Changes in status of South-East Queensland birds over 40 years – Part 3, brush-turkey to terns

Lewin's Rail

This is the third post demonstrating changes in the status and distribution of birds in South-East Queensland over the 40 years between 1979 - when my booklet The Birds of South-East Queensland was published – and 2019. The list covers only those species where a significant change has been noted over the intervening period. Some changes are doubtlessly influenced by an increased number of observers and technological advances (especially with playback) but many can not be explained by these factors. See here for Part 1 (emu to storm-petrels) and here for Part 2 (boobies to hawks).

Australian Brush-turkey

Australian Brush-turkey. Described as “moderately common” in 1979, it is regarded today as common, and locally very common. The species has clearly benefited from the greening of Brisbane's outer suburbs and other urban areas.

Red-backed Buttonquail. In 1979 it was recorded as “rare”, known from agricultural crops in the Lockyer Valley and rank vegetation near Gin Gin. It is today still regarded as scarce but has been recorded regularly from mid-to-tall grassland, wallum heathland and crops, especially sugarcane, in several areas including Maryborough, the Sunshine Coast and Lake Samsonvale.

Lewin's Rail. In 1979 it was thought to be “rare”, with specimens and sightings from a small number of sites. It is now known to be uncommon generally and moderately common in some areas. It is also known to frequent a much wider range of habitats than was previously thought to be the case.

Spotless Crake

Spotless Crake. Another species described in 1979 as “rare”, it is today known to be moderately common in suitable habitat and is the most numerous crake in the region. Like the previous species, records have doubtlessly increased due to the growing popularity of playback, but both can be quite vocal and it is unlikely so many records were overlooked previously.

Black-tailed Native-hen

Black-tailed Native-hen. Known in 1979 from a single sighting, at Redcliffe in 1973. It has since been recorded in small numbers on several occasions from around Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Lockyer and Brisbane valleys.

Australian Bustard

Australian Bustard. It was thought to be extinct in South-East Queensland in 1979, though known historically from western and northern parts of the region. It remains very rare but has been recorded as a vagrant from a handful of sites including Monto, Maryborough and the Gold Coast.

Sooty Oystercatcher

Sooty Oystercatcher. Described as “rare” in 1979, it is known now to be uncommon though widely distributed on coastal rocky outcrops.

Banded Stilt. In 1979 the occurrence of this species in the region was unconfirmed, with reported sightings “almost certainly” immature Pied Stilts. There has since been a single confirmed record, from Lake Clarendon.

Red-necked Avocet

Red-necked Avocet. The species was thought to be “rare” in 1979, known from a handful of sites. It was unknown at the time from areas such as the Lockyer Valley and parts of Moreton Bay where it is now known to be moderately common if irregular.

Asian Dowitcher

Asian Dowitcher. In 1979 it was known from a single sighting at Wynnum. It is now considered a rare summer visitor though is recorded regularly from several sites.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper. Like the previous species it was considered a vagrant in 1979, known from two records. It is similarly known now to be a rare summer visitor though recorded regularly in suitable habitat.

Great Knot

Red Knot & Great Knot. Red Knot in 1979 was thought to be “moderately common to common” while Great Knot was “generally uncommon, though locally common”. The reverse could today be regarded as more accurate, with Great Knot greatly outnumbering Red Knot. Furthermore, unlike the Great Knot, the Red Knot is more numerous in the region as a transient migrant, with relatively few spending the summer here.

Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper. The species was thought to be “very common” in 1979. It can best be described as “moderately common” today with numbers declining notably. This is one of many migratory shorebirds to suffer from the destruction of feeding habitat in east Asian flyways.

Ruff. Another “vagrant” in 1979, it was known from a single sighting at Dyers Lagoon. Although still fairly described as vagrant, there have since been a number of sightings from the region.

Pomarine Jaeger

Pomarine Jaeger. This bird was considered an “uncommon” summer visitor in 1979 but we now know it be quite common in offshore waters.

Long-tailed Jaeger. Considered “rare” in 1979, with several autumn sightings from North Stradbroke Island, it is today seen uncommonly but regularly in offshore waters.

Pacific Gull. Records of the species in 1979 were unconfirmed in the region but it is now confirmed as a vagrant.

Sooty Tern

Sooty Tern & Bridled Tern. Sooty Tern in 1979 was known from about 30 beach derelicts but no sightings, while Bridled Tern was considered “rare”, with a very small number of sightings off North Stradbroke Island. The Sooty Tern is regularly seen in offshore waters these days and while still uncommon, the Bridled Tern is reported irregularly from inshore and offshore waters.

White Tern. It was a “vagrant” in 1979, known from four sightings. Many more sightings have since been recorded, though it still is regarded as a rare visitor.

White Tern