Thread by @vwsg_web

1/5
140 VWSG volunteers have been monitoring waders in SE Aus for 40 years. We have several important sites around Victoria for catching and banding waders. Data are used for pop monitoring, migration route, survival and repro rate assessment 
#SCBMelb20

2/5
Using geolocators we have revealed the AMAZING migration of Ruddy Turnstones. Flagging shows individuals return to exactly the same stretch of beach on King Island each summer. Adult birds migrate ~12,500km to Siberia to breed before returning #SCBMelb20

3/5
Curlew Sandpipers are experiencing drastic population declines. Through tracking, we find that they leave earlier, use fewer sites, are more site specific, and arrive later than Red-necked Stint, which has only minor population declines. #SCBMelb20

4/5
30 years of nest counts and banding of Crested Terns at 3 Vic colonies show high annual variation in site use and colony exchange. Adult survival is high, but chick survival is variable and affected by prey (fish) availability #SCBMelb20

5/5
Banding/flagging reveals the lifespan of waders. Two amazing records show pied oystercatchers live over 30 years. 

We always welcome new volunteers, so please join us.
More info vwsg.org.au

#SCBMelb20