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Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)

The Wandering Tattler is a medium-sized migratory shorebird that visits rocky coasts, coral cays and islands in Australia. It may rest, feed and roost on small areas of shoreline, so clearing, construction, people, dogs, lighting and machinery can disrupt it. It is listed as migratory under the EPBC Act and protected through international migratory bird agreements. It is otherwise least concern in Australia, with special least concern animal provisions applying in Queensland.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed under the Bonn Convention and JAMBA. 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.

Migration and breeding season

Wandering Tattlers are summer migrants to Australia. They usually arrive from late September to November and leave in April, although timing can vary between years and regions. In Australia, assess connected rocky shores, coral cays, intertidal feeding areas, high tide roosts and nearby refuge sites as part of the same habitat network.

Breeding range: Breeds overseas in Alaska, north-western Canada and eastern Siberia. It does not normally breed in Australia.

Breeding mode: Not recorded in the available species information.

Nest site: Not recorded. In Australia, rocky shores and rocks are used for roosting.

Clutch size: Not recorded.

Incubation: Not recorded.

Fledging and dependence: Not recorded.

Age at maturity and breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Timing varies between years and regions, so plan surveys across the main non-breeding period from October to March, including high tide roosts and low tide feeding areas, with at least two surveys in summer and around high tide where site risk warrants it.

  • Breeding overseas, Alaska, north-western Canada and eastern Siberia: The Wandering Tattler breeds in the northern hemisphere, but species-specific breeding months are not recorded, so this pattern follows the general breeding period of northern migratory shorebirds.
  • Southward arrival in Australia: Arrival is recorded from late September and may continue through November, including at coastal sites and islands.
  • Non-breeding presence in Australia: During the Australian summer, birds use rocky shores, coral cays and intertidal areas for feeding, resting and roosting.
  • Northward departure from Australia: Departure is recorded in April, with birds returning to northern hemisphere breeding grounds.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk is during the main Australian non-breeding period, when clearing, construction, people, dogs, lights, noise and machinery can disturb feeding and roosting birds.

Identification: Appearance

The Wandering Tattler is a dark, medium-sized shorebird usually associated with rocky coastlines. It can be overlooked because it occurs singly or in very small numbers and resembles the Grey-tailed Tattler.

In non-breeding plumage, the upperparts are slate-grey and the underparts are white. The cheeks are paler, and the white supercilium does not extend far behind the eye.

The bill is black with yellow on the rear third of the lower mandible. The legs are yellow. Breeding birds have heavier grey barring on the breast and flanks, and juveniles have spotted-looking upperparts.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Calls and vocal identification are not well described for field use. Identification should rely on the bird's shape, plumage, bill and leg colour, together with its rocky-shore habitat.

The main similar species is the Grey-tailed Tattler. The Grey-tailed Tattler has paler upperparts and a supercilium that extends well behind the eye. Both species commonly use rocks for roosting.

Identification: Field signs

Look for a solitary or nearly solitary shorebird moving over rocks and exposed intertidal surfaces. Droppings, nests, whitewash, stains and odour are not reliable field signs for this species.

Record the location, tide, behaviour, number of birds, photographs and any disturbance response. Take extra care on coral cays and Great Barrier Reef islands, where birds may be missed among rocky shoreline habitat.

Distribution: Australian range

In Australia, the Wandering Tattler is an uncommon visitor to coastal areas. It is most often associated with rocky shores and offshore islands, but mapping records extend across several states and territories.

The species is mapped in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. Detailed field information identifies rocky shores and coral cays in Queensland and New South Wales, including cays and islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

It may occur in small numbers and can be missed during general shorebird counts. Search rocky shoreline sections rather than relying only on broad mudflat surveys.

Australian areas to check: Rocky shores, coral cays, offshore islands and exposed coastal platforms, especially in Queensland and New South Wales.

Distribution: Overseas range

The species breeds in Alaska, north-western Canada and eastern Siberia. It generally migrates down the west coast of North America to Peru, although some birds cross the Pacific.

