Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 95:115-124, 2012 Importance of Lake MacLeod, northwestern Australia, to shorebirds: a review and update D BERTZELETOS *, R A DAVIS & P HORWITZ School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia. ' Corresponding author [email protected] A number of surveys have been undertaken to determine Lake MacLeod's significance for shorebirds (also called waders). Given the recent global declines in shorebird populations, a current understanding of the significance of Lake MacLeod to shorebirds is timely. We review all survey data in the context of the following criteria: presence of significant national, international and staging populations in the East Asia-Australasian Flyway; species covered by international agreements; and species listed as being of conservation concern in the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2011. Lake MacLeod hosts significant populations of 10 shorebird species. Of these, three species occurred in internationally significant numbers (red knot Calidris canutus, red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis and curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginca), five species occurred in numbers representing significant proportions of the Australian populations (common greenshank Tringa nebularia, black-winged stilt Himantopus leucocephalus, banded stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus, red¬ necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae and red-capped plover Charadrius mficapUhts) and two species (sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata and greater sand plover Charadrius leschenaultii) had populations that met the significant population staging criterion. The most notable of these populations were those of the curlew sandpiper and banded stilt that accounted for up to 31% and 47% of their Flyway and Australian populations, respectively. Lake MacLeod is of great importance to shorebird conservation both in Western Australia and internationally. We recommend that future management strategies focus on maintaining and enhancing shorebird habitats at Lake MacLeod. KEYWORDS: East Asian-Australasian Flyway, Lake MacLeod, monitoring, shorebirds. INTRODUCTION plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) (Rio Tinto Minerals 2008; George 2009). In 2003, it was determined that, at a single Lake MacLeod is a large salt lake (2200km2) located point in time, up to 16% of the Fly way population of the between 23°30'S and 24°40’S and 113°30’E and 114°00'E, curlew sandpiper and up to 26% of the world population on the northwestern coast of Australia, north of of the banded stilt may be present at Lake MacLeod (Rio Carnarvon (Davis el al. 2001; Ellison & Simmonds 2003). Tinto Minerals 2008). Consequently, Lake MacLeod is The northern sections of the lake are fed seawater via a included in A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia karst system that connects the lake bed to the Indian (Environment Australia 2001) and is eligible for listing as Ocean and results in 2000 km2 of the lake being a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar permanently inundated (Logan 1987; Davis et al. 2001; Convention on Wetlands (Rio Tinto Minerals 2008; Russel 2004). This results in a unique, permanent, inland George 2009). saline wetland that is of national and international importance to migrant and resident bird species as a Globally, 52% of shorebird populations are declining, stopover, wintering and drought refuge area (Rio Tinto while only 8% are increasing (Delany & Scott 2006). Minerals 2008; George 2009). Reclamation projects at stop-over sites such as Bohai Bay in China and Saemangeum in South Korea pose Currently, 37 species of shorebirds have been recorded significant threats to shorebirds as they restrict feeding at the lake (Jaensch & Vervest 1990; George 2009). Of habitat available to the birds during this critical period these, many are trans-equatorial migrants that use the and can cause significant population declines (Moores East Asian-Australasian Flyway to spend the austral 2006; Rogers et al. 2006, 2010; Pain et al. 2011; Yang et al. summer (their non-breeding season) in Australia, with 2011). In Australia, development, agricultural pressures the remaining nine species being nomadic residents that on water-tables and human disturbance have contributed move around the continent in response to rainfall to population declines and at some local sites, monitoring (Jaensch & Vervest 1990; Geering et al. 2007; George has detected decreases of those populations by up to 99% 2009). Lake MacLeod has held more than 1% of the for species such as the