Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis

Key Findings

The distribution and population of Night Parrots declined severely after European settlement. Presumed extinct until 2013, the species is now known only in isolated populations in south-west Queensland and northern inland WA. Key threats are predation by feral cats, altered fire regimes, and habitat degradation associated with overgrazing and changing climatic conditions. Night Parrots are poorly understood, but the rediscovery and subsequent protection efforts provide hope for their future. Photo: Steve Murphy Significant trajectory change from 2005-15 to 2015-18? No significant change.

Priority future actions

• Control feral cats and foxes at all known sites • Protect known sites from fire and from over-grazing • Continue controls on development of known and potential Night Parrot habitat

Full assessment information Background information 2018 population trajectory assessment

1. Conservation status and taxonomy 8. Expert elicitation for population trends 2. Conservation history and prospects 9. Immediate priorities from 2019 3. Past and current trends 10. Contributors 4. Key threats 11. Legislative documents 5. Past and current management 12. References 6. Support from the Australian Government 13. Citation 7. Measuring progress towards conservation

The primary purpose of this scorecard is to assess progress against achieving the year three targets outlined in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy, including estimating the change in population trajectory of 20 bird species. It has been prepared by experts from the National Environmental Science Program’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, with input from a number of taxon experts, a range of stakeholders and staff from the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, for the information of the Australian Government and is non-statutory. It has been informed by statutory planning documents that guide recovery of the species, such as Recovery Plans and/or Conservation Advices (see Section 11). The descriptive information in this scorecard is drawn from Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2016), unless otherwise noted by additional citations.

The background information aims to provide context for estimation of progress in research and management (Section 7) and estimation of population size and trajectories (Section 8).

1 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

1. Conservation status and taxonomy

Conservation status 2018 Taxonomy: Monotypic. IUCN Endangered

EPBC Endangered

NSW Extinct

NT Critically Endangered

QLD Endangered

SA Endangered

WA Critically Endangered

VIC Regionally extinct

2. Conservation history and prospects The Night Parrot has long been considered one of Australia’s most mysterious birds. In 2013 a population was discovered in south-west Queensland, more than a century since the last widely accepted sighting of a live bird, although research suggests the bird has remained present in low numbers across parts of its former range. The property on which it was found was subsequently purchased to become Pullen Pullen reserve which is maintained for the species by Bush Heritage Australia. Observations by scientists studying the bird show that the species is resident on the property and breeds frequently (N. Leseberg pers. comm). However, it appears to be highly vulnerable to cat predation with cats seen within nesting territories (Murphy et al. 2017b). Since 2013 there has been two confirmed locations confirmed in Western Australia, with promising potential records from 2-3 other locations (A.H. Burbidge in litt.). While the bird remains elusive, there are increased efforts to reduce cat predation and grazing intensity at Pullen Pullen. Monitoring is occurring at all sites on Pullen Pullen where the birds have been detected, at, including one site where the birds are known to have been present for at least two years so far.

3. Past and current trends Anecdotal information from the turn of the 19th century suggests that the spread of pastoralism and associated changes in fire regimes, and introduction of feral herbivores and predators was the reason for the Night Parrots’ decline. Although some thought the species had disappeared, anecdotal records had suggested the birds persisted with the discovery of fresh corpses in 1990 and 2006 confirming this. However, it was only in 2013 that a population of live birds was discovered. The few birds detected in this population frequently attempt to breed, but rarely succeed (Murphy et al. 2017a). Using the

2 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018) knowledge of the species’ calls and behaviour gleaned from this population, at least two populations have been discovered in Western Australia (and searches are continuing).

Monitoring (existing programs): Acoustic monitoring has been undertaken at Pullen Pullen reserve in south-west Queensland since 2013, indicating continuous presence there. Other sites, including the adjacent Diamantina National Park and several sites in Western Australia, are also being monitored and surveys are being expanded to look at other potential habitat identified from remote sensing.

Population trends: Tables 1 and 2 summarise the overall trend and status of the Night Parrot. The information provided in these tables is derived from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2016), augmented by additional comments provided by contributors based on new information.

Table 1. Summary of the available information on Night Parrot distribution and population size, and (where possible) trend estimates between 2015 and 2018 for each parameter.

