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Coler photograph of Grey Teal (Anas gracilx) by A.G. Wells, AFIAP, ARPS.
The Grey Teal uas the second-most abwrdant bird on P€el-Harvey Estuary dudng 1996-97, withnumbers reaching I 3 000 in February 1997. Most uere formd on the extensive shallow feeding grormdsof south-eastern Peel-Inlet. The crey Teal travels $,idely tlroughout Australia in response to rainfalland \\€tland conditions-
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TABLES
south-westem Austalia for the period l98l-92.
3. Species with maximum 1996-97 Peel-Harvey counts exc€eding I o/o population lwels. ..................... l5
FIGURES
Waterbird species and maximurn numbers cormted on Peel-Harvey Estuary dudng 199G97.
The ten sp€cies with higho 199G97 Peel-ltrarvey counts than reported for any wetland in
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APPENDICES
1. Waterbird species aad numbers coruted in all suwey s€ctors ofPeel-Ilarvey Estuary dwingOctober 1996, Decenber 1996 and February 1997........................ ................... l8
2. Waterbird species and munbers counted in common survey sectors ofpeel-Harvey Estuarydudng October 1996, Decemberl996 and February 1997... .. .... ............. ... ....26
3. Waterbird species and numbers counted in common surv€y sectors of peel-Harvey Estuarydur rng Decernber l996 and February 199 '1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
4. Ducks colmted in all survey secton ofPeel-Harvey Eshrary dwmg 1996'9'1. ...................................32
5. Cormcmnts counted in all survey sectors of Peel-Harvey dudng 199G97.........................................34
6. Knots counted in all survey sectors of Peel-IIarvey Estuary during t 996-97.....................................35
7. Stint and sandpiper sized uaders comted in all survey sectors ofpe€l-Harvey Estuarydurmg 1996-97. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Tems cormted in all survey sectors of Peel-Harvey Estuary durlrrp,1996-9j. ....................................37
Results of Gsneral Air Survey of October 1996............................ ....................3g
Breeding waterbirds of Peel-Harvey Estuary in 199G97 .............. ....................39
199G97 Peel-Harvey Estuary *aterbird survey program.................. ................40
Maximum counts, l0lo lwels and population distributions of29 species ofwaterbirdsrecorded on Peel-Harvey in lqo6-97. .
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Notr9nooulNt 'l
The aims of this report are to present the data that have been collected during the frst year (1996-97) ofwaterbird surveys following conshuction ofthe Channel and, to the extent possible with one year ofdata, address the project aims.
3. PROJECTDESIGNOpening of the Dawewille Charmel had the potential to affect the suitability of Peel-Hawey for use bywaterbirds in a number of ways. The number of high tide roost sites, some of ufiich are sand cays orlow islets, could be reduced by an increase in tide heights. Higher tides could also cause flooding ofpelican nesting grounds and the death of fringing vegetation used by *aterbirds for feeding, refuge,roosting and breeding. Changes in the estuary's salinity rcgime, *ten combined with an increase intide heights, could also contribute to the death ofvegetation. lncreased tide heights, particularly duringsurnmer, could r€sult in an increase in disturbance, by permitting human access to important waterbfudfeeding and loafing areas that uere Feviously too shallow for boats. Altered \Jvater levels, salinities andcirculation pattems could also have largely unpredictable effects on the food webs supporting theestuary's waterbird populations. Cl€arly most if not all species could be affected in some uay (someperhaps positively) by creation of the Chamel. For this reason it was decided that comprchensivesurveys to determine use ofthe estuary by all waterbird species should be conducted.
In order to establish a baseline it would have been preferable for surveys to have b€en conducted for atleast two yeals immediately pdor to the Channel being opened. This, howwer, rlas not achiwable. Theonly baseline data on watsIbird use of the entir€ estuary come from comprehensive suxveys undertakenby the principal author (JL), with assistanc€ from one of the co-aulhors (cP), in the mid-1970s. Thesesurveys could be rspeated precisely as ful1 details of survey methodologies, routes, times etc. had b€enrecorded and the same personnel were available. It vvas therefore decided to rep€at the 1976-77 suweysduring two ofthe five years programmed for post-Channel monitodng.
Two years of suxveys w€re planned in order to obtain an indication of year-to-year variability in\a"terbird numb€rs and dislribution. Post-Channel years three and five (199G97 & 1998-99) \ erechosen as it uas considqed likely that at least some of the efects of the Charmel would take severalyears to be expressed. Whercas in 1976-'17 srx surveys \.lere conducted at two monthly irtervals fiomAugust 1976 onwards, in 1996-97 and 199&99 this was not possible, due to other demands on stafftime. For this reason the 1.99G9"1 and 199&99 surveys were limited to October, December andFebruary. These months were chosen because both total waterbird nunbers and the nunbsr of species,particularly oftransequatodal migants, \}€re expected to be geatest at this time ofthe year.
4, STUDYAREAThe study area was the entire Peel-Harvey Estuary (area c. 136 km'z, shorelile length c. 75 km)including open waters, shallows, tidal flats, tidal marshes and shoreiines @igure 1). The delta andlower reaches ofthe Harvey River were also included.
