Changes in the waterbird community of the Lake Illawarra estuary: 20 years of research

摘要: The entrance channel to Lake Illawarra on the southern coast of New South Wales, Australia is home over 55 species waterbird. Between 1981 and 2003 four periods systematic population survey were undertaken by authors. Herein we analyse this data examine temporal trends in individual foraging guilds. We found that changes environmental conditions due engineered habitat reduction appear have resulted decrease probing pecking invertebrate feeders (8 species), especially trans-equatorial migrants. Conversely, indigenous increase their local populations marginally through study period. largest overall change occurred amongst diving fish-eaters, Little Pied Cormorant Australian Pelican, which increased markedly both these now breed locally. loss intertidal mud flats saltmarsh around margins Windang Bridge be main cause for avian invertebrate-feeder diversity