The Eastern Curlew: A critically endangered species at Redcliffe
The Eastern Curlew or Numenius madagascariensis is a critically endangered wader and we at Redcliffe can still be lucky enough to see them on the intertidal flats around the peninsula including Hays Inlet, Newport Waters and Deception Bay.
Recently REF Inc with a great deal of assistance from project partners Moreton Bay Regional Council and Conservation Volunteers Australia completed the application process for two more Green Army projects targeting the coastal wetland areas of Hays Inlet at Clontarf. The area between Silcock Street and Hays inlet at Clontarf is a significant remnant of Melaleuca forest and Eucalypt. It not only provides habitat for wildlife it also filters and buffers the saltmarsh and mangrove areas associated with the Inlet.
This area needs a lot of work and the first Green Army project in the area showed what could be done to improve the viability and biodiversity of the area. There are also a number of critically endangered or vulnerable species in the area including the Koala, the Eastern Curlew and the Australian Painted Snipe. The recent Green Army application takes on a critical role in helping these threatened species to survive. So let’s take a closer look at one of these species, the Eastern Curlew.
The Eastern Curlew or Numenius madagascariensis is a critically endangered wader and we at Redcliffe can still be lucky enough to see them on the intertidal flats around the peninsula including Hays Inlet, Newport Waters and Deception Bay. It is the largest wading bird in the world and can be more than 60cm in height and is distinguished by having a large or elongated curved beak. In 2008 it was noted that the global population of this bird was estimated at 38,000 including 28,000 in Australia. A recent census now estimates the population of this bird as around 20,000 – a significant decline in numbers.
In May 2015, the Australian Government listed the Eastern Curlew as critically endangered under national environmental law. In Australia, this species has declined by 81.4% over three generations.
The Eastern Curlew is a migratory bird and has been tracked using the “East Asian - Australian Flyway” arriving in Australia around late August and then returning to Russia in May for the breeding season. The Northern Yellow Sea is the staging grounds which is an important rest and recovery area for this long flight.
The decline in numbers is put down to habitat loss through land reclamation around the Yellow Sea as well as a general decline in wetlands habitats within its range including Australia and East Asia. The Federal Government in Australia advises that the activities which threaten the Curlew, especially eastern and southern Australia, include ongoing human disturbance, habitat loss and degradation from pollution, changes to the water regime and invasive plants.
The Hays Inlet restoration projects are about preserving the remaining habitat around the coastal areas including the reduction of invasive plants and reducing the impact of pollution and stormwater run-off. This not only improves the water quality entering Moreton Bay but enhances the quality of the environment necessary to support our local wildlife and fisheries. Let’s hope the people of Redcliffe can continue to enjoy the presence of one of the world’s most precious waders, the Eastern Curlew.
This area needs a lot of work and the first Green Army project in the area showed what could be done to improve the viability and biodiversity of the area. There are also a number of critically endangered or vulnerable species in the area including the Koala, the Eastern Curlew and the Australian Painted Snipe. The recent Green Army application takes on a critical role in helping these threatened species to survive. So let’s take a closer look at one of these species, the Eastern Curlew.
The Eastern Curlew or Numenius madagascariensis is a critically endangered wader and we at Redcliffe can still be lucky enough to see them on the intertidal flats around the peninsula including Hays Inlet, Newport Waters and Deception Bay. It is the largest wading bird in the world and can be more than 60cm in height and is distinguished by having a large or elongated curved beak. In 2008 it was noted that the global population of this bird was estimated at 38,000 including 28,000 in Australia. A recent census now estimates the population of this bird as around 20,000 – a significant decline in numbers.
In May 2015, the Australian Government listed the Eastern Curlew as critically endangered under national environmental law. In Australia, this species has declined by 81.4% over three generations.
The Eastern Curlew is a migratory bird and has been tracked using the “East Asian - Australian Flyway” arriving in Australia around late August and then returning to Russia in May for the breeding season. The Northern Yellow Sea is the staging grounds which is an important rest and recovery area for this long flight.
The decline in numbers is put down to habitat loss through land reclamation around the Yellow Sea as well as a general decline in wetlands habitats within its range including Australia and East Asia. The Federal Government in Australia advises that the activities which threaten the Curlew, especially eastern and southern Australia, include ongoing human disturbance, habitat loss and degradation from pollution, changes to the water regime and invasive plants.
The Hays Inlet restoration projects are about preserving the remaining habitat around the coastal areas including the reduction of invasive plants and reducing the impact of pollution and stormwater run-off. This not only improves the water quality entering Moreton Bay but enhances the quality of the environment necessary to support our local wildlife and fisheries. Let’s hope the people of Redcliffe can continue to enjoy the presence of one of the world’s most precious waders, the Eastern Curlew.
Managing Stormwater
If we are to improve the quality of water in Hays Inlet and Moreton Bay then we all have a job to do. One of those is to insist authorities use the best design possible to manage the impacts of stormwater run off. The health of our wetlands, estuaries and Moreton Bay depend on good water quality. Monitoring by Healthy Waterways has shown we have a lot of work to do if we wish to maintain the biodiversity and fisheries of Moreton Bay.
