Fwd: An important note from the Shorebirds 2020 Project team

[sandra henderson <>]

 

Hello Shorebirders,

A quick Friday note(s) -

1)      Shorebirds 2020 Summer count starts now

As you all know, Shorebirds 2020 is a national shorebird monitoring project and now includes over 420 registered Shorebird Areas which we are aiming to have surveyed on at least a biannual basis. The data collected as part of this project add to the largest shorebird count database in Australia dating back to the late 1970s, and are instrumental in conservation advocacy and protecting shorebird sites around the country. 

The main annual summer count is now upon us, being scheduled for the 15th of January. As with other years, conditions may not be suitable on this date, and therefore surveys conducted between 1st November and 31st of March are also regarded as summer counts. If you scheduling a count survey, try to aim as close to the 15th January as you can.

Chances are there is a Shorebird Area near you regardless of where you live, especially if you are situated in proximity to the coast.
To see if there is a site near you, all you have to do is visit the BirdLife Australia website and download the NEWLY UPDATED survey areas map for use in Google Earth – www.birdlife.org.au/projects/shorebirds-2020/counter-resources  
Each designated "Shorebird Area" in most cases will have a nominated site coordinator; someone who schedules the surveys and coordinates a team of counters, especially at the larger sites. If you are keen on getting involved and helping with surveys, and don’t know where to begin can you please email m("birdlife.org.au","shorebirds");" target="_blank"> beforehand so we can put you in touch with the local survey coordinator(s) in your area.

To join Shorebirds 2020 or get involved again and be updated on volunteer opportunities, training workshops and to get involved with field work please contact m("birdlife.org.au","shorebirds");" target="_blank">

Similarly, if you intend on undertaking surveys for S2020 as part of the summer count, can you please send a quick email to above address so we are able to monitor where surveys will be undertaken and channel resources/counters to areas in which there have been limited or no surveys conducted in recent years.

2)      Reminder and request for all shorebird count data

In collaboration with a team of shorebird experts, we are in the process of updating flyway population estimates for the 37 regular migrant shorebird species listed under the EPBC Act and on the Department of the Environment’s draft Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds.

In order to undertake this work, we need as much Australian shorebird count data as we are able to find.

As such, if you have any outstanding surveys or counts that have not yet -

a)    been submitted to Shorebirds 2020 by post (if on paper), or

b)    been entered into the Shorebirds 2020 database portal,

it would be most appreciated if you could do so before the start of the Christmas holiday season or 11^th December.

If you need any assistance at all to do this please get in contact with me or Paul Handreck m("birdlife.org.au","shorebirds");" target="_blank">    

3)      Request for records of shorebirds in breeding plumage

Andrew Silcocks and Danny Rogers are on the lookout for any records of migratory shorebirds in alternate (breeding) plumage during the Australian spring/early summer – 75-100% breeding plumage between Oct and Jan.

While undertaking some research on the Long-billed Dowitcher at Lake Tutchewop, which was in alternate plumage (breeding plumage) during the non breeding season, they have discovered that there are virtually no references to migratory waders in this plumage during the non-breeding season in the literature. Danny Rogers confirmed this and therefore it would be good to document cases to investigate how rare a phenomenon this is and also whether it is more common in certain species than others. To achieve this they require your help. Please could you go through your notebooks and dig out any records of migratory shorebirds in alternate plumage (between 75-100% breeding plumage). We’re excluding adults returning with breeding plumage in spring or birds moulting back into breeding plumage in February, so restricting the data request to coloured-up birds seen in October through to January.

Please include: Species, Location, Date, estimated % of breeding plumage. If you have a photo of the bird, please pass that on, if possible.

Please send reports to Andrew Silcocks               

BirdLife Australia, 60 Leicester St, Carlton,  Vic  3053               03 93470757 ext 240

 

Have you found and joined the Shorebirds 2020 Facebook Group?
If you are on Facebook, please do! Joining the group is free, and there are already over 900 members sharing shorebird images, interesting counts and sightings and practising their identification skills. You can find the group page by following this link - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1418257811799491/

While you’re there, it would also be worth checking out the AWSG Facebook page as well - https://www.facebook.com/AustralasianWaderStudiesGroup/

 

Have a great weekend and all the best,

Dan Weller
Shorebirds 2020 Project Manager