Threatened Migratory Shorebird Mapping NSW DECCW 2006

Abstract

This dataset was supplied to the Bioregional Assessment Programme by a third party and is presented here as originally supplied. The metadata was not provided by the data supplier and has been compiled by the programme based on known details.

Originally digitised very poorly, this dataset has been fixed as much as posssible. Important feeding habitats and roosting sites for seven species of migratory shorebirds (waders) were plotted on GIS software using air photos as templates. Data for this process was obtained from a variety of sources to provide numbers of birds recorded at each of the sites. The habitat mapping was done from first hand experience in the field by the author and/or from local ornithologists with particular skills in shorebird identification and local knowledge of habitats used by shorebirds. The accuracy of the data plotted will not always match the topography, such as shoals, sand spits or shorelines because these are constantly changing (the air photos used are at least 10 years old).However this is the most precise shorebird mapping available.

Important feeding habitats and roosting sites for seven species of migratory shorebirds (waders) were plotted on GIS software using air photos as templates. Data for this process was obtained from a variety of sources to provide numbers of birds recorded at each of the sites. The habitat mapping was done from first hand experience in the field by the author and/or from local ornithologists with particular skills in shorebird identification and local knowledge of habitats used by shorebirds. The accuracy of the data plotted will not always match the topography, such as shoals, sand spits or shorelines because these are constantly changing (the air photos used are at least 10 years old). However this is the most precise shorebird mapping available. The coastline template provided by DEC was not of sufficient accuracy for the purpose of this project and has not been used in any of the maps other than to illustrate the whole of coast maps.

Data were sorted and any obvious errors removed before being used. Only data since 1990 has been used for the purpose of this report due to changes in habitats and population estimates over time. Habitat and species management can only be carried out using the most up to date data and habitat mapping. However as there are no regular population estimates for all coastal estuaries and some data over a 15 year period was used to provide a pattern of habitat usage by threatened migratory shorebirds for the whole coast. There has been no attempt to assess wetlands habitats away from the coast or estuarine habitats due to lack of data for inland sites. However the species concerned are largely coastal during their non-breeding seasons, when the birds are in Australia.

This project was commissioned by the Department of Environment and Conservation to identify and map all known shorebird feeding habitat and roost sites along coastal NSW, specifically that of the Sanderling Calidris alba, Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii, Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa and Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus. The results of the project was a series of shape files and data files using Arcview 9.1 and Microsoft Excel-,compatible with those of the DEC Spatial Analysis & Information Section, to map GIS layers for:

the known feeding habitat of Sanderling, Great Knot, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover,

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and Terek Sandpiper along the NSW coast;

the boundaries of key foraging sites of the above species along the NSW coast; and

the boundaries of roosting sites of the above species along the NSW coast.

This dataset has been provided to the BA Programme for use within the programme only. Third parties should contact the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage.

Purpose

The degree of accuracy of mapping is governed to a large extent on the maps and air photos that are used as a template. Although topographic maps are drawn from air photos the information on the map is what is interpreted by the person responsible for interpreting and plotting the information onto a map. The majority of shorebird habitat is subtidal and as a consequence of this is rarely mapped, unless it happens to be part of a major sand bar. Coastlines are largely delineated by the high tide mark. This in itself is variable depending on whether the tide is high at the time the photograph was taken and whether the tides are spring tides or neap tides at the time. Furthermore the accuracy of the coastline drawn depends on the dedication of the cartographer and at which scale the map is drawn. The coastline provided be DEC for this project is of little use fro drawing shape files to the degree of accuracy that would be required by local government and for drawing b

Dataset History

Methods:

All existing data on shorebird distribution (foraging and roosting records) held by bird groups, specialists and DEC Wildlife Atlas were reviewed and updated where information was available and checked for inaccuracies. , Data was also updated where required as a result of changes to estuarine habitats through the use of aerial photography. Where necessary face to face meetings were arranged with relevant people to obtain input from other shorebird specialists, failing this communication was by phone or email.

Digitised air photos provided by DEC were used to map all known shorebird foraging habitat and roost sites along the NSW coast, noting habitat utilised by threatened migratory shorebirds, specifically Sanderling, Great Knot, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and Terek Sandpiper.

Dataset Citation

NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (2010) Threatened Migratory Shorebird Mapping NSW DECCW 2006. Bioregional Assessment Source Dataset. Viewed 31 May 2018, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/92a85a3e-11e9-43cf-96d6-f8cd4fb65d03.