Common name
Latham's Snipe
Alternate name
Japanese Snipe
Stronghold population
False
Regionally significant/rationale
True
Restricted distribution/rationale
False
Historical abundance
Insufficient data
Overall distribution
Northern Queensland to South Australia mostly coastal and subcoastal, also common through the Murry-Darling Basin, also uncommon in coastal Western Australia.
Local distribution
Found in wide variety of wetlands preferring open freshwater with cover nearby. Breeds in Japan and migrates to Australia (arrival July-Oct) for non-breeding season
Known location
Carrara, Lamington NP, Hope Island, Eagleby, Coombabah, Southport, Merrimac, Beenleigh, Mudgeeraba,
Other locality
Scattered records throughout the Gold Coast. Occasionally sighted at Waterford, Mudgeeraba, Coomera Valley, Tallebudgera valley, Currumbin Valley.
General ecology
Soft wet ground around the edges of freshwater streams or pools with fringing vegetation.
Habitat comment
Mainly a passage migrant in south-east Queensland, with a small number of birds staying for summer.
Threats
Little is known about the environmental pressures on this species, the following may have a detrimental impact on the Latham's Snipe.
1. Drainage of wetlands for agriculture, settlement, irrigation and destruction of vegetation around wetland margins caused by grazing by domestic stock.
2. Frequency of fires.
Management
Where ever possible the following suggested objectives and guidelines should be followed:
Objectives:
1. Protect known nest sites by reducing the impact of feral predators on the species.
2. Maintain the water quality of the habitat
Guidelines:
1. Searches to be undertaken for this species in their appropriate habitat.
2. Prescribed burning and grazing regimes should not be detrimental to floristic and structural diversity of riparian and wetland vegetation and water quality
3. Protect population from domestic and feral animals. Feral animal control programs should target recently disturbed areas adjacent to wetlands and water courses where the species has been located.
4. Consider options for limiting other activities which threaten the long term viability of habitat, such as grazing.
Migration notes
Regular summer migrant.
Feeding substrate
Marshy ground
Diet
Invertebrates and plant material
Breeding season
Summer, northern hemisphere
Social group
Small parties, occasional large companies.
Behaviour
Rams bill vertically into marshy ground with a rapid sewing-machine action. When disturbed freezers, or bursts up fast, zigzagging flight, alarm-call flushing others into the sky or quickly drop into cover.
Biology
Identification: Length 31 cm. Intricately marked rufous, black and buff, with bold brown stripes and cream barred flanks; belly and underparts whitish.
Similar to the Pin-tailed and Swinhoe's Snipe.
Citations
Pizzey & Knight 1997, Reader's Digest 1988, Stanger et.al. 1998.