Pacific records include Hawaii, French Polynesia, eastern Micronesia, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

Distribution: Site planning

Before works begin, check rocky shoreline, island and estuary records in the project area. Confirm whether nearby roosts and low tide feeding areas form part of a connected site complex.

A single bird can still trigger the need for careful assessment because the species is listed as migratory under the EPBC Act.

  • Include rocky shoreline and island habitat in desktop searches.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher or ecologist familiar with migratory shorebirds.
  • Check both high tide roosts and low tide feeding areas.

Habitat: Features to look for

The Wandering Tattler is strongly associated with rocky coastal habitat. On a works site, focus on exposed rocks, rocky platforms, boulder fields and coral cays, as well as nearby areas used for high tide roosting.

Search along rocky shores, headlands, rock platforms, exposed reefs and rocky margins of small islands. Coral cays and Great Barrier Reef islands may support birds even where they are absent from nearby sandy beaches or mudflats.

The species may use the same rocky shoreline for resting, feeding and roosting. Nearby beaches, estuary margins and other open high tide areas can also form part of the local shorebird site complex.

Habitat: Tidal habitat

At low tide, exposed intertidal surfaces provide feeding opportunities. At high tide, birds may move to rocks or other open, slightly elevated roosting areas.

Check habitat at different tide stages. A site that appears unused at one tide can be occupied when feeding areas are covered or exposed.

  • Rocky shores and platforms.
  • Coral cays and offshore islands.
  • Exposed reefs and boulder areas.
  • Adjacent open roosts, beaches and estuary margins.

Habitat: Habitat condition

Keep rocky shoreline habitat open and accessible to birds. Avoid introducing tall vegetation, stockpiles, fencing or other structures that block movement or reduce sightlines from roosts.

Assess connected shoreline areas rather than treating each small rocky patch as separate. Birds can move between feeding and roosting locations as tides, weather and disturbance change.

Foraging habitat: Where to search

The Wandering Tattler feeds in the intertidal zone, including rocky areas exposed at low tide. Its species-specific diet is not well documented, so surveys should record the available prey habitat and the bird's actual feeding behaviour.

Search exposed rocks, rock platforms, reef edges and other intertidal surfaces during low tide. Point Cartwright observations show that rocky shores can be used for feeding as well as resting and roosting.

Look for birds walking over wet rocks, probing crevices or moving along the waterline. Do not assume that a bird is absent because the shoreline is narrow or difficult to access.

Foraging habitat: Food resources

Migratory shorebirds generally feed on invertebrates, crustaceans and small fishes. Sediment, rock structure, water movement and tidal exposure influence where prey is available.

Record prey habitat, feeding areas, tide level and any changes caused by works. Avoid disturbing birds while they are building energy reserves for migration.

  • Intertidal rocks and crevices.
  • Exposed reef surfaces.
  • Rocky water margins and shallow pools.
  • Nearby mud, sand or estuarine surfaces used by other shorebirds.

Foraging habitat: Survey approach

Survey low tide feeding areas from suitable vantage points where birds can be watched without entering the intertidal zone. Record numbers, locations, behaviour and disturbance responses.

For broader migratory shorebird assessment, surveys should cover the main non-breeding period, roughly October to March, with at least two surveys in summer and surveys around high tide as well as low tide.

Breeding habitat: Breeding range

The Wandering Tattler does not breed in Australia. Australian works can still affect its survival by reducing feeding and roosting habitat or disturbing birds before their return to northern breeding grounds.

The species breeds in Alaska, north-western Canada and eastern Siberia. Breeding habitat, nest placement and breeding biology are not sufficiently described here to guide Australian site searches.

Do not treat the absence of nests or breeding behaviour in Australia as evidence that the species is not using the site.

Australian breeding: No Australian breeding population is expected.

Northern breeding areas: Alaska, north-western Canada and eastern Siberia.

Breeding habitat: Works implications

The relevant Australian protection issue is non-breeding habitat. Retaining feeding areas, high tide roosts and links between them supports birds preparing for migration.

Avoid removing rocky shoreline habitat or changing tidal access unless the effects have been assessed under the EPBC Act.

