A WILDERNESS IN A USTRALIA’ S Supplement to Wingspan, vol. 10, no.2 HEARTLAND

NEWHAVEN STATION

A NEW RESERVE FOR B IRDS A USTRALIA B Y K ATE F ITZHERBERT

With your help, we can create a safe wilderness reserve in the very heart of Australia. II N EWHAVEN S TATION N EWHAVEN S TATION III

Just east of the Great Sandy Desert in the Our new reserve Newhaven Station, five times larger than Gluepot Northern Territory lies Newhaven Station, Reserve, is 262,600 ha (approximately 80 x 35 km) 2 or 650,000 acres in size, and lies 335 km or four 2626 km of Australia’s intensely beautiful hours drive north-west of Alice Springs. It has many of the characteristics of the remote Great Sandy heartland. The Siddeley and Yaripilangu Desert and yet it is very accessible. The area is extensive, complex and intact. It is home to at least Ranges outline the northern skyline, white- 15 nationally threatened species of animals and plants. It boasts ten vegetation communities and a trunked gums clinging to the rocky cliffs. To wide array of landforms, none of which are well represented in existing reserves. the west Mt Gurner, Mt Cockburn and flat-topped Mt Stanley Most intriguingly, however, Newhaven is also the site of one of the latest sightings of a pair of form prominent landmarks. Spectacular red sand dunes fringe the Night Parrots. Habitat suitable for the parrots remains intact and abundant because of the Previous page: Acacia and claypans. The extensive salt lake system floods after significant unusually conservative stocking rates and careful spinifex shrubland; Mt Cockburn, Mt Stanley and management in the past. It is essential that this Mt Gurner in background. rain to bring in thousands of waterbirds and migrant waders. habitat, which is also favoured by grazing stock, is Photo by Mike Gillam protected for Australia’s most enigmatic bird. If the Main photo: Early morning, A rich diversity of grasslands and woodlands provide homes for property were sold elsewhere, we could not be western end of Yaripilangu certain of continued good management. Range; (inset) Dune crest after light rain shower, 34 species of threatened wildlife and plants. The population When Birds Australia’s biodiversity scoring salt lake behind. system (Site Assessment Criteria for Land Photos by Mike Gillam of birds alone means this property is not just of national, but of Acquisition by Birds Australia) is applied to (from top) Black-breasted Newhaven, it scores an exceptionally high 91 per Buzzard, Bourke’s Parrots, international, significance. cent – slightly more than Gluepot Reserve (88 per Crimson Chat, Painted Finch, Pied Honeyeater, cent). This score does not include the nationally Pelicans. With its birds, plants, mammals threatened mammals at Newhaven. The very high Photos by Dave Watts, score of 91 per cent indicates that Newhaven is Graeme Chapman, Dave and reptiles, highly suitable for acquisition by Birds Australia as a Watts, Graeme Chapman, conservation reserve. Graeme Chapman, Newhaven is a Jim Hooper The property is now on the market. Once again, gem we need to this is an opportunity that we should not let go… protect. With your help, this wild, beautiful wilderness will become Birds Australia’s second habitat reserve… IV N EWHAVEN S TATION N EWHAVEN S TATION V

