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Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura)

The Pin-tailed Snipe is a migratory wetland bird that visits Australia during the northern hemisphere winter, mainly using vegetated freshwater wetlands. It is uncommon and poorly known in Australia, but matters on works sites because wetland clearing, disturbance, lighting, noise and altered water conditions can affect individuals and habitat protected under the EPBC Act.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed under the Bonn Convention, CAMBA, JAMBA and ROKAMBA. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Special least concern. A least concern bird covered by an international migratory bird agreement. Tampering with its breeding place needs a high risk species management program.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Specially protected (migratory).

Migration and breeding season

The Pin-tailed Snipe is a non-breeding migrant to Australia. It usually occurs from August to March or April, with records and suitable habitat extending across northern and coastal Australia, although its distribution is poorly known and varies between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Breeds overseas in central Siberia and Mongolia. It does not normally breed in Australia.

Breeding season: Not recorded for the Pin-tailed Snipe. Breeding occurs during the northern hemisphere summer.

Clutch size: Not recorded.

Incubation: Not recorded.

Fledging: Not recorded.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Australian roost and shelter sites: Shallow freshwater swamps, ponds and lakes with grass, sedge or other vegetation. Dense rushes and grasses around freshwater and brackish water margins may also provide shelter.

Timing can vary with rainfall, wetland conditions and regional movements, so site surveys should confirm presence before clearing, particularly between October and March.

  • Breeding overseas, central Siberia and Mongolia: The species breeds in northern Eurasia, but species specific breeding months are not documented.
  • Southward arrival in Australia: Arrival may begin from August, with birds moving into suitable freshwater wetlands and other wetland habitats.
  • Non-breeding presence in Australia: The main Australian period is August to March or April, with peak management attention generally needed from October to March.
  • Northward departure from Australia: Most birds are expected to leave from late summer into autumn, although departure timing can vary between sites and years.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing and construction pose the greatest risk where they remove freshwater wetland habitat or disturb feeding and roosting concentrations during the Australian non-breeding period.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Pin-tailed Snipe is a small migratory wader that can be difficult to detect in wetland vegetation. Identification should be confirmed by an experienced birder, especially where Common Snipe or other Gallinago species may occur.

The species has the general shape of a snipe, with a long bill, rounded body and cryptic brown plumage. Detailed field measurements and diagnostic plumage features should be checked against a current field guide.

It is usually associated with wet ground and cover rather than open beaches or exposed intertidal mudflats.

Body size: Small to medium wader. No field measurement should be assumed without a confirmed identification.

Weight: No reliable site-use weight is available for field assessment.

  • Look for a long-billed wader moving through shallow water, mud and dense grass or sedge.
  • Expect it to remain low in vegetation and to be difficult to see until it moves.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Species-specific call information is not sufficiently established for routine site work. Do not rely on calls alone for identification.

Compare carefully with other snipe and long-billed wetland birds. Record photographs, behaviour, habitat and vocalisations where possible.

  • Use more than one identification feature.
  • Seek confirmation from a suitably experienced ornithologist where the record could affect clearing or referral decisions.

Identification: Field signs

There are no dependable Pin-tailed Snipe-specific signs such as distinctive droppings, whitewash, odour or nests for routine construction-site searches.

A flush from dense wetland cover, repeated use of the same wet area, or a long-billed wader feeding along muddy margins should be recorded and investigated.

  • Record the exact location and habitat.
  • Note whether the bird was feeding, roosting, moving through or flushed by people or machinery.
  • Photograph the habitat and any bird where this can be done without causing further disturbance.

Distribution: Australian range

The Pin-tailed Snipe breeds in central Siberia and Mongolia and migrates south through Asia and Oceania. Its distribution in Australia is not well known, so an absence of records should not be treated as proof that suitable habitat is unused.

The species is recorded mainly in northern Australia and along parts of the coast. Confirmed records include the Top End, the Pilbara, the Kimberley and south-west Western Australia, with records also from New South Wales.

For project screening, mapped occurrence includes the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. It may also occur outside these mapped areas.

  • Northern Territory, particularly the Top End.
  • Western Australia, including the Kimberley, Pilbara and south-west.
  • Queensland and other coastal parts of Australia.
  • New South Wales records are also known.

