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 (Unpublished)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
Notice: Changes introduced as a result of publishing processes such ascopy-editing and formatting may not be reflected in this document. For adefinitive version of this work, please refer to the published source:
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Birds - Indicators of Environmental Repair in Oil Affected Coastlines
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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%
Au
strala
sian
Ga
nn
et
Ba
r-sho
uld
ere
d D
ove
Bla
ck-face
d C
ucko
o-sh
rike
Bra
hm
iny K
ite
Bro
wn
Ho
ne
yea
ter
Bro
wn
Th
orn
bill
Cre
sted
Te
rn
Ea
stern
Wh
ipb
ird
Ea
stern
Ye
llow
Ro
bin
Fig
bird
Go
lde
n W
histle
r
Gre
y Fa
nta
il
Gre
y Sh
rike-th
rush
Le
ad
en
Flyca
tche
r
Le
win
’s Ho
ne
yea
ter
Little
Sh
rike-th
rush
Little
Wa
ttleb
ird
Ma
sked
La
pw
ing
Mistle
toe
bird
No
isy Fria
rbird
Pie
d C
orm
ora
nt
Pie
d O
ysterca
tche
r
Ra
inb
ow
Be
e-e
ate
r
Ra
inb
ow
Lo
rikee
t
Re
d-b
acke
d F
airyw
ren
Ru
fou
s Fa
nta
il
Ru
fou
s Wh
istler
Sa
cred
Kin
gfish
er
Sca
rlet H
on
eye
ate
r
Silve
r Gu
ll
Silve
reye
Sp
an
gle
d D
ron
go
Stria
ted
Pa
rda
lote
To
ressia
n C
row
Va
ried
Trille
r
Va
rieg
ate
d F
airy-w
ren
We
lcom
e S
wa
llow
Wh
istling
Kite
Wh
ite-b
ellie
d S
ea
-ea
gle
Wh
ite-b
row
ed
Scru
bw
ren
Wh
ite-ch
ee
ked
Ho
ne
yea
ter
Wh
ite-fa
ced
He
ron
Willie
Wa
gta
il
Au
strala
sian
Pip
it
Be
ach
Sto
ne
-curle
w
Fo
rest K
ing
fishe
r
Re
d-ca
pp
ed
Plo
ver
Wh
ite-b
rea
sted
Wo
od
swa
llow
Per
cen
tag
e o
f si
tes
ob
serv
ed
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
BE
AC
H
BE
AC
H
BE
AC
H
CR
EE
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
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 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
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 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
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 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
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
fIn
div
idu
als
Figure 11:Number of Speceis per Season of Crested Tern
Crested Tern
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
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 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.
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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
Order & Family Christidis, L and Boles, W.
(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.
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Order & Family Christidis, L and Boles, W.
(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
Order & Family Christidis, L and Boles, W.
(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)
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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)
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Heath Island Mudflats shot 1, Moreton Island (MIHI01)
Heath Island Mudflats shot 2, Moreton Island (MIHI01)
Heath Island Mudflats shot 3, Moreton Island (MIHI01)
Heath Island Mudflats shot 4, Moreton Island (MIHI01)
Blue Lagoon Campground, Moreton Island (MIBL01)
Spitfire Creek shot 1, Moreton Island (MISC01)
20
Spitfire Creek shot 2, Moreton Island (MISC01)
Spitfire Creek shot 3, Moreton Island (MISC01)
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)
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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