NESP MaC Project 4.17– Supporting recovery and management of migratory shorebirds in Australia, 2024-2026 (UQ & DU)

Research Project

Researchers: Dr Tatsuya Amano (Principal investigator) ,  Professor Marcel Klaassen (Principal investigator) ,  Professor Richard Fuller (Principal investigator) ,  Lawrey, Eric, Dr. (Point of contact) ,  Wolfe, Kennedy (Dr) (Point of contact)
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Brief description This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project 'Supporting recovery and management of migratory shorebirds in Australia'. For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. Coastal Australia is home to 37 regularly occurring migratory shorebird species, with many protected areas including Ramsar sites designated on the basis of shorebird populations. Many migratory shorebirds are declining rapidly, and hence the focus of conservation efforts at multiple levels of government in Australia and overseas. Excitingly, after decades of decline, many of Australia’s migratory shorebird populations are now showing improving trends (NESP MaC Project 1.21 - Australia’s Coastal Shorebirds: Trends and Prospects). However, we do not understand why the birds’ populations are stabilising, or how these gains can be converted into genuine population recovery to previous population levels. This project will combine analyses on more than a million observations of shorebirds banded in Australia with a comprehensive database of management actions to (i) create an annually updatable dashboard providing the key shorebird population parameters of reproductive output and survival, (ii) build a comprehensive database of conservation management actions for migratory shorebirds, indicating which actions are known to benefit reproductive output and survival, and (iii) create a shorebird management handbook that can be used by practitioners to guide action across Australia and around the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. Outputs will support DCCEEW’s international obligations in relation to Ramsar wetlands, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), bilateral migratory bird agreements with Japan (JAMBA), China (CAMBA) and the Republic of Korea (ROKAMBA) as well as feed directly into developing the new incarnation of the Australian Government’s Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds. Results have a pathway for regional and local implementation through BirdLife Australia’s Migratory Shorebirds Conservation Action Plan. Planned Outputs • Annually updateable dashboard providing estimates of reproductive output and survival • Searchable database of conservation management actions for migratory shorebirds • Shorebird habitat management handbook that can be used by practitioners • Final technical report with analysed data and a short summary of recommendations for policy makers of key findings [written]

Notes Credit
{Team members: Prof Richard Fuller (UQ), Prof Marcel Klaassen (DU), Dr Tatsuya Amano (UQ), Dr Toby Ross (DU), Dr Aaron Spence (DU), Dr Kay Critchell (DU)}

Notes Credit
National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub

Notes Credit
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Government

Notes Credit
In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Data time period: 2024-02-01 to 2026-12-11

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11.230774695071,84.22289187796