After a silence of three months, ecologist Matt Herring feared the worst for Gloria, a bird he had captured and fitted with a satellite tracker on October 22, 2023. This event, taking place on a property north of Balranald in New South Wales, marked a significant milestone as Gloria became the first Australian painted-snipe to be equipped with such technology. However, the subsequent loss of contact left Herring preparing an obituary for this avian trailblazer, especially since her tracker had been financed through a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Against all odds, Gloria reappeared more than 1,000 kilometers north of her initial capture location, near Birdsville in outback Queensland. Herring hypothesized that the tiny solar panel on her two-gram tracker might have been obscured by a feather, causing the temporary loss of signal. In an even more remarkable feat, another painted-snipe named Marcelina, captured on January 3 of this year from the same property, had traveled over 2,200 kilometers to Daly Waters in the Top End.
The Australian painted-snipe is a mysterious waterbird, primarily active from dusk to dawn and known for its intricate plumage that camouflages it during the day. Sightings of this species predominantly occur in summer, indicating a migratory or nomadic nature. Herring’s initiative, the Australian Painted-snipe Tracking project, aims to discover the bird’s winter habitats—a task proving challenging due to the remote locations these birds inhabit.
By mapping the movements of these birds, Herring hopes to aid in the conservation of one of Australia’s least-known and rarest species. According to the 2020 Action Plan for Australian Birds, there may be as few as 340 painted-snipes remaining in the wild. However, Herring believes this number is an underestimation, noting that consecutive La Niña years have partially restored water flows in the Murray-Darling basin, the bird’s breeding ground.
Despite an anticipated boost in population numbers, Herring noted there had not been a significant increase in sightings, unlike the dramatic surge observed in 2011-2012 following the end of the millennium drought. During that period, approximately 400 painted-snipes were recorded, but just before the black summer bushfires, sightings had dwindled to only a few locations, raising serious concerns about the species’ survival.
In contrast, between July and December of last year, 61 painted-snipes were recorded across 25 sites. This partial recovery occurred during a period of heightened birdwatching interest post-Covid. Satellite tracking has emerged as the most efficient method for monitoring the birds’ movements, helping to identify their habitat requirements and pinpoint areas for conservation efforts.
Data from the first six months of tracking Gloria and Marcelina revealed over a dozen individual wetlands utilized by the species across three states and the Northern Territory. This information allows collaboration with wetland managers, including farmers, traditional owners, and national park rangers. While understanding their movement patterns is essential, Herring emphasized the importance of conserving these critical habitats.
Remarkably, surveys conducted over summer indicated that Australian painted-snipes are extensively using human-modified habitats. On the property where Gloria and Marcelina were tagged, about 25 birds were observed feeding in flooded wheat stubble. Landowners Peter and Sue Morton have been proactive, using designated environmental flows to create a mix of shallow water, mudflats, and low cover favored by the painted-snipe.
Peter Morton, an avid bird photographer, recounted setting up cameras and pumping water into a channel, only to find ten painted-snipes, including Gloria, on the footage. He is now working on fencing off the woodland to protect the birds’ habitat, highlighting community involvement in conservation efforts.
In a significant development, the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, in partnership with the Commonwealth environmental water holder, announced a targeted conservation initiative for the Australian painted-snipe. This government-sponsored effort also aims to protect other threatened species, such as the southern pygmy perch and the southern bell frog.
Herring acknowledged that while crowdfunding for conservation can engage the public directly in species recovery, it should not replace federal responsibility for protecting nationally threatened species. Nonetheless, given the urgency of the painted-snipe’s plight, waiting for traditional funding sources is not a viable option. Herring’s innovative approach and the support of the community offer a beacon of hope for the survival of this enigmatic bird.
