International visitor wows wildlife specialists at the Port of Bundaberg

An extremely rare migratory shorebird has been recorded at the Port of Bundaberg. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper has been recorded less than 20 times in Australia and has never before been recorded in Queensland.

Buffy (as he or she has been affectionately nicknamed) turned up on a regular shorebird count of the Port’s ponds on 28 February conducted on behalf of the Port of Bundaberg by the Burnett Mary Regional Group for NRM in conjunction with the Bundy Bird Observers Club (Bundy BOC).

The bird would normally be expected to be in South America between September and March before migrating back to breed in the Arctic tundra around about April. Instead, like many tourists, Buffy opted for a summer holiday here in Bundaberg.

But the story doesn’t end there. Between February and the end of March nearly 80 keen ornithologists were facilitated access to the site visiting from as far afield as Adelaide, Darwin and NSW. Buffy also attracted her own VIPs which included a representative from the Birds Australia Rarities Committee and a photographer from Scientific American.

“Finding the bird was exciting enough,” said Dr Chris Barnes who, along with Nev Cappell of Bundy BOC, discovered the bird on-site, “but thanks to the generosity of the Port to then have the opportunity to study and share it with the rest of Australia’s birding fraternity was a real bonus.”

As for Buffy and what did he/she think about all the extra interest? His / her initial behaviour was fairly stand-offish, preferring not to associate with other groups of shorebirds and feeding on his / her own. But following the cyclone’s rainfall and a significant increase in feed on site, the bird has put on weight and looks fit and healthy enough to think about migrating.

Recorded again last weekend, the bird has been observed associating with another migratory bird currently residing at the Port; the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers who will themselves shortly migrate back to the Arctic Siberia.

“We’ve now recorded the bird in our formal counts for February, March and April – so we’re not sure whether or not the bird will migrate this season. For now, we’re just excited to have the opportunity to observe a bird that many bird watchers will never even get to see in their lifetime,” said Sue Sargent, Coastal & Marine Coordinator with BMRG.

Incidentally – for those of you that are wondering why, with so many experts in attendance, were observers unable to tell whether Buffy is a male or a female? The males and females are almost identical in appearance and only really differ in size – having only one on site has made that a call that only Buffy knows the answer to!