WATERBIRDS OF LAKE EYRE, AUSTRALIA

Few data exist on abundance and diversity of waterbirds on Lake Eyre in the arid zone of Australia. We report extremely high densities of waterbirds during a study over an eight-month period, August 1990-February 1991. At least thirty species were seen during aerial surveys, and nine previously unrecorded species were sighted on the lake. Numbers were highest in December when more than 300000 waterbirds, including 135000 shorebirds, were estimated. These figures were considered to underestimate true abundance by 50%. Australian pelicans Pelecanus conspicillatus (448 nests), silver gulls Larus novaehollandiae (4754 nests) and Caspian terns Hydroprogne caspia (about 80 nests) nested on one of the islands. Only silver gulls and Caspian terns were successful. Historical records indicate that some flooding of the lake bed occurs every year. These results show the importance of this wetland to waterbird conservation in Australia.