Migratory shorebirds make the long journey across the globe from places like Siberia, Japan and Alaska to visit the Gippsland Lakes, in some cases more than 10,000 kilometres.
Visiting each year, they arrive in spring and make the long-haul flight back to breed in the northern hemisphere as the weather turns colder in autumn.
Most migratory birds travel to the Gippsland Lakes from breeding grounds in
northeast Asia and Alaska along what is known as the East Asian Australasian Flyway. It is a 20,000-kilometre round trip for some
of these birds.
Used by millions of waterbirds each year, the Flyway is a network of wetlands and coastal habitats from the arctic through East and Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand where birds rest and feed during their long journeys.
The Bar-tailed Godwit, one of the larger migratory birds that visits the Gippsland Lakes, holds the world record for the longest non-stop flight by any bird recorded. This is a 13,560-kilometre journey non-stop from Alaska to Tasmania in only 11 days.
Bar-tailed Godwits stop off in the Gippsland Lakes after their long journey to rest and refuel. They leave Australia in late autumn, returning to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia, northern Asia and Alaska. Young birds often remain in Australia all year, returning to the northern hemisphere the following year to breed.
The Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site supports more than 90 species of waterbirds, including important migratory species such as the Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Stint, Common Greenshank, Latham’s Snipe, and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
To celebrate the arrival of the migratory birds, a community event will be held at Eagle Point Foreshore and Hub on Friday, October 10, from 11am to 7pm.
This free event is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the inspiring initiatives that protect and enhance the Gippsland Lakes and surrounding catchments and to connect with local agencies and community groups. Discover how habitat restoration projects are helping to support the migratory birds that visit the region each year.
