Glen Holmes pointed out "Depending on your time scale, present numbers may
be exceptionally low. Thirty years ago I recorded up to 600 Tereks and 180
Broad-bills there". This is certainly correct. The number of some of the
smaller waders have apparently crashed since the 1960's and 70's and perhaps
more recently.
One of the reasons for this is the loss of high tide roosts. There is now
effectively one major daytime roost being utilised in the Hunter estuary.
There are a number of smaller high tide roosts regularly used around the
estuary but with one exception which can contain up to 1500 birds these are
used either by only a few hundred or only in exceptional circumstances such
as extremely rough weather.
Most roosts used previously have been destroyed, generally by industry or
filled, but a number have been degraded by weed infestation. The site at
Stockton Bridge being a classic example. This was a major site until it
became overgrown with the introduced Spiny Rush. Restoration work several
years ago cleaned this site up and has resulted in it being used
occasionally by Eastern Curlew and Lesser Golden Plover but, generally, the
waders have shown that they are very conservative in their use of roost
sites. Perhaps as the major roost site on the other side of the river
becomes more degraded they will shift. This, however, will further compound
the problem.
By radio-tracking Bar-tailed Godwit and Eastern Curlew in the mid 90's I
demonstrated that these, and most other species, utilised only one night
roost in a remote area of salt marsh. Lesser Golden Plover were a little
more adventurous and used a number of sites including ponds on Ash Island.
Night roosts used decades ago were not used, now being overgrown with weeds.
Recommendations for the rehabilitation of roost sites and the possible
creation of new sites have made it into the Draft Plan of Management for
Kooragang Island Nature Reserve and there is currently a Birds Australia
project that could well see this happen. It is certainly well overdue for
many of the shorebirds in this magnificent estuary. If ever you get a
chance to explore this area in a small boat do so, you will be pleasantly
surprised.
David Geering
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