Miraculous Migrants / Birding by seasons Pt One / Queensland / Australia #shorebirds

From the arctic tundra to the shores of Brisbane's Moreton Bay, long-distant migrant shorebirds complete one of the greatest journeys in the natural world. Connecting continents year after year, these feathered miracles undertake their epic journey from north to south to feed on our shores before returning to breed again. In this video I'll show you some stunning shorebird species up close and personal, along with the environments they call home. And yes, shorebirds and photobombing kangaroos only in Australia. When you're out there in the world, things don't always go to script. Hi and welcome to the channel. So for this video I thought I'd try something different. In this brand new series I'll be taking you to some of my favourite places at different times of the year, different habitats, different birds. In the Australian summer we're blessed with around 2 million shorebirds arriving from the Northern Hemisphere. The spectacular shorebird roos are a regular haunt for me in the summer months. Since I was young I've developed a keen interest in wading birds. Right now most have just left our shores for their long flight north. What better way to start this series than to celebrate these amazing long-distance migrants. Please subscribe to the channel to follow future episodes of birding in seasons. I'm incredibly blessed to have a wide variety of habitats close to where I live, each supporting different bird species often associated with a particular environment. Within a short drive I can access landscapes as diverse as rocky headlands, grasslands, coastal heath, freshwater wetlands, mangroves, eucalyptus sclerophyll and of course southeast Queensland's spectacular subtropical rainforest. In summer I regularly visit the migratory shorebird roosts and it got me thinking just how incredible the Australian continent is for shorebirds. Shorebird roosts are places where hundreds sometimes thousands of waders gather in a teeming mass of beaks and feathers. As the tide rises they're corralled into the high ground where they can rest and conserve energy. Later as the tide recedes they're spread out across the mudflats to feed. I'll share some intimate moments of individual species as they search the shoreline for food. Sadly many of our shorebird populations are declining and later in the video I'll share a confronting update on one species. But first here's a splash of shorebird diversity from across the Australian continent. Just about anywhere in Australia you can find shorebirds. Believe it or not even in some of the hottest and driest deserts. Shorebird diversity is remarkable. These red-necked avocets use their elegant upturned bills to filter tiny crustaceans from shallow water. Any small pool of water is also likely to host a pair of black-fronted dottrels across much of the continent. A common species but beautifully marked and proportioned. Double-banded plovers winter here before returning to New Zealand to breed during the southern sun. Their close relatives the red-capped plovers are residents that nest locally in the dunes. This brighter plumage male feeds on the falling tide while the female incubates nearby. In southern Australia the beautiful but threatened hooded plover ekes out a living on wild and windswept beaches. The diminutive red-necked stints weigh around 23 grams and are remarkable long-distance migrants departing Australia each March and April. Taking the prize for longest legs are the elegant pied stilts. A widespread species feeding in both fresh and saltwater wetlands. Australian prattling coals are another remarkable species capable of roaming across vast areas of the inland continent. But for sheer toughness there's one bird that surely takes the prize. The inland dottrel lives year-round in the searing heat of the Australian outback where ground temperatures can exceed 50 degrees celsius. It's always a special moment to find these birds many hundreds of kilometres from the nearest coastline. Saline marshes also support their share of shorebirds. This flock of red-necked stints is joined by the slightly larger sharp-tailed sandpipers. Frequent preening and bathing is essential for feather care as they prepare for their long journey north. The handsome red-kneed dottrel makes the most of any temporary pause. To begin this series I'll take you to the shorebird roosts where hundreds of birds gather at high tide. For me watching flocks of waders carve intricate shapes in the sky is deeply nostalgic. It recalls similar scenes from my childhood in the UK. Here in Queensland Moreton Bay is a stronghold for migratory shorebirds many of which are now under threat from coastal development both here and overseas. Australia hosts around 2 million migratory shorebirds across more than 30 species but incredibly some populations have declined by as much as 90 percent in