Distribution: Where it may occur on a project

Search wetland habitat within the project footprint and in connected wetland areas that could be affected by drainage, filling, access tracks, noise or lighting.

Consider sites beyond the immediate clearing area where birds may move between feeding and roosting locations.

  • Freshwater swamps, ponds and lakes.
  • Streams, marshland and wet grass or sedge margins.
  • Claypans and other open wetlands after rainfall.

Distribution: Overseas range

The breeding range is in central Siberia and Mongolia. During the non-breeding season, the species moves south through Asia and Oceania, including Australia.

Breeding area: Central Siberia and Mongolia.

Non-breeding area: Southern Asia and Oceania, including Australia.

Habitat: Wetland features

Look for the Pin-tailed Snipe in freshwater wetlands with shallow water, soft muddy margins and vegetation cover. It is not normally associated with saline or intertidal wetlands, although nearby wetland complexes may still be relevant to movement and refuge.

Suitable sites include shallow freshwater swamps, ponds and lakes. The species may also use streams, marshland and wet depressions with muddy edges.

Habitat can be temporary. A claypan or grassed depression may become suitable after rainfall even if it is dry during earlier inspections.

  • Shallow water and soft mud.
  • Wet depressions and floodplain drainage lines.
  • Freshwater margins with emergent grass, sedge or rushes.
  • Seasonally inundated claypans and open wetlands.

Habitat: Vegetation and cover

Preferred wetlands may have sparse to dense grass, sedge or other emergent vegetation. Dense cover can provide feeding, shelter and concealment.

Inspect both the wetland edge and slightly drier vegetation nearby. Birds may move between open mud and thicker cover during the day.

  • Grass and sedge beds.
  • Dense rushes around fresh and brackish water margins.
  • Low wetland vegetation around ponds and shallow lakes.
  • Vegetated floodplain depressions.

Habitat: Habitat checks before clearing

Walk the full wetland margin where safe to do so. Check for connected wet areas, shallow pools, muddy edges and sheltered vegetation that may not be visible from an access track.

Map habitat that could be lost or isolated by filling, drainage, roads, bunds, sediment controls or altered surface water flows.

  • Mark wetland boundaries and areas of emergent vegetation.
  • Record water depth, recent inundation and ground conditions.
  • Identify nearby cover that could function as a refuge or roost.
  • Check whether works could change water quality or the duration of inundation.

Foraging habitat: Feeding places

The Pin-tailed Snipe forages along muddy margins of freshwater wetlands, including swamps, streams, marshland and flooded fields. Its diet is not well described for Australian sites, so retain the wetland structure and invertebrate resources on which wetland waders generally depend.

Search shallow water and exposed mud beside freshwater wetlands. Birds may feed along the edge of flooded grass, sedge beds and marshy depressions.

Foraging areas may change as water levels rise and fall. A site that is unsuitable at one visit may become productive after rain or inundation.

  • Muddy margins of swamps, ponds and lakes.
  • Shallow flooded fields and marshland.
  • Stream edges and wet depressions.
  • Open claypans when water and soft substrate are present.

Foraging habitat: Food resources

The species feeds in wetland substrates. As with other migratory shorebirds, available invertebrates are likely to be influenced by water levels, sediment condition and vegetation.

Avoid assuming that a dry or sparsely vegetated wetland has no value. Temporary wetlands can become productive after rainfall.

Diet: Wetland invertebrates are expected to form part of the diet, but species-specific prey information is limited.

  • Protect muddy feeding margins from compaction.
  • Prevent sediment, oil, chemicals and concrete washout entering wetlands.
  • Avoid rapid drainage or infilling that removes shallow feeding habitat.

Foraging habitat: Surveying feeding areas

Foraging surveys should be undertaken close to low tide where tidal influence is relevant, within two hours either side of low tide. For freshwater sites, also consider recent rainfall, water levels and the stage of inundation.

Record the number of birds, feeding locations, behaviour, water conditions and any disturbance from vehicles, people, dogs or machinery.

  • Survey the whole contiguous wetland area that may be used by the same population.
  • Use suitable vantage points and avoid walking through feeding areas.
  • Do not survey during high rainfall, strong winds or active disturbance that is causing birds to move.

