Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus)

Conservation status

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Breeding season

The eastern form breeds in northern Siberia and migrates to Australia for winter. The supplied documents do not give exact arrival, departure or breeding months, so the Australian presence row uses the conventional winter period and does not assign unsupported peak months.

Months are January to December. The documents state winter presence but do not provide exact dates, so no peak month is assigned.

• Migration to Australia: The species migrates south to Australia for winter. Exact arrival and departure months are not stated; July to September is shown as the winter presence period without a peak assignment.
• Present in Australia: Australian birds overwinter mainly on the northern coast, especially in the north-west. They are occasionally recorded on the southern coast.
• Highest clearing risk: Clearing or disturbance of Australian feeding and roosting habitat is most likely to affect the species while it is present during the winter period. Exact peak months are not stated.

Identification

The Broad-billed Sandpiper is an uncommon, small, stint-like wader. Identification depends mainly on its distinctive bill, supported by its small size, head pattern and feeding behaviour.

Adults reach about 18 cm in length. In non-breeding plumage, the forehead, crown, hind-neck and sides of the neck are pale grey-brown with black streaking. The fore-neck and breast are pale grey-brown with fine dark streaks, while most of the underparts are white.

The head has a snipe-like pattern, with two pale stripes above the eyes and a dark central stripe.

Length: Up to 18 cm

Weight: Not reported in the supplied documents

Plumage described: Non-breeding plumage

Identification: Bill and similar species

The bill is the most useful identification feature. It is initially straight and tapering, then downturned and flattened, and remains broad at the tip.

The species can resemble a Curlew Sandpiper, but is smaller and has a shorter, distinctive heavy bill that is longer than the head. Confirm the bill shape before recording a bird as Broad-billed Sandpiper.

Identification: Field signs and behaviour

The species is usually encountered alone or with other waders, including Red-necked Stints and Curlew Sandpipers. It is only mildly gregarious when not breeding, and large flocks are seldom recorded.

It feeds actively by repeatedly jabbing its bill into soft wet mud. It may wade deeply enough to submerge its head and neck while probing the mud.

• Use the bill profile, size and head pattern together rather than relying on habitat alone.
• Record the bird's association with other waders and its feeding behaviour as supporting evidence.
• The supplied documents do not describe diagnostic tracks, scats, calls, nests, sloughs or eyeshine.

Distribution: Australian range

In Australia, the Broad-billed Sandpiper is mainly a coastal winter visitor. Records extend across several states and coastal bioregions, but the supplied documents identify the Hunter River estuary as the main New South Wales site and do not provide a national population estimate or trend.

The species overwinters on the northern Australian coast, particularly in the north-west. It is recorded occasionally on the southern coast, and there are few records from inland New South Wales.

The supplied distribution information records the species in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, as well as the Jervis Bay Territory and adjacent coastal waters.

• New South Wales: known or predicted in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and several ocean bioregions, including the Hunter, Cumberland, Illawarra, Jervis, Pittwater, Sydney Cataract and Wyong subregions.
• Queensland: known or predicted in South Eastern Queensland, including the Clarence Lowlands, Burringbar-Conondale Ranges and Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands, with restrictions in some areas to tidal-influenced water bodies within 15 km of the coast.
• South Australia and Victoria: recorded or predicted in the supplied national distribution information.
• Coastal waters: records or predictions include the Batemans Shelf, Hawkesbury Shelf, Manning Shelf, South Pacific Ocean, Tweed-Moreton, Twofold Shelf and Southern Australian Coastal Waters.

Distribution: Known strongholds and population information

The Hunter River estuary is identified as the main site for the species in New South Wales. Individuals may also reach the Shoalhaven estuary.

No population size, density, subpopulation estimate or population trend is given in the supplied documents. Large flocks are seldom recorded, and birds are often encountered alone or with other waders.

Main New South Wales site: Hunter River estuary

Other New South Wales site mentioned: Shoalhaven estuary

Population size: Not stated

Population trend: Not stated

Habitat: Wetland types

The Broad-billed Sandpiper uses sheltered coastal wetlands for feeding and roosting. The key habitat features described in the supplied documents are shallow or exposed wet sediment, tidal influence, shelter from wave action and nearby roosting banks.

Preferred habitat includes estuarine sandflats and mudflats, harbours, embayments, lagoons, saltmarshes and reefs. Individuals may also occur at sewage farms and shallow freshwater lagoons.

Roosting occurs on banks on sheltered sand, shell or shingle beaches.

