98 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 30

RECENT OBSERVATIONS OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT OF THE YELLOW CHAT EPHTHIANURA CROCEA IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

B. W. STRONG AND M. R. FLEMING

INTRODUCTION Range Yellow Chats were first seen on the Barkly The range and status of the Yellow Chat Tablelands during the RAOU Atlas Surveys Ephthianura crocea are considered to be poorly (Table 1) even though collectors of the calibre of understooddueto theremotenessandisolationof Barnard and Stalker worked there early this cen­ its populations and the species' apparent incon­ tury. Further work has now extended the species' spicuousness (Pizzey 1980, Blakers et al. 1984). It known distribution in the Northern Territory to is generallyconsideredto be a birdoftropicalsub­ the limits of the Mitchell Grass Astrebla spp bi­ coastal districts (Storr 1977, 1984) and it has been orne, from Elliottat thewestern end to Burramur­ consistently found oncoastal floodplains such as ra in the east (see Figure 1). Their "discovery" on those of the South Alligator River. The occur­ the Barkly Tablelands is due to improved roads rence of the species in the Downs country of over the black soil plains, now allowing Wet sea­ western Queensland has been taken to represent a son access, and the growing interest in what was recent expansionofrange following theprovision previously considered to be a vast, relatively uni­ of permanent stock watering points (Ford & Par­ form grassland of little biological diversity or ker 1974, Parker & Reid 1979, Blakers et al. 1984). interest. Reynolds et al. (1982) provide further data from Only two sightings of Yellow Chats have been south-western Queensland and Blacket al. (1983) made in the southern Northern Territory, away present a record from north-eastern South from the Barkly Tablelands. The adult male bird Australia. seen at the Alice Springs Sewage Ponds was prob­ During the past few years, intensive faunal sur­ ably a vagrant as it remained in the area for only vey work in the Northern Territory has greatly in­ 10 days. This sighting and the pair seen in the creased the number of observations made of the 'northern Simpson Desert strongly suggest that YellowChat. Thesesightings are discussed here in YellowChats may also be found around othersel­ relation to the range, apparent status and dom visited salt-lake systems in the west and preferred habitat of the species. south-west of the Northern Territory, e.g. Lake Amadeus, Napperby Lakes.

Habitat RESULTS AND DISCUSSION TheBarklyTablelandis characterizedby "Roll­ ing Downs" country, dominated by various spe­ Observations cies of Mitchell Grass (Barkly Land System of Sightings of Yellow Chats made in the non­ Christianet al. 1954). Within the Downs there are coastalareas ofthe Northern Territory since 1976 internal drainage systems which floodout into are given in Table 1. In all cases, the presence of ephemeral wetlands (Sylvester Land System of adult males confirmed the identity of the chats. Christian et al. 1954) characterized by Northern Thefirst five observations are indicatedin TheAt­ Bluebush Chenopodium auricomum, Annual lasofAustralian (Blakers et al. 1984) but are Verbine Psoralea cinerea and occasionally Lig­ presented here in detail. The remaining thirteen numMuehlenbeckiacunninghamii (see Figure 1). observations have been made by employees ofthe These wetlands are filled during the Wet season ConservationCommissionofthe NorthernTerri­ (December to April) and then slowly evaporate tory during faunal surveys. Two specimens are during the Dry season (May to November) but held in the Central Australian Wildlife Collec­ there is variation in the extent of filling, both tion, one from Lake Woods (CAWC-B226) and regionally and from year to year. Detailed habitat one from Burramurra (CAWC-B233). descriptions for the recent Yellow Chat sightings I SEPTEMBER, 1987 99

No. on Locality Latitude Longitude Date Number of Observer(s) Fig.l birds recorded

Alroy Downs 19°05 ' 136°04 ' 25 January 1978 2 J. W. Waugh -No.6 Hinkler Bore (RAOU)

2 Alroy Downs 19°09 ' 136°04 ' 20 April 1979 D. Eades -No.6 Hinkler Bore (RAOU)

3 Alroy Downs 19° 14' 136°00' 2 August 1981 4 B. Schoeffel -Lower Amazon Lagoon (RAOU) 4 Brunette Downs 18°39' 135°57 ' 4 August 1981 7 - J. Strudwick -Brunette Creek (RAOU) ? 5 Alexandria 19° 13' 136°48 ' 21 September 1981 4 1. Glasson, M. -Buchanan Bore Glasson (RAOU)

6 Newcastle Waters 17°40 ' 133°30' 21 July 1982 100+ ;; J. L. McKean -Lake Woods

7 Alice Springs 23°44' 133°51 ' 6 September 1982 N. Phillips, D. -Sewage Ponds Phillips, ':;- E. Phillips

8 Burramurra 20°30 ' 137°30' 17 August 1983 large population K. A. Johnson -Shady Camp Yard 9 Connell's Lagoon Reserve 18°45' 136°30 ' 2 February 1984 6 '" M. R. Fleming to Brunette Downs 18°48' 135°40' 14 November 1984 common M. R. Fleming -Lake Sylvester

