct-06

Count

Edithvale Wetlands, VIC

Golo Maurer – Birdlife Australia Shorebirds 2020

David WilsonConsultant Zoologist

0457 303 596

Adelaide - (08) 8372 7829 / Brisbane – (07) 3221 3352

Geelong – (03) 5221 8122 / Melbourne – (03) 9377 0100

www.ehpartners.com.au

Contact Details