Habitat: Structural features

Suitable feeding habitat has soft, wet mud that can be probed with the bill, including areas exposed or shallowly inundated by tides. Suitable roosting habitat includes undisturbed banks and sheltered beaches with sand, shell or shingle.

Saltmarsh and other shorebird habitat can be degraded by mangrove or weed incursion. Hydrological changes to estuaries and similar water bodies may modify or remove suitable habitat.

• Map intertidal mudflats, sandflats, saltmarsh, shallow lagoons and nearby roost banks before works.
• Include tidal connections and the hydrology of adjacent wetlands in impact assessment.
• Check both feeding areas and high-tide roosts, as they may be separate parts of the same site.

Habitat: Climate and elevation

The supplied documents describe coastal and shallow wetland associations but do not provide elevation limits, altitude ranges or quantitative climate limits. The species is a winter visitor in Australia and a breeding bird of Arctic tundra, peatlands and bogs in the northern hemisphere.

Foraging habitat: Food

Broad-billed Sandpipers forage in soft wet sediment and shallow water, mainly in sheltered coastal wetlands. Their feeding method allows them to use mud that is wet enough for repeated probing and, at times, deep wading.

The Australian profile lists insects, crustaceans, molluscs, worms and seeds as food. The species account also describes marine worms, molluscs, crustaceans, insects and other small invertebrates as food.

• Assess potential feeding habitat for soft-bodied invertebrates and other small prey rather than vegetation cover alone.
• Avoid treating a site as low value only because birds are not present during a single inspection, particularly outside the Australian winter period.

Foraging habitat: Feeding method and places

The species rapidly and repeatedly jabs its bill into soft wet mud. It also feeds while wading, sometimes submerging its head and neck to probe the underlying mud.

Feeding habitat includes estuarine mudflats and sandflats, harbours, embayments, lagoons, saltmarshes and reefs. Sewage farms and shallow freshwater lagoons are used occasionally.

Foraging range: No distance or home-range measure is provided in the supplied documents.

• Inspect mudflats and shallow wetlands across different tidal conditions where practicable.
• Record the extent and continuity of soft wet sediment, shallow water and adjacent roosting areas.
• Assess indirect effects such as changed tidal exchange, altered water levels, sediment contamination and increased disturbance.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

The eastern form breeds in northern Siberia, outside Australia. The supplied documents do not provide detailed breeding biology for clutch size, incubation, maturity or lifespan, so Australian project assessments should focus on non-breeding feeding and roosting habitat.

The species breeds in wet tundra, peatlands and bogs in the northern hemisphere. No breeding site details are supplied for Australian populations.

Breeding area: Northern Siberia for the eastern form

Breeding season: Not specified in the supplied documents

Clutch size: Not stated

Incubation: Not stated

Age at maturity: Not stated

Lifespan: Not stated

Breeding habitat: Habitat needed for breeding

The breeding habitat described for the species is wet tundra, peatlands and bogs. These habitats are outside the Australian development context covered by the supplied records.

In Australia, disturbance assessment should instead protect the coastal feeding and roosting sites used during the non-breeding period, because these sites support a migratory population.

Sheltering habitat: Roosts

The supplied documents describe roosting habitat but do not identify dens, hollows, burrows or nest structures used in Australia. Roost protection is therefore the main sheltering consideration for Australian works.

Broad-billed Sandpipers roost on banks on sheltered sand, shell or shingle beaches. Suitable roosts are associated with sheltered coastal wetlands, estuaries, lagoons, saltmarshes and other shorebird habitat.

The species is often alone or with other waders, and large flocks are seldom recorded. A small number of birds should not be taken to indicate that the roost has low value.

Roost substrate: Sheltered sand, shell or shingle beaches

Roost size: Not stated

• Search for roosting birds on banks, beaches and other elevated margins around feeding wetlands.
• Maintain quiet separation between works and known or potential roosts, particularly where access, lighting, machinery or people could repeatedly flush birds.
• Inspect nearby sand, shell and shingle banks as well as the main mudflat before works begin.

Sheltering habitat: Other shelter features

No species-specific information is supplied on hollows, burrows, dens, ground nests, ground-cover requirements, tracks, scats or other shelter signs. The species account identifies wet tundra, peatlands and bogs as breeding habitats but does not describe nest structure.

Threats: Clearing and development

For Australian projects, the main risks are disturbance or loss of coastal feeding and roosting habitat, altered estuarine hydrology and degradation of wetland condition. Risks can arise from works within habitat and from activities that disturb birds using nearby roosts.

Property development in or near key habitat areas can degrade habitat. Coastal habitats are also affected by clearing for residential, agricultural and tourism development.

