There are unique challenges associated with accurately surveying migratory shorebirds. These birds are notoriously difficult to identify correctly and their preferred habitats are often very difficult to access.

OTS staff have decades of experience working with migratory shorebirds around the world, and are industry leaders in offering shorebird monitoring and research services including:

• Conducting migratory shorebird surveys for environmental impact assessment (read more below).

• Coordinating migratory shorebird surveys and training programs for conservation and citizen science projects.

• Using advanced and innovative survey techniques, with methods tailored to the needs of the project.

• Contributing to conservation efforts through banding and leg-flagging of migratory shorebirds in key locations along their migratory flyway.

Migratory Shorebird surveys for EIA

Most migratory shorebirds in Australia are threatened or protected under federal and state legislation, and therefore any actions that may impact shorebirds must seek EIA approval, as is the standard practice with all threatened species.

Unlike most environmental consultants, OTS is uniquely positioned to fulfil the shorebird assessment and monitoring requirements for the EIA approval process. OTS staff are extremely skilled in this highly specialised area of fauna surveying.

OTS designs and conducts specialised migratiory shorebird EIA surveys with ongoing monitoring programs where neccessary. These surveys can fill a variety of needs from basic to detailed EIA bird surveys, and surveys often incorporate innovative or highly specialised field techniques such as aerial surveys. OTS also provides customised survey and monitoring projects for for numerous industries including the renewable energy sector (e.g. windfarms).

Click here to visit the Australian Government website and view the Industry guidelines for avoiding, assessing and mitigating impacts on EPBC Act listed migratory shorebird species.

Advanced survey Techniques

OTS staff are highly experienced with specialist migratory shorebird and waterbird surveys and have conducted numerous migratory shorebird surveys and regularly undertake migratory shorebird monitoring programs across the Western Australia. These surveys range from basic to detailed methodologies.