Ryding, S (2026). Assessing disease incursion risk by mapping and modelling shorebird migratory behaviour in the face of global change processes. Webinar presentation. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Cairns.
Overview
Webinar presentation
On 28 July 2026, the Marine and Coastal Hub delivered a webinar providing an overview of two national research projects designed to support the recovery, management and protection of Australia’s migratory shorebirds.
The projects combine long-term monitoring, migration tracking, conservation evidence and predictive modelling to improve understanding of shorebird population dynamics, identify effective management actions, and assess future disease risks associated with avian influenza. The findings inform conservation planning, habitat management, policy development and biosecurity decision-making across Australia and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This webinar presents the findings of these projects and the potential applications of this advance in knowledge.
In this presentation, project researcher Dr Sara Ryding discusses how changes in migration patterns, habitat conditions and climate influence the risk of avian influenza, using extensive tracking and citizen-science data to map migratory pathways and predict future disease incursion risks.
Together, these projects provide critical information to support shorebird conservation, habitat management, international conservation commitments, and Australia’s biosecurity preparedness.