  • Check for use during the Australian non-breeding period.
  • Protect nearby roosts as well as the construction footprint.
  • Record and manage disturbance, not just direct habitat loss.

Sheltering habitat: Roost features

Rocks are the main sheltering and roosting feature identified for the Wandering Tattler. Roosts provide a safe place to rest when the tide covers feeding habitat and when birds need to conserve energy.

Look for open rocks, exposed platforms, reefs, boulders and slightly elevated shoreline areas. Birds may use sites with clear views of approaching predators and may shift between nearby roosts as conditions change.

Nearby beaches, estuary mouths, saltmarsh edges, grassy areas and freshwater wetlands can also support migratory shorebird roosting networks, even when the Wandering Tattler itself prefers rocks.

  • Rock platforms and boulder fields.
  • Exposed reefs and rocky headlands.
  • Coral cays and island shorelines.
  • Open, slightly elevated areas near feeding habitat.

Sheltering habitat: High tide and bad weather

Search roosts around high tide, when intertidal feeding areas are covered. Birds may move a short distance inland or use sheltered areas during bad weather.

Sheltered depressions, areas behind low shrubs or sandy hummocks, and other nearby refuges can become important when the usual roost is exposed to wind or heavy rain.

Sheltering habitat: Roost protection

Keep people, dogs, vehicles, machinery, lights and loud activities away from occupied roosts. Maintain clear access between roosts and feeding areas.

Use a qualified ecologist to set site-specific buffers after checking bird behaviour, line of sight, topography and the level of activity. Do not rely on an arbitrary distance where birds are repeatedly flushed.

Migration and seasonal presence: Seasonal presence

The Wandering Tattler is present in Australia during the northern hemisphere non-breeding season. Birds arrive from late September, with arrival continuing through November, and generally depart in April.

The main Australian presence is over summer. More broadly, migratory shorebirds can occur in Australia from as early as August to as late as April or May, but the Wandering Tattler records described here indicate late September to November arrival and April departure.

Passage timing outside these periods is not well defined for this species. Treat rocky coastal habitat as potentially occupied during the wider non-breeding season.

Arrival: Late September, continuing through November.

Departure: April.

Main use: Summer feeding, resting and roosting before the return migration.

Migration and seasonal presence: Migration route

The species breeds in Alaska, north-western Canada and eastern Siberia. It travels through Pacific and North American routes, with some birds crossing the Pacific, before reaching Australian and other Pacific shorelines.

Birds need energy-rich feeding areas and undisturbed roosts during their stay. Repeated alarm flights can reduce the energy available for migration.

Migration and seasonal presence: Important habitat in Australia

For migratory shorebirds other than Latham's snipe, nationally important habitat includes a site that regularly supports 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.

The Wandering Tattler flyway estimate is 10,000 to 25,000 birds. The 0.1 percent reference point is therefore 10 birds, but regular site use and the wider assessment context must be considered.

  • Assess both high tide roosts and low tide feeding areas.
  • Consider connected site complexes, not only the construction footprint.
  • Refer to EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.21 and the 2017 migratory shorebird industry guidelines.

Threats: Disturbance

Most site risks come from disturbance, loss of intertidal habitat and changes to roosts. Small numbers of birds can be affected because the species may use only a few suitable rocky sites in an area.

People, dogs, vehicles, boats, machinery, noise and repeated access can flush birds from feeding and roosting areas. Lights at night can also alter behaviour and reduce the suitability of otherwise secure roosts.

Keep workers and the public away from occupied areas, especially around low tide feeding periods and high tide roosting periods. Use signs, fencing and briefings where access cannot be avoided.

  • Set work areas back from occupied roosts and feeding areas.
  • Keep dogs leashed and exclude them from shorebird habitat.
  • Direct lighting away from roosts and the waterline.
  • Stop or modify works if birds are repeatedly flushed.

Threats: Habitat loss and modification

Coastal development, reclamation, shoreline hardening, stockpiling and altered drainage can remove or degrade feeding and roosting habitat. Changes to tidal flushing can reduce exposed intertidal surfaces and prey availability.

Retain rocky shoreline, exposed reef and connected roost habitat wherever possible. Avoid blocking movement between feeding and roosting areas.