Threatened birds the Northern Territory (PWCNT) include the Ten major vegetation communities have been Ghost gum (‘the elephant tree’). Despite being in a region of naturally low bird Mulgara (a small carnivorous marsupial), identified on Newhaven. Most are either not present Photo by Mike Gillam diversity, 138 species of bird have been recorded so Black-footed Rock-wallaby and Marsupial Mole. or only poorly represented in reserves in the far at Newhaven. All of the major bird groups are No detailed surveys have been undertaken, and Northern Territory. well represented. There are five species experienced PWCNT staff believe To date, 107 species of plants have been which are nationally threatened – this list is certain to increase. recorded on the property. Further surveys are the Grey Falcon, Night expected to reveal many more. Eighteen of these Parrot, Princess Parrot, Land forms and vegetation species are not represented in any NT reserve and Grey Honeyeater and There is an outstanding seven are of special conservation significance. These Striated Grasswren – and diversity of environmental are the Mallee Copper Burr or Small-flower Saltbush 19 species which are gradients on Newhaven Sclerolaena parviflora, Desert Broom-bush Daviesia threatened in one or more Station and, with careful eremaea, Goodenia anfracta, Abutilon lepidum, mainland States. Regionally management, the Spartothamnella puberula, Amaranthus pallidiflorus threatened birds include the property is large enough and Eucalyptus aff. intertexa. Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, to be ecologically self- The calcrete benches (see page VI) which occur Black-breasted Buzzard, Australian sustaining. It has a wide on Newhaven are particularly important drought Bustard, Bush Stone-curlew and range of land forms ranging refuges for small mammals. In the past Burrowing Grey-crowned Babbler. from parallel dunes in the south Bettongs would have occupied these sites. Where Occasionally Newhaven’s huge to salt lakes, claypans, plains calcrete areas and sandplain grasslands meet, ideal salt lakes and smaller fresh water country and rocky ranges. The habitat is created for many small and medium-sized claypans are filled with water and may then calcareous grasslands, open mammals. be used by large numbers of northern hemisphere woodland and open shrublands Aboriginal people from the Warlpiri, Luritja waders. Many of these have not been identified to associated with these land forms provide the Aboriginal connections and Anmatyerre language groups have a strong date and are not yet on the species list. diversity which supports a wide variety of birds, Newhaven adjoins Aboriginal Freehold land on all traditional association with the area, and the Central mammals and reptiles. This variability arises from sides. It contains six recorded or registered sacred Land Council (CLC) are supportive of a reserve Threatened mammals Newhaven’s location at the junction of three sites. The land to the north, south and west has never being established at Newhaven. Once Birds Australia The nationally threatened mammals recorded on bioregions: the Great Sandy Desert, MacDonnell been stocked while the property to the east was, until has purchased the property, Native Title Unit Newhaven by the Parks & Wildlife Commission of Ranges and Burt Plain. recently, a cattle station. anthropologists from the CLC will conduct a search

Newhaven’s threatened species

Night Parrot Princess Parrot Grey Falcon Striated Grasswren Grey Honeyeater Mulgara Black-footed Rock-wallaby Marsupial Mole Now considered This nationally threatened The nationally threatened Grey The sandplain subspecies of the This species, Conopophila whitei, The Mulgara Dasycercus The Black-footed Rock-wallaby The Marsupial Mole Notocytes nationally threatened, the Night parrot, Polytelis alexandrae, is Falcon Falco hypoleucos is Striated Grasswren Amytornis has just been reclassified as cristicauda is a small native Petrogale lateralis has a number typhlops is widely distributed Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis was perhaps one of Australia’s most sparsely distributed over a wide striatus is also found at the Birds nationally threatened. An carnivore that inhabits the arid of subspecies, all of which have through the deserts of central and thought extinct until a road-killed beautiful birds. It has probably area of semi-arid Australia. The Australia Gluepot Reserve in the inhabitant of Acacia woodlands sandy regions of Australia. It is declined in distribution and north-west Australia. It occurs mostly specimen was found in always been rare, with a former breeding distribution has South Australian mallee. It lives in central Western Australia and nationally vulnerable. It is abundance. The MacDonnell in sandy soils and dunes, usually Queensland in 1990. Its preferred range through the remote semi- contracted over past decades as in the hummock grasslands of central Australia, it is a mobile usually found in long-unburnt Ranges form, which is present at at depths of 40–100 cm. It spends habitat is probably chenopod arid zone of Western Australia, a result of overgrazing, semi-arid Australia, where its and unobtrusive bird. Little is spinifex communities, principally Newhaven, declined greatly in most of its life underground and is shrublands and seeding spinifex the Northern Territory and South clearance and degradation of its range has contracted markedly known of its habits or the of Triodia basedowii which is numbers between 1930 and blind, but does come to the surface. communities. In 1996 a pair of Australia. In the wild it is rarely open woodland habitat. These over the last few decades. It is threatening processes affecting widespread at Newhaven. Fire 1960. Fox predation is the likely Changes to the vegetation, whether Night Parrots landed 3 metres seen and there are probably changes may have affected the now considered nationally it, but it has been seen regularly regimes which simplify the cause. It is still locally common in through fire, grazing or trampling from trained observers at more birds in captivity. Likely availability of prey or nest sites, threatened. The clearance of at small water sources at structure of the spinifex some places. by stock, will affect the survival of Newhaven. This record has been threats include altered fire particularly in sparsely treed vegetation on marginal land was Newhaven. communities are likely to have this species. Predation by introduced kept secret since. The main threats regimes and grazing by parts of the inland where a major cause of the population adversely affected this species. animals is a significant problem. In to the species are suspected to be introduced herbivores. regeneration of trees has been decline, but now altered fire The stronghold of the population (From left to right) Illustration by one study, 10 per cent of fox, 3 per predation by feral cats and foxes, prevented by grazing. Egg regimes, grazing and introduced appears to be the Northern Peter Marsack, photos by Dave Watts, cent of cat and 2 per cent of dog Nicholas Birks, Graeme Chapman, altered fire regimes and grazing collecting is still a potential predators are the main threats. Territory. scats contained Marsupial Moles. Burt & Babs Wells/Nature Focus, by stock and rabbits. threat. Michael & Irene Morecombe, Mike So rarely seen, its conservation Gillam, Mike Gillam status is not well understood. VI N EWHAVEN S TATION

