Australasian Shoveler Watch 2025

This project tracks the Australasian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis)—commonly known by many hunters as the ‘Blue-winged Shoveler’ (BWS) due to its distinctive wing markings.
This project invites licensed hunters, wetland users, and citizen scientists to contribute sightings of the BWS across southern Australia between August and October 2025—the critical period when these birds are believed to congregate for moulting and early breeding.

Despite their striking appearance and protected status in some seasons, very little is known about where BWS's gather in late winter. Your observations will help identify important wetlands, support future ecological tracking efforts, and guide habitat protection and predator management.