METHODOLOGY
Waterbird SpeciesSpecies t)?ically regarded as waterbirds include swans, ducks, grebes, connorants, pelicans, herons,egrets, ibis, spoonbills, waterhens, sandpipers, stilts, plovers, gulls and tems (Rose & Scott 1997).However, sweral other bird species that are not ahvays regarded as waterbirds make substantial use ofestuarine and other u€tland habitats in south-westem Australia. These are the Ospley, Whistling Kite,White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Swamp Harrier, White-fronted Chat and Little Grassbird. For the purposes ofthis shrdy, th€se species were included. This approach is consistent with the suggestions ofRose & ScottfD4).
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Watelbirds ofPeel Hanet Estuan'in 1996,97
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the estuary, the iarge nurnber (potentially) and sprcad ofbirds and the relative di{ficul{ (compared u,ithpelicans) of seeing the birds against the darkness of the shallows, most of *hich u€re covered byabundant submerged aquatic plants. Instead, the s\4ans of Peel Inlet were suweyed by boat, this being a3.5 metre, flat-bottomed punt with 15 horsepower outboard motor operated by a single observer.
On the second day, a survey ras made by boat of the numbers and distdbutions ofall waterbird speciesfrom the old N4andurah TraIIic Bridge downsheam to the ocean moutl (sector I of Figure 2).Waterbirds on the north-eastem side of Peel Inlet upstream from the same bridge to the mouth of theSerpentine River (sectors 2a and 3), including Creery and Chamel Islands and the Creery ma6hes, werealso surveyed on day twq by boat and on foot.
On day thee, all waterbirds on the north-w€stsm side of Peel Inlet, from the old Mandurah TrafficBddge to Ward Point (s€ctors 2b and 4), including Bormdary Island and the samphie islaods to th€ w€stof Channel Island, were surveyed by boat and on foot. Note that Boundary Island is an artificial islandconstructed in 1987 @szczola, J. 1998, pers. comm.), ten years after the 1976-77 waterbird surveys.
On day foru, all waterbirds on the shorcline and the irmer and middle shallows of the eastern andsouthern side of Peel Inlet, from the artificial lagoon adjoining Yunderup Canals to the west side ofRobert Bay (imer and middle sector 6), were surveyed on foot.
The \yest€m shor€line and adjacent shallows ofthe Murray River delta (sector 5), plus the middle andouter shallows on the eastern and southern sides of Peel lnlet from Yunderup Canals to Rob€rt Bav(middle and outer sector 6), \}€re surveyed by boat and on foot on day five.
A survey of all waterbirds at the soutlem end of llawey Estuary (from Heron Point Ford south), plusthe lower reaches and delta of the Harvey River (sector 10), was conducted by boat and on foot on daysix, the last day ofthe surveys.
In October 1996, the day two and day three surveys, minus the shoreline and shallows from SticksCharuIel to Ward Point and from the eastem entrance of Creery lagoon to the Serpentine River, (thussectors l, 2a and 2b) uere all done in one day, as in October 1976.
In February I 997, the rlestem shoreline and shallous of Harvey Estuary from Island Point to Ward Point(sector 9) rvere surveyed by boat on day tluee, simultaneous with the suwey ofnorth-westem Peel Inlet.On day four, the shoreline and shallous from the west side of Robert Bay to Herron Point in HaweyEstuary (sectors 7 and 8) w€re surveyed on foot, simultaneous with the foot survey ofsouth-eastem PeelInlet. With these two additional surveys, almost-complete survey coverage of the shoreline and shallowsof Peel-Harvey Esh:ary rrras achieved in that survey month-
The central, deeper-water parts of Peel-Harvey were not systematically surveyed because ad-hoc srw.eysof these waters by aircraft and boat during the mid 1970s and n 1996-9'1 showed they were generallyIittle used by waterbirds- Waterbirds most likely to have been missed in these parts were cormorants,small nrunbers ofgr€bes and pelicans, and ocaasional t€ms, gulls and darters.
Note that the sectoN described above wsre dehned on the basis of survey practicalities, primarily themaxlmum area that could be thoroughly surveyed in a single day by a single obsenrer rurder varyingu.eather and tidal conditions.
On the first day of survey in October 1996, a "general air survey" rvas conducted to gain a br(xdovervrew of bird nunb€.s and distributions prior to conducting ground surveys. This air survey wasrntended to replicate surveys conducted t*enty years previously, n 1976-77. However, the October 1996general air sruvey did not produce worth*trile results (s€€ Appendix 9 for results and discussion).General air surveys were therefore not conducted in subsequent survey months of 1996-97.
5.3 CountingTechniquesWhenever possiblc, birds were counted individually. This was usually achievable with flocks of tons or
Watetbnd' ofPeel.Hrnc, EstudN n 1906-97
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and then multiplied bY the number of parts. Whcre practicable this process was repeatecl t\{o or more
tnnes to improve the estimats.
Sometimes it was not possible to detsrmine thc identity of birds because they were too iar away for the
obsencr to disccrn distinguishing features. On theso occasions they werc recorded as "unidentihed
ducks unrdentif icdc('nnoranls elc.
Flving birds rvcre includcd in seclor counts cxcept for occasions \rhen they were seen flying high above
the estuarv, e.g. rising on thermals.
