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This is the author’s version of a work that was submitted/accepted for pub-lication in the following source:

Wells, Dezmond (2010) Birds : indicators of environmental repair in oilaffected coastlines. (Unpublished)

This file was downloaded from: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/59524/

c© Copyright 2010 Dezmond Wells

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1

Birds - Indicators of Environmental Repair in Oil Affected Coastlines

2

Birds - Indicators of Environmental Repair in Oil Affected Coastlines Dezmond. R. Wells (GradDipEd , BSc, , AssDipAppSc)A

ABirds Australia Southern Queensland, 32 Panoramic Dr, Narangba, QLD 4504, Australia. Email: [email protected] Abstract Bird coastal communities were studied along Bribie Island and Moreton Island, two islands within Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, using the point counts method. A total of 128 five-hundred metre radius area surveys and 81 beach drive surveys were conducted and observations made over four seasons. Bird species were identified, counted and recorded. The data was compared between the two islands and, between sites on each island as oil-spill affected sites to non-oil spill affected sites. Species such as waders, shorebirds, terns/gulls and raptors were identified as species at most risk from an oil spill and the data was selected to look mainly at these species. The data indicated that sites affected by the oil spill contained 50% less oil-affected species than sites not affected by the oil spill. Bribie Island held on average 5 species per site in the oil affected sites compared to 12 species in non-oil affected sites. This same trend was observed on Moreton Island which held 6 species compared to 14 species. Bird data will continue to be counted over several years to determine whether the observed data is a true reflection of the affects of an oil spill on the habitat of shorebirds. Introduction This paper reviews the birds of the coastal regions of Bribie and Moreton Islands based on new data collected during four seasons of surveying in 2010. Details of all birds recorded are provided and information on the frequency of occurrence in the region with that of site type is summarised. Other factors outside of the oil spill such as human disturbance and distance from the mainland may also contribute to a change in numbers of species seen. Difference between islands can be attributed to the level of human disturbance and distance from the mainland. For example Bribie Island is closer to the mainland and experiences a large human visitation every weekend, with some beach sites holding over 60 visiting vehicles per weekend, while Moreton Island is further from the mainland, more difficult to access and experiences less human visitation at beach sites, less than 5 vehicles per weekend.

Moreton Bay under Birdlife International is identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and holds in excess of 40,000 non-breeding waders in the summer months. This IBA contains significant populations of the endangered Australasian Bittern, near threatened species Bush Stone-curlew and Beach Stone-curlew and the restricted-range (endemic) Mangrove Honeyeater, and more than 1% of the world population of ten species of other shorebirds (Black-winged Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Red-capped

Bribie Island

3

Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Far Eastern Curlew, Grey-tailed Tattler, Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Pied Oystercatcher). Moreton Bay is listed as a significant wetland under RAMSAR. Covering more than 110,000ha, the Moreton Bay wetlands are extremely varied, ranging from perched freshwater lakes and sedge swamps on the offshore sand islands, to intertidal mudflats, marshes, sandflats and mangroves next to the Bay’s islands and the mainland. This variety enhances the Bay’s biological diversity with an overlap of wildlife species normally considered tropical or temperate. (Department of Environment and Resource Management, 2009) Under its Ramsar listing it is identified as a significant wetland for supporting more than 50,000 wintering and staging shorebirds during the non-breeding season. At least 43 species of shorebirds use intertidal habitats in the Bay, including 30 migratory species listed by JAMBA and CAMBA and the Bay is particularly significant for the population of wintering Far Eastern Curlews (3,000 to 5,000) and the Grey-tailed Tattler (more than 10,000), both substantially more than 1% of the known Flyway population. The Moreton Bay region is an important habitat for many species of birds and is one of only four recognised sites of significance to wintering migratory wading birds along the eastern Australian coast. Australia is a signatory to the Japan-Australia (JAMBA) and China-Australia (CAMBA) migratory bird agreements which require the habitats used by certain species listed in the agreements to be set aside as reserves. (Wetlands International, 2007) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of bird species. Endangered listed species are the Australasian Bittern and vulnerable listed species are the Fairy Tern. Near threatened listed species are the Bush Stone-curlew, Black-neck Stork (listed as rare in Queensland), Beach Stone-curlew and Black-tailed Godwit. (IUCN, 2010) The Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management identify the following birds as species of conservation significance for Moreton Island National Park and Bribie Island National Park: Beach Stone-curlew (vulnerable), Black-necked Stork (Near-threatened), Sooty Oystercatcher (Near-threatened), Little Tern (Endangered), Lewin’s Rail (Near-threatened), Grey Goshawk (Near-threatened) and Far Eastern Curlew (Near threatened) Birds Australia Southern Queensland obtained a grant of $48,339 from SEQ Catchments to;

1. To conduct 500m area surveys to monitor the presence, diversity and re-establishment of coastal avian fauna on oil disturbed habitats, as revegetation and re-profiling of oil affected habitats occurs.