Confidence in Population parameters Published baseline 2015 Estimate 2018 Estimate estimates

Extent of Occurrence 3,500,000 km2 2,000,000 2,000,000 Medium

Area of Occupancy 200 km2 50 km2 50 km2 Low Dates of records and As per Bird Action Plan methods used

No. mature individuals 250 30 30 Low

Any other measure of Acoustic monitoring (estimates presence not numbers) relative abundance

No. of subpopulations 2 5 5 Low

No. of locations 5 5 5 Low

High based on global modelling by Generation time 4.2 n/a n/a BirdLife International

3 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

Table 2. Estimated recent (2005-2015) and current (2015-2018) population trends for the Night Parrot

Est. % Confidence Confidence Est. % of total 2005- 2015- in in of total Sub-population pop’n 2015 2018 Details 2005-2015 2015-2018 pop’n (pre- trend trend trend trend (2018) 2015)

Discovered in 2013. Monitoring began in 2013. Western All sites monitored since 20 Low Medium 20 Queensland have continued to support birds

Habitat where found was identified as suitable a long time ago and appears to WA populations 80 Low Low 80 have remained suitable

Continued to occur in small Whole numbers at sites where 100 Low Low 100 population acoustic monitoring data has been analysed.

KEY: Improving Stable Deteriorating Unknown Confidence Description High Trend documented Medium Trend considered likely based on documentation

? Low Trend suspected but evidence indirect or equivocal

4. Key threats The threats listed here are derived from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2016), with some adjustments from contributing experts based on new information. Note that this is not a list of all plausible threats, but a subset of the threats that are likely to have the largest impact on populations.

Feral cats (Felis catus) Behaviour of the species when nesting appears to make it highly vulnerable to cat predation (Murphy et al. 2017b). Current research suggests this is likely to be one of the major causes of the species’ decline (J.Watson pers. comm.). Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) may be a problem in parts of the range in Western Australia.

Increase in fire frequency/intensity The species appears to rely on dense clumps of vegetation for roosting and nesting that are long- unburnt. Current known locations are mostly in places that are naturally buffered from fire by bare ground (Murphy et al. 2017b) but large scale fires that tend to occur after periods of heavy rainfall reduce the number of sites to which the species could expand.

4 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

Cattle grazing Where the species occurs on grazing land it feeds in some of the best available pastures (Murphy et al. 2016b, 2017c), which may be overgrazed. One dead bird has been found beneath a fence, suggesting this could be a significant cause of death for very small populations. However, fences are also the means by which cattle are excluded from high quality feeding habitat.

Grazing by kangaroos (Macropus spp.) Overgrazing by kangaroos may limit food availability. In the absence of dingoes, kangaroo numbers are as high as can be sustained by pasture and rainfall (Letnic and Crowther 2013), potentially limiting availability to other herbivores and seed-eaters.

Climate change Increases in temperatures as a result of climate change are likely to increase the need to find water or succulent (55% water) food during summer and the risk of fire (Kearney et al. 2016).

The impacts of the major threats are summarised in Table 3.

Table 3. The major threats facing the Night Parrot and their associated impact scores.

CURRENT THREAT IMPACT Threat Timing Extent Severity

1. Feral/domestic cat Felis catus Continuing/ongoing >90% of range 50-100%

2. Increase in fire frequency/extent Continuing/ongoing 50-90% of range 20-29%

3. Cattle grazing and trampling Continuing/ongoing 1-50% of range Not negligible but <20%

4. Grazing by kangaroos (Macropus Continuing/ongoing 1-50% of range Not negligible but <20% spp.) 5. Droughts (increased Near future 1-50% of range Not negligible but <20% frequency/length) Timing: continuing/ongoing; near future: any occurrence probable within one generation (includes former threat no longer causing impact but could readily recur); distant future: any occurrence likely to be further than one generation into the future (includes former threat no longer causing impact and unlikely to recur). Extent: <1% of range; 1-50%; 50-90%; >90%. Severity: (within three generations or 10 years, whichever is longer) Causing no decline; Negligible declines (<1%); Not negligible but <20%; 20-29%; 30-49%; 50-100%; Causing/could cause order of magnitude fluctuations.

5. Past and current management Recent and current management that support the conservation of Night Parrots are summarised in Table 4. This information is a collation of material provided by experts. There is an approved Conservation Advice (2016) that guides recovery action, but no Recovery Plan.