Because the grouid (boat and foot) sun'cys werc conducted ovcr four (October) to six (Decenber and
Fcbruar\) fuli daYs. some movem€nt of birds rmdoubtedly occurred during thc survey penods
Allo$ance $as .uade tbr this where possiblc. I)uring each day's survey a Iecord oI nental note u"s kcpt
of birds sccn passing thc obscrver, eithcr aheacl or behind, and cormt figures were adlustcd accordingly
Da\.t(}day novemcnts \\'er€ more problenratic No measwe of these nlovements !\as possible
Impressions werc gained, however, as somc previously suveyed areas werc passed on subsequent days
wlxle on thl: way to and fron oew survcy areas. surveY aleas were also "revisitcd" at thc nargins rvhen
adjoining areas rvere surveycd. On this basis, the authors have confidence that most birds present on the
estuarv dudng each survey period were not double-counted or omitted
As indicated above. Australian Pelicans were counted lrom an airqafl. with each survey of the entire
estuan taking no more than l-1.5 hours. These sruveys rvere wdertaken in the middle of'the day, rvhen
pelicans are often resting and relativ€ly few novements' cornpared with early morning or evening' are
taking place. Fiocks too large to cormt fron1 the air werc photographed and nr.mbers latel determin€d
tiom piints as described in section 5.4 For these reasons there is a high degree of confidence in the
accuracv ofthe pelican count data.
Aiso as indicated above, Black swan nurnbers on Peel Inlct were cotnted druing a single survcY by boat,
with each survey taking around 3.5 to 5 hours to compl€te. The swans of Harvey Estuary were counted
liom the air during the p€lican survey The Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary suan surveys were
undertaken simultaneously aod during the day, \I&en swans are usually quietly grazing on aquatic plants
or rcsting with little mo\,€ment taking place Thsre is therefore a high degree of confidence in the
accuracy ofthe swan count data.
It will be seen in following scctions that none of the count data have been rormded. This is bccause thc
authors consider it more uselirl, in this frrst reporting of survcy results, to pl€sent the raw data rather
than rounded figures. Howwer, \&tlen these data are put to other uses, for example comparisons of
numbers with those of other wetlands, it is suggested that all totals be rounded to two significant figures
Thus the maximum cowrt of Red-necked stint would b€come 15,000 lather than 14,672 as showr in
Table L similarly the maximum count of Australian shelduck becomes 4,500 rather than 4,527 and the
maximum count of Australasian shovel€r becomes 500 rather than 501. Totals of 100 0r less remain
unchanged. This approach is consistent \aith that taken in Rose & Scott (1997)
The survey methodology vas not well suited to detecting secretive species of watclbirds such as cmkes
and rails (members of ihe family Rallidae). To be conhdent of locating these species an observer needs
to spend periods of l0 minutes or more quietly observing likely habitats, e g' rushbeds, from unobtruslve
positions. Alternatively, tape recordings or hunane live-trapping techniques can be used These
methods were noi employed during the 1996-97 (or 1976-77) s'rr.eys due to time constraints. lt .s
therefore quite possible, in fact higt y likely, that some birds of these tlpes we'e present though
unrecorded.
Although bird behaviours (principally feeding or roosting) were often recorded, this was not done
routineiv due to the magnitude and, at times, complexity of the survcy task Rehaviotus are theretbre
not Dresented in this report.
,|'dterbds af Peel-Haney Isttu4 lh 1996 9r
!6 966 t ut 41D,ns! ia,uDHla?dl.' sp,qarD
IIIIIIililIrrIE
q elqPJ_)(ZS0'l) ua{S Icelg pu€ (960't) lueroruroC peu '(S8Z'l) radrdpues pelrEl-&?qs .(89t.t) }uerourroJIcDlg alltrl '(c99'l) luerou-roJ perd aDI.I 1t6Z'Z) llUS pa8ula\-Icelg .(€tt.Z) leco^V p6)lceu-pau'(S0t't)
IFC rc^lrs'(tZS't) Icnpleqs uDrteltmv '(tS6'9) UIIS pepuBS.(Zl9.ZI) IeaJ,{erC'(Z/g.it)
lurls per,lJeu-ped orel (slsnpr^rpur 000'l ueqt alou qcpe:serceds fl) setcads tu"punq€ lsour aql
'(l xrpueddv) 966t Dqurecac ul 9//.OS se,{\ .serceds ol paUrlueplunspJlqJeler Surpnlrur 'serceds
lle Jo (^rsruqeJ lo lequreco( 'Jeqotco) lunoc dFlluou el8urs tseq8rq eql
sorceds lenpr rrpur qJeJJo lrmoJ(qeC .ro cec 1cO) ,{Hluoru umunxpul eql Jo ums eqt sr sq.L (l elqeJ) 29S.09 ss,,rd /6-966I Btnmpgrrrrl gruos ls ,fuenlsg de^rpHleed Jo esn op€lu lprll sptrqlolail peglluepl Jo lequmu runurruru eql
ocuepunqv z'9'(1 xrpuaddy) srguoru
