Waders of the Coorong and Lower Lakes

Department for Environment and Heritage
Waders of the Coorong
and Lower Lakes
Your guide to discovering
migratory wader birds
www.environment.sa.gov.au
The annual spring wader migration brings a special
reward to those visiting the Coorong and Lower
Lakes. This area encompasses some of Australia’s
most significant wetlands and the Coorong and Bool
Lagoon are designated as Wetlands of International
Importance. During September, October and
November, up to100 000 birds and dozens of species,
including the beautiful Red-necked Avocet,
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilt
descend on the wetlands to feed.
What’s a wader?
Protecting the flyways
Wader is a term used to describe dozens of bird
species that live and feed in wetland and coastal
environments. Many wader species are migratory.
Each year, migratory waders fly thousands of
kilometres from distant breeding grounds in Siberia,
Asia and the Arctic Circle to feeding grounds in the
Southern Hemisphere. The wader’s migration
means they experience summer year-round.
Protecting migratory wader birds and their flyways
is the responsibility of many countries. In 1971,
145 countries signed the ‘Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands’. It is an international agreement promoting
the conservation of wetland habitats. Australia also
has conservation agreements with Japan and China.
Flyways and byways
Migratory waders fly on routes called flyways.
Waders stop at three or four wetlands along their
route between the hemispheres. Any degradation
to just one of these stopover points could negatively
affect the entire migration. The waders you see
in the Coorong and Lower Lakes travel along the
East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Threats to migration
The biggest threat to migratory wader birds is human
impact on wetland areas. Australia has lost nearly
half of its wetlands in the last 200 years. Fishing lines
and hooks, discarded nets, 4WDs along coastal
areas and pollution all negatively affect waders and
their habitat. You can help reduce your impact on
this delicate environment by following The National
Parks Code.
Meals in mudflats
Although the mudflats of the Coorong and Lower
Lakes may look empty, they are actually full of life.
Waders forage for shrimp, molluscs, insects and
microscopic organisms that live in the mudflats.
The mudflats are essential to the waders as they
fatten up for the long migration back to the
Northern Hemisphere.
to Adelaide
Tailem
Bend
Strathalbyn
Willunga
MALL
EE
B12
A13
Finniss
Cooke Plains
LAKE
ALEXANDRINA
Coomandook
Narrung
PRINC
Beacon 19
Murray Mouth
Pelican Point
A8
MENINGIE
C
O
B12
LAMEROO
Parrakie
Yumali
Ki Ki
ES
VICTOR
HARBOR
Panitya
PINNAROO
Parilla
HWY
Geranium
Jabuk
ES
Clayton
HINDMARSH
ISLAND
B1
UK
D
Goolwa
Port Elliot
Wellington
MILANG
Sherlock
Peake
Carcuma
Con.
Park
BIG DESERT
COONALPYN
WILDERNESS
B57
PARK
NGARKAT CONSERVATION PARK
O
RO
N
G
Parnka Point
Culburra
HW
Y
Mount Boothby
Con. Park
Magrath
Flat
TINTINARA
Woods
Well
A8
S
KE
DU
Messent
Con.
Park
Y
HW
L
NA
TIO
NA
Tea Tree
Crossing
Gum Lagoon
Con. Park
PRIN
CES
VICTORIA
HW
Y
Bordertown
Mundulla
Willalooka
K
PAR
SOUTH
A66
Butcher Gap
Con. Park
Avenue
Lake
Wader migration
C213
NARACOORTE
C208
Hynam
Apsley
LUCINDALE
Wright Bay
Boatswain Point
Bool
Lagoon
Big Heath
Con. Park
ROBE
Frances
Y
HW
Wyomi
Cape Jaffa
LITTLE DESERT
NATIONAL PARK
Fairview
Con. Park
Mount Scott
Con. Park
HWY
TEA TREE CROSSING
Generally only passable in late summer
when the water in the lagoon dries up.
The lagoon is not tidal, but the amount
of water over the crossing can be
affected by the ever-changing winds.
The water is highly saline.
C208
RD
Padthaway
Keppoch
Kingston S.E.
Bool Lagoon
Game Res.
B1
Little
Dip
Con.
Eliza Park
KANIVA
TE
HWY
AUSTRALIA
B1
PELICAN BREEDING ISLANDS
These islands are protected and large
fines are incurred by those who stray
closer than 140 metres.
C240
EDENHOPE
C212
Naracoorte Caves
National Park
Langkoop
Greenways
A66
Coonawarra
Nora Creina
C211
S
CE
IN
PR
Lake St. Clair
Lake George
Beachport
Con. Park
Penola
Furner
Hatherleigh
BEACHPORT
Southend
NANGWARRY
Mount
Burr
C198
TARPEENA
B1
Canunda
National
Park
Dergholm
VICTORIA
Rendelsham
MILLICENT
B160
TANTANOOLA
LAKE
BONNEY
S.E.
HW
ELG
Y
GLEN
HWY
MOUNT GAMBIER
Cape Banks
Kongorong
A1
Carpenter Rocks
Blackfellows Caves
Nene
Valley
Allendale
East
Dingley
Dell
Con.