Over recent years scientists at Healthy Waterways have been monitoring the water health around Moreton Bay and South East Queensland. In particular one of our local areas, Hays Inlet has consistently been rated as having very poor water quality. In fact over the past 14 years, Bramble Bay (Hays Inlet and the mouth of the Pine River) has consistently scored a poor rating of D to F (failed ecosystem)
The cause of this is complicated, but apart from poor sewerage treatment and higher levels of development there is no doubt stormwater is a significant contributor to the problem. When you take a closer look at the wetland area of Hays Inlet, particularly on the peninsula side you can’t help but notice a significant number of straight cut drains running from the urban and industrial areas directly into the waterways of Hays Inlet. Although these channels are often mangrove-lined the velocity of water after a retreating tide is so strong any sediment and pollutants are carried directly into Moreton Bay. No wonder the water quality of Hays inlet continues to be poor.
So what are the impacts of poor water quality? In this case the extra sediment blocks out light, which then prevents the establishment of seagrass which is not only an important habitat for fish and prawns but is itself an excellent water filter, stabiliser of the tidal flats and an important agent of carbon storage.
Another issue is excess nutrients caused by fertilisers and detergent by products contained in domestic and industrial stormwater. These excess nutrients enter Hays Inlet causing excess growth of bacteria and algae which can then deplete the water of oxygen. Known as eutrophication, this process can kill resident fish and crustaceans thus limiting the habitat’s productivity for wading birds, shellfish and other intertidal creatures.
The third issue caused by these drains is the transfer of litter including plastic bags straight out into the Bay. In particular plastic bags have a nasty impact on the health of our resident turtles which often mistake them for jellyfish and so ingest them. Other pieces of plastic also have a lasting impact on our Bay and ocean life. A recent study predicted that seabirds around the world are affected by ingesting small pieces of plastic!
So what can we do to limit the impact of stormwater? We can manage our own domestic stormwater by making sure we don’t allow chemicals and fertilisers to enter the stormwater system. We can prevent sediment from entering the system by maintaining vegetation cover especially around our creeks and drains. We can also reduce litter and especially the use of plastic bags and containers.
Finally we can insist our authorities employ appropriate stormwater design, wherever possible, in urban areas via the elimination of straight cut drains, the use of rain gardens, biofilters and natural vegetation which slows down the water flow, thus preventing erosion as well as trapping nutrients and pollutants before they enter our precious Moreton Bay.
Over recent years scientists at Healthy Waterways have been monitoring the water health around Moreton Bay and South East Queensland. In particular one of our local areas, Hays Inlet has consistently been rated as having very poor water quality. In fact over the past 14 years, Bramble Bay (Hays Inlet and the mouth of the Pine River) has consistently scored a poor rating of D to F (failed ecosystem)
The cause of this is complicated, but apart from poor sewerage treatment and higher levels of development there is no doubt stormwater is a significant contributor to the problem. When you take a closer look at the wetland area of Hays Inlet, particularly on the peninsula side you can’t help but notice a significant number of straight cut drains running from the urban and industrial areas directly into the waterways of Hays Inlet. Although these channels are often mangrove-lined the velocity of water after a retreating tide is so strong any sediment and pollutants are carried directly into Moreton Bay. No wonder the water quality of Hays inlet continues to be poor.
So what are the impacts of poor water quality? In this case the extra sediment blocks out light, which then prevents the establishment of seagrass which is not only an important habitat for fish and prawns but is itself an excellent water filter, stabiliser of the tidal flats and an important agent of carbon storage.
Another issue is excess nutrients caused by fertilisers and detergent by products contained in domestic and industrial stormwater. These excess nutrients enter Hays Inlet causing excess growth of bacteria and algae which can then deplete the water of oxygen. Known as eutrophication, this process can kill resident fish and crustaceans thus limiting the habitat’s productivity for wading birds, shellfish and other intertidal creatures.
The third issue caused by these drains is the transfer of litter including plastic bags straight out into the Bay. In particular plastic bags have a nasty impact on the health of our resident turtles which often mistake them for jellyfish and so ingest them. Other pieces of plastic also have a lasting impact on our Bay and ocean life. A recent study predicted that seabirds around the world are affected by ingesting small pieces of plastic!
So what can we do to limit the impact of stormwater? We can manage our own domestic stormwater by making sure we don’t allow chemicals and fertilisers to enter the stormwater system. We can prevent sediment from entering the system by maintaining vegetation cover especially around our creeks and drains. We can also reduce litter and especially the use of plastic bags and containers.
Finally we can insist our authorities employ appropriate stormwater design, wherever possible, in urban areas via the elimination of straight cut drains, the use of rain gardens, biofilters and natural vegetation which slows down the water flow, thus preventing erosion as well as trapping nutrients and pollutants before they enter our precious Moreton Bay.