Breeding habitat: Breeding range

The Pin-tailed Snipe breeds in central Siberia and Mongolia and is not known to breed in Australia. Australian works should therefore focus on protecting non-breeding habitat, feeding areas and refuge sites.

Breeding occurs in the northern hemisphere, including central Siberia and Mongolia. Australian wetlands are used during the non-breeding period.

No Australian nests, breeding colonies or breeding territories should be assumed for this species.

Breeding location: Central Siberia and Mongolia.

Australian breeding status: A non-breeding migrant in Australia.

Breeding habitat: What to protect in Australia

Although breeding does not occur here, habitat loss during the Australian non-breeding period can reduce feeding opportunities and energy stores before migration.

Retain connected freshwater wetlands, wetland margins and nearby sheltered areas where birds can rest or avoid disturbance.

  • Do not clear wetland vegetation unless the impact has been assessed.
  • Maintain surface water connections where practicable.
  • Avoid isolating small wetlands from the wider wetland complex.

Sheltering habitat: Roost and refuge features

The Pin-tailed Snipe may shelter or roost in wetland vegetation, particularly dense grass, sedge and rushes around freshwater margins. Roost locations can be difficult to detect and may change with water levels, weather and disturbance.

Inspect dense vegetation around shallow freshwater wetlands, ponds, swamps and marshes. Sheltered edges may be used when open feeding areas are exposed or disturbed.

Wetland complexes can provide alternative sites during high water, bad weather or periods of human activity.

  • Dense grass, sedge and rush cover.
  • Vegetated margins of ponds, lakes and swamps.
  • Sheltered depressions and wetland edges.
  • Nearby freshwater wetlands connected by open ground or drainage lines.

Sheltering habitat: High tide and weather considerations

Although this species is generally associated with freshwater habitat, migratory shorebirds can move between feeding and roosting sites as conditions change. Survey nearby habitat rather than treating the active feeding area as the whole site.

High-tide roost surveys should be completed within two hours either side of high tide where tidal influence applies. Check sheltered freshwater areas during poor weather and after disturbance.

  • Look for birds moving from exposed feeding areas into cover.
  • Record potential nocturnal roosting areas.
  • Map refuge habitat separately from feeding habitat.

Sheltering habitat: Managing roost disturbance

Keep people, dogs, vehicles and machinery away from known or suspected roosts. Use barriers, screens and clear access controls where a work area is close to wetland habitat.

Direct lights onto the work area and away from wetland margins. Keep lights static and avoid flicker and unnecessary light spill.

  • Use a practical roost buffer based on site observations and advice from a qualified ecologist.
  • Schedule noisy work away from high-tide roosting periods where practicable.
  • Keep construction activities within the approved footprint.

Migration and seasonal presence: Arrival, departure and passage

The Pin-tailed Snipe is a regular, uncommon summer migrant to Australia. Treat August to April as the main period when birds may be present, with some general migratory shorebird guidance extending presence into May.

Birds generally arrive from August as they move south from breeding areas in Siberia and Mongolia. Most Australian use occurs through spring and summer.

Departure is generally from March to April, although individual migratory shorebirds can remain later. Spring arrival and autumn departure should be treated as movement periods, not as times when all birds will be absent.

Migration pattern: Northern hemisphere breeding migrant using Australia during the non-breeding season.

Australian timing: Generally August to March, with records and broader guidance extending to April or May.

  • Arrival period: from August.
  • Main Australian presence: August to March.
  • Departure period: March to April.
  • Use a precautionary survey window that can extend to May where habitat is suitable.

Migration and seasonal presence: Important habitat

Important habitat can include a wetland or connected site complex used for feeding, roosting, refuge or movement. Small freshwater wetlands may matter where they provide scarce habitat or link larger wetland areas.

For migratory shorebird assessments, a site may be important if it supports at least 0.1 percent of the flyway population of one species, at least 2,000 migratory shorebirds, or at least 15 migratory shorebird species.

  • Assess connected wetland habitat, not only the clearing footprint.
  • Include feeding areas, high-tide roosts, freshwater refuges and nearby movement corridors.
  • Consider ephemeral wetlands after rainfall and sites used during poor weather.