11 Alroy Downs 19°04' 135°56' 24 January 1985 W.A.Low, -No. 16 Bore B. W. Strong

12 Alroy Downs 19°09' 136°16' 24 January 1985 4 W.A. Low, -No. 35 Bore B. W. Strong

13 Alroy Downs 19° 1I ' 136°06 ' 24 January 1985 W.A.Low, -No. 26 Bore B. W. Strong

14 Alroy Downs 19°20' 136°24 ' 24 January 1985 5 W.A.Low, B. W. Strong

15 Alroy Downs 19° 13' 135°59' 25 January 1985 many W.A.Low, -Lower Amazon Lagoon B. W. Strong

16 Brunette Downs 18°44' 135°36' 1I March 1985 very abundant M. R. Fleming -D47 Bore

17 Brunette Downs 18°46 ' 135°41 ' 12 March 1985 50+ M. R. Fleming (= 10) -Lake Sylvester

18 Simpson Desert 24°12' 136°37 ' 21 April 1985 2 D. F. Gibson

TABLE 1. Summary of records since 1976of the Yellow Chat in non-coastal areas of the Northern Territory. 100 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 30

Elliott

Alexandria

Tennant

Alroy

N T

LEGEND III Barkly Land System Alice Springs Simpson Sylvester Land System Desert Ir---~I S.A. • Figure I. Map of the central eastern Northern Territory showing localities in the text. Numbers correspond to those in Table I and 2. 101 SEPTEMBER, 1987

are given inTable2but the majority of these were oservations of large numbers of birds in areas ap­ in the ephemeral wetlands. Extensive areas of the parently free of surface water (Table 1; sites 6,8, Sylvester Land System occur on the Barkly 9, 15, 18)would indicate that while s.malI popula­ Tablelands (Figure 1)andsimilar habitat extends tions of Yellow Chats have colomzed artesian down the Georgina River into western Queens­ bore drains, major breeding populations may oc­ land. We would predict that all of these areas cur in areas away from these artifical water would have populations of Yellow Chats as­ sources. This has a significant bearing on the con­ sociated with them. servation measures needed to protect the species. Schodde (1982) suggested that the ephthianu­ [It is worth noting that E. crocea was not in­ rine chats were derived from a tropical honeyeat­ cluded in the laboratory studies of Williams & er group and evolved in situ in arid, central Aus­ Main (1976, 1977)and physiological studies of it tralia. Physiological studies on chats by Williams may be most interesting. - Ed.] & Main (1976, 1977)support this hypothesis by showing that chats as a group have special adap­ Plumage tations for living in arid environments, such as There is considerable variation in the reported reduced rates of metabolism and reduced water size,shape, colourationand extent ofthe crescent requirements. The Yellow Chat represents the or breast bar ofthe male YellowChat. At one ex­ tropical form ofthis group yet the habitats it oc­ treme it is described as a small necklace of light­ cupies e.g. grassland, floodplain and saltmarsh brown markings (For & Parker 1974)(and in one all become xeric during the Dry season. Our instance, perhaps describing an immature, as an

Location 1: Treeless grassland, table-drain with sedge to O.3m and in seed. Shallow water in drain but mostly bogged by cattle. Location 2: None given Location 3: Edge of lagoon surrounded by Lignum Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii, and heavily grazed stony plain. Location 4: Nardoo Marsilea sp., Lignum clumps and wild mint Psoralea sp. Location 5: Bank of turkey nest dam. Location 6: Meandering shallow channels with Psoralea cinerea surrounded by a dry grassland with protruding dry stems. Location 7: Marshy flat on periphery of burnt Cumbungi sp. at edge of sewage ponds. Location 8: Dry, season~lIy wet, watercourse, dominated by Annual Verbine Psoralea cinerea, 'in grassland dominated by Barley Mitchell Grass Astrebla pectinata.

Location 9: Mit~hell Grass grassland, and chenopod shrubland dominated by Northern Bluebush Chenopodium aurtcomum,

Location 10: Grassland dominated by Annual Verbine, Rat's-tail Couch, Sporobolus mitchelli and Glinus lotoides. Location 11: Turkey nest dam in Mitchell grassland with areas of Northern Bluebush. Location [2: As for 11 but with minor Lignum.

Location 13: As for [I. Location 14: As for 11.

Location 15: Dry seasonally wet water course dominated by Annual Verbine, with minor Lignum, in Mitchell grassland. Location 16: Coolibah Eucalyptus microtheca, open woodland, scattered bluebush and dead Annual Verbine. Location 17: As for 10.

