MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF GREAT, INTERMEDIATE AND LITTLE EGRETS FROM AUSTRALIAN BREEDING COLONIES
| Posted: |
28/07/2021 |
| Author(s): |
C. Ireland, D. J. Geering, G. B. Pearson, G. R. Cam, M. Maddock, S. A. Halse |
The current state of knowledge about the movements of Great, Intermediate and Little Egrets from Australian
breeding colonies is reviewed using published work, data provided by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme
and the records of Project Egret Watch at the Shortland Wetlands Centre. The limited data available suggest that
the three egret species undertake movements to all points of the compass but that inland birds tend to move north
towards Queensland and New Guinea. Data from the coastal colonies in New South Wales indicate that fledglings
disperse to foraging and night roosting locations on the floodplain where the colony is situated, before embarking on
long-distance migration. Long-distance movements (up to 3 000 km) soon after fledging have been recorded from
colonies in coastal and inland New South Wales and Western Australia. There is some evidence that a seasonal
migration between nesting colonies and wintering locations may take place for at least some birds originating from
coastal colonies.
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