Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
Photo: rawshorty
Description
- The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is a small to medium-sized wading bird.
- It grows up to 17–22 cm long, has a wingspan of 36–43 cm, and weighs about 65 grams.
- It has a flat back, pot belly, and drawn-out rear end with medium-length legs. It also has a small flat head with a short neck and a short decurved bill.
- Their feathers are a dull grey-brown and they have a drab brown cap.
- They eat seeds, worms, molluscs, crustaceans and insects.
Find out more about the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on Canberra NatureMapr.
Where to find them
The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper breeds in northern Siberia and migrates to Australia every year. They arrive in early September and leave by April. For their non-breeding season, they are found:
- mostly in south-east Australia and are widespread in both inland wetlands and coastal locations, especially in New South Wales and Victoria
- usually around grassy edges of shallow inland freshwater wetlands up to 800 m (above sea level) as well as in areas of agricultural pasture after rain.
ACT sightings
- From September to January, there have been regular sightings (78% of years 1974-2014).
- You can find them at Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve, and the Fyshwick Sewage Ponds. There have also been other sightings at Lake Burley Griffin (East Basin), Norgrove Park Wetland, Mulligans Flat Dam, Ginninderra Creek, Canturf turf farm (Fyshwick) and West Belconnen Pond.
Conservation threats
The main threats to the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper are loss and damage to wetlands. Other threats include:
- increased frequency of severe drought
- disturbance from recreational activities
- predators such as foxes, dogs and cats
- poor water quality, light and noise pollution caused by closeness to urban areas.
Conservation status
- International – Vulnerable (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List).
- National – Vulnerable (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
- Australian Capital Territory – Vulnerable (Nature Conservation Act 2014).
Conservation actions
In the ACT, the wetlands where the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper feeds and roosts are mostly in protected areas. Conservation actions to improve its habitat include to:
- manage threats, especially those relating to urban development
- examine population trends and habitat
- encourage and support community involvement.