red-necked stint and curlew Flyway populations of three migrant species: red knot sandpiper (Gosbell & Clemens 2006; Nebel et al. 2008; (Calidris canutus), red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis) and Wainwright & Christie 2008; Creed & Bailey 2009; Singor curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginca)-, and has held more 2009). than 1% of the national population of three endemic species: red-necked avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), As a result of these threats, 16 species of shorebird are banded stilt (Cladorynchus leucocephalus) and red-capped listed as threatened in Australia in the Action Plan for Australian Birds (Garnett et al. 2010). International agreements between the government of Australia and © Royal Society of Western Australia 2012 those of the People's Republic of China (CAMBA), Japan 115 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 95(2), July 2012 (JAMBA) and, most recently, the Republic of Korea Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, (ROKAMBA) have been signed for the protection of CSIRO, Museum of Western Australia, Birds Australia migratory birds (JAMBA 1974; CAMBA 1986; (now Birdlife Australia), Shorebirds 2020 and BirdLife ROKAMBA 2006). These listings and agreements bind International. The domestic databases and publications the Federal Government (and thereby other levels of of some of these organizations were also searched with government in Australia) to the conservation of the same keywords. Where appropriate, interviews with shorebirds and their habitats and encourage scientific key personnel were sought. research at the national and international level. All relevant records received were stored in Excel(cid:8482) The broad objective of this paper is to evaluate the files. Data manipulation was focused on summarising importance of Lake McLeod to shorebirds. Specifically, total species counts in relation to survey periods, and we aim to: (i) identify instances where the lake supports assessing counts against the various criteria (e.g. 1% more than 1% of the global or national populations of a criterion) as previously outlined. species; (ii) determine if the lake is an important stopover site for a species (i.e. counts of 0.25% or more of the Evaluating Lake MacLeod's significance for shorebirds flyway population); (iii) evaluate the importance of the From the database search, 15 reports and journal lake for listed declining shorebird species; and (iv) publications were discovered that contained information establish the significance of the lake for those species on the shorebirds of Lake MacLeod (Appendix 1). Only protected under international conventions. 12 of these can be described as surveys, or contained enough information to be used for the purposes of this study. These surveys also identified areas within the lake METHODS that were of the most importance to shorebirds (Table 1). The Shorebirds 2020 database included 18 counts from Data collection and interrogation Lake MacLeod. Of these, 11 represent the counts from We were interested in all bird count data from Lake the above surveys whilst the remaining seven only cover MacLeod. The methodology for our data collection was part of the lake and due to uncertainty as to methods and adapted from Horwitz et al. (2010). Online database coverage, were excluded from this study. engines such as Google Scholar(cid:8482), ISI Web of Shorebird counts for Lake MacLeod were Knowledge(cid:8482), BioOne(cid:8482) and others, were used for a consequently available from the following surveys: desktop literature search. The key words used were 'Lake Jaensch & Vervest (1990), Davis et nl. (2001), Davis (2002, MacLeod' and 'Carnarvon Basin' in conjunction with the 2003a, 2003b, 2004) and Hassell (2004, 2005, 2006). For following secondary key words: Fauna Survey of. Avian more information see Appendix 1. All counts from all Survey of. Fauna Report of. Avian Report of. surveys are available in George (2009). Birdwatching Event of, Shorebirds of. Waders of, Rio Tinto, Dampier Salt and others. Organisations included East Asian-Australasian Flyway population estimates in the search were Dampier Salt Ltd, Western Australian of trans-equatorial migrant species were acquired from Department of Environment and Conservation, Bamford et al. (2008). Australian population estimates for Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, migrant species (that is the number of individuals of a Heritage and the Arts (now DSEWPaC), Commonwealth migrant species visiting Australia) and for species Table 1 Areas of importance to shorebirds in Lake MacLeod. Site Coordinates Habitat Important for: Use 1. Jack's Vent (and 23°57’40"S 113°38'25"E Mangrove-lined channels Bar-tailed godwit, great knot, common Feeding surrounding channels between the vents and greenshank, black-winged stilt, and vents) open-water areas banded stilt 2. 