The Eastern Reef Egret in Victoria and Tasmania: Past and Present

Abstract

Eastern Reef Egrets Egretta sacra are widespread in the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans, and formerly occurred around the entire Australian coastline, but are now rarely recorded in Victoria or Tasmania. An extensive search of published accounts, plus the RAOU Historical and Field Atlas databases, revealed 16 sites around the Victorian and Tasmanian coasts where the species has been recorded. All records, including the few recent ones, are listed, thus placing the regional decline of the species into a modem perspective. Possible reasons for the decline are discussed, and a comparison is made with declining populations in New Zealand.