12/10/2026
30,000 frequent flyers have landed in the Moreton Bay wetlands for some much-needed rest and refuelling! 🐦
During the warmer months, South East Queensland becomes a summer sanctuary for approximately 30,000 migratory shorebirds – such as the bar-tailed godwit, far eastern curlew, and greater sand plover – flying in from across the globe to rest and refuel. 🌏
These feathered travellers follow the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, a 26,000km round trip that’s one of the world’s great migratory routes. But habitat loss and human disturbance are putting their journey and survival at risk.
Moreton Bay’s Ramsar-listed wetlands are critical to their survival, offering rich feeding grounds and safe roosting spots.
If you live in or visit the region, be mindful of the impact you’re making. Here is how you can be a shorebird hero:
🐕Keep dogs on a leash.
🚮Dispose of rubbish responsibly.
🚗Avoid beach driving during shorebird season.
🐈Keep cats indoors and report pest animals.
🚶Walk lightly in tidal zones.
Read on for more ways you can protect shorebird habitat: https://hlw.org.au/news/the-birds-are-back-in-town
Image 1 is from Curlew island located in Broadwater on the Gold Coast. This small, two-hectare island is the sourthernmost roosting and feeding site for migratory shorebirds that visit the Moreton Bay region and is vital habitat for species such as the endangered Far Eastern Curlew.
