SHOREBIRD SURVEYS AT PORT STEPHENS, NEW SOUTH WALES, 2004-2011 AND COMPARISONS WITH RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS SURVEYS

Twenty-one shorebird species have been recorded in regular surveys at Port Stephens over 2004–2011, with mean counts of 1564 birds present in summer and 650 birds in winter. When compared with survey results from 20-30 years previously, Port Stephens was shown to be an internationally important site for Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis for at least three decades. However, there has been at least a 32% decline in the numbers of Eastern Curlew over that time. The numbers of most small and medium sized shorebirds have also declined substantially. Sandpiper numbers collectively are 88% lower than were recorded in the 1980’s. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata is now rare and the Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea has not been recorded in eight years of summer surveys. There have also been large percentage decreases in the counts of species such as Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis, Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva, Double-banded Plover Charadrius bicinctus and Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus, which previously were all present in moderate numbers. Many other small and medium sized shorebirds that used to occur in Port Stephens in small numbers have not been recorded at all during the 2004-2011 surveys. A few shorebird species have increased in numbers, in particular Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris, Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica and Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus. The 2004-2011 surveys have established that Port Stephens is an internationally important site for Australian Pied Oystercatcher.