Waterbirds Report Card

The Vasse Wonnerup wetlands provide habitat to thousands of Australian and international waterbird species as well as supporting one of the largest breeding populations of Black Swans in the state.  In 1990, the wetlands were recognised as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention.  The Ramsar status of the wetland is based on two criteria.  Criterion 5 is that the wetland regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds and Criterion 6 is that it supports at least 1% of the individuals of a population of Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), the Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) and the Australasian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis).

Waterbird monitoring occurs monthly at ten locations across the Vasse and Wonnerup Estuaries and Deadwater. Waterbirds grades were based on the maximum count that occurred between June and the following May, to capture the “Estuary Year”. Due to the seasonal nature of waterbirds abundance, waterbird guilds for the wet season (June to October) and the dry season (November to May) have been presented separately.

The overall grade for waterbirds in this Report Card is based on meeting Criterion 5, regularly supporting 20,000 or more waterbirds. Individual grades for each species in Criterion 6 are shown below following methodology developed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.