^5^Jns eqlJo euo ,{luo ur tr€ploce-r ele \ serceds fl :sqluou ,{edns aan0 llB ur pepjoca: e:a,rrr sercads 69
'(€ xrpuaddv)^le^qcedser /t pue 9t alo^l srDuoru o^q eseq| m sJolces esaql rn papocal serceds prqlatE \Jo sDqumueql .1661 tusruqeC q puE 966I Jaqtuerec uI qpq pe,{e^ms ere^r 0l pue 9
.9 ,b ,t 'Z .l srolces
(g xpueddy) fle,rqcedse.r 9y pueVb
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.Z .I sJolces
w 8r p.e 966r requeca( ur poplooer eren 9r :,{o^ms 966r *.r. "* ,**!n;:fiiJ)"itr:frtr-;f'..sJsps,,\, sp ol peleJ f,luoultuoJ osle ',,spnqeloqs,, eJs serceds luEJBruI eseqlJo
IIV eleqdsrrlleq ulewjou aqt In sprmolS Surpaa:q rreql qln serceds ftoge.frur l€uolenbesue4 ola,,r\ g[
( I olq€J) B]eue8 Zt pue sarJrurEJ9t pslue$lder eseqf s,{eNns pnqlele^\ /6-9661 eq} Surmp pep.rocet ere,{ spnq€tE/r\ Jo serceds dlxrs
serrods t.g
sI'tns3u'o
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269661 eq1.1o satdo3
pourqruo3 fu EnlsA {.^J€Hlaedpup ^llsnpt^tpul tuenlsg fe^leH pu€ ptul teed ro3 sp1o1 acnpord o1 'lecxg
Uosorcrl^I Sursn ,peururns
ueqt e.ra \ slslol lopes eseqJ Jol€s qcee .roJ pelplol se,tt sarcads qc?aJo sp.trqJo €qumu eql pu" sloloos^e^ms ual olul pepl^lp se,,tt ,fueqse erIJ fusnlse er{l Jo sdeul otuo paqrrcsueil lel€l elo^\ s8uploceledqorpne eql s{ooqalou uI',{nuenba.g ssel 'to edelorpne uo paplocel ale,l.r s}?p prqJeler{ leq}o IIV
're \od,4 ol ]e edocsorcrur Suqcassrp e Sursn sluud crqdelSoloqd urog peuruuepp :ele[ eJe l sJ"qumuplq pup rle eql uorJ lrmoo o] efu"l ool slcog uecqed qdaSopqd ol posn se^t aleurec ulutst pleq-pueqV
'sdeu ol peqr.bsupl letpl pue (Dprocor ouessEc pleq-pueq) edslorpnE uo pep]ocal e.re { lo ,fuenlse eqlJo sdeur oluo,{ncarrp pepJoc e$^\ feNns qcDaJo ,.euo ̂8p,, rI() pet€lloc e}ep tlmoc u€^\s pue upcrled
luowaaeuet ereo t'g
Table l. Waterbird species and maximum numbers countod on Peel-Harvey Estuary during 1996-97.(Scientific and common names are those of Chistidis & Boles 1994. Transequatorial migrants are
denoted by M. JAMBA species by rand CAMBA species by' t.
PODICIPEDIDAE
ANHINGIDAE
PIIAI-A.CROCORACIDAE
Family Name
ANATIDAE
Comrnon Name
Musk DrckBlack SwanAusrralian ShelduckAusrralian Wood DuckPacific Black DuckAustralasian ShovelerGrey TealChesinut ToalPink-eared DuckHardhead
Hoary-headed GrebeCreqt Crested Grebe
Darter
Little Pied CormorartPied C6morantLitde Black CormorantGrest Cormorunt
Australian Pelican
lvhite-fac€d HermLitde EgetGreat EgetNanke€n Night Heron
Australian white IbisYellow-billed Spmnbill
OspreyWhisding KiteWhite-bellied Sea-EagleSwamp Hamor
Purple Swamphen
Black-railed CodwitBar-tailod GodwitWhimbrelEastem CurlewCommor GreenshankTerek SandpiperCommor Saldpiper
MarL Count
410524527
3'749
501126t2
II9
Group and Scientific Names
Ducks & alliesBizitm lobataClyrws aEattsTadoma ladomoidesChenar,relta jubalaAnat superciliosaAnas fiynchotisAnas gracilis
M a I ac orhync hu s ne mb run a c eusAyl|/y awtralis
GrebcsPo li<xephalus po lioc ephalusPodiceps cistah.$
DartersAnh@a elanogaster
CorlnorantsPhalcroc orm me lanoleucbsPhalerocoraa vai sPhalrctoc orct sulc i rosti sPhalwocorar carbo
PelicrrsPelec@t s conspici| lafus
HeruE Egrets, BitternsE grett a n or aeho I I andi a eEgrelta ganetlaArdeo alba -
Ny c ti c or at c a I e don i c us
lbiscs, SpoonbillsThrestiomis rcluccaPlatalea flavipes
Ospr€y, Kite, Eagles, HarriersPandion haliaefi$Hali^slur sphehltrnsHali.Eetus Ie cogastercCiras approrimans
RailE Crakes, Water hens, C-ootPorph])io porplrynq
Sandpipers, Knots, Stint & alliesLinasa linosacJNlLinnsa lapponicac!N1Nuneniui phaeolns'*Nu nctri us mada ga* ai ansi s c rM
, , c l M,-1,4,, ,."ottort!,*
Ac r iti s h-vpo I eucr:s c r M
PELECANIDAE
ARDEIDAX
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
ACCIPNRIDAE
RALLIDAE
SCOLOPACIDAE
1665r0961368
39
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13489
II4I
48I I
I5I4
4
2830'7nl 9
3 1 44
t 7
10 Warerhnls of Peel-Htnet [sho^' tn I 99c-9-
II16966t u lADNE taa.loHlaadlb spqratDfl
pue (9€l) ulej. perelsrql6 e:e,t serceds luBprmqe lsoru or!\l eql .(g xrpueddv) 966t Jeqolco ur 106 se,{\ 'serceds ot paqquepnm su:a1 Surpnycur 'sure1 11e 3o lrmoc llqtuour al8uls lpq8rq eqJ (t elqEJ) 06Z.l
sar\ /6-966t Surmp fueqsg ,{oNsHleed Jo osn epeul }eql sulsl perjr}uapr Jo Jequmu umruutrx eql
'(9661 roquecso ur 6€ Jo umullxeut) lueprmq€ lou elA,\t sluplouuoC lealD (969.1) 1ue:oruro3perd pue (89t't) ]uerouroJ Icplg eFr.I .(999.1) ]uerouloO pe\{ elDr.I ere r eseq}Jo (slsnphrpw 000.1u€ql ercu) snol'ltmu lsoru eql (g xrpueddv) 661 ,r_ren:qeg ut 6tg.€ se \ .serceds ot peuquep[msluerouloc Surpnlcur 'sluerouuo.