2. To develop a community-based monitoring program (including training workshops) to provide data for the on-going management of coastal ecosystems.

Methods Survey methodologies used in this report are based on The New Atlas of Australian Birds (Barrett et al.2003). Taxonomy and nomenclature is based on Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds (Christidis, L. and Boles, W. 2008). Surveys were undertaken using `active timed area search’ methodology of Birds Australia in two formats; 500m area search; and beach searches from one site to the next site. An observer records the number of species seen while actively searching a certain area over a fixed time period (Field et al; Anjos, 2004). Avian communities were surveyed using the following two methods – 1. 500m Area Search – This method involved searching a circular area contained within a radius of 500m from a central

GPS location. The presence of bird species was recorded. The standard procedure was for surveyors to search for birds over a period of one hour, and

a. If no new species was found in the last 15 minutes then the search was concluded at one hour. b. If a new species was found in the last 15 minutes then the surveyor continued searching for another 15

minutes after the one hour. c. If a new species was found in the next 15 minutes, then the surveyor continued for another 15 minutes.

2. Beach Surveys – This method was used while surveyors travelled from one site to the next. A surveyor would record all

birds sighted. The standard procedure was that all vehicles travelling in a group would radio birds sighted to the lead vehicle.

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0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

120.00%

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ird

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Species

Comparision of the highest frequency of Bribie and Moreton Island Bird Species

% Bribie % Moreton

Results There was a difference in the species identified between Bribie Island and Moreton Island. 146 species of birds were observed in the Bribie Island coastal region compared to 111 species of birds in the Moreton Island coastal regions.

Comparision of Oil Spill to Non-oil Spill Sites for the Average Number of Oil-affected species

5

12

14

6

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Bribie Moreton

Islands

Nu

mb

er o

f S

pec

ies

Oil Sp Non-Oil Sp

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

5

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Australasian G

annetA

ustralasian Grebe

Australian H

obby

Australian B

itternA

ustralian Pelican

Australian S

hoveler

Australian W

hite IbisA

ustralian Woodduck

Azure K

ing

fisherB

ar-tailed G

odwit

Beach

Sto

ne C

urlewB

lack-fronted Dotterel

Black-n

ecked Sto

rkB

lack Sw

anB

lack-tailed Godw

itB

lack-winged S

tiltB

rahm

iny K

iteB

uff-band

ed Rail

Bro

wn

Bo

obyB

row

n G

oshawk

Buff-ban

ded R

ailB

ush S

ton

e-curlewC

aspian T

ernC

hestn

ut Teal

Co

llared Sp

arrowhaw

kC

om

b-crested JacanaC

rested T

ernC

urlew S

and

piperD

arterD

ouble-banded P

loverD

usky Mo

orehenE

astern C

urlewE

astern R

eef Eg

retF

airy Tern

Fo

rest Kin

gfisherG

reat Co

rmo

rantG

reat Eg

retG

reat Kn

ot

Greater S

and

ploverG

rey Go

shawk

Grey-tailed T

attlerG

rey Teal

Gull-billed T

ernIn

termed

iate Eg

retLath

am S

nip

eLesser S

and

ploverLew

in’s R

ailLittle B

lack Co

rmorant

Little Eg

retLittle P

ied C

orm

orantLittle T

ernM

agp

ie Goose

Man

grove K

ingfisher

Masked

Lapw

ingN

ankeen

Night H

eronO

sprey

Pacific B

lack Duck

Pied

Co

rmorant

Australian P

ied O

ystercatcherP

urple S

wam

phen

Red

-capped Plover

Red

-necked S

tintR

oyal S

poonbill

San

derling

Sh

arp-tailed S

andpiperS

ilver Gull

So

oty O

ystercatcherS

outh

Island Pied

Oystercatcher

Sp

otless C

rakeS

traw-n

ecked IbisS

triated H

eron

Sw

amp

Harrier

Wan

dering T

attlerW

and

ering Whistling D

uckW

edg

e-tailed Sh

earwater

Wh

imbrel

Wh

istling Kite

Wh

ite-bellied Sea-eagle

Wh

ite-faced Heron

Wh

ite-winged B

lack-tern

Per

cen

tag

e o

f si

tes

(6%

= 1

sit

e)

Species

Comparision of species that would be affected by an Oil Spill

Bribie Moreton

Maximum Oil Affected Species Counts for Sites

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Beach (Non-Oil Sp) Beach (Oil Sp) Creek (Non-Oil Sp) Creek (Oil Sp) Dune (Oil Sp) Lagoon (Non-OilSp)

