Overview
We have updated information about the 37 migratory shorebird species in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. The new resources are:
- population estimates for Australian migratory shorebirds
- the Australian National Directory of Important Migratory Shorebird Habitat
- a spatial tool to support the directory.
Australia hosts millions of migratory shorebirds every year. Many species rely on Australia's wetlands during the non-breeding season to fuel their long journeys.
This information is designed for governments, industry, NGOs and community stakeholders. It can be used to support:
- environmental impact assessments
- strategies to avoid and mitigate impacts to migratory shorebirds under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
- conservation actions to protect shorebird species
- site management, monitoring and restoration.
This new information provides the practical science to:
- reduce uncertainty for proponents and decision makers
- identify the most important habitats for migratory shorebirds
- assist proponents with site selection and project design.
We commissioned BirdLife Australia to deliver the project. It was funded by the Renewables Environmental Research Initiative (RERI).
About the directory
The National Directory of Important Migratory Shorebird Habitat in Australia (the Directory) sets out critical sites for migratory shorebirds. It is a comprehensive guide to identifying and protecting their key habitats. The directory supports our national and international commitments. These include:
- regulating under the EPBC Act
- abiding by the Ramsar Convention
- respecting bilateral migratory bird agreements.
This directory brings together 15 years of data from around 3,500 areas across Australia. The 2025 directory identifies 331 areas of importance to 37 species of migratory shorebirds. Habitats are classified as nationally or internationally significant based on criteria in our national policy (EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.21). The new reports give regulators and the regulated community scientific information. This helps them apply the policy effectively.
About the spatial tool
The online spatial tool visually displays the information in the directory. It shows the population estimates. It allows users to explore the areas used by migratory shorebirds in Australia.
About the population estimates
This report updates population numbers for 37 migratory shorebird species listed under the EPBC Act. The estimates update a 2016 report of the same name. This report presents new data collected to estimate shorebird populations. It will also improve the efficiency of environmental assessment under the EPBC act.
For some species, population estimates have changed from 2016 to now. This does not necessarily mean the populations have increased or decreased. The numbers reflect that better, more complete data is now available. They help estimate shorebird numbers for future planning and development.
For more information, read the revision of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Population Estimates for 37 listed Migratory Shorebird Species.