Professional Documents
Culture Documents
P a in t e d
Newsletter of the Australian
Ian Hance
Painted Snipe Project
Volume Two – April 2006
Welcome to the second issue of an occasional newsletter on the Australian Painted Snipe Project; a joint initiative of Birds
Australia’s Threatened Bird Network and the Australasian Wader Studies Group. Read on for developments in Painted Snipe
research and conservation since the first newsletter in September 2002.
Threatened
Bird
Network
Contact: Dean Ingwersen Ph: 03 9882 2622 Email: d.ingwersen@birdsaustralia.com.au Post: 415
BirdsRiversdale
Australia, 60
Rd,Leicester
Hawthorn Street,
East,Carlton, Vic 3053
Vic. 3123
NSW – 25 birds were seen at 13 sites. The largest group
size seen was four –at Baradine in October 2003, and at
Fivebough Swamp, near Leeton, in October 2004. No
breeding was recorded in NSW during this period.
WA – a total of 51 birds were seen at five sites, the largest Female Painted Snipe at Rutherglen, Victoria. Photo: C. Tzaros
of which was 30 birds near Carnarvon. A flock of 15
birds was also seen at Lake Eda on Christmas Eve, 2004. A Queensland delight
No breeding was recorded.
John Knight reports: Garnet’s Lagoons, Hervey Bay,
SA – A total of two birds were seen – one at Onkaparinga comprise two freshwater shallow lakes on reclaimed
wetlands in November 2003, and another at Paiwala in saltpan alongside the tidal Susan River, on a 3000 acre
February 2005. No breeding was recorded in the state in cattle fattening property. The lagoons are generally
this time. fairly exposed, surrounded by pasture, with various
sized reed beds. These reeds are inundated when the
lagoons are full, but as the water evaporates the
Breeding records since September 2002 habitat becomes suitable for crakes, swamphens and
other shorebirds. The lagoons and surrounds often
Breeding was confirmed at three sites, with a probable have species sheltering or visiting that are seldom
record at a fourth. In April 2004, four birds were seen at seen elsewhere in Hervey Bay, such as Little Curlew,
Torilla Plains, Qld, three of which were chicks. In Wood Sandpiper, Long-toed stint, Reeve, Broad-
November of the same year, 4 birds were also seen at billed Sandpiper, Oriental Pratincole, Australian
Lake Atkinson, Qld, comprising an adult male and Pratincole, Jabiru, and Cotton Pygmy-Goose. During
another three chicks. The other confirmed breeding 2003 and 2004 we made a number of sightings of
record was from Rutherglen, Vic, in January 2006 – 4 APS:
adults (including a female) and 4 juveniles were observed
over a two month period. The probable breeding record • November 2003 - 1 female
comes from Hird Swamp, Vic, where one juvenile was • July 2004 - 1 male
seen among 11 adults in January 2003. • September 2004 - separate sightings of 4, 3 and 3
birds
• October 2004 – 3 birds seen on three occasions,
with a final sighting of 9 birds late in the month
A recovery plan for the APS is nearing completion, and Water quality also appears to affect numbers, as does
will soon be sent to the relevant authorities for the period between initial flooding and the appearance
evaluation. The plan outlines the state of knowledge of of the birds. For example, Hird Swamp was filled two
APS ecology, threats which have led to declines of the years before APS were first observed, and the birds
species, and lists a set of actions which need to occur to only appeared when the water was receding and clear
help arrest its decline. Threats listed include altered mudflats had formed. This is in contrast to habitat
wetland hydrology, feral predators, and the fact that basic observations in Queensland, where birds are often seen
knowledge of the species is relatively poor. It is hoped in inundated low grasses out in the open. The birds
that by the next issue of Painted Snippets the plan will appear to be much shyer at Hird Swamp, and often
have been approved, a Recovery Team will be in place, don’t flush even when the observer is right upon them.
and the conservation of APS will be in full swing. Stay
tuned! In the four years to April 2005, Chris made 34 sightings
of APS at Hird Swamp. Other members of the APS
Let’s go west!
contd. page 4
In January 2005, summer storms resulted in most
wetlands immediately west of Melbourne being filled. As
a result, the TBN crew began to think about the
possibility of APS showing up, particularly in the
following spring. On checking a report on the western
wetlands by the Victorian DSE, it was found that Painted
Snipe had been previously recorded at 11 sites, with the
most recent being near Balliang in 1990. Most of these
wetlands were holding water for the first time in many
years, so the focus of the spring and summer surveys
were to search these areas. Some of the most promising
areas were on private land, and many landholders allowed
access for us to search. We are still actively searching
these areas, and would love to know of other wetlands in
the area which could possibly support APS - contact
Dean for further information. Typical Hird Swamp habitat. Photo: C. Tzaros
-3-
Project Team have made a further 16 sightings during
this period, including a significant observation in winter
2003 (this was the first ever winter record for Victoria).
The first record of the birds was made in December
2002 (12 birds seen that summer), with the most recent
record being of one female in March 2005.
-4-