Lagoon (Oil Sp) Rockyshore (Oil Sp) Sandbar (Non-OilSp)

Sites

Max

imu

m n

um

ber

s

SPR Bribie SPR Moreton SUM Bribie SUM Moreton AUT Bribie AUT Moreton WIN Bribie WIN Moreton

Figure 3:

Figure 4:

6

Number of Oil Spill Affected Species per Bribie Island Site

0

5

10

15

20

25C

RE

EK

CR

EE

K

CR

EE

K

LAG

OO

N

SA

ND

BA

R

SA

ND

BA

R

BE

AC

H

BE

AC

H

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AC

H

BE

AC

H

BE

AC

H

CR

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K

LAG

OO

N

LAG

OO

N

DU

NE

DU

NE

DU

NE

DU

NE

N N N N N N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

BIDC01 BIFC01 BILR01 BUCK BIKA01 BHBI BIFC01TO

BINC01

BIML01TO

BIWL01

BINC01TO

BIML01

BIOB01TO

BIFB02

BIWL01TO

BIOB01

BINC01 BIML01 BIWL01 BIFB01 BIFB02 BIOB01 BIOB02

Sites

Nu

mb

er o

f sp

ecie

s

SPR SUM AUT WIN

Number of Oil Affected Species per Site - Moreton Island

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Dun

e/La

ke

San

dspi

t

Bea

ch

Bea

ch

Bea

ch

Mud

flats

Lago

on

Bea

ch

Dun

e/La

ke

Bea

ch

Dun

e/C

reek

Roc

kysh

ore

Bea

ch

Dun

e/C

reek

Dun

e/C

reek

MIMP01 MIMP02 MIEC01TO

MIRB01

MIRB01TO

MIMP02

MITB01TO

MIHI01

MIHI01 MIYP01 MINP01TO

MIHI01

MIBL01 MIEC01TO

MISC01

MIEC01 MINP01 MISC01TO

MINP01

MISC01 MIECS01

N N N N N N N N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Sites

Nu

mb

er o

f sp

ecie

s

Spring Summer Autumn Winter

Figure 5:

Figure 6:

7

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

spr sum aut win spr sum aut win spr sum aut win spr sum aut win

No-oil Af fected Oil Af fected No-oil Af fected Oil Af fected

Moreton Island Bribie Island

Nu

mb

er o

f In

div

idu

als

Figure 7: Numbers of Species per Season Pied Oystercatcher and Masked Lapwings

Masked Lapwing Australian Pied Oystercatcher

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160




Nu

mb

er o

f In

div

idu

als

Figure 8: Number of Speceis per Season of Red-capped Plover and Silver Gull

Red-capped Plover Silver Gull

8

0

5

10

15

20

25

30




Nu

mb

er o

f In

div

idu

als

Figure 9: Numbers of Species per Season for Whistling Kite and White-bellied Sea-Eagle

Whistling Kite White-bellied Sea-eagle

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14




Nu

mb

er o

f In

div

idu

als

Figure 10: Numbers of Species per Season for Brahminy Kite and Black-fronted Dotterel

