Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii
Sydney Olympic Park provides habitat for the migratory bird Latham’s Snipe. This species primarily inhabits Narawang Wetland, but has also been recorded at other freshwater wetlands including the Eastern Water Quality Control Pond, the Northern Water Feature, the Brickpit, Bennelong Pond and the Back Swamps adjacent to Lake Belvedere.
Species description
Latham’s Snipe is a migratory bird species that inhabits Sydney Olympic Park during the spring and summer. It is present in Australia between mid-August and April, migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway from breeding sites in Japan and the east Asian mainland to take advantage of the productive summer months in both hemispheres. Individuals may stay in the Park throughout the spring and summer, or may just use the Park to rest and feed before migrating further south.
Whereas migratory shorebirds are generally associated with intertidal habitats, Latham’s Snipe mostly utilises the margins of freshwater swamps, particularly where dense stands of tall grasses, sedges, reeds or rushes are available as day time shelter sites. It generally feeds at night, early morning or evening, in soft mudflats or shallow water. It is omnivorous, eating seeds and plant material as well as worms, spiders, insects, molluscs and centipedes.
Latham’s Snipe is a cryptic and well-camouflaged species. It is usually only detected when disturbed from cover, when it gives an alarm call, bursts into the air, and flies rapidly away to a shelter site nearby in a distinctive zig-zagging manner.
Conservation significance
Like other migratory birds, historical data indicates a reduction in the population of Latham's Snipe in the Parramatta River estuary, including Sydney Olympic Park, particularly over the last 20 years. During the 1990s, counts of 60-100 birds were made at sites that are now part of Sydney Olympic Park, compared with counts of around 10 in recent years. Habitat loss and disturbance are likely to have contributed to this decline; factors outside of Australia along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway are also contributing.
As well as supporting birds that are resident in the Park over the summer months, the Park may also function as a transit site for birds moving to and from summer habitats in more southerly parts of Australia. Thus the number of Latham's Snipe present at a particular time may significantly underestimate the number of birds reliant upon the Park’s habitats throughout the summer migration period.
Management
Water levels are managed in key freshwater wetlands to ensure sufficient moist, swampy foraging habitat is available for Latham's Snipe throughout the spring and summer months.
Habitat quality is being enhanced by planting grasses and sedges in relatively sparse areas to provide the necessary tall, dense shelter sites for this species, and to improve connectivity between wetland areas.
Disturbance to Latham's Snipe is minimised by providing designated pathways for visitors, and the requirement for pets to be kept on a leash in key habitat areas.
Predator control programs are ongoing to reduce populations of foxes and other introduced pests that may prey on Latham’s Snipe.
Latham's Snipe and its habitat at Sydney Olympic Park
Latham's Snipe and its habitat in Japan