recent decades. The far eastern curly for example has suffered dramatic declines and is now classified as globally threatened. And sadly one shorebird species the slender billed curly has recently been confirmed as extinct. I remember seeing this bird illustrated in my field guides as a boy and hoping that one day I might get to see one in the wild. These books have been my go-to for the subtle taxonomic identification of these beautiful birds. Some birders consider shorebirds dull because many are shades of brown but I for one have grown very fond of them over the years and once you start learning their stories become extraordinary. Many shorebirds undertake annual migrations of up to 13 000 kilometers each way. Watching them feed and rest knowing that they're preparing for such an epic journey adds another level of wonder. The bar-tailed godwit holds one of the migration records capable of flying non-stop for up to 10 days between Alaska and New Zealand. No food, no water, no sleep breaks, unthinkably tough birds. The beautiful brick redbirds are the males in breeding plumage. They're noticeably smaller than the females and have slightly shorter bills. You'll often see shorebirds bathing and preening. Keeping their feathers in pristine condition is essential before such demanding migrations. Roosting birds must also stay alert for predators. Raptors regularly patrol these areas and I've personally witnessed them taking shorebirds on two occasions. This is why it's so important for us not to disturb roosting birds particularly before migration. Often disturbance happens unintentionally. Wader roosts are one of the ways to see multiple species together for comparison. I sit quietly and concealed for several hours allowing the birds to gradually approach as the tide pushes them towards the shoreline. As the tide recedes and the birds disperse to feed I can quietly leave without causing any disturbance. Far eastern curlews are the largest and most obvious species here with the longest bill of any shorebird in the world. The smaller whimbrel is another long-distance migrant but some do stay to winter. Bar-tailed godwits, barwits for short, are usually among the most numerous birds at the roost. Great knots can appear in many stages of molt which sometimes causes confusion. Their slightly smaller relatives the red knots are still wearing their subdued winter plumage. Now for one of my favourites the stunning pacific golden plover. This one is almost in full breeding plumage with a beautiful golden spangled mantle. Nearby Siberian sand plovers also roost among the rocks. This flock also contains their larger cousins the greater sand plovers they can be tricky to separate. Teric sandpipers break the rule of usual bill design with their distinctive upturn bills. Green shanks are among the most elegant of shorebirds and also winter here in small numbers. Ray-tailed tatlas are also migratory some already showing hints of their breeding plumage. And here we have the beautiful curly sandpipers some already displaying their rich brick red breeding colours are feeding alongside individuals with winter plumage. And finally the smallest of our migratory shorebirds the red-necked stint. Weighing only around 23 grams less than a golf ball these tiny birds undertake a return migration of roughly 20,000 kilometres each year between Australia and the Arctic. A small miracle of nature. So that's just a glimpse of my local shorebirds. For me the study of shorebirds is unlike almost any other form of birding. Yes each species has its own story but for me it's the spectacle of thousands of birds gathering on our shores where they've come from and where they're going. A chaos of beaks and feathers across the mudflats each bird competing for survival. The challenges they face at their breeding grounds, wintering areas and everything in between. From the Arctic tundra to the Australian mudflats these tiny travellers connect continents and every year against all odds many return. So here's to our remarkable shorebirds we salute you. So I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse of our shorebirds both locally and across the continent. Let me know in the comments. For new viewers I'm Tim from Australian Bird Media and welcome to the channel. Over the past decade I've shared over 300 videos exploring Australia's bird life. Recently I've created longer form documentary style films taking a deeper dive into the life of our beautiful birds. If you'd like to support the channel and see more content like this please subscribe and comment. Even better subscribing to my Patreon really helps. Here you'll find additional material and ad-free content. It's a little more than a cup of coffee per month. But it really does make a difference. Thanks for watching. For now I'll leave you with some lovely ambient moments with these elegant birds. See you for the next episode of Birding in Seasons.