Waders

What are waders?

Waders (Sandpipers, Plovers, and other Shorebirds such as Oystercatchers are collectively known as waders) comprise 10% of Australia's bird species. They are so unobtrusive, so keenly adapted to their environment, that many people hardly give them a second glance. Most species are migrants from northern China, Mongolia, Japan, Alaska and Siberia. In these regions, a brief opportunity for breeding arises when the snow melts. At this time,insect-life, a food source for chicks, is abundant.

As autumn approaches, the birds migrate southward. They travel as far as 13000 km, arriving to spend the southern summer on our shores. The smallest of these birds have bodies no larger than a hen's egg, yet they still manage the journey. About 2 million waders migrate to Australia. The south-east corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland is one of the most significant sites in the world for waders. Moreton Bay is also internationally recognized, with more than 40,000 waders arriving during spring and summer.

There are numerous threats to waders in Australia and in other countries of the flyway. In many parts of South-east Asia the birds are hunted and there is widespread habitat loss through coastal reclamation. In Queensland, there is inadequate protection of roost and feeding sites and threats from pollution.

There are international treaties aimed at protecting migratory waders. For example, the Ramsar Convention encourages member countries to conserve and sustainably manage wetlands. Within Queensland, Moreton Bay, Bowling Green Bay (near Townsville), Currawinya Lakes, Shoalwater and Corrio Bays and Great Sandy Strait (incl. Great Sandy Strait, Tin Can Bay, and Tin Can Bay inlet) are listed as Ramsar sites. Wader Study Groups in Australia are working towards the protection of waders by providing scientific information, and advocating both for the preservation and wise management of their habitat.

Eastern Curlew © I & J Brown

To find out more about the lifestyles and journeys of shorebirds,

• visit the Shorebirds 2020 web site. (Shorebirds 2020 is a collaborative enterprise between Birds Australia, The Australasian Wader Studies Group (AWSG), WWF-Australia and the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust.)
• look at Moreton Bay Regional Council's special website page Identify our Shorebirds for points to consider about these birds.  This page also provides a link to the excellent "Pumicestone Passage Shorebird Challenge & Identification Guide" (1.46 MB pdf file download). Printed copies can be obtained from the Council. Moreton Bay provides a seasonal refuge for many shorebirds.

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Protecting waders

Migratory shorebirds or waders spend their six or so months in Australia building up their bodies for the autumn trip to northern Asia to breed in the tundra areas. Many thousands of birds summer along the Queensland coast. They feed on mudflats around our salt-water bays and estuaries. They can only feed when the tide is low and the banks are exposed. They feed both day and night at low tide.

At high tide, they gather in large numbers at specific sites to wait out the tide, and to rest on banks or the shore above the tide level. These places are known as “high tide roosts”, and a few are  signposted. These roosts are sometimes in remote spots but more often very close to human activity.

Waders usually lose up to half their body weight during their migration so they have a lot of building up to do. This involves eating, resting and not using excess energy. To achieve this, it is essential that the birds be permitted to feed and roost without disturbance. Much feeding is done on banks well off shore which are less attractive to people, but some feeding is done on foreshores.

People going for a walk, dogs running free, boat and jet-skis going by and fisherman intruding on the area, all of these disturb shorebirds both at their high tide roosts and while they are resting.

Please avoid putting these birds to flight. Heavy penalties apply for disturbing waders.

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Great Knot © I & J Brown

What is the Queensland Wader Study Group (QWSG)?

• QWSG is a special interest group within Birds Queensland.
• The Queensland Wader Study Group is a voluntary organization.
• It was formed to further research on both migratory and resident waders (shorebirds) in Queensland, and to work for their conservation.

News and events

QWSG HIGH TIDE - MONTHLY COUNT PROGRAMME - 2010

Sat 25th Sep 2.13m at 10:26
Sat 23rd Oct 2.23m at 09:28
Sat 20th Nov 2.26m at 08:28
Sat 18th Dec 2.17m at 07:19

Additional counts: Once again there are not too many good heights or times at the weekend for our Count Programme. However, I have picked the best I can to accommodate our count day and the Port of Brisbane Corporation Count dates. There are other good heights and tides on other dates and if you can fit in an extra count during northward and southward migration that would add to our database and give us an indication on numbers using known roosts during these periods. If you would like more details on tides and times suitable for your roost please contact me for more details. Linda Cross. Phone 5495 2758 or email xenus@big.net.au

Grey-tailed Tattler © I & J Brown

PORT OF BRISBANE COUNT DATES – 2010

Sun 26th Sep 2.14m at 11:00 Meet 09:10
Sun 24th Oct 2.27m at 10:03 Meet 08:15
Sun 21st Nov 2.34m at 09:06 Meet 07:15
Sun 19th Dec 2.29m at 08:03 Meet 06:15

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How can you help?

Join the Queensland Wader Study Group and you can be involved in a number of interesting and rewarding activities:

• Regular counts of waders around Moreton Bay, Cairns, Townsville, Gladstone and other regions. From this the QWSG maintains a wader database for Queensland. This gives us a measure of the abundance of the birds, and will give us early warning signs if the populations are declining.
• Participate in expeditions to interesting sites in Queensland, such as Mackay and the Great Sandy Straits, to survey wader populations.
• Link with other regional wader study groups through the Australian Wader Study Group (AWSG).
• Help lobby for protection of wader habitat. Several areas of international importance for waders have no protection at all.
• Attend or assist with education courses on waders.

Pied Oystercatcher © I & J Brown

QWSG membership

You don't need any qualifications to become a member of the QWSG. If you would like to participate in any of the group's activities, we will gladly show you anything you need to know.

With your membership you will receive a quarterly newsletter and be regularly informed of any upcoming events and activities.

Download your application form

Send your application form to:
QWSG Treasurer
30/43 McLachlan St
DARWIN NT 0800

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QWSG contacts

If you'd like to know more about the QWSG, please contact:

Management committee		Phone number	Email
Chairperson:	Andrew Geering	(07) 3376 1241
Treasurer:	Sheryl Keates
Secretary:	Peter Rothlisberg	(07) 3822 3759
Newsletter Editor:	David Edwards	(07) 3262 2017
Count Coordinator:	Dawn Beck	(07) 3378 8598
	Vicki Campbell	(07) 3378 2964
	Jon Coleman	(07) 3299 2780
	Maureen Cooper	(07) 4959 3770
	Sandra Harding	(07) 3390 2179
	Joyce Harding	(07) 3488 0212
	David Milton	(07) 3390 2179
	Heather Smith	0435 069 968
	Andy Jensen	0404 348 638
	Ivell Whyte	(07) 3802 0757
JOIN US LEARN about waders HAVE FUN on field trips CONTRIBUTE to what is known about waders and help with their preservation

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