Western Port Shorebirds

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Western Port Shorebirds
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Section A Western Port

• Western Port is a large coastal bay in Victoria.
  It is located roughly 60 km south east of
  Melbourne. It contains two large islands Phillip
  Island and French Island and many other small
  islands.
• Over the years there have been many industrial
  developments in Western Port, the local
  population has also grown considerably along with
  recreational activities in the area. These
  developments have induced many negative
  environmental changes including altered water
  regimes, pollution, and increased levels of
  sediments and nutrients.

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Section A Western Port

• Western Port is a very important ecological area
  because it supports a wide range of terrestrial
  and marine animal and plant species. Western Port
  is listed as a Ramsar site, which means that it
  contains wetlands of international importance.
• WWF Australia has been working in 5 shorebird
  sites across Australia (including Western Port).
  These sites have been identified as nationally
  and internationally important for shorebirds.

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Section A Western Port
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Section A Western Port
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Section B Shorebirds

• Shorebirds are a group of birds that are found
  wading in shallow water looking for food on
  coastal mudflats, estuaries and along the edges
  of inland wetlands.
• There are 3 categories of shorebirds local,
  migratory and vagrant.
• The habitat of most migratory and local
  Australian shorebirds is a variety of wetlands.
• Shorebirds eat small worms, insects, fish and a
  variety of molluscs and crustaceans.

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Section B Shorebirds

• Shorebirds feed via probe or surface feeding
  methods.
• The legs and bills of different types of
  shorebirds are suited to the way in which they
  get their food.
• Migratory shorebirds are well adapted to flying
  long distances.

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Section B Shorebirds

• Most migratory shorebirds breed in northern
  China, Mongolia, Siberia and Alaska, during June
  and July.
• Most shorebirds use the East Asian-Australasian
  Flyway to come to Australia during the
  non-breeding season, where they stay from August
  to April.

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Section B Shorebirds
Eastern Curlew the biggest migratory wader
Bar-tailed Godwit a migratory wader
Red-necked Avocet a resident wader
Red-necked Stint the smallest migratory wader
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Section C Western Port Wetlands

• Wetlands are areas that are covered with water on
  a temporary or permanent basis. The water is
  usually slow moving or stationary, shallow,
  fresh, brackish or saline.
• There are many different types of wetland.
• Western Port is listed as a Ramsar site which
  means that it contains wetlands of international
  importance.
• In the past, wetlands were sometimes thought of
  as wasteland.

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Section C Western Port Wetlands

• Now, it is understood that wetlands are
  environmentally, socially and economically
  important, and therefore, must be protected.
• Wetlands are an important shorebird habitat. They
  provide food and shelter and are useful during
  migration.
• The bad news is that wetlands at Western Port and
  around the world are being damaged as a result of
  human activities.
• The good news is that there are many conservation
  projects currently underway to help protect
  wetlands.

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Section C Western Port Wetlands
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
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Section D Conservation Status of Western Port
Shorebirds

• A number of migratory and local Western Port
  shorebirds are currently listed as threatened at
  some level. However, some species have increased
  in number, so it is not all bad news.
• Threats to shorebirds at Western Port include
  human disturbance, water pollution and introduced
  plants and animals.
• Threats to migratory shorebirds during their
  northward migration include habitat degradation
  and loss, pest animals and plants, hunting and
  climate change.

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Section D Conservation Status of Western Port
Shorebirds

• There are a number of international, national and
  local conservation efforts currently underway to
  protect Western Port shorebirds and their wetland
  habitat.
• Examples of successful conservation efforts
  undertaken at Western Port are the Phillip
  Island Hooded Plover Watch and Stockyard Point
  Shorebird Conservation Project.
• There are a number of practical ways that your
  students can help conserve Western Port
  shorebirds.

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Section D Conservation Status of Western Port
Shorebirds
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The End