C
The Vasse Wonnerup wetlands provide habitat to thousands of Australian and international water bird species as well as supporting the largest breeding population of black swans in the state. In 1990 the wetlands were recognised as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar status of the wetland is based on several criteria. Criteria 5 is that the wetland regularly supports > 20,000 waterfowl and Criteria 6 that it supports at least 1% of the individuals of a population of Black Winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (2118), the Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides (779), the Red-Necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae (756) and the Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis (74).
The overall grade for waterbirds in this report (listed above) is based on meeting Criteria 5, regularly supporting ≥ 20,000 waterfowl (numbers below).
Individual grades for each species in Criteria 6 is shown below following methodology developed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
14,651
3053
1643
1851
288
Vasse wet
Wonnerup wet
Vasse dry
Wonnerup dry
SURFACE DABBLERS (MIXED DIET)
DIVERS (PREDATORY)
DIVERS (VEGETARIAN)
LARGE WADERS (PREDATORY – FISH, INVERTEBRATES)
SMALL WADERS (PREDATORY – INVERTEBRATES)
SHORE LINE (PREDATORY)
Number of birds (per guild)
1 bird = 10-100 individuals
2 birds = 100-500 individuals
3 birds = 500-1000 individuals
4 birds = 1000+ individuals
| Year | Waterbirds > 20,000 | Black-winged stilt >1000 | Red-necked avocet >1100 | Australian shelduck >1100 | Australasian shoveler >250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | C | A | A | A | A |
| 2021 | C | A | A | A | A |
| 2020 | B | A | A | A | A |
| 2019 | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2018 | B | A | B | C | A |
| 2017 | A | A | D | A | E |
A
Excellent
Exceeds population target
B
Very Good
80-99% of target
C
Fair
65-79% of target
D
Poor
50-64% of target
E
Very Poor
below 50% of target