lle Jo lrmoc ,{1q1uotu el8urs NerIBrq eql .(t elqp, g9l.t se,,.\169661 Surmp tuenlsg ̂eNeH-leed Jo esn eppur t8ql sluelouuoc peglluepl Jo requnu umurluuu oqJ
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ro^old PepooHre^oJd PrrBS rolEet0-Ie^old Pues resss'lra,ro14 g:ddec-pe1
.teao6,tugE^old ueppo csned
lero^v Pelceu-Peurlgs PePuBtl
rllls P58ut^{-)Pe Ig
jeqqeusp{o par.1
redrdpues ̂ieFnCredtdpueg pele$:eqg
lu4s Pe{.ou-Peurout Ped
loq lB0r9euoNurnf,{ppnu
rell€J pollq-^or0
etIlGN uoqrqoc
YIVJOJ
EVCIA'1AS
av(IlDvHdt't3t^l
stouruotS nuqo8ayJsrelqrsl\ Plror!\ pK)
suo4liqp o,tn@rMdastsrf,l usls4snv .stalso,{orbH
sxp1.4t4 mruop11t13s!2Jau uuets
| 43Jaq uats
) Dldso) Dttlars2 D p tm I I o q a D ̂o 4 sltJrl7
flIrel qInC
slllot!,qtu slurotrw
tua lg InDuavzsal sn4pototl)
Nc tttloSttou snypDlor!)
. sx111doa4[ntm1qomq7
wtr olototorlbt $lDryld
wrx D^!n! tllDwldsl o$o0 rsre,|old
aDryw)Iloqao^au D4solt J :taam1 o qda co m a 1 mq c u,t4,toqa 1 2
sndo 1 tauu q mdo 1 uourl 11qero v SlI!|s
s 1.t1so.t13uo1 mdo 1ouao1]srorplerre|l[O
n.oa4&uta{s1q4o2^t. otD4lantD swllD)
w. sttto cllliu s!rp!P3
wa sntns)t slJpllD)
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SVCRIV-I
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Species Max. 1996-97Peel-Harvey
Count
Max. 1981-92SW Wetlands
Count
Location of Maximum 1981-92 South-West Wetlands Count
Daner 95 45 West Corio Swamp (near Pinjarra)Little Pied Cormorant 1665 1000 Carraburmup Swamp (near Peel lnlet)Pied Cormorant 1096 5 1 9 Peel Inlet East & SouthLittle Eget 89 21 Creery Marshes @eel Inlet)Whirnbrel l l 7 Crcery Ma6hes (Peel Inlet)Common Greenshank 3 1 4 213 Peel Inlet East & SouthRed-necked Stint t4672 10000 Alfred Cove (Swan River)Silver Gull 4405 3500 Perry Iakes @erth)Caspian Tern 180 60 Peel InletFairy Tem 262 102 Alfred Cove (Sr,ran River)
Fairy Tern (262).
The minimum number of identified transequato al migratory shorebirds that made use of pe€l-HarveyEstuary dnring 199G97 was l'1,227 (Table 1). The most nunerous (more than l,0OO individuals) ofth€s€ were Red-necked stint (14,672) and sharp-tailed Sandpipo (1,285). The next most abundant(morc than 100 individuals) wsre Common Greenshank (314), Curlew Sandpiper (313), Bar_tailedGodwit (307) and Grey Plover (l 16). The highest single monthly cowrt of knots was 166 (including 110unidentified to species) in December 1996 (Appendix 6). The highest counts of Great Knot and RedKrot were 26 and 39 respectively.
The most rccent compilation ofmaxinum counts of iqdividual yat€rbird species on wetlands across thesouth-uest of western Australia (Kalbani - cape Arid) is that of Jaensch, Merrifield & Raines 0993)and covers the period 1981-92. N,l&{imum 199G97 peel-Hawey counts often sp€cies vere grcater thanthose report€d by Jaensch, Merrifield & Raines (Table 2).
Table 2. The ten species with higher 1996-97 peel-Harvey counts than repcrted ficr any u€tland insouth-rl€stem Australia for the period 1981-92.
The minimrun number of individuals of bird sp€cies listed wrder JAMBA or CAMBA that made use ofPeel-Harvey Estuary during 1996-97 was 17,634 (Table l). The most numerous (more than l-OO0individuals) of these were Red-necked stint (14,672) and sha.ptailed sandpiper (1,285). The nextmost abundant (more than 100 individuals) were common creenshank (314), cullew sandpiper (313),Bar-tailed Godwit (307), Caspian Tem (180), Grey plover ( 6), Great Egret (l 14) and Cresred Tem(112) .
seventeen of the 60 spq:ies recorded had maximum courts of less than I 0 individuals (Table I ).