Park
Cape
Northumberland Port
Penambol
Con. Park
Ewens
Ponds
Con. Park
DARTMOOR
Donovans
NELSON
MacDonnell
East Asian-Australasian Flyway
Through route, route marker
Major connecting road
Minor connecting road
Other roads
4WD track
Wader-watching sites
to Melbourne
Wolseley Serviceton
NARACOOR
BEACH CLOSURE
To protect the Hooded Plover, the ocean beach
is closed to vehicles from 24 October to 24 December
each year. This closure applies to the beach from
Tea Tree Crossing to the Murray Mouth.
Keith
RIDDOCH
Jacks Point
BARRAGES
Policeman's Point
The system of barrages linking
Salt Creek
the islands between Pelican Point
and Goolwa was built to keep the
water in Lakes Alexandrina and Albert
fresh to be used for stock and irrigation.
Lower
Glenelg
C192 National
Park
M1
0 km
50
Cape Banks
Waders Sites of south east South Australia
Your guide to discovering migratory wader birds
Red-necked Avocet
Common Greenshank
Curlew Sandpiper
Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Tringa nebularia
Calidris ferruginea
The Red-necked Avocet is easily spotted in the shallows of
wetlands and lakes. With its distinctive upturned bill and
red neck, this bird feeds by sweeping its bill from side to
side, stirring the mud and catching molluscs and insects.
Listen for trumpeting whistles. Size: 40-45 cm.
The Common Greenshank inhabits sandbars and
mudflats. Look for its olive-green legs, pure white
underparts and mottled brown/olive-green wings. In
flight, shows white rump and back. Greenshanks use their
slightly upturned bill to probe the mud and flush out prey,
including worms and molluscs. Listen for a ringing ‘tew,
tew, tew’. Size: 33 cm.
This small wader often feeds belly-deep at the water’s
edge. The upper plumage is grey-brown; the underparts
are pale white with grey across the breast. Look for its
distinctive black, down-turned bill. Listen for a pleasant
“chirrup”. Size: 21 cm
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Red-necked Stint
Black-winged Stilt
Calidris acuminata
Calidris ruficollis
Himantopus himantopus
The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper inhabits mudflats, tidal
The Red-necked Stint is the smallest migratory wader
weighing only 30 grams. Within its lifetime, it will fly more
than the distance between the earth and the moon.
Look for a whitish and grey-brown breast. It has a black
tapering bill and black feet. Look for the Red-necked Stint
on mudflats. Listen for a twittering sound as it feeds on
molluscs and worms. Size: 15 cm.
Wading through the mudflats and shallow water on its
long red legs, the Black- winged Stilt is found throughout
most of Australia except the driest parts of the interior.
Look for white plumage on the head, neck, chest and
abdomen; black plumage on the nape, back of head
and wings. The bill is long, black and straight. Listen for its
distinctive high-pitched barking call. Size: 36-38 cm.
sandbars, inland lakes and shorelines. They forage for
insects, molluscs, and worms using their straight, dark bill.
Their feathers have black centres with buff edges. It has
a brown crown, white eye stripe and a white chest and
belly. Listen for a shrill ringing in flight. Size: 19-22 cm.
The best
locations to
see these
species
In
•
•
•
the Lower South East
Bool Lagoon
Lake St Clair
Port Macdonnell
• Lake Eliza
• Lake George
• Cape Banks
In
•
•
•
Coorong National Park
Salt Creek
Parnka Point
Murray Mouth
• Jacks Point
• Pelican Point
• Beacon 19 (Goolwa)
The National Parks Code
Help protect your national parks by following
these guidelines:
• Leave your pets at home.
• Take your rubbish with you.
• Observe fire restrictions, usually 1 November to
30 April. Check CFS Hotline 1300 362 361.
•Conserve native habitat by using liquid fuel or
gas stoves.
• Camp only in designated areas.
• Respect geological and heritage sites.
•Keep our wildlife wild – do not feed or disturb animals, or remove native plants.
•Keep to defined vehicle tracks and walking trails
• Be considerate of other park users.
Bool Lagoon
How to be a wader-watcher
•
•
•
•
•
Use a pair of binoculars to get a close-up view of the birds.
Wear clothes that blend in with the surroundings.
Move quietly to a good spot where you
can sit down and watch.
Remember to observe from a distance
and do not interfere with nests.
Carry a field guide to ensure positive identification.
How do I know what bird it is?
Identification of birds, especially the smaller
and less colourful species can be challenging.
Take note of their:
• shape – especially their beak or bill
• unusual features – perhaps their walk,
call or flight pattern
• flashes of colour – the head, neck and underside of wings may give a clue
• habitat – did you see them in reeds,
on the beach or wading?
It’s important to remember that not all wader
species will be at all sites. The waders will be more
abundant in some areas than others. Each time
you visit the Coorong and Lower Lakes you will
have a new experience!
Thank you for leaving the bush in its natural state
for the enjoyment of others.
Wader checklist (not exhaustive)
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Black-winged Stilt Himantopis himantopis
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Eastern Curlew Numenius madigascariensis
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus
Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Pintailed Snipe Gallinago stenura
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novahollandiae
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficallis
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala
Wandering Tattler Heteroscelis (Tringa) incana
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
For more information contact
Department for Environment and Heritage
Infomation Line: (08) 8204 1910
Or your local national parks office.
www.environment.sa.gov.au
To learn about wetland conservation in Australia go to:
www.deh.gov.au/water/wetlands
To learn about wetlands around the world go to:
www.wetlands.org
© Department for Environment and Heritage
FIS 2756.07 ISBN 1 921 018 623