Habitat fragmentation and loss can reduce the connection between feeding wetlands, roost banks and other ecological resources used by migratory shorebirds.

• Search proposed clearing areas and adjoining wetlands for Broad-billed Sandpipers and other shorebirds.
• Map feeding mudflats, sandflats, saltmarsh and nearby roosts before construction or infrastructure works.
• Assess indirect effects from access tracks, lighting, noise, increased people, machinery and changed drainage.

Threats: Disturbance and predators

Recreational disturbance can be caused by off-road driving, camping, beach use, dogs, drones, fishing, jet skis and boating. Foxes can disturb and prey on roosting shorebirds, causing direct mortality, stress and loss of condition.

Repeated disturbance may reduce the time available for feeding and resting, even where the wetland itself remains physically intact.

• Control access to roost banks during works and prevent dogs, vehicles and recreational activity from entering shorebird habitat.
• Keep plant, vehicle and pedestrian routes away from roosting beaches and sheltered banks where practicable.
• Include fox management where foxes are present near important roosts.

Threats: Hydrology, habitat condition and pollution

Hydrological changes to estuaries and similar water bodies may modify or remove suitable habitat. Beach erosion, storm damage, sea level rise, mangrove incursion and weed incursion can degrade feeding and roosting areas.

Pollution and contamination can affect feeding habitat and food resources. Marine debris can entangle shorebirds or be ingested, and microplastics can cause loss of condition and mortality.

• Maintain natural estuarine hydrological regimes where practicable.
• Assess changes to tidal exchange, water levels, sediment movement and wetland inundation caused by the project.
• Prevent sediment, pollutants, rubbish and construction debris from entering mudflats, lagoons and estuaries.

Threats: Other documented risks

The supplied profile identifies outbreaks of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza in New South Wales shorebird populations as a disease risk. It also identifies collision with wind turbines and coastal energy infrastructure as a source of mortality.

• Apply current disease and wildlife handling procedures when sick or dead shorebirds are found.
• Assess collision risk where wind turbines or other coastal energy infrastructure are proposed near shorebird habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Confirm suitable habitat and records

Broad-billed Sandpipers use sheltered coastal and estuarine habitats, including sandflats, mudflats, saltmarshes, lagoons, harbours and shallow wetlands. Survey effort should focus on detecting birds while they feed or roost, particularly during the Australian overwintering period.

Map estuarine sandflats and mudflats, sheltered beaches, saltmarshes, lagoons, reefs, shallow freshwater wetlands and known roost banks before field work.

Check recent records and the indicative distribution, with particular attention to the Hunter River estuary, Shoalhaven estuary and other coastal sites in the project area.

Treat the NSW distribution map as indicative because the source states that mapped areas may contain errors, omissions or restrictions within a subregion.

Maximum body length: 18 cm

Typical Australian use: Overwintering habitat on northern coastal areas, especially north western Australia

• Record habitat condition, tidal influence, available soft mud, roosting banks, mangrove cover, weeds, livestock access and evidence of recreational disturbance.
• Include suitable habitat within 15 km of the coast where the relevant distribution record identifies tidal influenced water bodies as the geographic restriction.

Survey methodology: 2. Search feeding and roosting habitat

Conduct systematic searches of exposed soft mud, sandflats, saltmarsh edges, shallow lagoons and sheltered beaches during suitable daylight conditions.

Search roost banks on sheltered sand, shell or shingle beaches as well as feeding areas.

Use binoculars or a telescope and keep observers far enough from roosting birds to avoid flushing them.

Foraging behaviour: Rapidly and repeatedly jabs the bill into soft wet mud, and may submerge the head and neck while probing

Typical group size: Often alone; large flocks are seldom recorded

• Walk or scan the full accessible edge of each suitable habitat unit and record the area searched, start and finish times, tide stage, weather, observer effort and visibility.
• Inspect feeding birds for the species' distinctive bill, which is longer than the head, initially straight and tapering, then downturned, flattened and broad at the tip.
• Record birds found alone or with Red-necked Stints and Curlew Sandpipers, because this species is only mildly gregarious and is often encountered singly or with other waders.

Survey methodology: 3. Repeat observations across site conditions

Repeat searches when feeding mud is exposed and when roost sites are in use, because the species uses different parts of the same estuary for feeding and roosting.

Give priority to surveys during the period when migratory birds overwinter in Australia.

Where access or safety prevents a close approach, survey from a fixed observation point and use optical equipment rather than entering the roost.

