Shorebird Populations on the Wollongong Open Coastline: An Evaluation of Occurrence Records, Species Richness and Key Threats

Shorebirds consistently serve as indicator species for measuring the extent of environmental change. As a consequence of the rapid shift in global climatic conditions and anthropogenic interference, long-term trends in shorebird populations demonstrate an alarming decline. Focusing in on the open coastline of Wollongong, NSW, there is a lack of up-to-date, comprehensive ecological information of shorebirds for use in the Wollongong City Council’s (WCC) upcoming Coastal Management Plan (CMP). This thesis aims to source the available occurrence records from citizen science databases eBird and Birdlife Australia, as well as the BioNet Atlas database to produce an inventory of shorebirds within the Wollongong LGA and open coastline. Field studies of dog visitation are conducted to quantify the efficacy of dog access zones within the Wollongong LGA, coupled with human visitation data to examine these key threats to shorebirds alongside the growing human population. Additionally, an assessment of the potential for citizen science data to be incorporated into the WCC’s CMP is explored. The key findings suggest that there is a wide diversity of 40 species of shorebird present in the LGA’s record with variable degrees of spatial and temporal extent, and 18 species recorded on the coastline, correlated strongly with user effort and spatial accessibility. Field studies of dog visitation concluded that off-leash and no-dog access zones are reflected in the counts of dogs on these beaches, but that timedon leash zones have a high rate of non-compliant behaviours with a leashing rate of 33%. A combination of physical protective measures, like fencing and mesh caging, in conjunction with signage indicating both the location of beach-nesting shorebird nests and the severe impact of off-leash dogs, an increase in nest count and chick survival can be achieved. Further, through the integration of citizen science data using model-based analysis specifically designed for citizen science, expert involvement for quality control, and engagement with the birding community through incentive, training and birdwatching event organisation, a wider scope of ecological surveying of shorebirds in the Wollongong LGA’s CMP can be effectively achieved. By compiling available ecological data, assessing threats, and proposing strategies for citizen science integration, this study contributes a foundational insight for the conservation and management of shorebirds within the WCC’s CMP

Are we choosing the right flagships? The bird species and traits Australians find most attractive

Understanding what people like about birds can help target advocacy for bird conservation. However, testing preferences for characteristics of birds is methodologically challenging, with bias difficult to avoid. In this paper we test whether preferred characteristics of birds in general are shared by the individual bird species the same people nominate as being those they consider most attractive. We then compare these results with the birds which appear most frequently in the imagery of conservation advocates. Based on a choice model completed by 638 general public respondents from around Australia, we found a preference for small colourful birds with a melodious call. However, when the same people were asked which five birds they found most attractive, 48% named no more than three, mostly large well-known species. Images displayed by a leading Australian bird conservation organisation also favoured large colourful species. The choice model results suggest conservation advocates can promote a much wider range of bird types as flagships, particularly smaller species that might otherwise be neglected

A long tern view: distribution of small terns (Sternula) in Western Australia and implications for their conservation

Recent observations confirm the Indo-Pacific Little Tern Sternula albifrons sinensis has been extending its breeding range in Western Australia in recent years, following a pattern documented in other tern and noddy species on the western coast of Australia. Nesting Indo-Pacific Little Terns have been recorded annually as far south as North West Cape since 2016. A similar southward shift in breeding range may have occurred during the last interglacial period and it is hypothesised that Little Terns isolated at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands during the following glacial period gave rise to the Australian Fairy Tern Sternula nereis nereis. The Australian Fairy Tern subsequently colonised the continental shelf from Dampier, Western Australia to the south-eastern states and then New Zealand as sea levels rose again during the Holocene. The two former sibling species are now sympatric between Dampier and North West Cape and interbreeding and hybridisation have the potential to occur in that area. Most jurisdictions require populations to be defined at the species or subspecies level in order to be listed and managed as threatened. However, relying on such taxonomic criteria has the potential to obscure the management of threats faced by each inter-breeding population unit. Approaches that identify and protect the sub-structure of superspecies and meta-populations might be more effective in the longer term

Enhancing seedling survival on former floodplain grazing land in the Capertee Valley, Australia

© 2017 Ecological Society of Australia and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd Active revegetation is an essential component of biodiversity conservation for fragmented ecosystems and the species that depend on them. However, key knowledge gaps exist around the most cost-effective revegetation strategies to employ in different contexts. This article reports on a revegetation trial undertaken in the Capertee Valley of New South Wales, Australia, to assist the conservation of the critically endangered bird, the Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia). Seven treatments were compared to assess their cost-effectiveness for enhancing plant survival at a floodplain site with a history of grazing on introduced pastures. While overall survival rates were low, treatments involving tree guards had higher survival rates and were more cost-effective than treatments without guards. Weed growth, animal activity and water stress all appeared to play a role in the low survival rates at this site, with enhanced weed control emerging as a priority for future trials at similar sites

