Site faithfulness and migratory movements of Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea within Australia

Site faithfulness and migratory movements of Curlew Sandpipers within Australia are analysed from retraps, recoveries and flag sightings. These were derived from 34,531 newly banded birds, 14,076 of which were also marked with coloured plastic leg flags. 3,983 retraps in years subsequent to banding in Victoria/south-eastern corner of South Australia indicated that 3.1% of adults and 7.1% of juveniles/first year birds had changed location to an alternative nonbreeding area within the region. If longer distance relocations evident from recoveries and flag sightings (up to 3,000 km movements) are taken into account, together with an allowance for birds which had moved but were not relocated, then it is estimated 5–10% of adults and 10–20% of young birds may not be faithful to their nonbreeding area. Migratory movements of Curlew Sandpipers in Australia are on a broad front with many birds crossing the continent (2,000–3,000km) on both southward and northward migrations. Others use coastal routes, particularly the east coast on southward migration. The main passage of adults on southward migration takes place in late August and September in northern Australia but a few may still be moving through until early November. Juvenile passage is typically a month later. Return migration of adults from southern Australia commences in early March and most pass through northern Australia in the last half of March and the first half of April. Many first year Curlew Sandpipers, which do not return to the breeding areas until they are two years old, move away from their initial nonbreeding area during the breeding season. Some birds from south-eastern Australia even traverse the continent to spend the May to mid August period on the northern coasts of Australia.