Threats: Pollution and water quality

Pollution, sediment, rubbish and declining water quality can reduce the condition of intertidal habitat. Spills and contaminated runoff may affect prey and shallow shoreline areas.

Use erosion and sediment controls, spill response procedures and waste containment. Keep concrete washout, fuels and other contaminants away from tidal waters.

Threats: Assessment and legal controls

The Wandering Tattler is listed as migratory under the EPBC Act. An action likely to have a significant impact on listed migratory species may require referral under the Act.

In Queensland, a least concern bird covered by JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA or the Bonn Convention is a special least concern animal. Tampering with its breeding place requires a high risk species management program, although the Wandering Tattler is not expected to breed in Australia.

  • Plan surveys for the main non-breeding period, roughly October to March.
  • Use at least two summer surveys and include high tide roost and low tide feeding checks.
  • Record bird numbers, locations, tide, behaviour and disturbance.
  • Time works outside peak use where practicable and maintain roost buffers during works.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Wandering Tattlers are uncommon visitors that may occur singly or in very small numbers on rocky shores, coral cays and exposed intertidal areas. Surveys need to cover both feeding areas at low tide and roosts used at high tide, particularly during the main non-breeding period from October to March.

Map rocky shorelines, coral cays, estuary mouths, exposed reefs, beaches, saltmarsh edges and nearby elevated roosts. Include connected areas that birds may use when tide, weather or disturbance changes.

Check records for the site and nearby coastal areas. Review the potential for the site to form part of a wider roost or feeding-site complex.

Assess whether the site could meet important habitat criteria. Consider sites that regularly support at least 0.1 per cent of the flyway population of one migratory shorebird species, at least 2,000 migratory shorebirds, or at least 15 migratory shorebird species. For the Wandering Tattler, 0.1 per cent of the estimated flyway population is 10 birds.

  • Map proposed clearing, access tracks, plant areas, lighting, noise sources and work compounds against intertidal habitat and roosts.
  • Check nearby estuaries and rocky shores, not just the construction footprint.
  • Obtain recent local records from land managers, shorebird groups and relevant government databases.

Survey methodology: 2. Field survey timing and effort

Plan surveys during the main non-breeding period, roughly October to March. Wandering Tattlers may arrive from late September, with arrivals continuing through November, and may leave in April.

Complete at least two surveys in summer and survey around high tide. Pair high-tide roost counts with low-tide surveys of exposed feeding areas.

Allow for repeated visits where the species is uncommon, the site is difficult to view, weather is poor, or the site is part of a larger coastal complex.

  • Survey suitable low-tide feeding areas when rocks, reefs or intertidal surfaces are exposed.
  • Survey high-tide roosts when birds are likely to be concentrated on elevated rocks, beaches, saltmarsh edges or adjacent open ground.
  • Use suitable vantage points and avoid entering roosts or approaching birds.
  • Repeat the survey after substantial rain or other changes that may make nearby wetlands or shorelines more suitable.

Survey methodology: 3. Detection and identification

Search slowly with binoculars and a telescope where available. Wandering Tattlers are dark grey, medium-sized shorebirds with yellow legs and a black bill with yellow on the rear third of the lower mandible.

Check birds carefully against Grey-tailed Tattlers. Wandering Tattlers have darker upperparts and a shorter-looking supercilium that does not extend well behind the eye.

Do not rely on flock counts alone. The species may occur singly or in very small numbers and can be overlooked on rocky shores and reef cays.

  • Scan rock platforms, exposed reefs, shoreline edges and sheltered roosting rocks.
  • Record birds feeding, resting, flying, calling and responding to disturbance.
  • Use photographs or experienced verification for uncertain records.
  • Keep observers and equipment outside the roost where possible.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey records and interpretation

Record the date, start and finish time, tide stage, weather, visibility, survey area and observer names. Record all shorebird species and the number of individuals seen.

Map each observation and identify whether the bird was feeding, roosting, moving through or disturbed. Record the direction and distance of any flight response where it can be estimated reliably.

Record people, dogs, vehicles, boats, machinery, lights and noise near feeding and roosting areas. These observations help assess cumulative disturbance.