Migration and seasonal presence: Survey timing and effort

Survey during the main non-breeding period, roughly October to March, and include both high-tide roosts and low-tide or low-water feeding areas where relevant. A minimum of four roost surveys and four foraging surveys is general guidance for migratory shorebird assessments, with an additional survey during the northern hemisphere breeding season to detect birds that remain in Australia.

For large sites or sites where larger numbers are expected, use at least two observers. Record counts, species, behaviour, habitat, tide or water level, weather and disturbance.

  • Complete roost surveys within two hours either side of high tide.
  • Complete foraging surveys within two hours either side of low tide.
  • Avoid high rainfall, strong winds and periods when survey activity is disturbing birds.
  • Record potential nocturnal roosts and all sources of human disturbance.

Migration and seasonal presence: Legal protection

The Pin-tailed Snipe is listed as migratory under the EPBC Act through the Bonn Convention, CAMBA, JAMBA and ROKAMBA. A proposed action that may significantly affect the species or its important habitat may require referral under the EPBC Act.

In Queensland, least concern birds covered by JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA or the Bonn Convention are special least concern animals. Tampering with their breeding places requires a high risk species management program, although the Pin-tailed Snipe is not known to breed in Australia.

Conservation status: Least concern in Australia, and listed as migratory under the EPBC Act.

Relevant guidance: EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.21 and the 2017 industry guidelines for avoiding, assessing and mitigating impacts on EPBC listed migratory shorebirds.

Threats: Habitat loss and hydrological change

Most risks on works sites arise from loss or degradation of freshwater wetland habitat and disturbance of feeding or roosting birds. Manage the whole wetland system, including connected areas outside the immediate clearing footprint.

Clearing, filling, draining, inundation and altered surface water flows can remove shallow wetlands, muddy margins and vegetation cover. Roads, bunds and hardstands can fragment habitat or change how long a wetland remains flooded.

Select project layouts that avoid important habitat and retain wetland connections where practicable.

  • Avoid clearing shallow freshwater swamps, ponds, lakes and wetland margins.
  • Prevent unnecessary drainage and changes to inflow or outflow.
  • Stage works so that feeding and refuge habitat remains available.

Threats: Pollution and habitat degradation

Sediment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, concrete washout, litter, weeds and acid sulfate soil runoff can reduce wetland quality and prey availability. Pollution can also cause direct injury or mortality.

Use sediment and erosion controls, spill prevention and treatment measures before discharge.

  • Keep fuels, chemicals and machinery away from wetland edges.
  • Inspect controls after rainfall and repair failures promptly.
  • Prevent contaminated water from entering freshwater wetlands.

Threats: Disturbance from people and machinery

Vehicles, personnel, dogs, four-wheel-driving, loud noise and vibration can flush birds from feeding and roosting areas. Repeated disturbance can reduce the value of a site even where vegetation remains.

Use exclusion zones, barriers and clear access routes. Plan noisy work for mid-tide where tidal habitat is involved, and avoid peak roosting and feeding periods where practicable.

  • Restrict vehicles and personnel to designated tracks and work areas.
  • Keep dogs and recreational activities away from wetland habitat.
  • Use screens or barriers to reduce line-of-sight disturbance.
  • Aim to keep noise-generating work below 100 dB(A) where the project guidance applies.

Threats: Lighting, direct mortality and timing

Artificial light can reduce the suitability of roosts and feeding areas. Birds may also be exposed to collision risks, toxic substances, oil spills and feral predators.

Where practicable, schedule major construction activity from May to August, when most migratory shorebirds are not present. Confirm the timing against local records and site conditions before relying on this measure.

  • Shield and direct lights onto work areas.
  • Avoid light spill onto wetlands and use static, non-flickering lights.
  • Maintain spill response equipment and procedures.
  • Monitor bird use and stop or modify work if unexpected concentrations occur.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Pin-tailed Snipe is an uncommon, poorly known non-breeding migrant in Australia. It is most likely to be detected in vegetated freshwater wetlands, including shallow swamps, ponds, lakes, marshes, flooded fields, streams and claypans, rather than saline or intertidal wetlands.