Above: Potato Creek gorge, and arrange a meeting with the clan groups who are are poorly represented in reserves in the Northern Cuckoo Rd claypan, looking pools fringed with sedges. the area’s traditional custodians. Older traditional Territory. Their level of protection will increase south to Mt Leibig. Right: Mulga woodland custodians, with their wealth of ecological within the range of 3 per cent to 23 per cent of their Photo by Mike Gillam with dense grasses knowledge, could provide considerable input into known area with the reservation of Newhaven. dominated by Aristida. Below right: Cracking effective management of the reserve. Newhaven will be the first nature reserve in surface of salt lake. At this time of reconciliation, Newhaven Australia where Night Parrots are believed to occur. All photos by Mike Gillam provides Birds Australia and its members with an This enigmatic and elusive species is so poorly exciting opportunity to work closely with traditional known that protecting the habitats where it has been Aboriginal custodians and to explore cultural links recorded is vitally important. which may contribute to the financial future of The arid-zone covers more than 70 per cent of some of these outback communities. the Australian continent and is little studied. It is likely that Newhaven Station will develop into a Pastoral history herbivore. The diet of these soft-hoofed animals is centre for arid-zone research, just as Gluepot Newhaven has been a cattle station for only 40 well known on Newhaven and their current impact Reserve has become for mallee ecology in South years, with the Perpetual Pastoral Lease taken up in on the flora is thought to be low. However, they Australia. Agencies such as CSIRO, the PWCNT in 1958. The land has been sensitively managed by the selectively browse quandongs, acacias and saltbushes Alice Springs and universities can work with Birds Coppock family ever since. and will need to be controlled. Australia in undertaking the research so essential for Newhaven has never been mined and has been the effective management of Newhaven and other subject to low stocking rates. About 25 per cent of Access arid zone areas. the property has never been grazed, and the other 75 Newhaven is easily accessible but still maintains its The PWCNT consider the property an ideal per cent has only been lightly stocked. Few properties wilderness qualities. It can be reached by several release site for regionally extinct Mala (Rufous Hare in the southern Northern Territory have been as routes, including via the Pilbara in Western Australia. Wallaby) and other threatened mammals. conservatively The main route The wilderness qualities and vastness of the managed, and as a from Alice Springs region and its varied wildlife provide significant result much of the via Tilmouth Well is tourism opportunities. It will be an ideal area for Above: Vigorous native habitat is intact. 335 km and takes volunteers and the more committed ecotourist to get grasslands contribute There are 12 four hours to involved in arid-zone research and management, and greatly to Newhaven’s active bores, two of drive. The first to learn of the area’s significance to its traditional conservation value. which have a year- 150 km from Alice Aboriginal custodians. Photo by Mike Gillam. round supply of Springs is a If we are successful in purchasing this wild, Left (from top): Abutilon lepidum, Goodenia anfracta, water suitable for bitumen highway beautiful and immensely valuable area it will be open Spartothamnella puberula, human consumption. and the next to everyone once some initial management work is Mallee Copper Burr The air strip needs 185 km is a wide, undertaken. We look forward to sharing with you the Sclerolaena parvifolia. some work to bring well-maintained satisfaction of knowing that Newhaven’s birds, and all Photos by Matt White, it up to a current air graded earth road its other wildlife and their habitat, are secure forever Dave Albrecht/ PWCNT, Calcrete benches, good Dave Albrecht/ PWCNT, examples of which occur on safety rating. The property has several relics of the suitable for 2 WD cars. There is a reasonably well- in the new Birds Australia Newhaven Reserve. Bruce Fuhrer Newhaven, are accumu- pastoral era. These, together with the current maintained c. 60 km of private, graded earth road lations of weathered dwelling, will be conserved. Birds Australia will need from Newhaven house to the western boundary and THE BIRD HABITAT ACQUISITION FUND Overleaf: North-easterly calcium carbonate which to raise the funds to provide a house for the ranger. 200 km of ‘bore’ roads that could be traversed in a view across salt lake to act as reservoirs for water. Following the successful purchase and establishment of the Birds 2 WD car. Siddeley range. As a result, small mammals Australia Gluepot Reserve in 1997, the Council of Birds Australia Photo by Mike Gillam have used these areas as Feral animals has established the Bird Habitat Acquisition Fund. This fund will drought refuges over Newhaven has few feral animals of major concern. Significance of the property for the future receive donations and bequests for land and will continue to thousands of years, Rabbits are in much reduced numbers north of the The quality, diversity and abundance of habitats and support the acquisition and management of significant habitat burrowing down into the MacDonnell Ranges, foxes are in much lower species on Newhaven Station means it will play an reserves for the protection of bird species into the future. substrate and gradually Newhaven Station is the intended first acquisition from this lifting the surface until it numbers than in more southerly pastoral areas, and important role in protecting Australia’s arid-zone fund. Donations received in excess of the amount required for forms a large mound. feral cat numbers are low. Camels, which arrived in biodiversity. Acacia woodland, spinifex grassland, the purchase and establishment of Newhaven will be retained Photo by Mike Gillam the Newhaven area in 1964, are the only large feral chenopod (saltbush) communities and bare salt pan for further land purchases and ongoing management. VIII N EWHAVEN S TATION

