Bar-tailed Godwits. photo credit; Glenn Ehmke
Shorebirds from around the world have something to celebrate on World Wetlands Day this year with lakes and wetlands in south west Victoria now flourishing after prolonged drought conditions.
Visiting shorebirds come to the south western wetlands from the northern hemisphere and Antarctic or from just across Bass Strait. Those that breed in the northern hemisphere migrate in their thousands to our summer for a well-earned rest and feed.
Department of Sustainability and Environment Biodiversity Project Officer Garry Peterson said while many shorebirds are quite small, their migrations can be huge.
“Shorebird migrations can be tens of thousands of kilometres, for example the Bar Tailed Godwit makes the longest known non-stop flight of any bird, travelling over 11,000km from Siberia to visit wetlands of the western plains,” Mr Peterson said.
“Similarly, the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper leaves the boggy tundras of north-east Siberia to spend summer in Australia.
“These little birds lose up to 70% of their body weight on the trip, and when they arrive in Australia their priority is to put the weight back on for their northern migration a few months later.”
Mr Peterson said south west Victoria’s wetlands, including the coastal wetlands and Corangamite areas, provide important feeding and resting habitat.
“Our diverse wetland areas provide important habitat for a large number of northern hemisphere and Arctic Circle migratory bird species that feed on small bugs and water creatures,” he said.
“The diversity of wetland habitat is critical as different species feed either on muddy edges or in shallow water, depending on the lengths of their beaks and legs.
“Each time a shorebird is frightened enough to take flight it burns up valuable energy, so migratory birds depend on safe habitat where they can rest undisturbed and fatten up for the long flight home.”
Mr Peterson said the recent rains have proven the important ecological value of seasonally inundated and dry wetlands.
“Wetlands and lakes act as seed banks, allowing vegetation to re-establish rapidly,’ he said.
“They come to life with aquatic plants such as water ribbons and aquatic grasses, so we all need to ensure that these areas can continue to support local flora and fauna.”
Mr Peterson said flourishing wetlands also meant abundant wildlife and plants.
“Wetlands are teeming with life, from microscopic algae inhabiting the water surface to towering water reeds, from small crustaceans and fish to birds, lizards and mammals,” he said.
“In addition to the migratory birds, the wetlands of western Victoria are home to a number of rare and threatened species including the Corangamite Water Skink, Salt Lake Tussock Grass, Curly Sedge, Growling Grass Frog and iconic Brolga just to name a few.
“The Austral Pipewort was recorded for the first time in 20 years following last year’s drought breaking rain.”
“The critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot flies every autumn from Tasmanian breeding grounds to spend winter around Victoria’s coastal wetlands. This rare visitor relies on our coastal saltmarshes and nearby pastures and shrubby habitats to make it through the winter.”
Victorian volcanic plains are home to unique wetland systems, with nine lakes listed under the RAMSAR Convention of Wetlands of International Importance for their importance to the environment and birdlife. These wetlands include Lake Corangamite the largest permanent saline lake in continental Australia.
“Volcanic eruptions and lava flows occurring in the region have given rise to freshwater meadows, permanent saline and shallow crater lakes,” Mr Peterson said.
“In the Corangamite region alone there are more than 1500 wetlands.”
More than 75% of shallow freshwater wetlands in the Victorian volcanic plains have been modified or lost due to increasing land-use pressures, such as drainage or diversion of natural water flows, irrigation and erosion causing increased salinity, pollution from runoff, disturbance from uncontrolled grazing, and introduction of pest plants and animals.
Photo Gallery
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- Bar-tailed Godwits. photo credit; Glenn Ehmke
DSE, in partnership with the Corangamite, Glenelg Hopkins and Wimmera Catchment Management Authorities, is working to protect numerous threatened species that call wetlands home by protecting and enhancing the wetlands, developing and implementing appropriate management and monitoring the response.
This work is funded through both the Victorian State Government’s Natural Resource Investment Program and the Commonwealth Government's Caring for Our Country Program.
Celebrate World Wetlands Day across the southwest
Corangamite CMA:
Thursday 2 February 1-4:30pm
Greening Australia's Borrell a kandelop 10-year celebration,
Lake Corangamite Leslie Manor Homestead 90 Homestead Road, ColacFriday 3 February
Borrell a kandelop project bus tour 10am-3pm
Glenelg Hopkins CMA:
Friday 3 February, 6 pm
Nature walk at the Yatmerone Wildlife Reserve, Penshurst. Geologist Ken Grimes and DSE Biodiversity Officers Evelyn Nicholson and Lauren Kivisalu will lead the walk.Sunday 5 February, 10 am – 4.30 pm
A Brolga Information Day at “Mooramong” near Skipton in the shearing shed.
Important wetland areas across the south west region:
Barwon Otway area:
Western District RAMSAR lakes – Lake Beeac, Lake Bookar, Lake Corangamite,
Lake Colongulac, Lake Cundare, Lake Gnarput, Lake Milangil, Lake
Murdeduke, Lake Terangpom
Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula RAMSAR lakes – Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake
Far South West:
Lake Linlithrow wetlands,
Yambuk wetlands,
Mundi Selkirk wetlands,
Nerrin Nerrin wetlands,
Long Swamp
Wimmera:
Lake Albacutya RAMSAR site,
Midlands
Lake Goldsmith
Lake Burrumbeet
A selection of threatened species across the region that depend on wetlands:
Corangamite Water Skink, Salt Lake Tussock Grass, Curly Sedge, Growling Grass Frog, Brolga, Austral Pipewort, Windblown Tussock Grass, Spiny Peppercress, Swamp Skink, Yarra Pygmy Perch, Ancient Greenling
To celebrate World Wetlands Day 2012 BirdLife Australia’s Shorebirds 2020 program will launch a poster on the resident and migratory Shorebirds of Australia. The poster is designed for kids and curious adults that want to learn more about these amazing wetland creatures and is available through
Links
- Birds Australia Shorebirds site www.shorebirds.org.au
