Visions and Objectives

The VWSG’s primary objective is to conduct a long-term comprehensive study of waders and terns throughout Victoria. These monitoring data are used for shorebird conservation and education in the East Asian- Australasian Flyway. The VWSG monitors both migrant and resident species.

The VWSG’s research objectives include:

• Population monitoring (by counting and catching)
• Determination of migration routes, stopover locations and destinations
• Biometrics of species and subpopulations
• Weight changes associated with migration
• Primary moult duration and mode
• Survival rates
• Reproductive rates
• Behavioural differences between adult and immature birds
• Determination of age when species first breed

The goals of the VWSG also align with the Federal Government’s Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds 2015, in particular stated actions like:

“Action 3.7. Encourage research on reproduction and survival rates of migratory shorebirds and trends of these over time”.