Download Bush Stone-curlews in the Goulburn Broken

Bush Stone-curlews in the Goulburn Broken Catchment
Bertram Lobert
20 October 2014
Bush Stone-curlew = Bush Thick-knee
• Fam. Burhinidae
• A distinct group of ‘waders’ (Charadriformes)
• 9 species worldwide (2 genera)
Photo: Dan Harley
 All species, except the Beach
Stone-curlew, inhabit semi-arid
& open, woodland country.
Spotted Dikkop
Photo: B. McLaughlin
Senegal Dikkop
Photo: B. McLaughlin
Double-striped Thick-knee
Photo: Luis Figueroa
Beach Stone-curlew
Photo: Roger Williams
Bush Stone-curlew - conservation status
• Historically widespread distribution in woodland habitat across the continent,
including Victoria; it’s call synonymous with open country, grazing country.
• By the mid-1980’s decline in numbers and distribution in Victoria was evident and
significant fragmentation of the population had begun.
• 1985-92 studies confirmed the parlous state of the species in the northern
Goulburn Broken catchment and by extrapolation across South-east Australia.
• The Victorian Riverina, which constitutes much of the northern Goulburn Broken
catchment is considered a stronghold for the species in Victoria.
Bush Stone-curlew - Australia-wide distribution
Global distribution Fam. Burhinidae
Birdlife Australia –
compiled distribution map
Bush Stone-curlew - Victorian distribution
Victorian Biodiversity Atlas
Johnson & Baker-Gabb (1994)
• Until the 1950-60’s Bush Stone-curlews were relatively
common over much of their Victorian range.
• They were just curlews to us. We didn’t take particular notice, not
like now. [Goomalibee 1950s]
• Dad used to tell stories that the curlews were so thick and so noisy
at night that he used to get up and belt a kero tin to drive them
away. [Miepoll South 1940s]
• Those birds were nothing special, they were just another part of
what was here. [Miepoll 1950s]
• 1984
(Johnson & Baker-Gabb,
Part 1, 1994)
• 2009-10
(Castles & Cheers 2010)
Bush Stone-curlew – ecology
• Long-lived eg. 15-20 yrs
• Monogamous – bond for life
• Pairs during breeding, flock in nonbreeding season
• Mainly insectivorous diet
• Open country birds but need areas of
cover
• Home range of several hundred hectares
• Ground-dwelling and ground-nesting
(Aug-Feb)
Bush Stone-curlew – habitat
Diverse habitat
• Foraging areas (nocturnal):
pastures, irrigation paddocks,
dams, swamps, water courses;
grassy groundcover (>30 cm),
lots of invertebrates.
• Day roosts: amongst trees,
fallen braches and leaf litter.
• Nesting areas: gravelly rises,
some trees, very short
grasses/herbs (<15 cm).
Johnston & Baker-Gabb 1994
Bush Stone-curlew – habitat
Nest site
Bush Stone-curlew - what’s causing the decline in
SE Australia?
• Habitat loss – cleaning up under trees and removing trees
• Predation - of chicks by foxes and cats
• Ageing, fragmented population
• Food availability during breeding season - starvation of chicks
• Food quality – bioaccumulation of toxins
1941
2013
Bush Stone-curlew - Northern Australia
Brisbane carpark
Brisbane backyard
Bush Stone-curlew - Northern Australia
Brisbane
footpath
Brisbane
carpark
Brisbane is home to high densities of foxes, cats, dogs and humans.
• Natural population of
curlews is no longer selfreplacing
• Habitat improvement and
predator control may not
be enough to tip the
balance in favour of
curlews
• Greater intervention is
needed
•
2009-10
(Castles & Cheers 2010)
Bush Stone-curlew – management in SE Aust.
• Captive-breeding programs – zoos and
community groups
• Release of captive-bred birds – community
groups
• Jindera, Moulamein, NSW
• Shelbourne Forest, Bendigo
Bush Stone-curlew – management in SE Aust.
• Captive breeding
Bush Stone-curlew – management in SE Aust.
• Captive breeding
and release
Bush Stone-curlew – management in SE Aust.
• Predator control fencing
Bush Stone-curlew – management in SE Aust.
Release of captive-bred birds:
• Nature Conservation Working Group (NSW Murray
Catchment/Albury, LLS)
• Jindera – captive breeding
• Moulamein – release site
• Shelbourne Forest, Bendigo
• Kowree Landcare area
Bush Stone-curlew – Trust for Nature ca. 2005
• Miepoll predator-proof fencing
• 20 ha
• Successful breeding
Bush Stone-curlew – Trust for Nature 2014
• Victorian Environmental Partnerships Program (DEPI)
• Build several predator-proof enclosures
• Nesting sites and/or for soft-release of captive-bred
curlews.
• Enclosures 6-15 ha - nesting, roosting & foraging
habitat.
• Incorporate grazing – essential.
• Fenced sites function as small grazing paddocks.
Bush Stone-curlew – Trust for Nature
• Long-term
investment
• Risks low
• Opportunities high
Bush Stone-curlew – Project goals
Short-term
• On-going control foxes (& cats?).
• Encourage local ownership of curlew conservation.
• Improve local breeding success and reduce chick
mortality.
• Undertake surveys to monitoring population changes.
Long-term
• Improve extent & quality of local curlew habitat.
• Expand the local population from 2-3 pairs, to 1015 breeding pairs – export individuals to other
parts of the catchment.
Acknowledgements
Don Hunt
Libby Woodward
Doug Robinson
Susan Sleigh
Kate Stothers
Lance Williams
Trust for Nature
Level 5/379 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: (03) 8631 5888
www.trustfornature.org.au
This project was funded by the Victorian Government