6.3 DistributionIn each of the three survey months, more waterbirds were recorded in south-eastem peel Inlet (sector 6)than in anv other survey sector of Peel-Harvey (Appendix l). The highest number recorded in thissector was 28,727 in December 1996. Th€ lowest number in this s€ctor was 12,3g0 in October 1996.
The surve' sectors in which waterbirds werg next most abundant were the southern end of HarvevEstuary (sector l0) and north-central Peel Inlet (sector 2). The nurnber of waterbirds counted in sector10 ranged Fom 1,618 in october 1996 to 13,907 in December 1996. The number counted in sector 2ranged from 2,531 October 1996 to 4,888 in February 1997.
The most abmdant species (Red-necked stint) was most nun€ro.s in sector lo (g.009 birds inDecernber 1996) and sector 6 (6,058 birds in December 1996). The second most abwldant species (GreyTeal) was also most nunerous in sectors 6 and l0 (9,585 and 2,241 rcspectively, in February 1997).
t2 waterbtdr ofPeel Haney Estuary n t99697
II!6966t ur ,ADtasI iatDH laad lo spJ!VatD/11
uoqnos eql'(s^zu uoqod pue uqsnv) lelul Iaed uelse.-qlnos ur Suumc.o spnq]o s€qunu lselperSeql qll{'s,{o^Jns 169661 oq1 Surmp,fuPn}sd ie,upHlee<l un0r'\1 pa}nqr4slp ilue^eun ela\\ spJrqDlel\A
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S uorlces ul peuorlueul se 'oslv
palcnpuoc aje s^e^-ms crolu se A\orB L1lecrdi1 spuepe,r IEnpr^rpur Jo-I slsrl scr$ds pur serceds elqourilqBrq ere sprrqrele,r se pegcedxe al ot sr rq'r\ol sl lqumu peuoqueur-}sru eq} }EqI 19661 VJNV)poulquoc s,{e^ms ie,,ueg-1ee.1 9661-erd 11u :og (93) pepode: ,{ls-noho.td .requnu e ueql ssei illuerqru8rssr 16-9661 Jo s.{a^rs eq1 Surmp fuentsA ie,a.JEH1ee4 uo peprocer (09) sercads prrqJo}B^\ lo .requmu eqf
'(9661 VONV:0661 Ie ]e esleH) papmer uaeq sEq (6861 qcl?l ursprqf l9'lS) sprqrele.{ Jo
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l.b-9b61 Sqmp tlsnls3 (r^rpH-leJd
uo porq.^eq osle lq8rur sru6f lneC (01 xpueddv) IlnO €^lrs pu€ llrts pe8ul{{-{celg 'leqc1E.re}s.{O
peu 'ueJrlsd uerla4snv 'l"eJ ,{eJc 'Icn{ {celg cur.Ed llcnploqs uerlB4snv 'ue \s {cEIg
ere.{r eseqJ -s,{r Jns prqJelan t6-966t eW Surmp Supeerq peproJer ere,{{ sprrqle}D,{\ Jo ser.eds lq8rg
Oulpeetg ,'9
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end of Harvey Estuary and nofil-central Peel Inlet. The first and last areas arc largely within formalconservation reserves. The southern end of Harvey Estuary has a cons€rvation rese.ve adjoining itseastern shore but is otherwise largely unprotected.
7.2 Impacfs of Dawesville Channel on WaterbirdsThe second aim of the project that is the subject of this report is to identiry significant impacts ofconstruction of the Dawewille chanael on l,laterbird species, nunbers and distdbutions on peel-HarveyEstuary. Before a proper ass€ssment can be made, it is necessary to report the results ofthe l99g-99surveys and "baseline" surveys that taere undertak€n in 197G77. This work is proposed.
7.3 Ramsar Convention Status of pee!-Haruey EstuaryIn l99Q Peel-Iturvey Estuary uas listed, jointly with Iakes Mcl,arty, Mealup and the yalgorup l,akes,as a wetland of International Importance lmder the Ramsar convention. At that time, the estuary metthe following thre€ Ramsar criteria (note that a site need me€t only one Ramsar criterion to be eligiblefor listing).
l It is a particularly good example of a specific B?e of wetland, aharactedstic ofits region.3a. It regularly zupports 20,000 watefowl.3c. Where data on populations are available, it regularly suppofis 1oZ of the individ,als in a
population ofone species or subspecies ofl,vaterfowl.
since listing in 1990, the Ramsar cdteda have been firrther dweloped and re-numbered by Ramsarconferenc€s of contracting Parties. The cunent equivalents of the above criteria are as follovs.
l . It contains a repres€ntalive, rare' or uique example of a natual or near-natwal wetland tyDefound within the appropdate biogeographic region.It regularly supports 20,0@ or more waterbirds.It regularly supports l% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies ofwaterbird.
of interest in th€ context of this report is whether or not peel-Harvey Estuary continues to meet RamsarCriteria 5 and 6 following opening of the Dawesville Channel in April 1994. How€ver, b€foreaddressing these questions it is necessary to considef, how the Bord "regularly,' should be interpreted.
Rose & Scott (199D suggested use of five-year averages of annual maxima in waterbird numbers fordetermining *trether the rel€vant levels (20,000 bnds or 1yo of population) occur ..regularly,'. TheRamsar conventiq Bureau (2000) has supported this approach and also suggested an alternative basedon nwnbers comted in at least two thirds of seasons for ufiich data are available. Importantly, theBureau has also recognised that situations exist (e.g. drought reftrges or difficulty in obtaining data)where data coll€cted over shorter time periods may b€ acceptable lor determining a \\€tland'simportance for waterbirds.