Black-fronted Dotterel Brahminy Kite

9

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000




Nu

mb

er o

fIn

div

idu

als

Figure 11:Number of Speceis per Season of Crested Tern

Crested Tern

0

2

4

6

8

10

12




Nu

mb

er o

f In

div

idu

als

Figure 12: Number of Species per Season of Beach Stone Curlew

Beach Stone-curlew

10

Discussion A total of 176 species of birds distributed among 58 families and 17 orders (Appendix 2), were encountered in the study period. Of these, 146 were found in the Bribie Island coastal region and 111 in the Moreton Island coastal region. Bribie Island contained more coastal ecosystem communities than Moreton Island. This diversity in habitats was also reflected in the number of species of birds identified. Lagoons and creeks were more prevalent with surrounding forested woodlands on the Bribie Island sites, whereas Moreton Island contained mostly sites with similar structure creeks, surrounded by dunes and these were surrounded by a low growing heathland. Looking at those species that exist on either island at a site frequency of 50% or greater, figure 1, it can be noted that the Brahminy Kite, Silver Gull, Torresian Crow and Whistling Kite were present at 13 or more sites on both islands. These species are highly mobile and use a wide range of habitat types and food sources. Other species found at greater than 13 sites on Moreton Island were Crested Terns, Masked Lapwings, Pied Oystercatchers and White-bellied Sea-Eagles. These species were also found on Bribie Island but not as frequently. These species are highly mobile and use the extensive beach systems for food gathering. The lower frequency on Bribie Island is most likely a direct response to the high frequency of human visitation to the beaches of Bribie Island. Bribie Island sites also contained species not seen at sites or in low frequencies at sites on Moreton Island, Rufous Whistler, Eastern Whipbird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Sacred Kingfisher, Scarlet Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, Golden Whistler, Variegated Fairy-wren, Figbird, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Grey Shrike Thrush, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Rufous Fantail and White-browed Scrubwren were those species that occurred at greater than 50% of sites on Bribie Island but not Moreton Island. These species use the various strata associated with open forests and woodlands. Bribie Island sites were mainly creeks or lagoons with a small coastal dune front followed by a large open forest habitat to the rear of the dunes. The open forests consisted of four strata, canopy layer up to 30m in height (Eucalyptus sp.), bare trunk layer, shrub layer (mostly Acacia sp. and Lantana sp.) up to 8m in height and a herb layer of grasses, rushes and ferns. This provided a range of habitats for the species listed above. In comparison Moreton Island sites were mainly creeks entering through large dune fields with swales of Allocasuarina sp. and this was followed by plains of low growing mixed species heathland. The range of habitats was therefore not as diverse as those sampled on Bribie Island. The number of strata available for birds was also significantly reduced, for example the Allocasuarina woodland up to 4m in height contained mostly one stratum and one species of plant. The mixed heathland, while containing many species of plants up to 1½m in height, was mostly only one stratum but densely packed. Species seen that occurred at greater than 50% of sites on Moreton Island but not Bribie Island were Australasian Pipit, Beach Stone-curlew, Forest Kingfisher, Red-capped Plover and the White-breasted Woodswallow. The Australasian Pipit prefers open country with sparse patches of cover and the large extensive dune fields provided excellent habitat for this species. The Beach Stone-curlews prefers long and wide sandy shorelines with an extensive dune system covered in Allocasuarina sp. The shorelines of Moreton Island particularly suit this requirement, whereas Bribie Island beaches while long are fairly narrow do not have an extensive dune system covered in Allocasuarina sp. This species is also very prone to human disturbance and will leave areas frequented by human disturbance, Bribie Island beaches experience considerable vehicular traffic, on most weekends over 100 vehicles travel the Bribie Island beaches, whilst Moreton Island would experience two to three vehicles on the eastern beaches in a weekend. While many species were identified across both islands the aim of this report was to determine whether there had been an affect on the bird population as a result of the oil spill on sites in March 2009. This study did not look at the direct affects on bird populations such as oiling of feathers, but at the indirect affect of an oil spill on the food web of bird species. It was reasoned that the oil directly and the removal of oil from the habitat would result in a disruption of the food chain in these sites. This disruption would translate up the food chain resulting in a reduction in the number of individuals and the number of species at a site as these species of birds left to forage in areas that did contain available food resources. Several factors will affect our results, the change in food availability due to seasonal changes, the level of oil coverage, how quickly sites were cleaned, the method of cleaning used, the rehabilitation of sites and how quickly access to sites were granted. Unfortunately, for this survey access to sites was not granted until December 2009, nine months after the oil spill, as a result no immediate data has been able to be gathered. To fully ascertain the affect of the oil spill the study needs to be long term. The current project was only funded for six months. Birds Australia Southern Queensland will continue to monitor sites as part of its ongoing Important Bird Area program, this project will monitor IBAs at a three year interval. So what can be shown from the data collected to date? Sites were established in areas of oil spill inundation and in areas of no-oil spill inundation. After a preliminary survey in December 2009, there appeared to be little visible evidence of an oil spill having reached sites known to have been affected. Food chains, producer to consumer level, appeared to be active at all sites. After six months of surveying to ascertain whether any evidence of an affect could be established, all species not affected by an oil spill (Forest birds, mostly nectar and insect eaters) were isolated. Figure 2, the average number of species across four seasons on Bribie Island and Moreton Island for oil- affected sites and non-oil-affected sites for those remaining oil-affected species is displayed and indicates that sites that have been affected by an oil spill have significantly less species than no-oil spill sites, 5 to 6 species compared to 12 to 14 species.

