Update on Yandina Creek Wetlands

The recent discovery of large numbers of Latham’s Snipe at the Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast adds significantly to the case for conserving this area and increases pressure on the federal Government to  ensure that Commonwealth environmental protection laws to protect signiicant sites for migratory shorebirds are complied with. The owners of the 200-hawetlands plan to drain them for the development of cattle pasture. A  March 27 survey of the wetlands counted 85 Latham’s Snipe from areas that were accessible. Some landowners have banned entry to much of the habitat and it was estimated conservatively that a total of 120-150 snipe were  present   at the site.  Large concentrations of snipe were seen in the area at this time of year also in 2013 and 2014, suggesting it is an important staging point for the species as it prepares for its long northward migration.  Substantial numbers of Latham’s Snipe (20-30) are present at the wetlands throughout the season (September-April). According to Australian Government guidelines, principles agreed by the Ramsar Convention state that a wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports one percent of the individuals in a  population of one species. The estimated population of the species during its annual migration to Australia is 15,000. With one percent amounting to 150 birds, Yandina Creek may be an internationally important site.  The guidelines indicate that a site is a nationally important habitat if it supports at least 0.1 percent of the flyway population of any migratory shorebird species. The number of Latham’s Snipe in the wetlands exceeds this number  (about 15) throughout the season, and exceeds it by a substantial factor during the autumn staging period. Numbers of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Pacific Golden Plover at the site are sometimes large and may also exceed  at least 0.1 per cent of the flyway populations.  To his credit, the federal Environment Minister,  Greg Hunt, has written to the landholders of the Yandina Creek Wetlands, advising them of their obligations under Commonwealth law. A proposal is presently before the  Sunshine Coast Council to acquire the wetlands for a reserve. However, the landholders have restated their intention to proceed with plans to drain the wetlands. The full case for protecting the wetlands, including advice about what people can do to help boost this campaign, can be found here: http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/yandina-creek-wetlands-case-for.html Greg Robertsninderry@westnet.com.auhttp://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/