Curlews - Distribution

Distributed widely throughout north and northeast Australia. Is absent to scattered in the interior of Australia.

In Queensland it is found mainly in the east and central regions including offshore islands. In the NOrthern Territory, it is widespread north of 160 degrees south and offshore islands and in NSW it is generally found along the western slopes and plains and Riverina but rare east of the Dividing range. In Victoria it is found mainly in the north with scattered records along the Murray Valley. In South Australia it is found mainly in the South - particularly Kangaroo island. Western Australia generally the South West and Pilbara and Kimberley region and generally absent from the western desert and Eucla region. There are records made in Tasmania and Papua New Guinea.

Movement during breeding

Curlews are sedentary and territorial when breeding. There is some local movement during breeding due to food depletion or changes made to habitat.

Do you know of any other reasons?

Movement after breeding

When the birds are not breeding some may form flocks, which are believed to move locally. In the Northern Territory, the flocks are thought to roam over 100 km^2. There are unsupported claims that the Curlews on Kangaroo Island move 15 - 30 km to the mainland every night.

In the Redlands we have yet to establish if the Curlews have any pattern of movement during the winter / non-breeding months.

We are interested to hear if anyone has any knowledge of the Curlews congregating in flocks or moving between the islands or the mainland and the islands.

Distribution in the Redland Shire

Curlews have been recorded in most areas of the Shire but survey data shows they are not prevalent or are absent in the Thorneside, Birkdale and Wellington Point areas.

Curlews can still be found in Alexandra Hills, Capalaba, Cleveland and Thornlands. However, road kills are being reported in Capalaba and Alexandra Hills, and with continuing development in the Ney Road area we can expect this trend to continue.

Cleveland, Thornlands and Mt Cotton appear to support a number of Curlews, particularly in parks and private properties with or adjacent to nearby bush.

Victoria Point and Redland Bay seems to support the bulk of the mainland Curlew population, with a number of key points proving popular with the Curlews. These are the All Saints Church, the park near the Air Sea Rescue facilities, Pt O'Halloran and the eastern esplanades at Victoria Point. While Moogarrupum Creek corridor appears to support a number of Curlews.

However, the best survev results come from the Bay Islands, particularly Coochiemudlo, North Stradbroke, Peel Island and Macleay Island, Lamb and Karragarra Island data are still coming in but these also are apparently popular sites for Curlews.

Note: recent surveys by WPSQ BaySide Branch have found several Beach Curlews on Moreton Island and individual sightings on Macleay Island and Pt Talburpan.