  • Record the highest count for each survey and the location of every Wandering Tattler observation.
  • Photograph habitat and roost conditions where this can be done without disturbing birds.
  • Compare low-tide and high-tide observations across the site complex.
  • Treat an apparently empty survey as inconclusive if tide, weather, access or visibility was unsuitable.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Avoid rocky shore feeding areas and high-tide roosts wherever practicable. Complete approvals, surveys and site controls before machinery, personnel, lighting or access routes enter habitat used by Wandering Tattlers or other migratory shorebirds.

Assess whether the action is likely to have a significant impact on the Wandering Tattler as an EPBC Act listed migratory species. Refer the action under the EPBC Act where a significant impact cannot be excluded.

In Queensland, treat the Wandering Tattler as a special least concern animal because it is covered by the Bonn Convention and JAMBA. Obtain a high risk species management plan where tampering with its breeding place is proposed or may occur.

Confirm state or territory wildlife approvals before work starts. Check whether permits are required for taking, handling, relocating or disturbing native wildlife, clearing habitat, or working in protected areas.

  • Document the impact assessment and referral decision.
  • Include migratory shorebird habitat, disturbance and cumulative impacts in the environmental management plan.
  • Engage the relevant state agency where the project may affect a roost, feeding area or protected wetland.
  • Use only authorised wildlife handlers for any capture or relocation.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work planning

Keep permanent infrastructure, laydown areas, access routes, lighting and noisy plant away from rocky shores, exposed reefs, intertidal feeding areas and high-tide roosts.

Retain connected habitat within the wider coastal site complex. Avoid blocking movement between feeding areas and alternative roosts.

Schedule disruptive work outside the main non-breeding period where practicable. If work must occur between October and March, use the survey results to avoid occupied areas and peak shorebird use.

  • Use existing disturbed access routes rather than creating new routes across the shoreline.
  • Keep people, dogs, vehicles and machinery away from roosts and low-tide feeding areas.
  • Direct lights away from shorelines and roosts, and use the lowest practical intensity and shortest operating period.
  • Do not assume a site is unused because no birds were seen on one visit.

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

Complete a pre-clearance survey shortly before works begin, covering the footprint, access routes, adjoining roosts and low-tide feeding areas. Repeat the check if work is delayed or conditions change.

Although Wandering Tattlers do not generally breed in Australia, inspect all habitat for other fauna and for any active breeding place protected under state law. Treat an occupied roost or feeding area as a live exclusion area.

Set site-specific exclusion zones around occupied roosts and feeding areas with advice from the ecologist and relevant authority. Do not apply an arbitrary buffer where the required distance depends on terrain, tide, visibility, noise and the species using the site.

  • Mark exclusion zones on plans and on the ground before mobilisation.
  • Use temporary fencing, bunting or signs that do not obstruct bird movement or create entanglement risks.
  • Check the full work area, including stockpile sites, crane pads, temporary roads and spoil placement areas.
  • Stop and reassess if birds repeatedly leave a roost or feeding area because of the planned activity.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and controls

Induct all workers, contractors and visitors before they enter the site. Show the locations of roosts, feeding areas, exclusion zones and wildlife contact details.

Explain that alarm flights consume substantial energy and can reduce the energy available for migration. Low-tide disturbance is especially relevant where birds feed on exposed intertidal habitat.

Nominate an environmental manager and an authorised fauna spotter catcher with clear stop-work authority.

  • Prohibit dogs and unauthorised access near shorebird habitat.
  • Set speed limits and no-go areas for vehicles near roosts and feeding sites.
  • Control generators, reversing alarms, radios, dust, vibration and night lighting near occupied habitat.
  • Display the stop-work procedure and wildlife contact numbers at the site office and work fronts.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing and supervision

Use a staged approach and keep the fauna spotter catcher in close contact with the supervisor. Work must stop when a protected animal, occupied roost, active breeding place or unexpected wildlife risk is found.

Clear only the area approved for that work stage. Start in the least sensitive area and progress towards retained habitat so animals can move away from machinery where safe.