Review recent fauna records, wetland mapping, aerial imagery, hydrology and previous survey reports before entering the site.

Map shallow freshwater wetlands and their vegetated margins, including areas that hold water only after rainfall. Map connected wetlands, potential roosts and nearby refuge areas within the broader contiguous habitat.

Treat sites supporting at least 0.1 percent of the flyway population of one migratory shorebird species, at least 2,000 migratory shorebirds, or at least 15 migratory shorebird species as potentially important habitat. Assess the whole site complex, not only the proposed clearing footprint.

  • Check the EPBC Protected Matters Search Tool and relevant state databases.
  • Identify high tide roosts, low tide feeding areas, freshwater wetland margins and possible nocturnal roosts.
  • Confirm whether the work could affect habitat outside the project boundary through noise, light, drainage, sediment, pollution or increased access.

Survey methodology: 2. Timing and survey effort

Plan the main survey period for the non-breeding season. Pin-tailed Snipe is reported in Australia mainly from August to March, with broader migratory shorebird presence extending from about August to April or May. October to March is a practical core period for survey planning.

Allow for passage and early or late migrants outside the core period. The species breeds in central Siberia and Mongolia and does not breed in Australia according to general migratory shorebird guidance.

Complete at least four roost surveys and four foraging surveys during the period when most shorebirds are present. Include at least one survey during the northern hemisphere breeding season, when immature or non-migrating birds may remain in Australia. Use the current project approval or regulator guidance where the nominated breeding-season window differs.

  • Survey roosts within two hours either side of high tide.
  • Survey feeding areas within two hours either side of low tide.
  • Include two low-tide surveys at spring tides and two at neap tides where the survey program follows the detailed migratory shorebird protocol.
  • In most situations, December, January and February surveys provide useful coverage, but do not rely on one season or one visit.

Survey methodology: 3. Field detection

Search slowly from suitable vantage points. Scan dense rushes, sedges and grasses around freshwater margins, muddy edges of flooded areas, shallow pools and nearby sheltered ground.

Use binoculars or a telescope and keep observers outside the wetland where possible. Approach quietly and avoid flushing birds from cover.

Survey the entire contiguous area of suitable habitat that could be used by the same population. Include both open feeding areas and vegetated roosting or sheltering areas.

  • Do not survey during high rainfall, strong winds or active disturbance that could alter bird behaviour.
  • Record birds seen, heard, flushed or identified from tracks or flight views, but treat unconfirmed records cautiously.
  • Use at least two experienced observers for large sites or sites where large numbers of shorebirds are expected.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and important habitat

Record the location and extent of every feeding area, roost, refuge area and disturbance source. Pin-tailed Snipe distribution in Australia is not well known, so good site records are valuable.

Record whether birds are feeding, roosting, moving between wetlands, sheltering or responding to disturbance. Map observations using a consistent coordinate system.

  • Record date, start and finish time, tide height where relevant, weather, rainfall, wind, observers and survey method.
  • Record total abundance, species richness, abundance by species, behaviour and habitat condition.
  • Record human activity, dogs, vehicles, machinery, noise, lighting, predators, weeds, water quality issues and potential nocturnal roosts.
  • Photograph habitat and observation points where this can be done without disturbing birds.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance, approvals and permits

Avoid impacts before relying on mitigation. The main risk is loss or degradation of freshwater wetland habitat and disturbance to birds using feeding, roosting or refuge areas during migration.

Check whether the action is likely to have a significant impact on a listed migratory species under the EPBC Act. Refer the action where required before clearing or construction starts.

Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance. Include indirect impacts from altered drainage, sediment, pollution, artificial light, noise, machinery, vehicles, people and dogs.

In Queensland, check whether the species is a special least concern animal under the relevant state provisions. Tampering with a breeding place requires a high risk species management plan where the Queensland requirements apply.

  • Obtain any required state or territory wildlife permits before handling, relocating or interfering with fauna or breeding places.
  • Confirm the authority and conditions of the fauna spotter catcher, ecologist and any species management plan.
  • Check local, state and Commonwealth approval conditions, including conditions applying to wetlands, water quality, vegetation clearing and migratory species.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance design and timing

Keep clearing and construction out of freshwater wetlands, vegetated margins, muddy feeding areas and known roosts wherever practicable.