Location 18: Smadll ~rea of Mitchell Grass and other grasses with Gidyea Acacia cambagei on flats near salt lakes and san ridges, '

Tabl.e2. Detailed des~ription of habitats from r~cent sightings of the Yellow Chat in the Northern Terntory. (Refer to Fig. 1 and Table 1 for location numbers). 102 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 30

oval smudge-Blacke/al. 1983)andat the otherex­ t~eme as a sooty black band extending from the lands.of the Barkly Tablelands. Artificial water sides ofthe neck (Horton 1982, Black et al. 1983). supplies for stock have added only small pockets Th~ of suitable habitat at bore overflows and turkey m<;Jst frequently reported shape is a crescent, nest dams. WhICh 1S generally considered to be blackish but which varies in its other characteristics. Males re­ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS cently seenin the Northern Territory tend to con­ v:'e are grateful to the Royal. Australasian Ornithologists fo~m with this crescent shape. The band as depict­ UnIOn for perrmssion to USe their data. We also thank those e~ III all current field guides (Simpson & Day 1984, ~eo~le acknowledged in Table 1 for contributing their Pizzey 1980,Slater etal. 1986)does notseem to be sightings. typical of birds in the Northern Territory. REFERENCES Black,A. B., Duggan, G., Pedler,J. A. and L. P. Pedler.1983. Status The Yellow Chat Ephthianura crocea at Pandiburra Bore The paucity ofsightings ofthe Yellow Chat has north-eastern South Australia. S. Aust, Orn. 29: 42-45. ' BJakers, M., Davies, S. J. J. F. and P. N. Reiliy. 1984.TheAt­ led people to believe that it is rare and it has been las of Australian Birds. Melbourne University Press and considered endangered by Slater (1978). Six ofthe RAOU: Melbourne. sightings reported here were of over one hundred Christian, C. S., Noakes, L. C., Perry, R. A., Slatyer, R. 0., birds, in contrast to earlier sightings that were Stewart, G. A. and D. M. Troves ..1954.Survey oflheBarkly Region, Northern Territory and Queensland 1947-1948. generally ofless than fifty birds (Black et al. 1983, Land Research Series No.3. C.S.I.R.O.: Melbourne. Blakers et al. 1984). This may represent a large Ford, J. and S. A. Parker. 1974. Distribution and of population increase as a consequence of over 10 some birds from south-western Queensland. Emu 74: years of better than average rainfall but we have 177-194. Horton, W. 1982. Size and description of Yellow Chats at insufficient data to test this hypothesis. Coorabulka bore, south-west Queensland. Sunbird 12: The presence of these large populations sug­ 37-39. gests thatthe speciesisneither endangered norvul­ Parker,S.A. and N. Reid. 1979.Remarks on the statusofsome nerable, despite its often close association with Australian , In: The Status of Endangered Aus­ tralasianWildlife, pp.109-115. Tyler,M.J. (ed). Roy. Zoo!. cattle grazing. Cattle heavily exploit the Yellow Soc. S.A.: Adelaide. Chat'swetland habitatas it dries out, but the inac­ Pizzey, G. 1980. A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Col­ cessability of these areas in the Wet Season ap­ lins: Sydney. pears to allow the two to co-exist by preventing Reynolds, I. S., Walter, J. C. and P. F. Woodall. 1982. Obser­ vations on Yellow Chats Ephthianura crocea in western cattle from trampling and grazing the wetland Queensland. Sunbird 12: 21-29. vegetation. The recent spread of the introduced Schodde, R. 1982.Origin, adaptation and evolution of birds in shrub Parkinsonia aculeata on the Barkly arid Australia. In: Evolution ofthe Floraand Fauna ofArid Tablelands may present a bigger threat than cattle Australia, pp. 191-224.Barker, W. R. and P. J. M. Greens­ lade (eds). Peacock: Frewville. grazing. This shrub forms very dense thickets Simpson, K. and N. Day. 1984.TheBirds of Australia. A Book along watercourses and around watering points, of Identification. Lloyd O'Neil: South Yarra. so dramatically altering the grassland habitat. Slater, P. 1978. Rare and Vanishing Australian Birds. Rigby: Sydney. Slater, P., Slater, P. and R. Slater. 1986.The SlaterField Guide . CONCLUSION to Australian Birds. Rigby: Dee Why West. Storr, G. M. 1977.Birds oftheNorthernTerritory. Spec. Pub!. The distribution of the Yellow Chat in the W. Aust. Mag. No.7. NorthernTerritory has become better understood Storr, G. M. 1984.Revisedlist of Queensland birds. Ree, West. with an increase of interest in the ecology of the Aust. Mus. Supp!. no 19. BarklyTablelands. In the Northern Territory, the Williams, C. K. and A. R. Main. 1976. Ecology ofAustralian species may inhabit other areas that contain suita­ chats ( Gould): seasonal movements, metabolism and evaporative water loss. Aust, J. Zool, 24: blehabitatand thathave as yet receivedlittle atten­ 397-416. tion from biologists. Williams, C. K. and A. R. Main. 1977. Ecology ofAustralian Present indications are that the conservation chats (Epthianura Gould): aridity, electrolytes and water status of the Yellow Chat in the Northern Terri­ economy. Aust. J. Zool. 25: 673-69l. tory is secure. Grazing probably do not B. W. Strong: 3 Erumba St., Alice Springs, N. T. present a threat but any drastic alteration of 5750 habitat by introduced weeds, particularly M. R. Fleming: Conservation Commission ofthe Parkinsonia, may be cause for concern. Northern Territory, P.O. Box1046, AliceSprings, The most importanthabitat for the YellowChat N.T.5750 in the NorthernTerritoryisevidently the extensive Received 16January 1986;accepted 17December drainage system of the vast Mitchell Grass grass- 1986.