Favourable inland wetland conditions increase apparent survival of migratory shorebirds in Australia

Many migratory shorebird species using the East Asian–Australasian Flyway are declining rapidly. While loss of staging habitats in Asia is considered primary cause, stressors to fitness often occur throughout geographic range species, and threats non-breeding grounds have been comparatively poorly studied. Three shorebird, Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Sharp-tailed (C. acuminata) Red-necked Stint ruficollis), use Australia’s dynamic temporary wetland systems opportunistically, yet these large become increasingly degraded, with reduced frequency extent flooding. Here, we test whether variables related availability interior can explain annual variation apparent survival, abundance or immature adult ratios at three well-monitored coastal areas southern Australia (total area > 1315 km2). We show that bird immatures coast were higher when inland was relatively hot dry. Also, a small but significant amount survival be explained by conditions, rates years conditions wet cool. For endangered Sandpiper, impacts Australian environmental may exacerbating experienced other parts its on survival. effects document here weak, they do suggest management wetlands for shorebirds positively affect sharply species.