Bird Guide for the Great Western Woodlands Male Gilbert’s Whistler: Chris Tzaros Whistler: Male Gilbert’s
Western Australia
PART 1. GWW NORTHERN Southern Cross Kalgoorlie Widgiemooltha
birds are in our nature ® Australia AUSTRALIA Introduction
The birds and places of the north-west region of the Great Western Woodlands are presented in this booklet. This area includes tall woodlands on red soils, shrublands on yellow sand plains and mallee on sand and loam soils. Landforms include large granite outcrops, Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) Ranges, extensive natural salt lakes and a few freshwater lakes. The Great Western Woodlands At 16 million hectares, the Great Western Woodlands (GWW) is close to three quarters the size of Victoria and is the largest remaining intact area of temperate woodland in the world. It is located between the Western Australian Wheatbelt and the Nullarbor Plain. BirdLife Australia and The Nature Conservancy joined forces in 2012 to establish a long-term project to study the birds of this unique region and to determine how we can best conserve the woodland birds that occur here.
Kalgoorlie 1 Groups of volunteers carry out bird surveys each year in spring and autumn to find out the species present, their abundance and to observe their behaviour. If you would like to know more visit http://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/great-western-woodlands If you would like to participate as a volunteer contact [email protected]. All levels of experience are welcome. The following six pages present 48 bird species that typically occur in four different habitats of the north-west region of the GWW, although they are not restricted to these. Eight areas to visit are then described including some of the birds that often frequent or live in these places. At least 215 bird species have been recorded in the Great Western Woodlands, with 181 of those recorded during surveys from 2012 to 2014.
Map: Sites to visit in the north-west region of the Great Western Woodlands. KEY 1. Karlkurla Bushland Park 2. Rowles Lagoon 3. Karalee Rock 4. Jaurdi 5. Helena and Aurora Range 6. Cave Hill & Victoria Rock 7. Lake Douglas 8. Elachbutting and Beringbooding Rocks BIRDS OF THE WOODLAND
Striated Pardalote Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Weebill Yellow-plumed Honeyeater
Grey Butcherbird Purple-crowned Lorikeet
Australian Ringneck Rufous Treecreeper WOODLAND BIRDS continued
White-fronted Honeyeater White-eared Honeyeater
Female
Male
Crested Bellbird Red-capped Robin
Grey Shrike-thrush White-browed Babbler
Chestnut Quail-thrush Chestnut-rumped Thornbill BIRDS OF THE TOWNS
Singing Honeyeater
Red Wattlebird
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Yellow-throated Miner
Pied Butcherbird
Australian Magpie
Australian Raven Willie Wagtail BIRDS OF THE SKY
Tree Martin
Welcome Swallow
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Black-faced Woodswallow
Rainbow Bee-eater
Dusky Woodswallow
Nankeen Kestrel Brown Falcon BIRDS OF FRESHWATER LAKES
Australian Wood Duck
Australian Shelduck
Grey Teal
Pacific Black Duck
Eurasian Coot
White-fronted Chat
Black Swan
Hoary-headed Grebe OTHER GREAT WESTERN WOODLANDS BIRDS
Magpie-lark Galah
Common Yellow-rumped Bronzewing Thornbill
Crested Pigeon
Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo
Emu
Grey Currawong KARLKURLA BUSHLAND PARK A Class Reserve Karlkurla (pronounced gull-gurl-la) is the Aboriginal name for the Silky Pear, Marsdenia australis, a creeper with woody pear-shaped fruits. Karlkurla Bushland Park is a 200ha woodland site of natural bush on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie. The vegetation of the park has regenerated after the tree-felling activities in the early 1900s that supported the wood fired steam engines, underground gold mines and formation of the woodlines (narrow gauge railway lines). Kalgoorlie-Boulder Urban Landcare Group (KBULG) manages the park for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The park showcases the goldfields woodland using a network of meandering walk trails (4km in length), complete with interpretive signage and lookout. All three fairy-wren species have been recorded in and around Karlkurla Bushland Park (Blue-breasted, White-winged and Splendid Fairy-wrens). The Mistletoebird is a regular visitor to the park. Karlkurla Bushland Park is on the northern edge of Kalgoorlie, five minutes from the Central Business District. It is open all year round, with access from Mistletoebird the car park at the end of Nankiville Road. There are toilets and seating available. The Goldfields Naturalists’ Club regularly conduct bird surveys at Karlkurla Bushland Park.
Karlkurla Bushland Park ROWLES LAGOON Conservation Park After substantial rainfall Rowles Lagoon transforms into a freshwater wetland attracting a wide range of waterbirds. It is a geological oddity being a semi- permanent freshwater lake perched on top of a saline Yellow-billed water table – but it is this Spoonbill fresh water that draws the feathered visitors to Rowles Lagoon and makes it a breeding ground for nomadic waterbirds. Thousands of waterbirds can occur here and in the neighbouring lagoons at one time, including Grey Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Freckled Duck (Australia’s rarest waterfowl), Yellow-billed Spoonbill and four heron species. The surrounding vegetation includes eucalypt woodlands that support the Rufous Treecreeper, while the sheoak woodlands of Casuarina pauper (Black Oak), to the south, support the White-browed Treecreeper. Rowles Lagoon is located 73km north of Coolgardie and can be accessed via the Coolgardie North Road (a gravel road). Access from Kalgoorlie is via Goldfields Highway. Rowles Freckled Lagoon has barbecue, picnic Duck and camping facilities. The site is 2WD access on a gravel road.
