Some shorebird species are faring better: a new project aims to document why
To gain a clearer picture of how conservation efforts are impacting shorebird populations along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway (EAAF), Professor Richard Fuller, Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano, and Dr Elize Ng at the University of Queensland are aiming to document the conservation actions implemented for shorebird species along the Flyway under a project funded by the National Environmental Science Program.
The project’s goal is to assess how effective conservation actions have been in improving breeding success and survival of shorebird species and also identifying any gaps in current practices.
Given not all conservation efforts are formally published or documented, the project team would love to hear from shorebird practitioners directly—which is where OBC members with experience of shorebird conservation efforts along the EAAF come in.
Your experiences and insights will be invaluable to the project team. If you are able to contribute, please consider sharing your thoughts by completing a brief survey (https://tinyurl.com/shorebirdsurvey) or by contacting Elize Ng (elize.ng (at) uq.edu.au) to arrange a chat.
The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete for one conservation action, with an additional 5 minutes for each extra action you would like to share. Your contributions will be incredibly valuable to the understanding of effective conservation strategies, and the project team will be excited to learn from your efforts in protecting these remarkable birds and the vital flyway they depend on.
Shorebird populations are declining globally, with many species along the EAAF facing significant pressure. While most species continue to decline, recent signs of stabilisation or recovery in some species offer hope. However, we still do not fully understand which management actions are driving these positive changes. Identifying what works, as well as what does not work, will be key to ensuring the long-term survival of migratory shorebirds across the flyway.
In addition to gathering information through direct input from shorebird practitioners, the project team will also be undertaking a systematic literature review. The evidence they gather will be used to develop a practical, easy-to-follow handbook that highlights the key characteristics of effective shorebird conservation strategies.