Survey timing specified in the supplied documents: The documents identify Australian overwintering use but do not specify months

Prescribed survey effort: No nights, hours, transect lengths, areas or trap effort are specified in the supplied documents

• Do not treat one negative search as proof that the species is absent from suitable habitat.
• Record all shorebirds observed, including identification features, numbers, behaviour, location, tide stage and whether birds were feeding, roosting or disturbed.
• Stop or move the survey if observer presence causes repeated flight, movement away from feeding habitat or abandonment of a roost.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

• Prepare a site specific survey design because the supplied profile does not prescribe a fixed number of visits, transect length, observation hours or survey area.
• Cover every suitable feeding and roosting habitat unit that may be cleared, inundated, isolated or disturbed by the project.
• Document survey dates, observers, equipment, weather, tide stage, visibility, areas searched, search duration, access constraints and all detections.
• Submit records and negative survey results to the relevant state wildlife database or threatened species reporting system.
• Report any detection promptly to the project environmental officer and review the need for state approval, avoidance measures and referral advice.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Plan the project around the species' use of sheltered coastal wetlands and roost sites. Avoid disturbing occupied feeding and roosting areas wherever practicable.

• Retain estuarine mudflats, sandflats, saltmarshes, shallow lagoons, sheltered beaches and known roost banks.
• Retain access between feeding areas, high tide roosts and adjacent wetland habitat.
• Avoid new barriers, lighting, vehicle access and recreational activity near roosts and feeding areas.
• Keep domestic livestock, dogs, drones, off road vehicles, boats and other disturbance sources away from occupied habitat.
• Prevent changes to estuary hydrology that could remove or degrade suitable feeding and roosting areas.

Before habitat disturbance: Check approvals and plan the works

• Check the threatened species legislation and permit requirements in the state or territory where the work will occur.
• For NSW projects, treat the species as Vulnerable and consult the relevant NSW threatened species authority before works that may affect known or potential habitat.
• The supplied profile states that the species is not listed under the EPBC Act, but check the current Commonwealth list and all other project triggers before deciding that referral is unnecessary.
• Schedule clearing and construction to avoid the period when birds are present and overwintering, where the project program allows.
• Stage works so that feeding areas, roosts and movement routes remain available until replacement or retained habitat is secured.
• Include a shorebird procedure in the fauna management plan, including survey results, exclusion zones, stop work triggers, contact details and reporting requirements.

Before habitat disturbance: Prepare the site

• Complete a pre clearance survey of all coastal and wetland habitat that may be disturbed.
• Mark retained mudflats, saltmarsh, shallow water, roost banks and access routes on construction drawings and on the ground.
• Install exclusion fencing around retained habitat where it will prevent entry by machinery, vehicles, dogs or workers.
• Place fencing far enough from roosts and feeding areas to prevent disturbance, with the distance set by the fauna ecologist after considering visibility, noise and the work method.
• Brief all workers that the species is a small migratory shorebird with a distinctive broad tipped bill and that individuals may be difficult to detect among other waders.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls

Keep machinery, people and domestic animals out of retained wetland habitat. A fauna spotter catcher must be able to stop work quickly when a bird or occupied habitat is found.

• Inspect exclusion fencing, signs and access controls before work starts each day.
• Check retained feeding and roosting areas for birds before moving machinery, pumping water, changing drainage or starting noisy activities.
• Keep vehicles on approved access tracks and prevent mud, sediment, fuel, concrete washout, rubbish and other pollutants from entering wetlands.
• Prevent workers, pets, drones and machinery from entering occupied or retained shorebird habitat.
• Maintain natural water movement and do not block, drain or divert estuarine or shallow wetland areas without approval.

During habitat disturbance: Spotter catcher and machinery procedure

• Position the fauna spotter catcher where the active work area and adjacent wetland can be viewed safely.
• Require the spotter catcher to have direct communication with the plant operator and authority to call an immediate stop.
• Move machinery only after the spotter catcher has checked the work area and confirmed that no bird is within the approved exclusion zone.
• Use binoculars or a telescope to inspect mudflats, saltmarsh edges, shallow water and roost banks before entering or disturbing them.
• Do not chase, herd or flush a bird to clear the work area.

During habitat disturbance: If a bird is found

• Stop the activity that may disturb or injure the bird and establish a quiet exclusion area.
• Do not capture or handle the bird unless the person is authorised, trained and satisfied that handling is necessary for its welfare or legal compliance.
• Allow an apparently healthy bird to move away naturally towards nearby retained habitat, without chasing or blocking it.
• If relocation is necessary, use only nearby suitable retained habitat selected by the fauna ecologist, with access to shallow wet mud and a secure roost site.
• Take an injured or sick bird to an appropriately qualified veterinarian or registered wildlife carer through the approved wildlife rescue pathway.
• Record the species, location, condition, action taken, people involved and outcome, and notify the project environmental officer.

