Download the exerpt from the 2010 Action Plan

Species Conservation Summary
Western Bristlebird
Dasyornis longirostris Gould, 1841
Dasyornithidae
Conservation status
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Reasons for listing
The very small population is restricted to a very small
extent of occurrence at very few locations. The recent
series of large wildfires suggests a probable continuing
decline in habitat quality
Status 2000
Vulnerable D2
Reason for change in 2010: multiple large fires suggest a
continuing decline in habitat quality
Status 1990
Vulnerable D2
Taxonomy
No infraspecific taxa described
Taxonomic uniqueness: high (1 genus/family, 3 species/
genus, 1 subspecies/species)
Range
Currently occurs east of Albany at Two Peoples Bay Nature
Reserve, Betty’s Beach, Mt Manypeaks to Bluff Creek, and
at 14 different sites in and near Fitzgerald River National
Park (Gilfillan et al. 2009). Historic records of the Western
Bristlebird suggest that it occurred in coastal areas from
Perth to Augusta and from Albany to Fitzgerald River
National Park, Western Australia (Cale and Burbidge
1993). Eighteen birds were translocated in 1999–2000 and
2007 from Two People’s Bay to near Walpole, west of
Albany, but there was no evidence of breeding (Burbidge
2003; Gilfillan et al. 2009; Burbidge et al. 2010).
Abundance
A population of c.620 pairs in 2001 was reduced by fires
to c.320 pairs in 2005 (Burbidge et al. 2010); here estimated as 1000 mature birds. The density of birds is greater
in the Manypeaks-Waychinicup areas than in the Fitzgerald River National Park, but reasons for this are unknown.
The Albany to Mt Manypeaks area population declined
from c.500 pairs in 2001 to 200–315 pairs in 2005 and
2006, largely as a result of wildfires, although the cause
for the decline in some areas is unclear (Comer and
McNee 2001; Tiller et al. 2006). The Fitzgerald River
National Park subpopulation numbered c.125 pairs in
2005 (Burbidge et al. 2010). At the time of assessment, the
total population was considered not to be declining over a
timescale of 3 generations (16 years), but an increasing
risk of wildfires was considered to be probably causing a
continuing decline in habitat quality.
Ecology
At Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve lives in dense closed
heath 1–1.5 m high. Near Waychinicup R. and in the
Fitzgerald R. National Park, the main habitat is closed
heath 0.5–1 m high, sometimes with scattered patches of
mallee eucalypts, though more open heaths may be used
if there are enough patches of dense shrubs in the area
(McNee 1986). Territory size is estimated to be 7 ha, and
territories may remain unchanged for at least 30 years
(Smith 1987; A. H. Burbidge in litt.). In Fitzgerald River
National Park, subpopulations appear to have survived
fire where patches of habitat remained unburnt. After
fires, unburnt swampy vegetation, predominantly sedges
and thickets, may be important as refugia, but severe or
large scale fires can destroy all suitable habitat (Smith
1977; McNee 1986; Smith 1987). At Two People’s Bay
Nature Reserve, moist heaths were reoccupied 2–3 years
after fire (Burbidge 2003). Heaths in drier areas may not
be reoccupied until 11–14 years after fire (Smith 1987).
The species was found in heaths 5–12 years after fire
between Boulder Hill and east of Waychinicup R., and
14–28 years after fire in northern Fitzgerald River
National Park (McNee 1986). A generation time of 5.2
years (BirdLife International 2011) is derived from an age
at first breeding of 1.5 years, a maximum longevity of 7.3
years and annual adult longevity of 77%, all values
extrapolated from expert estimates for Eastern Bristlebird D. brachypterus.