'Roost Site' 23°55'40"S 113°38'10"E Dry samphire cover Various shorebird species Roosting 3, 4. Godwit Beach to 23°57'07"S 113°38'48"E Extensive shallow mudflats, Red-necked stint, curlew sandpiper, Feeding Linda's Creek stands of stunted dead other trans-equatorial migrant mangroves shorebird species. 5. Stilt Lagoon 23°58'20"S 113°38'34"E Shallow expanse of water Red-necked avocet, banded stilt Feeding 6. Oystercatcher Flat 23°58'43"S 113°38'24"E Large mud-bank barrier, Banded stilt, red-necked avocet Feeding no mangrove background 7. Stilt Flat 23°58'59"S 113°38'24"E Inundated mud flat Banded stilt, black-winged stilt, other Feeding trans-equatorial migrant shorebird species. 8. Dogleg Channel 23°59'36"S 113°36'47"E Shallow mud channel Red-necked stint, curlew sandpiper, Feeding sharp-tailed sandpiper, other trans- equatorial migrant shorebird species. 9. Phalarope Flat 24°00'27"S 113°37'57"E Shallow water over sandy Red-necked stint, curlew sandpiper, Feeding, mudflats banded stilt roosting. Adapted from Davis et al. 2001; Davis 2002, 2003a, 2004; Hassell 2004, 2005, 2006. 116 Bertzeletos et al.: Importance of Lake MacLeod to shorebirds endemic to or resident in Australia were acquired from RESULTS Geering et al. (2007). To determine the importance of Lake MacLeod to Lake MacLeod's significance to shorebirds shorebirds, five criteria were used. Using the Ramsar criteria (Ramsar Convention Bureau 1. To examine if a locality was internationally 2000) and Watkins (1993), 10 shorebird species were significant, Criterion Six of the Ramsar Convention was found to have significant counts at Lake MacLeod. Internationally, the lake holds significant numbers of red used. This criterion states: 'a wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly knot, red-necked stint and curlew sandpiper (Appendix supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one 2). Nationally, the counts for these three species are also species or sub-species of water bird' (Ramsar Convention significant. The area also holds nationally important Bureau 2000). A site is determined to 'regularly support' populations of an additional five species: common 1% of a population if the 1% threshold is achieved in two greenshank, black-winged stilt (Himantopus out of three seasons, or is met by the mean of at least five leucocephalns), banded stilt, red-necked avocet and red- maximum annual counts (Ramsar Convention Bureau capped plover (Table 2). 2000). For migrant taxa, the 0.25 % staging criterion was 2. To determine if a locality is important during reached for six species: the common greenshank, red migration as a stopover site, the guidelines present in the knot, red-necked stint, sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris Ramsar convention were used. These state that a locality acuminata), curlew sandpiper and greater sand plover is significant as a stopover site if counts are equal to, or (Ch. leschenaultii) (Table 2). greater than 0.25% of the fly way population, at least once The average numbers of these species present on the (Ramsar Convention Bureau 2000). Non-migratory lake, the frequency with which these numbers meet the species were not assessed under this criterion. various criteria and the percentages of the East Asian- 3. To investigate if Lake MacLeod is significant on an Australasian Flyway populations (Bamford et al. 2008) Australian-only level, the two criteria proposed in that these numbers represent are shown in Table 2. Watkins (1993) were examined. These criteria signify that Detailed counts for all 37 species are in Appendix 2. a site is of national importance for shorebirds if at least Lake MacLeod hosts 12 species that are listed in the 1% of the Australian population or 10 000 or more Near Threatened or more severe categories (Appendix 2). individuals have at any one time been recorded at the Of these, the Asian dowitcher (Limnodromus site (Watkins 1993). Furthermore under this plan, any semipalmatus), ruddy turnstone (Aremria interpres), grey¬ counts that are internationally important are tailed tattler (Heteroscelus brevipes) and black-tailed automatically considered to be of national importance godwit (Limosa limosa) are listed as Near Threatened, the (Watkins 1993). great knot (C. tenuirostris), red knot, curlew sandpiper, 4. To examine if Lake MacLeod was a significant eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), bar-tailed locality for shorebirds under threat of extinction, the