5 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

Table 4. Management actions that support the conservation of the Night Parrot Est. % Action Location Timing Contributors and partners pop’n

Purchase and declaration of Pullen Pullen reserve specifically for Night Parrot with subsequent erection of parrot friendly Bush Heritage Australia, fencing to exclude cattle (together with Pullen Pullen Queensland Government, 2014 20 removal of unnecessary fencing), regular Reserve Australian Government, patrolling to discourage illegal take, University of Queensland removal of any cats encountered and detailed research on the species

Australian Wildlife Removal of fences to reduce collision Diamantina Conservancy, mortality, mapping of potential habitat 2016 10 National Park Queensland Government, and baseline population monitoring Australian Government

Birriliburu Bush Heritage Australia, Best practice fire regime, pest From Indigenous Birriliburu Traditional Owners, management and monitoring 2016 Protected Area Australian Government

Best practice fire regime, pest From Matuwa DBCA. Martu management and monitoring 2016

Best practice fire regime, pest Kalyuku Ninti From Paruku Rangers,

management and monitoring – Puntuku Ngurra 2016 Australian Government

6. Actions undertaken or supported by the Australian Government resulting from inclusion in the Threatened Species Strategy The Australian Government supported work by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) to remove old fences from Diamantina that were likely to be a threat to local and dispersing birds, including where a Night Parrot corpse was discovered in 2006.

A Threatened Species Recovery Fund project, delivered by Bush Heritage Australia and Traditional Owners from Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area, is supporting mosaic burning, pest management and surveys for Night Parrots and Bilbies. A separate project is being run by the Paruku Rangers in the Great Sandy Desert.

The direct impact of the TSS on the Night Parrot has been relatively small, but the extra attention has resulted in support from the NESP TSR Hub research being led by the University of Queensland and Bush Heritage Australia which has greatly increased knowledge of the species and given strong direction to management.

6 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

7. Measuring progress towards conservation Table 5. Progress towards management understanding and management implementation for each of the major threats affecting the Night Parrot in 2015 (i.e. timing of TSS implementation) and 2018, using the progress framework developed by Garnett et al. 2018.

PROGRESS IN MANAGING THREATS

Extent to which threat being Threat Year Understanding of how to manage threat managed 2. Research has provided strong direction on 2015 1. Management limited to trials how to manage threat 1. Feral/domestic 2. Work has been initiated to roll out cat Felis catus 4. Trial management under way but not yet 2018 solutions where threat applies across clear evidence that it can deliver objectives the taxon’s range 2. Research has provided strong direction on 2015 1. Management limited to trials how to manage threat 2. Increase in fire 2. Work has been initiated to roll out frequency/intensity 3. Solutions being trialled but work only 2018 solutions where threat applies across initiated recently the taxon’s range 1. Research being undertaken or completed 2015 but limited understanding on how to manage 0. No management 3. Cattle grazing threat 3. Solutions being trialled but work only 2018 1. Management limited to trials initiated recently 1. Research being undertaken or completed 2015 but limited understanding on how to manage 0. No management 4. Grazing by threat kangaroos 1. Research being undertaken or completed (Macropus spp.) 2018 but limited understanding on how to manage 0. No management threat 5. Droughts 2015 0. No knowledge and no research 0. No management (increased 2. Research has provided strong direction on 2018 0. No management frequency/length) how to manage threat > Green shading indicates an improvement in our understanding or management of threats between years 2015 and 2018, while red shading indicates deterioration in our understanding or management of threats.

KEY Score Understanding of how to manage threat Extent to which threat is being managed 0 No knowledge and no research No management Research being undertaken or completed but limited 1 Management limited to trials understanding on how to manage threat Research has provided strong direction on how to manage Work has been initiated to roll out solutions where threat 2 threat applies across the taxon’s range Solutions have been adopted but too early to demonstrate 3 Solutions being trialled but work only initiated recently success Trial management under way but not yet clear evidence Solutions are enabling achievement but only with 4 that it can deliver objectives continued conservation intervention Trial management is providing clear evidence that it can Good evidence available that solutions are enabling 5 deliver objectives achievement with little or no conservation intervention Research complete and being applied OR ongoing research 6 The threat no longer needs management associated with adaptive management of threat

7 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

8. Expert elicitation for population trends An expert elicitation process was undertaken to assess population trends for the period 2005-2015 and post-2015 under the following management scenarios. Please note that differences between Management Scenarios 2 and 3 (Fig. 1) are difficult to attribute, as it can be difficult to determine whether actions undertaken after 2015 were influenced by the Threatened Species Strategy or were independent of it (see Summary Report for details of methods). Management Scenario 1 (red line): no conservation management undertaken since 2015, and no new actions implemented.

