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| Black-necked Stork |
Lewin's Rail, Spotless Crake, Black-necked Stork, Red-necked Avocet and Mallard were among a fine array of waterbirds seen yesterday in an extensive area of wetland and grassland at Yandina Creek on the Sunshine Coast that is threatened by development. Other good birds included Latham's Snipe, Red-kneed Dotterel, Whiskered Tern, Glossy Ibis and Little Grassbird.
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| Spotless Crake |
I had previously birded the far eastern edge of this wetland, drawing attention to good species there such as Australian Painted-Snipe (
see here) and Black-tailed Native-Hen (
and here). This spot is visible from River Road but is presently dry. Although I had permission from the owners of the adjacent property to bird there, I had been unaware until today of the extensive area of grassland and wetland that extends inland and west from here. This area - evidently Lots 2 & 3 River Road RP 107173- is potentially one of the most important coastal wetlands for waterbirds in south-east Queensland.
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| Red-necked Avocet |
Today I heard 5 Lewin's Rails calling from 3 sites and saw 1 bird briefly. I heard no fewer than 12 Spotless Crakes and saw 3, including some nice close views. A fine male Black-necked Stork was strutting its stuff. Also present were 4 Red-necked Avocets, a species I had not seen previously on the Sunshine Coast. Of further interest was a free-flying female Mallard. This bird clearly was not domesticated or semi-domesticated, unlike the great majority of Mallards encountered in south-east Queensland; genuinely wild, feral Mallards are rare in SEQ, unlike in the southern states.
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| Red-kneed Dotterel |
About 20 Red-kneed Dotterels were present; this visitor from the inland has been in this area for a couple of years now. Little Grassbirds were calling commonly, side-by-side with Tawny Grassbirds. A flock of 50 Whiskered Terns was noted and at least 20 Latham's Snipe were flushed.
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| Royal Spoonbill |
Three Glossy Ibis were seen along with good numbers of more common species such as Royal Spoonbill and all four species of egret.
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| Yandina Creek Wetlands looking west to Mt Ninderry |
These wetlands have been created by tidal flooding from the Maroochy River and associated canals due to changes in the water table caused by many decades of sugar cane farming, which has long stopped at this site. Although created artificially, the wetlands and grasslands provide excellent habitat for waterbirds. Their preservation and management would help atone for the widespread destruction of wallum heath and natural wetlands around the Sunshine Coast.
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| Yandina Creek Wetlands looking east to Mt Coolum |
I have had discussions with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council about the prospect of the council acquiring some of the land in this area (Lot 2 River Road) which is presently up for sale. Another area of bird-rich wetland adjacent to Lot 2 was bulldozed for a housing block redevelopment (
see here). The council is reluctant to purchase the land because it thinks the price is too high and because it is concerned that waterbirds could interfere with air traffic at the nearby Sunshine Coast Airport, where runways are being extended.
The council advised me in a letter dated August 12, 2013 that although the land had habitat value for some bird species, priority was given to acquiring properties that exhibited "significant environmental values and are in highly strategic locations". How the council came to the conclusion that these wetlands are not of significant environmental value and are not in a "highly strategic" location is not explained.
The airport runway extensions will destroy large swathes of this human-modified grassland-wetland habitat along with remnant wallum heath that is home to a tiny population of endangered Ground Parrots. The Yandina Creek Wetlands, however, are well to the west of the extensions. In view of today's discoveries, I will be asking the council to think again. Anyone who feels the same could email the council here at
mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au, asking that their concerns be drawn to the attention to the mayor, Councillor Mark Jamieson.
A full list of birds seen today can be
found here.
