Justification This species is classified as Near Threatened because it has a small population, which is suspected to be declining. It this decline is confirmed and estimated, the species may qualify for a higher threat category.

Family/Sub-family Charadriidae

Species name author Gmelin, 1789

Taxonomic source(s) Christidis and Boles (1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Synonyms Charadrius rubricollis BirdLife International (2000), Charadrius rubricollis Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Charadrius rubricollis Collar et al. (1994), Charadrius rubricollis Collar and Andrew (1988)

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

7,000

decreasing

3,000,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Thinornis rubricollis is endemic to Australia and is found in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland (vagrant), Tasmania and nearby islands. Tasmania and Western Australia have been considered the strongholds of this species, with the largest population probably being that on the lakes and saltpans of south-west Western Australia¹¹. The eastern subspecies rubricollis is restricted to the coastline and numbers 4,500 birds⁷. Its range has contracted in Queensland and New South Wales, and numbers are believed to be declining. The analysis of surveys in Victoria from 1980 to 1992 suggests an overall decline in the population, despite the limitations of the data¹². Between 1982 and 1998, numbers on Phillip Island, Victoria, declined significantly⁸. These declines are probably driven by low reproductive success^1,8. In contrast, a survey of Tasmanian beaches in October 1992 suggested that the species had not experienced any negative impacts over the proceeding ten years⁹. The western subspecies tregellasi numbers 6,000 birds⁷. This population may be stable, although a biased sex ratio may occur there².

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: The species primarily inhabits sandy, ocean beaches, with the highest densities on beaches with large amounts of beach-washed seaweed, that are backed by extensive open dunes¹¹. In Western Australia the species also inhabits inland and coastal salt lakes¹¹. In eastern Australia, it is an opportunistic feeder and takes a range of invertebrates; however, information is lacking on its diet and feeding habits in Western Australia¹¹. The species shows a preference for nesting on flat beaches and stony terraces⁸ and primary sand dunes^8,11. It lays 1-3 eggs (usually 3)^8,11. Clutches are layed from August to February¹¹ or March⁸. Most on Phillip Island are layed from December to February, with the peak in January⁸.

Threats The analysis of annual surveys in Victoria showed that young birds only accounted for a small proportion of those counted, suggesting that the greatest threat to this species is low breeding success and thus low recruitment¹². Other studies have shown that the species is sensitive to factors that impact on its breeding. The primary causes of nesting failure are the crushing of nests and eggs by off-road vehicles and trampling by livestock^4,5,8,11, disturbance by people and their dogs⁸, flooding by spring tides, predation¹¹, and ill-considered beach erosion management^4,5. Unfortunately, the species's breeding season coincides with the peak in the summer holiday season, when human presence on beaches is at its highest^8,11. Human disturbance increases the likelihood of predation and thermal stress^1,11. On the mainland, predation by foxes, cats and dogs is considered the most significant threat. The introduction of foxes to Tasmania may threaten the population in this stronghold and introduced predators may now be a problem on Kangaroo Island, another refuge for the species¹³. Around human settlements, artificially high numbers of Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae and Raven Corvus spp. are responsible for an increasing number of predation events. However, it is not known exactly what effect these mammalian and avian predators have had on the species's breeding success overall¹¹. Ongoing development is opening up areas of coastline to human activities and further developments¹³. Oil-spills represent an additional threat³. Birds remain relatively secure on islands; however, on Phillip Island, declines between 1982 and 1998 suggest that breeding success was too low to sustain the local population, probably due to anthropogenic causes of nest failure⁸. In contrast to these findings, a comparison of surveys on Tasmanian beaches in 1982 and 1992 suggested that population size had not decreased⁹, despite the threats of human disturbance, off-road vehicles and livestock^9,10, although there could be a time lag in their effects¹³. The range contraction of this subspecies has coincided with the expansion in range of Beach Thick-knee Burhinus neglectus over part of the same area, although a link has not been established. The species's coastal habitats are threatened with degradation by marram grass Ammophila arenaria and other introduced coastal weeds¹³. The population in Western Australia is considered to be in less danger because, in addition to beaches, it breeds on inland and coastal salt lakes where human disturbance events are rare¹¹, especially in remote areas. Predation by foxes is probably the main threat in Western Australia, but it is not known whether this constrains the population. Pollution of lakes may also affect the western population¹³.

Conservation measures underway Significant ongoing research is being carried out into the management of this species^5,6. There are already regular surveys of this species, and detailed studies into its breeding biology have been ongoing. Effective beach-sharing protocols have been developed. Cages have been used successfully to protect nests, although the risk of adult mortality may mean that the idea is abandoned¹³. An Action Statement has been prepared for its conservation in Victoria. A draft Recovery Plan has been prepared for New South Wales and South Australia. Baiting of foxes in some areas of Western Australia is reducing predation.

Conservation measures proposed Adequately fence livestock from breeding beaches⁸. Prohibit dogs from all areas used by the species⁸. Determine the local impacts of mammalian predators and control them where necessary^8,11. Raise public awareness of the species's ecology and conservation needs⁸. Manage, and in some cases discourage, the use of beaches for human recreation^8,11. Restrict access by off-road vehicles to important stretches of beach, perhaps with bans in the breeding season¹¹. Actively police beaches with high densities of birds and frequent illegal use of off-road vehicles¹¹. Continue to research and monitor breeding success^8,11. Assess movements, survival, recruitment and age of first breeding through ringing studies^8,11,12. Carry out population monitoring across its range^8,9,11,12 and use this information to develop management plans^9,11. Establish a plan of action for oil spillages¹¹. Implement beach-sharing protocols on frequently used beaches. Manage refuse near beachside towns to reduce numbers of gull and raven species. Advocate for suitable coastal planning and erosion control activities¹³.

References Garnett and Crowley (2000). 1. Weston (2000). 2. Weston et al. (in press). 3. Weston (2003). 4. Weston and Morrow (2000). 5. Weston (2001). 6. Dodge et al. (2003). 7. S. T. Garnett and G. M. Crowley in litt. (2000). 8. Baird and Dann (2003). 9. Holdsworth and Park (1993). 10. Schulz (1993). 11. Schulz and Bamford (1987). 12. Weston (1993). 13. M. A. Weston in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Australian Govt - Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 - Recovery Outline for Thinornis rubricollis rubricollis

Australian Govt - Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 - Recovery Outline for Thinornis rubricollis tregellasi

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Stephen Garnett (Birds Australia), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Gay Crowley, Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Michael A. Weston (Deakin University)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Thinornis rubricollis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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