Keep a fauna spotter catcher present for works that may disturb habitat, roosts, shoreline access or other fauna. The spotter catcher must be able to stop work immediately.

Recheck adjoining rocky shores and roosts as tide and weather change during the work.

  • Remove temporary materials, waste and unused equipment from exclusion zones each day.
  • Keep machinery within marked limits.
  • Stop work if birds are flushed repeatedly, circle over the site, or cannot return to a roost or feeding area.
  • Do not chase, herd or deliberately flush birds.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Wildlife handling and breeding places

Handle a Wandering Tattler only when authorised under the relevant permit or approval and when handling is necessary to protect the animal. Most healthy birds should be left undisturbed.

If an active breeding place is found, stop work in the immediate area. Protect the place from people, machinery, noise and vibration and contact the project ecologist and relevant authority.

If a colony or occupied roost is found, stop the activity affecting it and establish a site-specific exclusion zone. Obtain advice before work resumes.

  • Do not touch eggs, chicks or nests unless the authorised wildlife handler and relevant approval allow it.
  • Do not move a roost, nest or bird without approval and a documented method.
  • Record the location, species, activity, photographs and actions taken.
  • Allow the authorised ecologist or wildlife officer to determine when work can recommence.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Injured or distressed animals

Approach an injured bird quietly and keep people, dogs and machinery away. Do not provide food or water unless directed by a wildlife professional.

Contact the authorised wildlife carer, veterinarian or state wildlife authority through the project wildlife response procedure.

If safe and authorised, contain the bird in a ventilated, covered box with minimal handling. Keep it cool, quiet and secure until transferred.

  • Use gloves and follow hygiene procedures when handling wildlife.
  • Record the location, time, apparent injury, photographs, handler and destination.
  • Do not release an injured bird without advice from the treating wildlife professional.
  • Report any collision, entanglement, oiling or chemical exposure immediately.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Daily records and stop-work events

Maintain a daily fauna register for all observations, disturbance events, injuries, relocations and work stoppages. Include zero counts where surveys or checks were completed.

Record the tide, weather, work activity, distance to birds, response of birds and controls applied. Use maps or photographs for repeated problem areas.

Review records each day with the site supervisor and environmental manager.

  • Record all breaches of exclusion zones.
  • Record any use of lights, noisy plant or machinery near shorebird habitat.
  • Notify the relevant approval holder and regulator when a reportable incident occurs.
  • Update the work method if birds show repeated avoidance or disturbance responses.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Complete a final wildlife check before an area is signed off and continue monitoring where habitat or access conditions have changed. Use the results to improve controls for the next work stage and future projects.

Inspect the completed work area, retained shoreline and nearby roosts after each clearing stage. Check for trapped, injured or isolated animals and for damage to exclusion fencing or habitat.

Repeat low-tide and high-tide observations where works occur beside feeding or roosting habitat. Continue checks through the relevant non-breeding season if disturbance remains.

Confirm that temporary access routes, spoil, sediment, waste and lighting are not affecting intertidal habitat or roost access.

  • Remove redundant fencing and equipment only when the ecologist confirms that it will not disturb birds or other fauna.
  • Repair damaged habitat controls promptly.
  • Check that drainage and sediment controls do not smother exposed feeding surfaces.
  • Record all post-clearance observations and corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a completion report that compares the approved work area with the area actually disturbed. Include survey results, bird records, incidents, stop-work events, injuries, relocations and any approval conditions.

Report EPBC Act, state permit and Queensland species management plan matters in the format and timeframe required by the approval.

Retain maps, photographs, field sheets, induction records, fauna registers and correspondence with wildlife authorities.

  • Identify any missed controls or unexpected impacts.
  • Provide the report to the project manager, ecologist, approval holder and relevant regulator where required.
  • Record whether important habitat criteria may have been met or affected.
  • Keep records available for future works at the site.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring and relocated animals

Monitor retained roosts and feeding areas where construction has changed access, noise, lighting, shoreline structure or water movement. Compare use before and after works where baseline data are available.

Use the same vantage points, tide conditions and counting approach for repeat monitoring. Record Wandering Tattlers and all other migratory shorebirds.

