The Hunter Wetlands National Park is an internationally important wetland, one of the most important in NSW for waders.
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Located near the Stockton Bridge and known locally as "Stockton Sandspit", this area is a high tide roost and haven for hundreds of migratory shorebirds.
Every year, 40,000 migratory shorebirds, comprised of 37 different species arrive in Australia after taking part in the longest known migration of any species of animal.
Each year they fly the length of the East Asian Flyway to the Arctic Circle to breed and return about three months later, a round trip of 13,000 kilometres. The journey takes several weeks and even though they stop several times to refuel, they lose 40 per cent of their body weight.
The Sandspit is surrounded by the mangrove-fringed mudflats of the Hunter River estuary and a team of dedicated volunteers maintains the area by removing mangrove seedlings and other weeds to promote the growth of saltmarsh and provide open space suitable for the needs of the birds.
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These mudflats contain a diverse fauna of small burrowing bristleworms, clams and crabs, necessary food for the survival of shorebirds.
Many shorebirds that arrive at the Sandspit are protected under international agreements, including the critically endangered Eastern Curlew, whose population has decreased by 80 per cent in the last 30 years due to habitat destruction. The birds arrive, often overnight, exhausted with tattered feathers and at low tide feed constantly, day and night on the mudflats of the estuary.
As the tide comes in and covers the feeding areas, the birds congregate in large numbers at the Sandspit. One of the most enjoyable sights is watching the flocks fly in and settle down to roost. During this time, while the tide is high, they interact with each other, preen, digest food and sleep, waiting for the ebbing tide to expose the mudflats again.
The shorebirds have been arriving at the Sandspit over the last few weeks, with numbers quickly building. The Eastern Curlews have started to arrive with over 95 counted this week, a wonderful sight. Bar-tailed Godwits (560) and Red-necked Avocet (530) make up the bulk of the larger waders but many smaller birds are appearing, Curlew Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Red Knot, interspersed with Caspian and other terns.
The Sandspit at high tide is like an Aladdin's Cave, pay it a visit.
- Hunter Bird Observer's Club website can be found at www.hboc.org.au