11

This indicates that sites that experienced the oil spill have been affected. The sites have a reduced number of species either as a direct result of the oil inundation or as an indirect result of the clean-up and rehabilitation of sites. Figure 3, compares the maximum number of species seen at site types, beach, dune, creek, lagoon, rockyshore and sandbar across seasons. Some of these site types are found in both oil affected and no-affected sites. Rockyshore and sandbar sites are only found in one site condition only. Seasonal data is displayed and shows a general trend of improvement in sites from spring to winter for both oil affected and no-oil affected sites. This could indicate an improvement in the habitat condition of sites, especially in oil affected sites. Some site type’s show a drop in species from spring to autumn and then an increase in winter, for example lagoon sites and sandbars in no-oil affected sites. This shows a seasonal trend of the movement of migratory species into and out of the bay. The number of species observed that would be directly or indirectly affected by the oil spill on Moreton Island and Bribie Island, Figure 4, is fairly consistent, 58 species compared to 56 species. The species make-up of each island varied, for example those species not seen on Moreton Island were mostly freshwater swamp species such as crakes, rails, ducks, grebes and Comb-crested Jacana, while those species seen on Moreton Island but not seen on Bribie Island were mud flat species with shallow water bodies such as Black-necked Stork, stone-curlews, whimbrels and plovers, beach and ocean species such as Sanderling, shearwaters, boobies, black terns and rockyshore species such as Wandering Tattlers, Eastern Reef Egrets and Sooty Oystercatchers. Bribie Island sites in general showed an increase in the maximum number of species from the spring survey to the winter survey, figure 5. Buckley’s Hole Lagoon (Buck) is a trapped lagoon unlike other lagoons which are associated with creeks that empty into the sea, as a result the large number of species at this site is a factor of its permanent nature. Numbers at this site fluctuate with the depth of the water and the season. The two sandspit sites, BHBI and BIKA01, are known wader roost sites. Waders congregate to these two sites during the high tide and during low tide leave to forage on surrounding mudflats. These sites were generally counted at high tide. Fluctuations in these two sites are consistent with the migration patterns of waders, numbers will decrease as waders leave in March. The increase in winter on these sites is due to the migration of terns and waders from southern shores to Moreton Bay. Moreton Bay is an important over-wintering site for waders. The increase in species across most sites is also a direct result of an unseasonably warmer winter, with temperatures similar to those seen in spring. The data from the two creek sites, Freshwater creek (BIFC01) and Dingo creek (BIDC01) while identified as no-oil spill sites relate more to oil spill sites. This could indicate that another factor other than the oil spill could be affecting creek sites on Bribie Island. Long term collection of data will allow for other factors to be considered. Moreton Island sites also showed an increase in the maximum number of species from the spring surveys to the winter surveys, figure 6. It was more obvious on Moreton Island that oil spill affected sites contained less species than no-oil spill affected sites. Moreton Island received more oil coverage than Bribie Island. The only mudflat site Heath Island (MIHI01) contained a greater number of species across all seasons. Heath Island is a protected embayment that contains a range of habitats (sandspit, mudflats, Allocasuarina sp. woodlands, mangrove woodland, freshwater swamps and dune fields), allowing for a diversity of species to exist in one area. Figures 7 to 11, displays the actual total numbers of individuals observed each season in no-oil affected and oil affected sites for several species. The data indicates that Moreton Island contained more individuals of particular species than Bribie Island. This could be as a result of the level of visitation experienced by each island; Moreton Island beaches experience low levels of human disturbance compared to Bribie Island. Bribie Island can experience upwards of 100 vehicles on its beaches each weekend. Moreton Island data indicates that oil-affected sites hold significantly less numbers of individuals than no-oil affected sites. However, not all species show a similar trend on Bribie Island. Instead most of the species showed the opposite less individuals in the no-oil affected sites and more individuals in the oil affected sites. This difference could be an indicator that sites on Bribie Island have not been affected by the oil spill and what is being observed is a natural difference between sites. The survey has found evidence of migratory patterns, several yellow flagged Pied Oystercatchers, a white banded Pied Oystercatcher was observed, the presence of a South-Island Pied Oystercatcher and a blue flag on a Bar-tailed Godwit on Moreton Island was confirmed over the period of the survey. The Yellow flagged Pied Oystercatchers have migrated from New South Wales. The white-banded Pied Oystercatcher has travelled from Tasmania (an exciting record), the South Island Pied Oystercatcher from New Zealand and the blue flagged Bar-tailed Godwit from Japan. These records display the importance of Moreton Bay and its islands as a migratory pathway for birds. In the introduction it was noted that several species are considered of significance to conservation, many of these species were observed during the survey period, Bar-tailed Godwits, Beach Stone-curlews, Mangrove Honeyeaters, Bush Stone-curlews, Pied Oystercatchers to name a few. The effects of an oil spill on these species can cause there numbers to decrease and their conservation status to change in the negative. Prevention of oil spills is a better option than cleaning up sites after the fact. This study has shown that an oil spill does cause a reduction in numbers of oil-affected species.

12

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted with the help of over 30 surveyors. I thank them for their tireless efforts and expert birding prowess. I offer a special thanks to Ross and Cathy Smith for the management of the Bribie Island surveys.