Threatened bird valuation in Australia

Threatened species programs need a social license to justify public funding. A contingent valuation survey of a broadly representative sample of the Australian public found that almost two thirds (63%) supported funding of threatened bird conservation. These included 45% of a sample of 645 respondents willing to pay into a fund for threatened bird conservation, 3% who already supported bird conservation in another form, and 15% who could not afford to pay into a conservation fund but who nevertheless thought that humans have a moral obligation to protect threatened birds. Only 6% explicitly opposed such payments. Respondents were willing to pay about AUD 11 annually into a conservation fund (median value), including those who would pay nothing. Highest values were offered by young or middle aged men, and those with knowledge of birds and those with an emotional response to encountering an endangered bird. However, the prospect of a bird going extinct alarmed almost everybody, even most of those inclined to put the interests of people ahead of birds and those who resent the way threatened species sometimes hold up development. The results suggest that funding for threatened birds has widespread popular support among the Australian population. Conservatively they would be willing to pay about AUD 14 million per year, and realistically about AUD 70 million, which is substantially more than the AUD 10 million currently thought to be required to prevent Australian bird extinctions

Estimating the population size of two critically endangered South Pacific parakeets : the Tasman Parakeet and Malherbe's Parakeet : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology, Massey University, New Zealand

The Cyanoramphus parakeets are a cryptically coloured group of birds that are distributed across the islands of the South Pacific region. Due to their restricted range and island distributions, species belonging to this genus are considered vulnerable to extinction. However, the extent to which these parrot species are threatened is difficult to determine due to an absence of accurate and reliable population estimates. This research aims to contribute to the conservation of two critically endangered Cyanoramphus parakeets by evaluating the survey methods currently used to estimate population densities. This thesis details the precision and efficiency of distance sampling methods used for monitoring low density parrot populations on small islands. Specifically, examining the annual variation in population size for the critically endangered Tasman Parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) and their introduced competitor, the Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation management and species control on Norfolk Island. In addition, the size of three translocated populations of the critically endangered Malherbe’s Parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) were examined to identify if this endemic New Zealand parrot requires further management. Of the distance sampling methods used to monitor parrots, the fixed point survey method was the most suitable method for surveying Tasman Parakeets. This method yielded the highest number of parakeet detections per survey and offered the greatest count precision of the methods examined. On Norfolk Island, the Tasman Parakeet population increased by 126% over four years of intense predator management and nest provisioning. In comparison, the Crimson Rosella population remained stable, despite regular culling to control the population which competes with the Tasman Parakeet. In New Zealand, Malherbe’s Parakeets were detected with varying degrees of success. On Maud Island, no parakeets were detected; however, they were detected on both Blumine Island and Chalky Island. On Blumine Island, the Malherbe’s Parakeet population was moderately abundant, consisting of 202 ± 67 individuals distributed through the mature forest. In comparison, the Chalky Island population of Malherbe’s Parakeet was less extensive and consisted of 84 ± 58 parakeets. This research illustrates the importance of regularly monitoring the size of threatened parrot populations for conservation

Characterisation of a novel aviadenovirus associated with disease in tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides)

Aviadenoviruses are widespread in wild birds but rarely cause disease in nature. However, when naïve species are exposed to poultry or aviaries, aviadenoviruses can lead to disease outbreaks. This study characterised a novel aviadenovirus infection in a native Australian bird, the tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) during an outbreak investigation. The identified complete genome of aviadenovirus, named tawny frogmouth aviadenovirus A (TwAviAdV-A) was 41,175 bp in length containing 52 putative genes. TwAviAdV-A exhibits the common aviadenovirus genomic organisation but with a notable monophyletic subclade in the phylogeny. The TwAviAdV-A virus was hepatotrophic and the six frogmouths presented to the wildlife hospitals in South Eastern Queensland most commonly exhibited regurgitation (in four frogmouths). Three were died or euthanized, two recovered, and one showed no signs. The detection of TwAviAdV-A in frogmouths coming into care re-emphasizes the need for strict biosecurity protocols in wildlife hospitals and care facilities

Biological, ecological, conservation and legal information for all species and subspecies of Australian bird

We introduce a dataset of biological, ecological, conservation and legal information for every species and subspecies of Australian bird, 2056 taxa or populations in total. Version 1 contains 230 fields grouped under the following headings: Taxonomy & nomenclature, Phylogeny, Australian population status, Conservation status, Legal status, Distribution, Morphology, Habitat, Food, Behaviour, Breeding, Mobility and Climate metrics. It is envisaged that the dataset will be updated periodically with new data for existing fields and the addition of new fields. The dataset has already had, and will continue to have applications in Australian and international ornithology, especially those that require standard information for a large number of taxa

Using citizen science to identify Australia’s least known birds and inform conservation action

Citizen science is a popular approach to biodiversity surveying, whereby data that are collected by volunteer naturalists may help analysts to understand the distribution and abundance of wild organisms. In Australia, birdwatchers have contributed to two major citizen science programs, eBird (run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) and Birdata (run by Birdlife Australia), which collectively hold more than 42 million records of wild birds from across the country. However, these records are not evenly distributed across space, time, or taxonomy, with particularly significant variation in the number of records of each species in these datasets. In this paper, we explore this variation and seek to determine which Australian bird species are least known as determined by rates of citizen science survey detections. We achieve this by comparing the rates of survey effort and species detection across each Australian bird species? range, assigning all 581 species to one of the four groups depending on their rates of survey effort and species observation. We classify 56 species into a group considered the most poorly recorded despite extensive survey effort, with Coxen?s Fig Parrot Cyclopsitta coxeni, Letter-winged Kite Elanus scriptus, Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis, Buff-breasted Buttonquail Turnix olivii and Red-chested Buttonquail Turnix pyrrhothorax having the very lowest numbers of records. Our analyses provide a framework to identify species that are poorly represented in citizen science datasets. We explore the reasons behind why they may be poorly represented and suggest ways in which targeted approaches may be able to help fill in the gaps.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe