birding-aus

Wandering Tattlers back already

To: Adrian Boyle <>
Subject: Wandering Tattlers back already
From: Dave Torr <>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:40:59 +1000
Habitat loss on the way to and from the breeding grounds is indeed a
problem - but I seem to recall that there has been a greater decline in
resident waders (
http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2008/06/resident_wader_decline.html )
than the migratory ones, which implies we are worse at managing our
wetlands than the much-maligned countries to out north.

On 31 August 2012 16:19, Adrian Boyle <> wrote:

> Hi All
>
> Yes many migratory shorebirds have started to return but is fairly normal
> to be happening at this time of the year.
> Most birds arriving over the past few weeks will most likely be failed
> breeders or females.
>
> In the past  days in Broome we have started seeing juvenile birds of
> Greater Sand Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and Curlew Sandpipers.
> Most will trickle back in over the next 6 weeks or so.
> However most Oriental Plovers and Pratincole will be a bit later.
>
> 3 months seems a very short time to be away so I assume its unlikely to be
> the last birds to leave and the first birds back.
> Depending on the species involved they may need to stop at several places
> on their way north approx 4-6 weeks then breed with an incubation of 3
> weeks. Depending on the sex and the species to what they do next but
> several weeks of fattening and then head back. This would be cutting the 3
> months away pretty fine but possible.
>
> The other option could also be that these individuals were not adults
> maybe 2nd year birds that obtained breeding plumage but didnt migrate and
> moved to some other place relatively close.
>
> Who knows really? I guess the main thing is is that they are back safely
> after dodging habitat loss after habitat loss to and from their breeding
> grounds.
>
> Cheers Adrian
>
>
>
> On 31/08/2012, at 1:11 PM, Carl Clifford wrote:
>
> > I wonder if that is a reflection on the conditions in their northern
> hemisphere range?
> >
> > It has always seemed rather inefficient to fly from one end of the
> planet to another to breed. Nature tends not to be inefficient. But then,
> there are humans.
> >
> > Carl Clifford
> >
> > On 31/08/2012, at 2:28 PM, "Greg Roberts" <>
> wrote:
> >
> >> I had Wandering Tattlers in breeding plumage today at Alexandra
> Headland on
> >> the Sunshine Coast. It appears these birds have been absent on
> migration for
> >> a mere three months.
> >>
> >> See here for pictures and more:
> http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/
> >>
> >> Greg Roberts
> >>
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