Schedule high-disturbance works for May to August where this is consistent with approval conditions and site constraints. This period generally has fewer migratory shorebirds in Australia, but birds can still be present and must be checked before work.

Do not assume that a dry wetland has no value. Ephemeral wetlands can become important after rainfall and may be used by shorebirds for short periods.

  • Retain connected wetland habitat and access between feeding and roosting areas.
  • Maintain natural water levels and drainage patterns where practicable.
  • Plan noisy works outside high-tide roosting and low-tide feeding periods. Mid-tide is the preferred compromise where work cannot be avoided.
  • Keep lighting static, shielded and directed away from wetlands and roosts.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance inspection and exclusion

Complete a pre-clearance inspection immediately before disturbance. Reinspect after rainfall, when wetland conditions have changed, or when work has been delayed.

Use the survey results to mark no-go areas, access routes, machinery limits and wetland buffers. No universal Pin-tailed Snipe buffer is specified, so set a site-specific buffer that prevents flushing, obstruction of flight paths and loss of roost function.

Use screens, barriers or exclusion fencing where they reduce visual disturbance without blocking movement between habitat areas.

  • Mark roosts, wetland edges, refuge areas and any active breeding place on site plans and in the field.
  • Inspect dense rushes, grasses and sedges, shallow water, muddy margins, claypans and sheltered depressions.
  • Stop and reassess if birds repeatedly flush, change roosts, abandon feeding areas or gather at the edge of the work zone.
  • Remove temporary fencing and barriers only after the ecologist confirms that the area is no longer required for protection.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and work controls

Include migratory shorebird requirements in the project induction. Explain the species' appearance and habitat, although field identification can be difficult and records should be confirmed by a suitably experienced observer.

Tell all workers that the fauna spotter catcher or nominated ecologist can stop work when a protected animal, roost or breeding place is found.

Set out access, speed, lighting, noise, dog, waste, spill and reporting rules before mobilisation.

  • Keep vehicles and personnel on designated routes and inside the approved construction footprint.
  • Prohibit dogs and unauthorised recreational access near wetland habitat.
  • Store fuels and chemicals away from drainage lines and wetlands.
  • Use spill kits, sediment controls and runoff controls before earthworks begin.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Use a stop, assess and proceed approach. Pin-tailed Snipe may remain hidden in cover, so a quiet, staged method is safer than a rapid clearance of wetland margins.

Clear in small stages from the least sensitive edge towards the retained habitat. Give fauna a clear route to suitable retained habitat, but do not force birds across roads, open work areas or into unsuitable cover.

Have the fauna spotter catcher inspect each stage before machinery enters it. Reinspect vegetation piles, machinery work areas, wetland margins and nearby roosts during the shift.

Do not clear or fill a wetland, roost or refuge area until the ecologist has confirmed that the area is covered by the approval and management plan.

  • Use a daily pre-start fauna check.
  • Pause work during high-tide roosting or low-tide feeding periods where the work is causing disturbance.
  • Keep machinery, lighting and personnel within the approved footprint.
  • Use mid-tide for unavoidable noise-generating work where practicable.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop-work triggers and handling

The fauna spotter catcher or nominated ecologist must have clear authority to stop work. Stop immediately if a Pin-tailed Snipe, another listed migratory shorebird, an active breeding place, a colony or a roost is found within the impact area or is being disturbed.

Do not chase, net or handle a bird unless the person is authorised and the action is permitted by the relevant approval or permit. Pin-tailed Snipe is a migratory visitor and its breeding places are not expected in Australia, but any suspected breeding activity must still be protected and assessed.

Maintain a quiet exclusion area while the ecologist determines whether the bird can move away naturally or whether an authorised response is required.

  • Stop machinery and reduce people, noise and lighting near the animal.
  • Move workers back and keep vehicles outside the exclusion area.
  • Contact the project ecologist and fauna spotter catcher supervisor.
  • Resume only after the exclusion area, timing and controls have been documented and cleared.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Active breeding places, colonies and roosts

If an active breeding place is found, stop work and protect the place from entry, vibration, light and visual disturbance. Obtain advice on the applicable EPBC, state or territory requirements before proceeding.