Rowles Lagoon in June 2014 KARALEE ROCK AND BOONDI ROCK Karalee Rock and Boondi Rock are both large granite outcrops. Dams were built on these granite rocks in the late 1800s to provide water for steam trains. Both rocks provide places to walk and admire the expansive views and space of the Great Western Woodlands. Granite outcrops are always wonderful places for birds, especially honeyeaters when plants are in flower, and species to be found here include the Yellow-plumed, Brown, Spiny-cheeked and White- eared Honeyeaters. In summer, birds can be seen coming in to drink at the dam water, with honeyeaters and seed-eaters such as the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo and Common Bronzewing commonly seen in the area at this time. Both Karalee Rock and Boondi Rock are located on the north side of the Great Eastern Highway with Karalee Rock 52km east of Southern Cross (approximately 5km north of the highway) and Boondi Rock 72km east of Southern Cross (3km north of the Highway). Boondi Rock is within the Goldfields Woodlands National Park. Free camping facilities are provided at Karalee Rock and Boondi Rock. At Karalee Rock there are toilets and barbecue pits. At Boondi Rock there is a ring track with camping bays and a toilet.
Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos predominantly occur in the north-west corner of the GWW, north of the Great Eastern Highway. They are stunning birds with conspicuous red and yellow banding in their raised crest.
Major Mitchell's Cockatoos JAURDI STATION Proposed Conservation Reserve Jaurdi, an ex-pastoral station, demonstrates the diversity of land uses in the Great Western Woodlands. In the past, Jaurdi Station has provided grazing land for livestock, sites for several small gold mines, a source of cut timber to fuel steam engines and an area for sustainable sandalwood harvesting. More recently it has been the focus of exploration for iron ore and nickel. Despite these activities, Jaurdi remains largely uncleared with intact eucalypt woodland, breakaways and low Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) ranges. Jaurdi supports at least 105 bird species. The expected range of nectar feeders (Purple-crowned Lorikeet and 10 honeyeater species), insect feeders and seed eaters can be found at Juardi. Occasionally, uncommon species have been seen, such as the Scarlet-chested Brown Parrot, Black Honeyeater Honeyeater and Crested Shrike-tit. Situated 178km west of Kalgoorlie, the main public access to Jaurdi Station is via Ryans Find Road heading north of the Great Eastern Highway just east of Boorabbin Rock (approximately halfway between Yellowdine and Coolgardie). Camping at the old homestead site can be arranged through the Department of Parks and Wildlife Goldfields Office in Kalgoorlie. White-winged Fairy-wrens are found mainly in the northern area of the GWW, such as at Credo Station and Karlkurla Bushland Park.
Male White-winged Fairy-wren Female White-winged Fairy-wren HELENA AND AURORA RANGE (BUNGALBIN) Conservation Park The rugged Helena and Aurora Range (also known as Bungalbin) is a spectacular Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) range in the northern Great Western Woodlands. The steep slopes with their orange- Peregrine red iron-laden rocks and Falcon tall White Gums make for a stunning landscape, a wild contrast to the otherwise more sedate granite outcrops in the woodlands. The ironstone formations are culturally and ecologically important, and home to several endemic flora species. Peregrine Falcons and Little Woodswallows nest on the rock faces, and Chestnut Quail-thrush and Gilbert’s Whistler can be seen in the adjacent woodlands. Located 100km north-east of Southern Cross, the Helena and Aurora Range is mainly accessed from Southern Cross via Koolyanobbing and then the Mt Dimer Track. Access to Helena and Aurora Range is 4WD for the last 50km and crosses several haul roads. Under wet conditions, can be difficult to traverse. Camping is allowed, though no facilities Little are provided. Woodswallow
Outcrops and small caves on Helena and Aurora Range CAVE HILL Conservation Park AND VICTORIA ROCK Nature Reserve Cave Hill is a spectacular and distinctive granite outcrop with a wave rock formation, large cave and several man-made dams. Victoria Rock is just as large, though not as high, with many boulders and considerable vegetation. Malleefowl occur in the area and Western Rosellas have been seen at both granite rocks. A total of 14 honeyeater species feed on flowering plants on the granite including the Purple-gaped Honeyeater. Both are located south of Coolgardie, Cave Hill being 93km south and Victoria Rock 50km south. Cave Hill is accessible from Widgiemooltha heading Malleefowl west on a gravel road or from Coolgardie heading south either on a gravel road via Burra Rock or south on a gravel road and 4WD track via Victoria Rock. Victoria Rock is accessible on the Victoria Rock Road, which heads south from Coolgardie to the Norseman-Hyden Road. There are free camping facilities at both Cave Hill and Victoria Rock including picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. Both sites may at times require 4WD access. