Conservation and Management

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). The world population of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) has estimated at 160,000 birds (8 Bamford, M., D. Watkins, W. Bancroft, G. Tischler, and J. Wahl (2008). Migratory shorebirds of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway: population estimates and internationally important sites. Wetlands International, Canberra, Australia. Close ) and at 85,000 birds (but with 95% confidence limits of 83,842 and 173,717;9 Hansen, B.D., R. A. Fuller, D. Watkins, D. I. Rogers, R. S. Clemens, M. Newman, E. J. Woehler, and D. R. Weller, D.R. (2016). Revision of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Population Estimates for 37 listed Migratory Shorebird Species. Unpublished report for the Department of the Environment. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne, Australia. Close ) depending on the model used. There is no current evidence of an overall decline, though numbers at Coorong, South Australia — an important wintering site — have been reported as declining (93 Paton, D.C., Rogers, D.J., Hill, B.M., Bailey, C.P. and Ziembicki, M. (2009). Temporal changes to spatially stratified waterbird communities of the Coorong, South Australia: implications for the management of heterogenous wetlands. Animal Conservation. 12(5): 408–417. Close ).

The greatest danger to the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is habitat loss at migratory stops in Asia due to industrial development and water diversion along major tributaries (13 Barter, M. A. (2002). Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea: importance, threats and conservation status. Wetlands International Global Series 9, International Wader Studies 12, Canberra, Australia. Close ). Hunting in China is also a threat, though a much lesser one (94 Ming, M., L. Jianjian, T. Chengjia, S. Pingyue, and H. Wei (1998). The contribution of shorebirds to the catches of hunters in the Shanghai area, China, during 1997-1998. Stilt 33:32–36 Close , 13 Barter, M. A. (2002). Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea: importance, threats and conservation status. Wetlands International Global Series 9, International Wader Studies 12, Canberra, Australia. Close ).

Most of the world's population winters in Australia, especially southeastern Australia, where population densities are high; therefore, suitable management of coastal and inland wetlands in this region is essential for survival of the species. At Hunter Estuary, New South Wales, the opening of floodgates from 2008 to 2013 led to the formation of new tidal saltmarshes which were then heavily used by Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, with >1,000 birds present every Austral summer from 2011/2012 onwards and peak numbers of 7,000 to 8,000 birds during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 (45 Stuart, A. (2019). Recent high counts of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in the Hunter Estuary. The Whistler 13:56–61. Close ). Additionally, an area in New South Wales that had previously hosted large numbers of shorebirds was then was overgrown by gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) due to human activity; the mangroves were cleared and shorebirds (including Sharp-tailed Sandpiper) returned in numbers to the newly formed mudflats (69 Reid, P. (2019). Changes in wetland use by shorebirds following mangrove removal, Area E, Ash Island, New South Wales. The Whistler 13:62–68. Close ).