Results from 2019 spring surveys

December 19, 2019

Spring has proven to be an extraordinary season for snipe this year. With the extreme weather conditions in NSW and QLD caused by the drought, the reports of drying wetlands were already streamining in early in the season. With the hot weather and then the widespread fires, snipe numbers dropped off at many sites in the NSW, ACT and QLD, and numbers increased enormously in south, particularly along the Victorian and South Australian coastline. In fact, we had the highest count on the national surveys record at quite a few sites in September with Fox Lake at Robe bringing in another whopping count of 147 snipe. Not to be outdone, the numbers increased between September and November, such that we had the highest total count ever during the November with a total of 1636 snipe (see graph below). Sites like Phillip Island and Peterborough in Victoria, and Alstonville in northern NSW broke their own records. Many other sites also had high counts. These results suggest that the drought and fire conditions have pushed the snipe further south earlier than normal, and caused greater congregations than usual. Perhaps snipe are taking advantage of refuge sites when others have become unreliable.

We expect that numbers may drop off into January as the hot and dry conditions push birds into wetter areas, which we may or may not count. For example, the wetlands at Jerrabomberra where we usually catch snipe were already very low by the end of November and as of mid-December, have dried out. It doesn’t seem likely that there will be significant rains between now and mid-january to offset this drying.

Once again, these surveys would not be possible without the assistance of a large number of people and groups from across the eastern states and territories. We have been fortunate this time around to add a host of new sites in places in south-east Queensland, Newcastle, western Victoria, and a handful here and there in eastern Victoria and Tasmania (many on private land). Interestingly, while the count went up in September and November, the number of sites counted stablised. This is due to a number of people not being available for surveys. It is always tricky trying to manage our various volunteer commitments, so thanks once again to all snipe surveyors.

A merry snipe christmas to you all!