Threats
Fire is the main current threat, with fires at less than 5–10
year intervals leading to local extinction (Smith 1987). At
the other end of the scale, coastal heath (at least at Two
Peoples Bay) remains suitable habitat for at least 60 years
after fire, though carrying capacity may be reduced with
time (Smith 1987; A. H. Burbidge in litt.). The incidence
and extent of wildfires have been increasing in recent
years, despite increased skills, capacity and effort to stop
them. Given that fire is the main threat, locations are
defined as being independent during massive wildfires;
© Birds Australia 2011
Published by CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/
Citation: Garnett ST, Szabo JK, Dutson G (2011) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
Current eligibility against IUCN Red List Criteria
IUCN
category
A
Criteria eligibility
Not applicable: past, current or future population
declines are thought unlikely to exceed 20% in any
3-generation period
B
Endangered: EOO <5000 km2, at ≤5 locations with
plausible future threat, inferred continuing decline in
habitat quality
C
Vulnerable: population 2500–10 000 mature
individuals, inferred continuing decline, 250–1000
mature individuals in largest subpopulation
D
Vulnerable: population 250–1000 mature individuals,
≤5 locations with plausible future threat
E
Not applicable: no population viability analysis
undertaken
here estimated to be <5. Predation by introduced
mammals, particularly foxes Vulpes vulpes and feral cats
Felis catus, may be significant (Gilfillan et al. 2009; Burbidge et al. 2010). Other potential threats include dieback
caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, disturbance by introduced animals (particularly hard-hoofed animals), weed
invasion and changes in hydrological regimes (Gilfillan et
al. 2009). Clearance for grazing and agriculture is considered responsible for contraction of its distribution, but is
no longer a threat as almost all bristlebirds now occur in
conservation reserves (Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities 2011).
Conservation objectives
1. Population numbers and area of occupation
increased or maintained
2. Knowledge of current distribution improved
3. Management options increased through improved
ecological knowledge
Information required
1. Size of all known subpopulations
2. Habitat requirements, in particular in relation to fire
age, vegetation structure and food availability
3. Relationship between Phytophthora cinnamomi and
habitat requirements
4. Impacts of cat and fox predation
Management actions required
1. Active fire management around all bristlebird
locations
2. Continue habitat management and threat abatement
of all occupied areas within an adaptive management
framework
3. Continue translocation program
4. Survey potential habitat for new subpopulations
5. Continue to investigate habitat requirements, in
particular in relation to fire age, vegetation structure,
food availability, Phytophthora cinnamomi and fox
and cat density
6. Continue to support coordination of management by
the South Coast Threatened Bird Recovery Team
IUCN Red List assessment data
Estimate
Reliability
Extent of occurrence
trend
5000 km2
stable
medium
high
Area of occupancy
trend
700 km2
decreasing
medium
medium
No. of mature individuals
trend
1000
decreasing
medium
medium
No. subpopulations
2
high
No. locations
5
medium
Largest subpopulation
Generation time
Global population share
660
medium
5.2 years
medium
100%
high
Burbidge AH (2003) Birds and fire in the Mediterranean climate of southwest Western Australia. In Fire in Ecosystems of
Southwest Western Australia: Impacts and Management. (Eds
I Abbott, N Burrows) pp. 321–348. Backhuys Publishers,
Leiden.
Burbidge AH, Comer S, Danks A, Berryman A, Hamilton N
(2010) Attempted reintroduction of the Western Bristlebird
in south-western Australia. In Global Re-Introduction Perspectives: Additional Case-studies from Around the Globe.
(Ed. PS Soorae) pp. 171–175. IUCN/SSC Re-Introduction
Specialist Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Cale PG, Burbidge AH (1993) ‘Research plan for the Western
Ground Parrot, Western Whipbird and Western Bristlebird’. Report to Australian National Parks and Wildlife
Service.
Comer S, McNee S (2001) ‘Surveys for the Westen Bristlebird
and Western Whipbird. Albany 2001’. Unpublished report
to the South Coast Threatened Bird Recovery Team.
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population
and Communities (2011) Dasyornis longirostris. In ‘Species
Profile and Threats Database’. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities,
Canberra. Retrieved 24 February, 2011 from <http://www.
environment.gov.au/sprat>.
Gilfillan S, Comer S, Burbidge AH, Blyth J, Danks A, Newell J
(2009) ‘South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Plan. Western Australian Wildlife Management Program No. 44’. WA
Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth.
McNee S (1986) ‘Surveys of the Western Whipbird and Western
Bristlebird in Western Australia, 1985’. RAOU Report 18.
Smith GT (1977) The effect of environmental change on six rare
birds. Emu 77, 173–179.
Smith GT (1987) Observations on the biology of the Western
Bristle-bird Dasyornis longirostris. Emu 87, 111–118.
Tiller C, Comer S, Danks A (2006) ‘Noisy Scrub-bird Recovery
Program and Project Phoenix Annual Report 2006’’ Unpublished report to the South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery
Team.
Comments received from
John Blyth, Allan Burbidge, Sarah Comer
Bibliography
BirdLife International (2011) ‘Species factsheet: Dasyornis longirostris’. Retrieved 17 January, 2011 from <http://www.
birdlife.org/>.
© Birds Australia 2011
Published by CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/
Citation: Garnett ST, Szabo JK, Dutson G (2011) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.