Migratory species in Australia

Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea

Importance, threats and conservation status
Mark Barter
Wetlands International, 2002
ISBN 90 5882 009 2

4. Shorebirds occuring in internationally important numbers at Yellow Sea sites (continued)

4.4 Species accounts (continued)

4.4.18 Sanderling Calidris alba

Subspecies None.

Distribution in the EAAF

Breeding: Probably New Siberian Is.

Non-breeding: Open sandy beaches in e. and se. China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, se. Asia and Australia.

Usage and importance of Yellow Sea

Occurrence: Intertidal areas. NM and SM Widespread, but generally only in small numbers except for a few favoured areas. NB At Yancheng NNR; small numbers in South Korea. Numbers are probably underestimated, as this species is relatively easy to miss amongst other small shorebirds.

Movements: NM and SM Appears to migrate on a broad front, as the species is common in Japan (NM: 3 206 max; SM: 4 401 max.). Birds from se. Australia occur in both China and South Korea.

Significance of Yellow Sea: There is insufficient information to allow an estimate to be made of numbers occurring in China.

Key sites: 3 sites of international importance have been identified, 2 in South Korea and 1 in China; 1 of the sites is important during NM, all 3 during SM and 1 during the NB season (see site location maps below). Yancheng NNR is a particularly important site supporting >10% of the estimated flyway population during NM and >5% in the NB season.

Status of key sites: The Chinese site is in a Protected Area.

Major gaps in knowledge: Incomplete geographical and temporal coverage in China. No information from North Korea.

Site count references

  1. Wang 1997
  2. Yi & Kim in prep.

EAAF POPULATION ESTIMATE: 22 000
YELLOW SEA
Status: Passage migrant and non-breeding visitor
Estimated minimum numbers:
NM: South Korea: 250.
SM: South Korea: 540.
NB: South Korea: 30.
INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT SITES (and Protected Area status)
South Korea: 2 (0)
China: 1 (1)

Sites of international importance for Sanderling (all used during southward migration)
Sites of international importance for Sanderling (all used during southward migration)
   Site Country Count Ref
1 Nakdong Gang Hagu South Korea 533 2
2 Yancheng NNR China 362 1
3 Geum Gang Hagu South Korea 300 2
         
         
         
Site of international importance for Sanderling during both northward migration and the non-breeding season
Site of international importance for Sanderling during both northward migration and the non-breeding season
   Site Country Count Ref
1 Yancheng NNR (NM) China 3 095 1
1 Yancheng NNR (NB) China 1 102 1
         
         
         
         

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