In relation to nonination of westem Australian wetlaads for listing under the Ramsar convention,Jaensch & Watkins (1999) have recommended the following approach.
'1n regard to cdterion 3 (a), the existence of reliable counts of 20,000 waterbirds. or hishestcouts (d'ring one year) of individual species which sum to 20,000 waterbirds, rn at reast seieralof the past 25 years and with no clear evidence of recent decline in numbers. rvas considered anadequate basis lbr critedon 3 (a) to be met. where few swveys had been conducted at the site butthere was evidence of recurence in at least s€veral of the past 25 ],ears of the wetland conditionsthat had on at least one occasion suppo ed 20,000 waterbirds, the cdtedon was considerqr metlespecially iithe highest numbers were well in excess of20,000 uaterbirds, e.g 100,000)".
"ln testing against [critedon 3c], it was decided that there should be no clear evidence ol r€centdecline in nurnbers to below the I o/o level".
The present authorc support the appranch rccommended by Jaensch & Watkins (1999) and have applied
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9 uoleti5;E ur€d
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.for inclusion on the List of I{etlands of Inteltutional Impoftance, Ramsar Conventar. Nominatlngdocument prepared by WA Departrnent of Conservation and Land Management, Perth. 43pp.
Government of Western Austxalia (2000). Wellands nomirated by the Govemment of Westem Austlaliafor inclusion on the List of Wetlands of Inlernotional lrnportance, Ramsat Convention. Nominatingdocument prepared by WA Department of Cons€rvation and Land Management, Perth. 48pp.
Halse, S.A., Jaensch, R.P., Mrmrq D.R. & Pearson, G.B. (1990). Atmual uaterftwl caunts in south-westem Ausbalia 1988-89. WA Departrnent of Conservation and Land Managernent T€chnicalReport No. 25.
Jaensch, R.P., Merrifield, J. & Raines, l. (1993). Waterbirds of south-westem Australia: highestnumbets counted 1981-92. Supplernent to WA Brrd Notes No. 68.
Jaensctt, RP., V€rvest, R.M. & Howish, M.J. (1988). Waterbirds in nahrre lesen)es of south-n'estemAwtralia 1981-1985: rcsqye accolmts. Royal Australasian Omithologists Union Report 30. 290 pp.
Jaensch. R.P. and Watkins, D. (1999). Noninalion of additional Rar sar wetl.ands in Westem Altstralia.Unpublished report by Wetlands Intemational-Oceania to WA Department of Conservation and LandManagement. 292pp.
Lane, J.A.K., Pearson, G.B. & Clarke, A.G. (1997). Waterbird use of Peel-Hamey Estuary followingopening of the Dawesville Channel in Apil 1991: Progress Report. WA Department of Cons€rvatiqland Land Management unpublished rcport.
Ramsar Convenlion B[eau (2000). Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future dewlopmefi ofthe List of Wetlands of Intemational Importance. Handbook 7. Ramsar handbooks for the wise tse oft etlahds. Ramsar Convention Bueau. Gland. Switzerland.
Rose, P.M. & Scott, D.A. (1997). Waterfowl popuLation estimates - second edition. WetfandsIntemational Publ. 44, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Wa&ins, D. & AWSG (1993). I National Plan fot Shorebird Conserlation in Australia. Published byAustralasian Wader Studies Group, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Unioo and World Wide Fundfor Natue. RAOU Report No. 30.
l 6 WaPrbtdt ol Peel.Hnner Estuary tn l99o.o'
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APPENDX 9. Results ofGeneral Air Survey ofOctober 1996.
On Monday 14 October 1996 a "general air survey" was conducted by JL flom 1015 to I I lll hrs in order to
replicate the general air sr.rvey conducted on wednesday 13 october 1976 from 1020-1150 hrs. Results ale
presented below
Seclor l: Cormcrant (l), Australian Pelic€n (1,2, l, l, 1), SilverGull (4, more, 15,2, l0)
Sector 2: Black Swan (2), Australian Shelduck (10, 5, 2), ducks (c50), Pied Cormorant (50), cormorant ( 100 black
& white cct'mo.ants mainly Pied, 4, 50), Ausralian Pelicaa (1, l' 2' I.4.2' 4. On Boundary Island there
were "15 young at water's edge, l0 ycung further back, 5 flying doxn fiom nest area")' egret (l)'
Yellow-billed Spoonbill (l), Silver Gull (200, 10,3, 5, 50, 100, 50' 250, 150,200' 50' l)
Sector 3: Australian Pelican (50, 5,3, 3), egret (l?, l), Silver Gull (1, 200' 15).
Sector 1: Black Swan (5, 3), ducks (10,20), cormorant (some,4, l, 300,3), Australian Pelican (25' 20' 30),
Austral ianWhitelbis(2),Red-neckedStint-sizedwaders(50),migatoryrrad€rs(300),Si lverGull(20,20,40, 100, 50, s0, 50, 100, l , 1,2, l , l , 10).
Sector 5: Australian Shelduck (30), cormorant (5, l5), Silver Gull (80).