References

Department of Environment and Resource Management. (2009). Moreton Bay Ramsar Site, from www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/PPL/DOIWandRAMSAR/RamsarWetland-5AU041.html Wetlands International. (2007). Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. www.wetlands.org/reports/ris/5AU041en.pdf IUCN. (2010). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.2. www.iucnredlist.org Anjos, L. (2004). Species richness and relative abundance of birds in natural and anthropogenic fragments of Brazilian Atlantic forest. Annuals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 76, (2), 429 – 434. Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Barry, S., Cunningham,R. and Poulter, R. (2003) The New Atlas of Australian Birds. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Hawthorn East. Birds Australia. (online 2008) Important Bird Areas. http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/important-bird-areas.html , Twenty4, Melbourne. Christidis, L. and Boles, W. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood. Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2007). The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. 8th ed. Harper Collins Publishers, Sydney.

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Appendix 1 Sites

Each survey site was identified with a set code. Codes stand for a description of Property, Site and Site number as shown below: (property)/ (site)/ (Site number). Property: (1st two letters) BI – Bribie Island MI – Moreton Island Surveyed from: (2nd two letters) DC – Dingo Creek FC – Freshwater Creek WL – Welsby Lagoon ML – Mermaid Lagoon OB – Ocean Beach FB – Fort Bribie walk LR – Lighthouse Reach NC – Norfolk Creek HI – Heath Island BL – Blue Lagoon EC – Eager’s Creek ECS – Eager’s Creek South NP – North Point BU – Bulwer Township TR – Tangalooma Resort SC – Spitfire Creek TB – Taylor’s Bight YP – Yellow Patch RB – Rouse Battery MP - Mirapool Numbers: (3rd two numbers) 01 – Site 1 02 – Site 2 Queensland Wader Study Group Codes BHBI – Buckley’s Hole Sandbar BUCK – Buckley’s Hole Lagoon MIMP01 – Mirapool Lagoon MIMP02 – Mirapool Beach

SITE LATITUDE LONGITUDE

TYPE

MIHI01 27 02 19S 153 24 38E Tidal mudflats

MIBL01 27 05 35S 153 26 39E Dune/lagoon

MIEC01 27 08 51S 153 25 42E Creek

MIBU01 27 04 38S 153 22 09E Township MIEC01 to MISC01 27 20 03S 153 26 24E Beach

MIMP01 27 20 03S 153 26 24E

Breached lagoon that now more resembles an estuary

MIMP02 27 19 55S 153 26 40E Sandspit MIEC01 to MIRB01 27 13 21S 153 25 05E Beach MIRB01 to MIMP01 27 18 20S 153 25 38E Beach

MINP01 27 01 29S 153 27 27E Rocky foreshore & headland

MISC01 to MINP01 27 03 14S 153 27 30E Beach

MISC01 27 04 18S 153 27 01E Creek MITR01 to MIBU01 27 18 20S 153 25 38E Beach

MIYP01 27 01 54S 153 26 23E Lagoon on beach

MITB01 to MIHI01 27 02 25S 153 23 34E Beach

MIECS01 27 09 14S 153 25 40E Creek

BIDC01 27 01 15S 153 10 34E Creek

BIFB01 26 52 29S 153 07 49E Dune

BIFB02 26 51 42S 153 07 47E Dune

BIFC01 27 02 32S 153 11 18E Creek

BILR01 26 53 21S 153 07 06E Forest/Creek

BIML01 27 00 13S 153 10 01E Lagoon

BINC01 27 01 41S 153 10 46E Lagoon

BIOB01 26 53 03S 153 07 55E Dune

BIOB02 26 54 27S 153 08 16E Dune

BIWL01 26 57 52S 153 09 15E Lagoon BIFC01 to BINC01 27 02 05S 153 11 05E Beach BINC01 to BIML01 27 00 49S 153 10 25E Beach BIML01 to BIWL01 26 59 08S 153 09 42E Beach BIWL01 to BIOB01 26 55 27S 153 08 40E Beach BIOB01 to BIFB02 26 52 18S 153 07 51E Beach

BHBI 27 05 42S 153 09 44E Sandbar

BUCK 27 05 30S 153 09 47E Lagoon

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Appendix 2 List of bird species recorded

Order & Family Christidis, L and Boles, W.

