Using movement and habitat use data from threatened migratory shorebirds to assess the value of a proposed protected area, Bako Buntal Bay, Malaysian Borneo

At least eight million shorebirds use the East Asian-Australasian Flyway annually where they rely on a network of largely unprotected sites. As many species are threatened by habitat loss throughout their migration routes, establishing protected areas for shorebirds has become increasingly urgent. With limited information on their movement patterns in their wintering region, (e.g., Southeast Asia), instituting effective protected areas for highly mobile species remains challenging. Bako Buntal Bay is a nonbreeding site in Malaysian Borneo for approximately 30,000 migratory shorebirds of over 40 species. As efforts advance toward its formal protection, it is essential to assess whether such a protected area could safeguard shorebird habitats and space use. Our tracking data from 21 shorebirds of four species (far eastern curlew Numenius madagascariensis, bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica, common redshank Tringa totanus, terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus) revealed that home ranges and core areas varied across species, with variations in habitat preferences across the tidal cycle. The proposed protected area overlapped with a substantial proportion of their local movements as it covered a range of habitat types, particularly tidal flats and mangroves. However, the shorebirds' reliance on one artificial supratidal roost outside the proposed boundary still renders these populations vulnerable to future management uncertainties. This highlights the necessity of identifying all important areas and coordinating management with local stakeholders to ensure protection and management of key habitats within and beyond protected areas. This is the first tracking study of migratory shorebirds in Malaysia and Borneo, filling a critical regional knowledge gap.

Duke Scholars

Author Chi Yeung Choi DKU Faculty