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Subspecies Conservation Summary Black-throated Finch (southern) Poephila cincta cincta (Gould, 1837) Estrildidae Conservation status Vulnerable C2a(i) Reasons for listing Population <10 000 mature individuals and continuing to decline, <1000 in largest known subpopulation Status 2000 Vulnerable A2c+4c Reason for change in 2010: decline is gradual rather than rapid Status 1990 Near Threatened A2c+4c Reasons for change in 2000: Increased rate of decline in EOO as distant subpopulations disappeared Taxonomy P. c. atropygialis (far north Queensland) is Least Concern, as is the species Taxonomic uniqueness: medium (29 genera/family, 3 species/genus, 2 subspecies/species) Range Eastern Queensland from as far north as Townsville on the coast, and possibly Ingham, south to the Burdekin River and possibly Rockhampton, extending inland to Aramac. Since 1998, recorded in Townsville region (Giru, Serpentine Lagoon, Toonpan, near Ross River Dam and Bohle, Alice and Black River catchments), Ingham region (Ollera Creek near Mutarnee and Mt Fox) and scattered sites in central-eastern Qld (Great Basalt Wall, Yarrowmere Station, Moonoomoo Station, Doongmabulla Station, Fortuna Station and Aramac) (Black-throated Finch Recovery Team 2007), assessed here as 3 subpopulations. Historically from Inverell, north-eastern New South Wales, through eastern Queensland to the Burdekin-Lynd Divide, where it intergrades over a broad zone with P. c. atropygialis (Schodde and Mason 1999). Range has been contracting for several decades (Franklin 1999), including disappearance from Brisbane region by 1940s, most of NSW by 1970s (but last record in 1994), Rockhampton region in 1970s (but last record in 1989) and New England Tableland region in the 1990s (Blackthroated Finch Recovery Team 2007). This resulted in a severe decline in EOO up to the 1990s, after which EOO has declined much more slowly. The AOO is estimated nominally at 1% of the EOO. Abundance Numbers counted at coordinated waterhole counts were stable 2004–2009 (450 sightings at 16 sites in 2005–2006 to 489 sightings at 25 sites in 2009) but the finches have disappeared from a number of sites around Townsville in the last decade (Black-throated Finch Recovery Team 2007). Given the mobility of the species across the landscape the average density is assessed as 1/km2. The Townsville subpopulation is assessed as having no more than 600 mature individuals (T. Grice in litt.) and is assumed here to be the largest surviving subpopulation. Poorly known subpopulations in central-eastern Qld are assumed to have no more than 400 mature individuals each. Ecology Inhabits open grassy woodland, usually dominated by eucalypts or ti-trees, where there is access to seeding grasses and water. They appear to feed preferentially in lightly grassed areas (Zann 1976; P. Buosi in litt.). It appears to be relatively sedentary, with birds present throughout the year near Townsville, but may move in response to drought (Ley and Cook 2001). In the dry season it feeds on seeds of annual grasses like Schizachyrium spp., switching in the wet season to half-ripe grass seeds and insects (Immelman 1982; Zann 1976). Probably needs a mosaic of different habitats in which to find seed during the wet season (Mitchell 1996). It builds domed nests in trees, sometimes in tree hollows, laying 5–9 eggs (Immelman 1982). A generation time of 3.5 years (BirdLife International 2011) is derived from an average age at first breeding of 1.0 years, an annual survival of adults of 50%, both extrapolated from mean values for Estrildidae, and a maximum longevity in the wild of 6.9 years, extrapolated from Masked Finch P. personata (Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme). Threats The synergistic effects of pastoralism, drought and fire are thought to have had the greatest impact on the species by increasing the period of resource shortage and decreasing the quality and availability of breeding habitat. The decline in eastern Qld began early in the 20th century under pastoralism (Franklin 1999), particularly in the southern part of the subspecies’ range, where there has been extensive clearing for sheep grazing and rabbits Oryctolagus cunciculus were prevalent. Probable current © 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 Near Threatened: AOO near 2000 km2, possibly severely fragmented, inferred decline in AOO, habitat condition, no. locations, no. mature individuals from urban expansion and mining C Vulnerable: population 500–2500 mature individuals, suspected continuing decline, <1000 mature individuals in largest subpopulation but <95% in largest subpopulation D Not applicable: population >1000 mature individuals, >5 locations E Not applicable: no population viability analysis undertaken threats are clearing and fragmentation of woodland, riverside habitats and shrubland; degradation of habitat by domestic stock and rabbits, including alterations to fuel load, vegetation structure and wet season food availability; alteration of habitat by changes in fire regime; invasion of habitat by exotic weeds and grasses; and perhaps illegal trapping of birds and predation by introduced mammals (Black-throated Finch Recovery Team 2007; Department of Sustainability Environment Water Population and Communities 2011). Intensification of settlement near Townsville is impinging on the largest subpopulation and the birds do not persist for long once pastoral land is subdivided into rural lifestyle blocks. Also some occupied areas in central Qld are likely to be mined in the near future. Conservation objectives 1. Stable populations in monitored regions Information required 1. Breeding requirements and threats to key breeding areas 2. Size of inland subpopulations 3. How populations use the landscape at different times of year 4. Effectiveness of management interventions 5. Suitability of birds currently in captivity for reintroduction in southern Queensland Management actions required 1. Continue monitoring and analyse the results 2. Secure selected sites for conservation 3. Address threats on grazing lands 4. Ensure requirements of the finch are incorporated into planning around Townsville IUCN Red List assessment data Estimate Reliability 290 000 km2 decreasing medium low Area of occupancy trend 2900 km2 decreasing low low No. of mature individuals trend 1400 decreasing low medium Extent of occurrence trend No. subpopulations No. locations Largest subpopulation Generation time Global population share 3 low >10 medium 600 low 3.5 years low 100% high Black-throated Finch Recovery Team, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (2007) ‘National recovery plan for the black-throated finch southern subspecies Poephila cincta cincta’. Report to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra. Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Hurstville and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2011) Poephila cincta cincta. 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>. Franklin DC (1999) Evidence of disarray amongst granivorous bird assemblages in the savannas of northern Australia, a region of sparse human settlement. Biological Conservation 90, 53–68. Immelman K (1982) Australian Finches. 2nd edn. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Ley AJ, Cook SM (2001) The Black-throated finch Poephila cincta in New South Wales. Australian Bird Watcher 19, 115–120. Schodde R, Mason IJ (1999) The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Zann R (1976) Distribution, status and breeding of Blackthroated finches Poephila cincta in northern Queensland. Emu 76, 201–206. Comments received from Peter Buosi, Tony Grice, Alex Kutt, Kim Maute, James Moloney Bibliography BirdLife International (2011) ‘Species factsheet: Poephila cincta’. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10 April 2011. © 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.