(2008) Species

Order Phalacrocoraciformes Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)

Great Cormorant Pied Cormorant Little Pied Cormorant Little Black Cormorant

Anhingidae (Darter) Australasian Darter Sulidae (Gannets & Boobies)

Australasian Gannet Brown Booby

Order Ciconiiformes Pelecanidae (Pelican) Australian Pelican Ciconiidae (Stork) Black-necked Stork Ardeidae (Herons & Egret) White-faced Heron

Eastern Reef Egret Intermediate Egret Eastern Great Egret Little Egret Australasian Bittern Striated Heron Nankeen Night Heron

Threskiornithidae (Ibis & Spoonbills)

Australian White Ibis Straw-necked Ibis Royal Spoonbill

Order Charadriiformes Scolopacidae (Sandpipers & allies)

Latham’s Snipe Curlew Sandpiper Eastern Curlew Grey-tailed Tattler Wandering Tattler Whimbrel Red-necked Stint Sanderling Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Great Knot Bar-tailed Godwit Black-tailed Godwit

Haematopodidae (Oystercatcher)

Australian Pied Oystercatcher South Island Pied Oystercatcher Sooty Oystercatcher

Burhinidae (Thick-knees) Beach Stone-curlew Bush Stone-curlew

Jacanidae (Jacanas) Comb-crested Jacana

Recurvirostridae (Stilts & Avocets)

Black-winged Stilt

Charadriidae (Plovers & allies)

Red-capped Plover Black-fronted Dotterel Pacific Golden Plover Masked Lapwing Greater Sand Plover Lesser Sand Plover Double-banded Plover

Laridae (Gulls & Terns) Silver Gull Fairy Tern * Crested Tern Caspian Tern Gull-billed Tern White-winged Black Tern Little Tern


(2008)

Species

Order Procellariiformes Procellariidae (Shearwaters) Wedge-tailed Shearwater Order PasseriformesMaluridae (Fairy-wrens and Allies)

Variegated Fairy-wren Red-backed Fairy-wren Superb Fairy-wren

Climacteridae (Treecreepers)

White-throated Treecreeper

Timaliidae (White-eyes) Silvereye Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters, Chats)

Mangrove Honeyeater Blue-faced Honeyeater Brown Honeyeater Dusky Honeyeater Lewin’s Honeyeater Noisy Friarbird Noisy Miner Scarlet Honeyeater White-cheeked Honeyeater Little Wattlebird White-throated Honeyeater Yellow-faced Honeyeater Little Friarbird

Pardalotidae (Pardalotes) Striated Pardalote Spotted Pardalote

Acanthizidae (Gerygones and Thornbills)

Brown Thornbill Yellow Thornbill White-browed Scrubwren White-throated Gerygone Large-billed Scrubwren Mangrove Gerygone

Petroicidae (Australo-Papuan Robins)

Eastern Yellow Robin Rose Robin

Order AcciptriformesAccipitridae (Kites, Goshawks, Eagles, Harriers)

Swamp Harrier Whistling Kite Eastern Osprey White-bellied Sea-eagle Brahminy Kite Collared Sparrowhawk Grey Goshawk Brown Goshawk

Order FalconiformesFalconidae (Falcons) Australian Hobby

* Fairy Tern was separately identified by 4 observers. Photographic evidence of presence needs to be obtained for conclusive proof.

15


(2008) Species

Order Passeriformes Corvidae (Ravens and Crows)

Torresian Crow

Artamidae (Woodswallows, Butcherbirds, Currawongs and magpies)

Australian Magpie White-breasted Woodswallow Pied Currawong Grey Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird

Monarchidae (Flycatchers, Monarchs)

Magpie-lark Spectacled Monarch Satin Flycatcher Restless Flycatcher Leaden Flycatcher

Dicruridae (Drongo) Spangled Drongo Pachycephalidae (Whistlers, Shrike-thrush and Bellbirds)

Little Shrike-thrush Grey Shrike-thrush Golden Whistler Rufous Whistler

Campephagidae (Cuckoo-shrikes and Trillers)

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Cicadabird Varied Triller

Neosittidae (Sittella) Varied Sittella Psophodidae (Quail-thrush and Wedgebills)

Eastern Whipbird

Rhipiduridae (Fantails) Willie Wagtail Rufous Fantail Grey Fantail

Sturnidae (Starlings, Mynas) Common Myna Hirundinidae (Swallows, Martins)

Fairy Martin Tree Martin Welcome Swallow

Acrocephalidae (Reed Warblers)

Australian Reed-Warbler

Cisticolidae (Cisticolas) Golden-headed Cisticola Megaluridae (Grassbirds) Tawny Grassbird Nectariniidae (Sunbirds, Sugarbirds, Flowerpeckers)

Mistletoebird

Motacillidae (Pipits) Australasian Pipit Passeridae (Sparrows) Estrildidae (Finches) Red-browed Finch

Double-barred Finch Oriolidae (Orioles) Australasian Figbird

Olive-backed Oriole Order Apodiformes Apodidae (Swifts) Fork-tailed Swift

White-throated Needletail Order Galliformes Megapodiidae (Scrubfowls) Australian Brush Turkey Order Gruiformes Phasianidae (Pheasants) Brown Quail Rallidae (Rails & Crakes) Buff-banded Rail