• More sites where birds have persisted located by birdwatchers, but no dedicated, state-funded searches • No management of cats • Gradual increase in grazing intensity in pastoral sites • Occasional fires in refuge areas Under this scenario it is expected that there would be more sites found, since that does not involve management, but a slow attrition of suitable sites through stochastic processes around fires, cat abundance and changes in grazing regime. Management Scenario 2 (blue line): continuation of existing conservation management (i.e. actions undertaken before implementation of the Threatened Species Strategy or independent of the Threatened Species Strategy).

• Two additional populations found in WA, with searches for additional populations continuing • Pullen Pullen population secured against cattle grazing • Cat and fire management at Pullen Pullen Under this scenario, existing efforts to retain the population at Pullen Pullen would continue but there is no assumption of new actions. Management Scenario 3 (green line): continuation of existing management, augmented by support mobilised by the Australian Government under the Threatened Species Strategy.

• Two additional populations found in WA, with searches for additional populations continuing • Pullen Pullen population secured against cattle grazing • Cat and fire management at Pullen Pullen • Removal of old fences from Diamantina that may have been a threat to local and dispersing birds This scenario resembles Scenario 2 but with some impprovements to habitat quality on Diamantina National Park adjacent to Pullen Pullen Overall estimated population trajectories subject to management scenarios considered The Night Parrot is currently being managed under Scenario 3 (green line).

8 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

Figure 1. Estimated relative percentage change in population under each of the management scenarios described above. Data derived from 9 expert assessments of Night Parrot expected response to management, using four-step elicitation and the IDEA protocol (Hemming et al. 2017), where experts are asked to provide best estimates, lowest and highest plausible estimates, and an associated level of confidence. The dashed line represents the baseline value (i.e. as at 2015, standardised to 100). Values above this line indicate a relative increase in population size, while values below this line indicate a relative decrease in population size. Shading indicates confidence bounds (i.e. the lowest and highest plausible estimates).

Population size projections based on expert elicitation are extended here to 2025, 2035 and 2045 (i.e. 10, 20 and 30 years after the establishment of the Threatened Species Strategy) on the grounds that some priority conservation management actions may take many years to achieve substantial conservation outcomes. However, we note also that there will be greater uncertainty around estimates of population size into the more distant future because, for example, novel threats may affect the species, managers may develop new and more efficient conservation options, and the impacts of climate change may be challenging to predict.

9 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

Improved trajectory (Threatened Species Strategy Year 3 target): The primary purpose of this scorecard is to assess progress against achieving the year three targets outlined in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy, i.e. a demonstrated improved trajectory for at least half of the priority species (10 birds and 10 mammals). To assess this, we first use the expert-derived trend between 2005-15 (i.e. 10 years prior to implementation of the TSS) as a baseline for assessing whether there has been an improvement in trajectory in the time since implementation of the TSS (i.e. 2015-18). Table 6 below summarises this information, where negative values indicate a declining population, and positive values indicate an increasing population. We used Wilcoxon match-paired tests to compare trajectories for these two periods; a significant result (probability <0.05) indicates that there was a high concordance amongst experts that their trajectory estimates for 2005-15 were different to their estimates for 2015-18.

Table 6. A comparison of the relative annual percentage population change for the periods 2005-2015 and 2015-2018.

Post-TSS Year 3 Pre-TSS trend Significant concordance among trend target (2005-2015) elicitors? (2015-2018) met? Annual Although the trajectory has improved, there percentage was insufficient concordance among -0.56 0.04 population  elicitors for the improvement to be change significant.

Additional actions that could improve trajectory The potential impact of carrying out specific additional conservation measures on the population trajectory of the Night Parrot was also evaluated through expert elicitation. Current management includes: Pullen Pullen population secured against cattle grazing; cat and fire management at at least three sites in WA and Qld; removal of old fences from Diamantina that may have been a threat to local and dispersing birds; and two additional populations found in WA, with searches for additional populations continuing.

Additional actions that could further improve the population trajectory include:

• Expanded cat control at all known sites, including any new sites • Fire protection for old sites if and when required as well as sustained protection of spinifex sites in areas more susceptible to wildfire so the availability of unburnt habitat increases • Grazing management at all known sites With these actions, the area of actively managed habitat would increase around known sites.