During habitat disturbance: Stop work and records

• Stop work if a Broad-billed Sandpiper is found inside the work area, if birds repeatedly flush from a roost, or if works are causing birds to abandon feeding or roosting habitat.
• Stop work if exclusion fencing fails, machinery enters retained habitat, sediment or pollution reaches a wetland, or hydrology changes unexpectedly.
• Obtain advice from the fauna ecologist and relevant regulator before restarting work after a stop work event.
• Maintain daily records of inspections, bird observations, disturbance events, exclusions, injuries, releases, complaints and corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: Post clearance checks

Complete the site checks before demobilising and continue to protect retained habitat after construction. The main post work risks are habitat degradation, altered water movement, disturbance and loss of roosting areas.

• Inspect the disturbed area and adjacent retained wetlands for injured birds, trapped fauna, loose fencing, rubbish, pollution, erosion and blocked drainage.
• Check that all temporary access tracks, stockpiles and work compounds are outside retained feeding and roosting habitat or have been removed and rehabilitated.
• Confirm that roost banks, mudflats, saltmarsh and shallow water remain accessible and have not been covered, compacted or isolated.
• Repeat shorebird searches after major works and after restoration to confirm whether the species is using retained or restored habitat.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and controls

• Maintain fencing, signs, access restrictions and pollution controls while birds are using retained habitat.
• Monitor water levels, tidal connections, sediment movement, mangrove incursion, weed growth, erosion and roost condition.
• Record Broad-billed Sandpiper observations and submit them to the relevant state wildlife database.
• Escalate declining habitat condition, repeated disturbance or new mortality to the project environmental officer and relevant authority.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and compliance

• Apply any approval conditions, offset requirements or threatened species management measures attached to the project.
• Do not use an offset as a substitute for retaining known or potential feeding and roosting habitat where avoidance is practicable.
• Keep survey, fauna handling, disturbance, rehabilitation and monitoring records with the project environmental compliance file.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore wetland structure

Rehabilitation should restore sheltered wetland function, soft feeding substrate and secure roosting areas. Broad-billed Sandpipers need accessible shallow wetlands and intertidal habitat rather than dense terrestrial vegetation.

• Reinstate tidal or natural water movement where it has been altered by temporary works, subject to engineering and approval requirements.
• Restore shallow water, exposed soft mud, sandflats, saltmarsh edges and sheltered roost banks in proportions suited to the original site.
• Use local native wetland and saltmarsh plant species where planting is required, while retaining open mud and shallow water needed for probing and wading.
• Stabilise eroding banks without covering feeding mud or removing access to roosting areas.

Rehabilitation actions: Control habitat degradation

• Remove weeds that encroach on shorebird feeding or roosting habitat using methods that do not contaminate mudflats or wetlands.
• Prevent mangrove incursion from removing suitable open shorebird habitat where management is permitted and supported by the relevant authority.
• Exclude domestic livestock from recovering mudflats, saltmarsh and roost banks where grazing or trampling is a risk.
• Control foxes and other predators near roosts through an approved pest management program.
• Remove marine debris and prevent microplastic, rubbish, fuel and other contamination from entering feeding habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: Protect restored habitat

• Retain low disturbance access routes and prevent vehicles, dogs, drones, camping and recreational activity from entering restored roosts and feeding areas.
• Do not install nest boxes, logs or rocks as a substitute for the intertidal mud, shallow water and sheltered roost habitat used by this species.
• Use fire management that protects saltmarsh, wetland edges and roost vegetation from inappropriate burning, with the method approved for the local habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitor success

• Monitor restored areas for water movement, exposed soft mud, shallow water, roost availability, weed cover, mangrove spread, erosion, predator activity and human disturbance.
• Undertake repeat shorebird searches during the Australian overwintering period and record Broad-billed Sandpiper use of feeding and roosting areas.
• Set success measures before works start, including retention or return of suitable feeding mud, secure roosting banks, functioning hydrology, controlled weeds and no project related disturbance or mortality.
• Adjust rehabilitation and access controls if monitoring shows that birds are absent from suitable habitat, repeatedly disturbed or losing access to feeding and roosting areas.

Sources

• Broad-billed Sandpiper - profile, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: https://threatenedspecies.bionet.nsw.gov.au/profile?id=10478
• Broad-billed Sandpiper, CAF Digital Hub, cafnetwork.org: https://cafnetwork.org/species/broad-billed-sandpiper