godwit (L. lapponica), greater sand plover and grey plover conservation status (IUCN rankings) of the shorebird (Pluvialis squatarola) as Vulnerable and the lesser sand species occurring at Lake MacLeod was acquired from plover (Ch. mongolus) as Endangered. All 28 migratory Garnett et al. (2010) which has the following rankings: species occurring on the lake are protected under the Least Concern (LC), Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable three international agreements (Appendix 2). (VU), Endangered (EN), Critically Endangered (CE), Extinct in the Wild (EW) and Extinct (EX). DISCUSSION 5. Lastly it was checked to see if these species were also covered by the three international agreements Apart from George (2009), this is the first study to use all (CAMBA, JAMBA and ROKAMBA). Although this was the survey data collected from Lake MacLeod to examine also done for the Lake MacLeod Management Plan (Rio the lake's importance both on a national level and as a Tinto Minerals 2008), it was discovered that this plan did staging area during shorebird migration. Consequently, not list all the species present in these agreements and we were also able to provide an update on the lake's thus a repeat of the procedure was deemed necessary. international importance, against the latest East Asia- Since the three agreements largely cover all migrant Australasian Fly way population estimates (Bamford et al. shorebird species occurring at Lake MacLeod (JAMBA 2008). 1974; CAMBA 1986; ROKAMBA 2006), they can be considered collectively for this criterion. Ten species of shorebird were found to have significant numbers at Lake MacLeod. Of these, eight The above analysis was undertaken for all 37 species have had international and nationally significant of shorebird recorded at the lake. For species meeting the numbers, while for the other two species, the area may 1% criterion either globally or for Australia, the average be important as a staging area. number of birds was calculated as well. This was done to determine if the site holds significant numbers of these International and national significance for shorebirds species on average. Tire number of times that surveys met the 1% criterion was also noted, to determine how The internationally significant numbers of red knot, red¬ frequently the lake holds significant numbers of the necked stint and curlew sandpiper have been previously particular species, Finally maximum counts for these highlighted (Hassell 2006; Rio Tinto Minerals 2008; species were used to specify the maximum percentage of George 2009). The counts for these species are also the population, Flyway arid Australian, using Lake nationally significant. Lake MacLeod also held 1% of the MacLeod. Australian populations of an additional five species: 117 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 95(2), July 2012 Table 2 Shorebird species for which Lake MacLeod holds significant numbers. Species 1%F/Wa l%Aust.a 0.25%>’ Average' %F/WC %Aust.c MaxJ %F/W“ %Aust.<i Common greenshank 0 2 2 128 0.21 0.67 300 0.5 1.58 Red knot 1 1 3 452 0.21 0.34 2566 1.17 1.90 Red-necked slint 8 8 9 5418 1.67 2.01 25000 7.69 9.26 Sharp-tailed sandpiper 0 0 2 155 0.10 0.11 850 0.53 0.61 Curlew Sandpiper 9 9 10 21216 11.79 17.98 55000 30.56 46.61 Black-winged stilt N/A 1 N/A 645 N/A 0.22 3008 N/A 1.00 Banded still N/A 9 N/A 19691 N/A 9.56 100000 N/A 46.61 Red-necked avocet N/A 3 N/A 700 N/A 0.65 2401 N/A 3.30 Red-capped plover N/A 3 N/A 830 N/A 0.87 3125 N/A 3.30 Greater sand plover 0 0 1 61 0.05 0.08 515 0.46 0.69 a The 1% F/W and 1% Aust. represent the number of surveys (out of 12 total) for which Lake MacLeod was found to hold at least 1% of the East Asia-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) and Australian populations of these species in accordance with the Ramsar (Ramsar Convention Bureau 2000) and A National Plan for Shorebird Conservation in Australia (Watkins 1993) criteria. b For migrant taxa, the 0.25% column represents tire number of surveys for which the 0.25% staging criterion was met (Ramsar Convention Bureau 2000). c The average number of individuals recorded from the surveys together with the percentages these represent of the flyway and Australian populations. d The 'Max' column lists the highest counts of these species recorded at the lake and the proportions of the flyway and Australian populations these represent. N/A (Not Applicable) entries are for species that are resident and/or endemic to Australia and thus do not use stopover sites or the flyway. EAAF population estimates adapted from Bamford et al. 2008, Australian population estimates adapted from Geering et al. 2007.' common greenshank, black-winged