10 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

9. Immediate priorities from 2019 The priorities listed here are derived from Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2016), with modest amendments made by contributing experts. Identification of these priorities in this document is for information and is non-statutory. For statutory conservation planning documents, such as Recovery Plans or Conservation Advices, please see Section 11. Data collection:

• Continue to survey potential new locations • Collect data on habitat usage (especially foraging habitat) • Improve understanding of fencing that will prevent cattle incursions onto habitat but not kill Night Parrots • Determine response of parrots to extreme heat or extreme drought • Understand the role of dingoes in ecosystems occupied by the parrots and their role in reducing cat, fox and macropod numbers Management actions:

• Control feral cats and foxes at all known sites • Protect known sites from fire where required • Continue protection of known sites from over-grazing • Continue controls on development of known and potential Night Parrot habitat

10. Contributors Allan Burbidge, Stephen Garnett, John Woinarski, Sarah Legge, Hayley Geyle, Jennifer Higbid, John Kanowski, Rod Kavenagh, Nick Leseberg, Steve Murphy, Simon Nally, James Watson, Guy Dutson, Nicholas MacGregor, Richard Loyn, Peter Menkhorst.

11. Legislative documents SPRAT profile: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi- bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=59350 Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2016). Conservation Advice Pezoporus occidentalis Night Parrot. Canberra: Department of the Environment. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/59350-conservation-advice- 15072016.pdf. In effect under the EPBC Act from 15-Jul-2016. Non-government documents: Leading Night Parrot Conservation (Night Parrot Recovery Team 2018). Priority Threat Management of Pilbara Species of Conservation Significance (Carwardine, J., S. Nicol, S. Van Leeuwen, B. Walters, J. Firn, A. Reeson, T.G. Martin & I. Chades, 2014) Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) Research Plan. Developed to satisfy Condition 10 of EPBC Referral 2010/5696 Expansion of Cloudbreak iron ore mine (Fortescue Metal Group, 2014).

11 Information current to December 2018 Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

12. References DBCA (2017). Night Parrot. Available at: https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants-and- animals/threatened-species-and-communities/threatened-animals/night-parrot Garnett, S.T., Butchart, S.H.M., Baker, G.B., Bayraktarov, E., Buchanan, K.L., Burbidge, A.A., Chauvenet, A.L.M., Christidis, L., Ehmke, G., Grace, M., Hoccom, D.G., Legge, S.M., Leiper, I., Lindenmayer, D.B., Loyn, R.H., Maron, M., McDonald, P., Menkhorst, P., Possingham, H.P., Radford, J., Reside, A.E., Watson, D.M., Watson, J.E.M., Wintle, B., Woinarski, J.C.Z., and Geyle, H.M. (2018) Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian Birds. Conservation Biology https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13220. Hemming, V., Burgman, M.A., Hanea, A.M., McBride, M.F., and Wintle B.C. (2017) A practical guide to structured expert elicitation using the IDEA protocol. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 169- 180. Jackett, N.A., Greatwich, B.R., Swann, G. and Boyle, A. (2017). A nesting record and vocalisations of the Night Parrot 'Pezoporus occidentalis' from the East Murchison, Western Australia. Australian Field Ornithology, 34, 144. Kearney, M.R., Porter, W.P. and Murphy, S.A. (2016). An estimate of the water budget for the endangered Night Parrot of Australia under recent and future climates. Climate Change Responses 3 14. Letnic, M. and Crowther, M.S. (2013). Patterns in the abundance of kangaroo populations in arid Australia are consistent with the exploitation ecosystems hypothesis. Oikos 122:761-769. Murphy, S. (2014). Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) Research Plan. Report prepared on behalf of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd for the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Canberra, Perth, W.A. Murphy, S.A., Austin, J.J., Murphy, R.K., Silcock, J., Joseph, L., Garnett, S.T., Leseberg, N.P., Watson, J.E. and Burbidge, A.H. (2017a). Observations on breeding Night Parrots (Pezoporus occidentalis) in western Queensland. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 117, 107-113. Murphy, S.A., Paltridge, R., Silcock, J., Murphy, R., Kutt, A.S., and Read, J. (2017b). Understanding and managing the threats to Night Parrots in south-western Queensland. The Emu - Austral Ornithology 117, 135-145. Murphy, S.A., Silcock, J., Murphy, R., Reid, J., and Austin, J.J. (2017c). Movements and habitat use of the Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis in south-western Queensland. Austral Ecology 42, 858-868. Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2016). Conservation Advice Pezoporus occidentalis Night Parrot. Canberra: Department of the Environment.

13. Citation Please cite this document as:

National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Research Hub (2019) Threatened Species Strategy Year 3 Scorecard – Night Parrot. Australian Government, Canberra. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/20-birds-by-2020/night- parrot

12 Information current to December 2018