Understanding beach users' behavior, awareness, and attitudes to shorebird conservation in central Queensland: tools for effective shorebird conservation

Human activity is considered to be a key factor contributing to the worldwide decline in shorebird populations. In order to minimize human disturbance to shorebirds it is important to determine public awareness of shorebirds and shorebird conservation issues so that effective management can be implemented. In this study, we used self-enumeration questionnaires to survey beach users in coastal central Queensland, Australia, to gain an understanding of the awareness and attitudes of beach users. Results show that beaches were visited on a daily basis indicating that there is considerable potential for human disturbance of shorebird populations. Fifty-six percent of participants spent more than an hour at the beach per visit and 57% of participants spent most of their time at or in the low tide area. Most participants visited the beach to undertake a variety of activities, of which walking/jogging/running was the most frequently reported activity (38%). The survey results indicate that shorebird conservation is considered important, with most people believing that shorebirds and people can co-exist (90%). In terms of raising awareness of shorebird conservation issues, inconsistencies were found to exist between how participants reported they learn and which sources they considered to be most effective. Therefore, we conclude that implementing communication strategies that incorporate multiple media types such as signage supported by TV/radio or newsprint will be most effective at promoting shorebird awareness and conservation