If a colony or roost is found, map its extent and establish a site-specific exclusion area. Include associated feeding areas and movement routes where the project could disrupt normal use.

Do not relocate a roost or attempt to move eggs, chicks or adults without written authority and an approved method.

  • Use temporary fencing and visual screens where suitable.
  • Do not place stockpiles, spoil, lights, pumps or access tracks beside the roost.
  • Schedule work outside the period when the site is being used, where approved and practicable.
  • Increase monitoring if birds repeatedly flush or abandon the area.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or distressed animals

Treat an injured or exhausted bird as wildlife requiring professional assessment. Keep people and machinery away and do not provide food or water unless directed by a wildlife carer or veterinarian.

The fauna spotter catcher or ecologist should arrange assessment by an appropriately authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian. Follow permit conditions for transport and rehabilitation.

If the bird is dead, do not move it until the cause, location and approval reporting requirements have been considered, unless leaving it creates a safety or biosecurity risk.

  • Record the location, condition, photographs, likely cause and immediate controls.
  • Use a ventilated, dark container only when an authorised person directs capture and transport.
  • Report collision, crushing, chemical exposure, dog attack and machinery injury through the project incident system.
  • Notify the relevant regulator where required by an approval, permit or management plan.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Field records

Maintain a daily fauna and disturbance log. Good records support compliance decisions and help refine the work method.

Record all sightings, flushed birds, roosts, breeding-place findings, stop-work events, handling, injuries, deaths and releases.

  • Record date, time, location, species, number, behaviour, habitat, tide, weather and disturbance source.
  • Record the person who made the decision, the action taken, the time work stopped and the time it resumed.
  • Attach maps, photographs, observer details and permit or approval references.
  • Update the site environmental register and shift handover notes.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks should confirm that no animal, roost or wetland feature was missed and that controls are working. Continue checking retained habitat while construction noise, lighting, traffic and drainage changes remain active.

Inspect the cleared area, retained wetland margins, access routes, sediment controls and nearby roosts after each clearing stage. Check for trapped, injured or isolated animals before the next work stage.

Repeat checks after rain, flooding, major changes in water level or a change in construction footprint.

Confirm that temporary fencing, screens and lighting controls remain in place and effective.

  • Search vegetation piles, pits, trenches, pipes and machinery for trapped fauna.
  • Check that drainage, pumps and sediment controls are not drawing birds into unsafe areas.
  • Remove or cover open trenches and other fauna traps at the end of each shift.
  • Record all checks and corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitoring and reporting

Monitor known roosts, feeding areas and retained freshwater habitat during the main non-breeding period, especially October to March. Include observations from both high tide and low tide where tidal conditions apply.

Increase monitoring if birds are present, habitat is changing, or disturbance causes repeated flushing or a change in roost use.

Report survey results, incidents and mitigation performance to the project environmental manager and the relevant regulators where required.

  • Compare bird numbers, species richness, behaviour and habitat use with pre-work results.
  • Map any new roost, refuge or feeding area that develops during construction.
  • Record water quality, vegetation condition, weeds, artificial light, noise and human access.
  • Keep monitoring records with approval compliance records and final environmental reports.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated animals and releases

Confirm the destination, authority and condition of every animal moved under the project. Release only under the direction of the authorised fauna handler, ecologist or wildlife carer.

Use suitable nearby habitat that is outside the active work area and has safe access to water and cover. Do not release animals into unsuitable saline, exposed or heavily disturbed habitat.

Check released animals where permit conditions require follow-up and record any mortality or return to the work area.

  • Record capture and release locations, times, method, handler, condition and permit reference.
  • Record transport time and any treatment or rehabilitation advice.
  • Do not repeatedly relocate a bird to manage an unresolved disturbance source. Remove or control the source first.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review and close-out

Review every stop-work event, injury, death, breeding-place finding, roost disturbance and unexpected species record. The review should identify the pathway, response time and whether controls worked.

Update the construction environmental management plan, induction and work method before similar work continues.

Close out the event only after the ecologist confirms that the animal, habitat and approval requirements have been addressed.