Sector 6: Bldck Swan (100, 10,2, 20,20,2OO, hundreds, 100, 500, hundreds, small numbers' 3'2'20,30' lo{J'
300. 100, 50), Aushalian SheldDck (l), Pacific Black Duck (unspecified), ducks (unspecified, c500
including Australian Shelduck, a f€w hundred, some, more, 20, some), gr€be (20 flying), cormorant (25,
4, 20 black & white, 100, l), Australiat Peliran Q. I, 4, l, 3, l), egtet Q ' 20' 2, 2?)' Australian wlite
lbis (2), small waders (20), waders (several hundred), Banded Stilt (c200)' Silver Gull (3, 2' 6' l0' 30'
50), tems (50 small, 2, 80 very small), Grant Peqrson with boat and telesmpe (l)
Sector 7: Grey Teal (5), cormorant (40, 3), Australian Pelica[ (4, 4, 3), Silver Gull (2, l5?)
Sector 8: Dartor (l), cormorant (15, 3), Ausr.alian Pelic€n (2, l, l, 3), egret (1), Osprey (l flfng)' waders (80)'
Si lver Gull (10,4,6, I , l , 10,20, scattered)Sector 9: Ducks (5). Little Pied Cormorant (10), cormoraat (5, 5,3,400? Feeding), Australian Pelicsn (l' 2, l, l,
l, 4, l, 't
, 12, I ), €gret ( l, l, l, I ), Australian White lbis (6), whistling Kite ( l), Commcn Greenshank(10,6,30), small waders (30), Pied Oysterc€toher (3), Silver Gull (10, unsp€cified,60' 10' 5,4), tems( l ) .
Sectot l0: Bl^ck Swan (2, 2), Australian Shelduck (20, l0), ducks (2, 2), "flightless drcks steaming' (10; ground
suwey cn 18/10/96 .ovealed that these werc class II Aushalian Shelduck ducklings), Darter (l),
cormorant (1, 2, l0), Australiar Pelican (22, 4), egret (1, l, l, l, l, l), Yellow-billed Spo@bill (l), eget
or spoonbill (3), whistling Kite (1, 1), Silver Oull ( 1, 10.20,20, 10, 5, l0' lO, 1,20,25, t0, I )' Caspiao
Tem (l), tems (4).
The above hgures undoubtedly und€r-repressnt the number of species and birds present and should
therefore be considered minimum itgures only. Results of the ground surveys conducted during followtng
days are considered far supedor.
Wh€n conducted it 19'76-17, the general air surveys were to gain a broad overview of bird mrmbers and
distributions immediately prior to conducting ground suweys of areas where birds were usually most
numerous. The October 1996 survey r:vas considered rmsatisfactory in comparison with the 1976-77
survrJs. Two comments recorded at the time were "flew too high to see all ducks, grebe, coot" and ""not
picking the terns 1rc11". The aircraft hadtobeflownat a higher altitude due to an increase, since 1976-77,
in the number of housgs fringing the estuary. For this reason, and because the areas to be surveyed on the
growld had already beeir decided (they were to match the areas surveyed r\ 19'76-'7'l). general air sun'eys
\lere not conducted in subsequent survey months of 199G97.
Note that the single Osprey seen in sector 8 during the 14 October 1996 general air survey \\as thc only
bird of this species recorded during the entire lair and ground) October 1996 Peel-Harvev survev.
Ii
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II
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uoqod ur..sleu8,{c o8lel, moJ :urpr( dnlooC J€au..sFr€,{c pe.EqteeJ,, 99 :sleu€C dnJapuni leeu..pu8,{csse11q8rg,, suo era,r arct11) 96 ceq Z I uo 9 rolces tn qerddc dlue,reg 96 ceq I I uo t totces ur s]6u3,{c mod
'96 lco g l uo (9 ror.as) feg uqsnv ur spoorq t l In ster6,{c ,{u^\op-e8r€l -{lNour auo-,{lue^es 96lco S I uo (EZ rolcos) puelsl fueeJCJo Wiou qsjeur urqdures rn (stueurS€{ Ilsqs ou) punou Neu Adruo euo
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TYPE/AREA OF SIJRVEY J ocT 1996 DEC 1996 FEB 1997
General acrial M 14, JL
Pelicans aerial M I4, JL M 9 , J L M I7 , JL
Swans aerial (Iarvey otrly) M 14, JL M 9 , J L M 17, JL
Swans by boat (Peel only) M 14, GP M 9 (data missing) M I T A C
Sector 1 Tu 15, JL Su 15, JL Tu 18, JL
Sector 2a Tu 15, JL Tu 10, JL Tu 18, JL
.Sector 3 Tu 10, JL Tu 18, JL
Sector 2lt Tu 15, JL w 1r, JL W 19, JL
Sector 4 w 11, iL W 19, JL
Sector 9 W 19, AC
Inner S€ctor 6 (on foot) w 16, rL Th 12, JL Th 20, JL
Sector 7 Th 20, AC
Sector 8 Th 20, AC
Outer Sector 6 (by boat) Th I7, JL F I], JL F 21, JL
Sector 5 F 13 , JL Su 23, JL
Sector l0 F 18 , lL Sa 14, JL Sa 22, IL
APPENDX 11. 1996-97 Peel-Harvey Estuary waterbird survey program.
Cells in the above table cqntain the day and date on uhich each sector was surveyed and initials ofthe persorurel vrdo conducted each survey. AC=A.G. Clarke, GP=G.B. Pearson, JL=J.A.K. Lane.
Rows have been arranged in chronological order to show the standard sequence of survey.
See section 5.2 ofthis report for descriptions ofthe Types and Areas of survey.
NOTES
1
2.
3 .
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