Observations - Seabirds and Shorebirds

Victoria has a wide variety of coastal and inland habitats which support a diverse population of seabirds and shorebirds. Many species are difficult to find and identify, they can easily go un-noticed or simply viewed as dots on the beach.

This section helps to expand our appreciation of Victoria’s seabirds and shorebirds through sharing observations.

The number of seabirds and shorebirds on Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG Threatened List) is alarming and testament to how these species have been impacted upon by human activity. Since 2013, an additional 8 seabird and shorebird species have been added to the Critically endangered list and 10 species added to the Endangered list.

Seabirds on Victoria’s FFG Threatened List

Critically endangered

Fairy Tern
Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
Little Tern
Sooty Albatross
Southern Royal Albatross
Wandering Albatross

Endangered

Buller's Albatross
Grey-headed Albatross
Gull-billed Tern
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
Northern Giant-Petrel
Shy Albatross
Southern Giant-Petrel
White-faced Storm-Petrel

Vulnerable

Black-browed Albatross
Caspian Tern
Fairy Prion

Near threatened

not on FFG Threatened List

Shorebirds on Victoria’s FFG Threatened List

Critically endangered

Australian Painted Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew Sandpiper
Eastern Curlew
Great Knot

Endangered

Common Greenshank
Grey Plover
Lesser Sand Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Red Knot
Ruddy Turnstone
Terek Sandpiper
Whimbrel
White-faced Storm-Petrel
Wood Sandpiper

Vulnerable

Bar-tailed Godwit
Common Sandpiper
Greater Sand Plover
Grey Plover
Hooded Plover
Inland Dotterel
Pacific Golden Plover

Near threatened

not on FFG Threatened List

^{Adapted from FFG Threatened List (2023) Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 - Threatened List - June 2023, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) , Victoria.}

Seabirds

Seabirds mainly feed at sea, they can roost or nest in coastal environments such as open beaches, islands and cliffs where they tend to be safer from land predators such as foxes and cats.

Cape Bridgewater Crested Terns — Crested Terns resting on the expanse of ocean beach at Bridgewater Bay, Victoria. *Image: Rosanna Riddington.*

Crested Terns Cape Bridgewater — *Crested Terns. Image: Rosanna Riddington.*

*Australasian Gannet Gannet colony at Portland. Image: Rosanna Riddington.*

Gannets at Portland — *Australasian Gannets. Image: Rosanna Riddington.*

Gannets diving Bob McPherson — Australasian Gannets diving for food. *Image: Bob McPherson*

Gannets feeding Bob McPherson — Australasian Gannets feeding frenzy. *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Black-browed Albatross Bob McPherson — Black-browed Albatross (sub-adult). Vulnerable. *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Black-browed Albatross flying Bob McPherson — Black-browed Albatross (sub-adult). *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Black-browed Albatross underside Bob McPherson — Black-browed Albatross (sub-adult). *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Black-browed Albatross adult Bob McPhersion — Black-browed Albatross (Adult). Vulnerable. *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Yellow-nosed Albatross Bob McPherson — Yellow-nosed Albatross (Juvenile). Vulnerable. *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Shy Albatross Bob McPherson — Shy Albatross - Vulnerable. *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Albatross feeding Bob McPherson — Albatross join a feeding frenzy with Gannets and Dolphins in the waters off Portland. *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Northern Giant-Petrel Image:Bob McPherson — *Northern Giant-Petrel *Macronectes halli Vulnerable EPBC Act . Listed -Victorian FFG Act.* Image:Bob McPherson*

Wandering Albatross juv Image:bob McPherson — Wandering Albatross (Juvenile). Endangered. *Image: Bob McPherson*

Royal Albatross - Image: Bob McPherson — Southern Royal Albatross *Diomedea epomophora* - Critically Endangered in Victoria. *Image: Bob McPherson.*

Royal Albatross (Southern) - Image: Bob McPherson — Southern Royal Albatross *Diomedea epomophora* - Critically Endangered in Victoria. *Image: Bob McPherson.*
Note: black edge on upper bill which is distinctive to this species.

Shorebirds

Shorebirds also referred to as waders tend to feed on beaches, intertidal mudflats, salt marshes and rocky shorelines. They can also be found on the shoreline of inland wetlands

Black-fronted Plover Ron Clissold — *Black-fronted Plover (not threatened) on inland lake. R. Clissold.*

Black-winged Stilt Ron Clissold — Black-winged Stilt (not threatened). *R. Clissold.*

Latham's Snipe Ron Clissold — Hooded Plover (vulnerable). *Image: Rosanna Riddington.*

Latham's Snipe (near threatened) - *R. Clissold.*

Pied Oystercatcher Ron Clissold — Pied Oystercatcher (not threatened) - *R. Clissold.*

Red-kneed Dotterel Ron Clissold — Red-kneed Dotterel (not threatened) - *R. Clissold.*

Please contribute to the shorebirds images, particularly any of the threatened species mentioned above. Contact SWIFFT.