PURCHASING YOUR NEW RESERVE: HOW YOU CAN HELP Birds Australia must now raise $670,000 for the purchase and initial management of this internationally significant area. The alternative is to stand by and watch Newhaven Station be sold for commercial grazing. This is your opportunity to ensure that the glorious natural diversity on Newhaven is preserved forever. Please join those investing in the future of our natural heritage and give generously. You can also become a Founder of Newhaven Reserve. Founders play a vital role in the establishment of a new reserve by providing on-going financial support in the early years, when costs are high. If you can give over three years or more please consider this important contribution. The support that our Founders gave to Gluepot Reserve was paramount to its success. All donations of $190 or more (100 hectares purchased) and Founders who give a total of $190 or Royal Australasian more will be recognised on the commemorative plaque on the Reserve. You can become a Major Donor Ornithologists Union by purchasing 1000 hectares and a Principal Donor by purchasing 10,000 hectares. ACN 004 076 475 ✁ 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123 Yes, I want to help create a safe wilderness reserve in the heart of Australia Ph: (03) 9882 2622; To help Birds Australia purchase and manage Newhaven Station, please detach or copy this coupon, Fax: (03) 9882 2677 fill it out and mail, with your contribution, to: Email: [email protected] Website: Birds Australia Newhaven Appeal, Birds Australia, 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123. http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au All donations over $2 are tax-deductible. Receipts will be forwarded.

Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss/Dr ______Since 1901 Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Address ______Union) has worked for the ______State ______Postcode ______conservation of Australia’s birds and their habitats, principally Enclosed is my donation of I would like to become a through scientific research. It is an independent, not-for-profit Founder of Newhaven $60 to buy 30 hectares of diverse woodland organisation with over 20,000 $190 to buy 100 hectares of saltbush and spinifex for Reserve and commit members and supporters, and the Night Parrots $______proven ability to inspire the per year for a period of $500 to buy 265 hectares of wilderness for threatened species involvement of thousands of ______years volunteers in its conservation OR starting in the year 2001. projects. It relies on the financial $______other. support of companies, trusts Please send me information Please accept my enclosed and foundations and private cheque (payable to Birds Australia) on how I can join Birds individuals. New members are money order Australia as a member. welcome. or debit my Visa Mastercard Bankcard Wingspan is the quarterly Please send information on membership magazine of Birds _ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ how I can continue to help Australia. Additional copies of threatened birds through a Expiry Date ______/______this supplement are available from bequest in my Will. the National Office. Signature ______Printed on recycled paper.