Track any authorised relocated animal according to the approved relocation method. Confirm the release location, condition and outcome with the wildlife handler.

  • Monitor during the main non-breeding period from October to March where impacts continue through that period.
  • Include high-tide roost checks and low-tide feeding checks.
  • Investigate a sustained reduction in use, repeated alarm flights or movement to unsuitable habitat.
  • Do not assume relocation has solved an impact without checking the receiving and source areas.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review each wildlife incident with the fauna spotter catcher, supervisor and ecologist. Identify whether the cause was poor timing, inadequate exclusion, access, lighting, noise, training or supervision.

Amend the construction environmental management plan and induction where a control did not work.

Share lessons with contractors before the next work stage.

  • Close out corrective actions with a named person and due date.
  • Reassess the project if new roosts, feeding areas or migratory shorebird concentrations are found.
  • Seek regulator advice before changing an approved control or mitigation measure.
  • Use incident trends to guide future survey timing and site layout.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore shorebird habitat

Rehabilitation should restore open, safe feeding and roosting habitat and maintain links between shoreline areas. Wandering Tattlers are not generally breeding in Australia, so nest boxes and bat boxes are not suitable replacement structures for this species.

Restore rocky shore edges, exposed intertidal surfaces, estuary margins and elevated open roosting areas affected by works. Match the original substrate, drainage and tidal influence where practicable.

Keep roosts open enough for birds to see approaching predators. Avoid dense plantings, screens or structures that remove sightlines or block movement.

Maintain access between feeding areas used at low tide and safe roosts used at high tide.

  • Remove hardstand, spoil, temporary roads and redundant structures from habitat restoration areas.
  • Stabilise disturbed ground without covering natural feeding surfaces with sediment or mulch.
  • Reinstate natural contours and drainage where construction has altered water movement.
  • Use local materials and methods suited to the shoreline and estuary setting.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Replacement structures and roosts

Do not install nest boxes or bat boxes for Wandering Tattlers. The species does not generally breed in Australia and does not use those structures.

Where a roost has been unavoidably lost, design a replacement open roost with advice from a shorebird ecologist and the relevant authority. The design must reflect local tide, flood, predator and disturbance conditions.

Use existing natural roosts first. Artificial roost structures should only be proposed where they are justified by the impact assessment and can be maintained.

  • Provide open, stable resting surfaces with clear views and safe access from feeding habitat.
  • Keep artificial roosts away from regular people, dog and vehicle access.
  • Do not create features that trap birds, collect rubbish or increase predator access.
  • Monitor use before deciding whether the structure is effective.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and disturbance

Control weeds and invasive vegetation that cover open roosts, restrict movement or alter shoreline drainage. Retain vegetation that provides appropriate shelter during severe weather where it does not remove required open sightlines.

Maintain suitable tidal flushing, shallow water and exposed feeding surfaces. Protect nearby wetlands and ephemeral water sources from sediment, pollution and altered drainage.

Manage lighting, noise and access after construction, not only during the works.

  • Remove weeds by methods that do not disturb occupied roosts or contaminate feeding habitat.
  • Prevent sediment, hydrocarbons, concrete washout and other pollutants from entering intertidal areas.
  • Use shielded, directional lighting with no unnecessary illumination of shorelines or roosts.
  • Restrict dogs, vehicles and recreational access near restored roosts where monitoring shows disturbance.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring and maintenance

Monitor restored habitat through at least the relevant summer period and continue where approvals require it. Use repeat high-tide roost and low-tide feeding surveys from suitable vantage points.

Assess habitat condition, bird use, disturbance, weeds, erosion, drainage, lighting and structural safety. Include all migratory shorebird species in the assessment.

Maintain restored areas until performance criteria are met and amend the design if birds do not use the habitat or are repeatedly disturbed.

  • Record Wandering Tattler observations separately, including single birds and small groups.
  • Compare monitoring results with pre-work records where available.
  • Repair erosion, fencing, lighting and artificial roost defects promptly.
  • Review monitoring outcomes with the land manager, project ecologist and relevant authority.

Sources