stilt, banded stilt, inundation), meaning that high counts may coincide with red-necked avocet and red-capped plover. The site's conditions where other inland wetlands are dry. national significance for the last three species is already known (Hassell 2006; Rio Tinto Minerals 2008; George Staging area, species threat status and coverage by 2009), however, it is the first time that it has been realised international treaties for the common greenshank and black-winged stilt. As a staging area. Lake MacLeod may be important for Of these eight species occurring at Lake MacLeod at six migrant shorebird species as some counts for these nationally and internationally significant levels, only species equaled or exceeded the 0.25% of their estimated three (red-necked stint, curlew sandpiper and banded Flyway populations. These are the common greenshank, stilt) have had significant counts in most of the surveys, red knot, red-necked stint, sharp-tailed sandpiper, and the proportions of the populations that occur are also curlew sandpiper and greater sand plover. This is also high. For the curlew sandpiper and banded stilt, the supported by observations during the start of the maximum proportions of the East Asian-Australasian northbound migration of fat birds (curlew sandpipers Flyway and Australian populations recorded in the area and red-necked stints) in partial or complete breeding are double those presented in the Lake MacLeod plumage at Lake MacLeod (Davis 2003a). However, this Management Plan (Rio Tinto Minerals 2008); 16% then is complicated by the fact that Australia is a non-breeding versus 31% now of the fly way population for the curlew season destination making it difficult to distinguish sandpiper and 26% versus 47% for the endemic banded between non-breeding and stop-over birds (Geering et al. stilt. The high frequency with which these large numbers 2007; Bamford et al. 2008). In order to fully understand occur at Lake MacLeod suggests that for the curlew the use of the lake as a staging area one would have to sandpiper the area may be a non-breeding site of major calculate the 'turnover rate' of birds that are in transit importance. Likewise for the non-migratory banded stilt, using the lake (Colwell 2010). This would be best the area appears to be an important drought refuge area. achieved by colour-marking or radio-tagging individuals T he species has not been recorded breeding in the area (Iverson et al. 1996; Warnock and Bishop 1998; Battley & and departs when suitable conditions present themselves Rogers 2007; Colwell 2010). elsewhere (Hassell 2006). All 28 migratory species occurring at Lake MacLeod For the other five species, the number of significant are protected by international treaties (JAMBA 1974; counts and the populations using Lake MacLeod, are CAM BA 1986; ROKAMBA 2006) (Appendix 2). This much lower. These suggest that for these species the lake includes the 12 species at risk of extinction that occur in is of lesser significance or that significant counts are the area (Appendix 2) (Garnett et al. 2010). However, only unusual events, for example, when regional weather the red knot, curlew sandpiper and greater sand plover conditions make the lake attractive to these species. have been recorded as having internationally significant Conversely, regional weather conditions may result in populations there and, of these three, only the curlew Lake MacLeod being the only water source present away sandpiper has occurred in significant numbers for the from the coast (due to its karst link and permanent majority of the surveys. Based on this and the large 118 Bertzeletos et al.: Importance of Lake MacLeod to shorebirds numbers using the site, Lake MacLeod is considered to between DSL and ECU. We gratefully acknowledge the be of vital conservation importance to at least the curlew assistance of Journal reviewers M Bamford and M Craig sandpiper. in improving this manuscript. 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Rio Tinto Minerals, West Australian Department of Received 23 March 2012; accepted 10 July 2012 Environment and Conservation, World Wild Life Fund. Report for Dampier Salt Limited, Perth (unpubl.). 120 Bertzeletos et al.\ Importance of Lake MacLeod to shorebirds 4PcS£gOCuQ>&§M3diD3hJf c 3^C^g3>(>L3>8C^DXD-i) ,, -"—-j—£«Q_C0CCoC£j§?iDJju Cf.Q_ SEQoOor£(s?5CaaD0e3D - . J_U2. 3ra U(cid:9632)^-51cInCOro3enJjJJ cO-carSx~H2aS3* . S"4(cid:9632)cr=“o3ed 4<(cid:9632)'"&a5^oCro>>c=e>D»j ^*•(cid:9632)*doVo30§oSC*->-•> _^vihr££cC°2. d>ne.• *3tH£2SoQ>oO>oCoOrS<DeJj' 20.T2^<.^53io«5c0d3351,j (cid:9632)u(cid:9632)1(cid:9632)£8sCO2L2>OLOg>b--i- ;. 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