Coastal bird populations are affected by both naturally occurring pressures and pressures arising from human activities. Pressures associated with human activities include the direct disturbance of birds, and indirect pressures from habitat loss and deterioration.

Habitat degradation and disturbance includes both direct and indirect pressures. Direct pressures usually arise from disturbance of birds from human visitation or use of an area, while indirect pressures are caused by the degradation or loss of nesting, foraging or roosting habitats sites such as islands or wetlands.

Queensland’s coastal wetlands (including mangroves, creeks and rivers, tidal mudflats and swamps) cover some 71 000km² (Fisk et al. 2003). While the extent of wetland habitat lost since European settlement is unknown, it is evident that large areas of the Queensland coast have been modified for human use, particularly for agriculture. Developments such as ports, marinas, expansion of coastal towns and aquaculture, may also result in habitat degradation (Stokes et al. 1996). For example, the clearing of coastal rainforest habitat in the Cardwell region is thought to be a limiting factor in the growth of the Pied Imperial Pigeon population (J Hicks  2005, pers. comm., September).

Some islands and cays have been significantly degraded by activities such as guano mining. For example, Lady Elliot Island was extensively mined in the 1800s, resulting in the loss of almost all vegetation, nutrients and soil.  

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Citation and/or URL

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2006, State of the Great Barrier Reef Report: environmental status: birds 

Spatial Coverage

Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

Temporal Coverage

Information current as of May 2006 

Update Frequency

Not applicable 

Other Information

None