MIGRATORY SHOREBIRDS OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA

Threatened wanderers of our wetlands and beaches

23
24

22

16
3
13
6 8 25
17
21

9
20
5 12
2
15

11
19

18

1
14

4 10

We thank Jeff Davies for providing artwor

SHOREBIRD IDENTIFICATION
1 BAR-TAILED GODWIT 42cm 14 MARSH SANDPIPER 24cm
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
2 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT 39cm 15 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER 25cm
Every summer, Australia’s beaches, mudflats  W
 hen you walk, play
3 COMMON GREENSHANK 33cm
PECTORAL SANDPIPER and inland wetlands are enriched by a very or go fishing on the
16 21cm
special tribe of travellers: the migratory beach, stay away from
4 COMMON SANDPIPER 20cm
17 RED KNOT 24cm shorebirds. To escape the freezing northern birds. Pay attention to signs marking
CURLEW SANDPIPER winter each year, 36 species of shorebirds fly important areas.
5 20cm
18 RED-NECKED STINT 15cm over 10,000 kilometres to Australia from the
6 DOUBLE-BANDED PLOVER 19cm Arctic breeding grounds. Often BirdLife volunteers and other
 
19 RUDDY TURNSTONE 23cm groups will also put signs to help
7 FAR EASTERN CURLEW 63cm When they arrive here they join a band of
you use the beach without disturbing
20 SANDERLING 21cm 18 beautiful resident shorebirds, all of which
8 GREAT KNOT 27cm the birds.
breed on our shores and wetlands. With their
21 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER 20cm long legs and uniquely shaped bills, shorebirds  Keep beaches and wetlands for people
9 GREATER SAND PLOVER 21cm
are perfectly adapted to feast on the worms, and birds - do not drive on them.
22 TEREK SANDPIPER 23cm
10 GREY PLOVER 29cm shellfish and crabs they find hidden in the sand
and mud.  Keep dogs on leash unless permitted.
GREY-TAILED TATTLER 23 WANDERING TATTLER 23cm
11 25cm
Sadly our migratory shorebirds are in  Become a shorebird-watcher and join
12 LATHAM’S SNIPE 31cm 24 WHIMBREL 42cm serious trouble. Many have been added to our Australian Shorebird Monitoring
the Red List of Threatened Species in the
activities.
13 LESSER SAND PLOVER 19cm 25 WOOD SANDPIPER 21cm
last ten years because the places where
they feed and roost are disappearing,  Make your voice count for shorebird
BirdLife Australia is working to keep them safe, conservation as a member of

THE EAST ASIAN- and you can help! BirdLife Australia.

Bering Sea
AUSTRALASIAN FLYWAY If you would like to learn more about our
Every year more than 10 million shorebirds travel back and forth Australian Shorebird Monitoring
along migration routes of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway
(dark blue grey) flying between their Arctic breeding grounds Please visit
(blue) and their Australasian holiday homes (red ochre).
www.birdlife.org.au/shorebirds
On this journey they rely on a small number of highly threatened (or contact your local branch)
rest areas, such as the Yellow Sea. Without these resting places
the birds cannot continue on their long journey.
BirdLife Australia is working to give shorebirds a safe haven,
both in Australia and overseas. Funding for this project was provided by the
Australian Bird Environment Foundation