Spotless Crake Purple Swamphen Lewin’s Rail Dusky Moorhen

Order Podicipediformes Podicipedidae (Grebes) Australasian Grebe


(2008)Species

Order Anseriformes Anatidae (Ducks & Swan) Wandering Whistling-Duck

Pacific Black DuckBlack Swan Australasian ShovelerChestnut Teal Grey Teal Australian Wood DuckMagpie Goose

Order ColumbiformesColumbidae (Pigeons, Doves)

Common Bronzewing Crested Pigeon Bar-shouldered Dove Topknot Pigeon Spotted Dove Brown Cuckoo-Dove Emerald Dove Peaceful Dove

Order PsittaciformesPsittacidae (Rosellas and Lorikeets)

Rainbow Lorikeet Little Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Pale-headed Rosella

Cacatuidae (Cockatoos and Corellas)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Galah Little Corella

Order CuculiformesCuculidae (Old World Cuckoos)

Channel-billed Cuckoo Horsfield’s Bronze-CuckooPheasant Coucal Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Oriental Cuckoo Fan-tailed Cuckoo Brush Cuckoo

Order StrigiformesStrigidae (Typical Owls) Southern BoobookOrder CoraciiformesHalcyonidae (Tree Kingfishers)

Forest Kingfisher Laughing Kookaburra Collared Kingfisher (Mangrove) Sacred Kingfisher

Alcedinidae (River Kingfishers)

Azure Kingfisher

Meropidae (Bee-eaters) Rainbow Bee-eater Coraciidae (Rollers) Dollarbird

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Appendix 3: Site Images June 2010

Dingo Creek, Bribie Island (BIDC01)

Freshwater Creek, Bribie Island (BIFC01)

Norfolk Creek, Bribie Island (BINC01)

Welsby Lagoon, Bribie Island (BIWL01)

Ocean Beach Campground, Bribie Island (BIOB02)

Ocean Beach Campground, Bribie Island (BIOB01)

17

Lighthouse Reach, Bribie Island (BILR01)

Fort Bribie Walk, Bribie Island (BIFB01)

Fort Bribie Walk, Bribie Island (BIFB02)

Mermaid Lagoon, Bribie Island (BIML01)

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Mirapool Lagoon towards ocean, Moreton Island (MIMP01)

Mirapool Lagoon towards creek entrance, Moreton Island (MIMP01)

Eager’s Creek South, Moreton Island (MIECS01)

Yellow Patch, Moreton Island (MIYP01)

North Point, looking south, Moreton Island (MINP01)

North Point looking north, Moreton Island (MINP01)

19

Heath Island Mudflats shot 1, Moreton Island (MIHI01)




Blue Lagoon Campground, Moreton Island (MIBL01)

Spitfire Creek shot 1, Moreton Island (MISC01)

20



Eager’s Creek shot 1, Moreton Island (MIEC01)

Eager’s Creek shot 2, Moreton Island (MIEC01)

Eager’s Creek to Rouse Battery, Moreton Island (MIEC01 to MIRB01)

Spitfire Creek to North Point, Moreton Island (MISC01 to MINP01)

21

Spitfire Creek to Eager’s Creek, Moreton Island (MISC01 to MIEC01)

Rouse Battery to Mirapool Lagoon, Moreton Island (MIRB01 to MIMP02)

Mirapool Sandbar, Moreton Island (MIMP02)

Appendix 4: Birds of Bribie and Moreton Island

Sanderling – Dez Wells

Crested Tern – Dez Wells

Little Tern – Dez Wells

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Juvenile Crested Tern – Dez Wells

South Island Pied Oystercatcher – Dez Wells

Juvenile Brahminy Kite – Dez Wells

Australian Pied Oystercatcher – Dez Wells

Sooty Oystercatcher – Dez Wells

Juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle – Dez Wells

Beach Stone-curlew – Dez Wells

23

Osprey nest with three eggs

Osprey chicks in nest

Striated Heron – Dez Wells

Red-capped Plover and Red-necked Stints feeding – Dez Wells

Double-banded Plover in breeding plumage and non-breeding plumage - Dez Wells

Sooty Oystercatcher nest with two eggs – Dez Wells

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Forest Kingfishers – Dez Wells

White-cheeked Honeyeater – Dez Wells

White-winged Black Tern

Southern Boobook – Dez Wells

Yellow Flagged D3 Australian Pied Oystercatcher – Caleb Khu

White band on leg – Australian Pied Oystercatcher – Caleb Khu

c copyright 2010 dezmond wells notice changes introduced as a … · 2013. 7. 2. · dezmond. r....

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