  • Identify whether the event involved lighting, noise, machinery, people, dogs, vehicles, water movement, pollution or habitat loss.
  • Record corrective actions, responsible people and completion dates.
  • Share lessons with supervisors, spotter catchers, contractors and incoming crews.
  • Retain records for the period required by the approval or permit.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore wetland function and cover

Rehabilitation should restore wetland function, cover and safe movement rather than simply replanting the cleared footprint. Pin-tailed Snipe uses freshwater wetlands during the non-breeding period, and habitat value can change quickly after rainfall.

Reinstate natural drainage, shallow inundation patterns and wetland contours where practicable. Avoid creating isolated pits, steep banks or permanent water conditions that do not match the surrounding wetland.

Replant native grasses, sedges and other locally appropriate wetland vegetation around shallow water and wetland margins. Retain a mosaic of open muddy ground and dense cover.

Use local provenance seed or plant material where available and suitable for the project.

  • Remove compacted soil and reinstate suitable soil profiles before planting.
  • Prevent sediment, concrete washout, fuel and other pollutants from entering restored wetlands.
  • Retain safe links between feeding areas, shelter and roosting habitat.
  • Stage rehabilitation so that functioning habitat is available as early as practicable.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Weeds, pests and water quality

Control weeds before they dominate wetland margins or reduce native cover. Use methods that do not contaminate water or disturb birds during peak use.

Manage feral predators, domestic dogs, waste and unauthorised vehicle access near restored habitat.

Monitor water quality and runoff during earthworks and until the site is stable.

  • Inspect for weeds after rainfall and after soil disturbance.
  • Use sediment fencing, check dams and stabilised drains where required by the site design.
  • Keep chemicals, fuels and washdown areas away from wetlands and drainage lines.
  • Remove rubbish, temporary materials and redundant fencing that could trap or disturb fauna.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Lighting and site design

Design permanent and temporary lighting to keep light off wetlands, roosts and feeding areas. Use shielded, static lights directed onto work areas and avoid flickering or unnecessary night lighting.

Keep roads, tracks, buildings, stockpiles and machinery compounds outside retained wetland habitat where practicable.

Maintain open sightlines at roosts while retaining enough vegetation for shelter and cover.

  • Use timers, dimming and motion controls where they are compatible with safety requirements.
  • Check light spill from the wetland edge, not only from the light fitting.
  • Remove temporary screens and barriers only when they no longer protect habitat or movement routes.
  • Review lighting after commissioning and after any change to the work area.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Replacement structures and habitat features

Nest boxes and bat boxes are not appropriate replacement structures for Pin-tailed Snipe. The species is a ground-associated migratory wetland bird and breeds in central Siberia and Mongolia.

Do not install artificial nest sites, hollows or roost boxes as a substitute for freshwater wetland habitat. Use ground-level wetland restoration, vegetated margins, shallow water and safe refuge areas instead.

Artificial roost structures should only be considered where a qualified ecologist identifies a genuine need and a design suited to the local shorebird community. Do not place structures where they obstruct flight, increase predation risk or concentrate birds beside active works.

  • Prioritise restoration of natural wetland habitat over artificial structures.
  • Protect nearby natural roosts and refuge areas during establishment.
  • Document the ecological reason, design, location and maintenance requirements for any proposed artificial feature.
  • Obtain approval before installing or modifying habitat features in protected areas or wetlands.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long-term monitoring

Monitor restored wetlands through at least the main non-breeding period and after substantial rainfall. Compare vegetation cover, water conditions, bird use and disturbance with the rehabilitation targets.

Continue monitoring where the site supports a roost, feeding area, connected wetland complex or other potentially important habitat.

Adapt weed control, water management, lighting and access controls when monitoring shows reduced habitat use or repeated disturbance.

  • Survey high tide roosts and low tide feeding areas where the site is influenced by tides.
  • Record Pin-tailed Snipe and other migratory shorebirds, numbers, behaviour, habitat condition and disturbance.
  • Inspect rehabilitation after storms, floods, drought, fire and construction changes.
  • Set completion criteria for vegetation establishment, wetland function, weed control, water quality and fauna use.

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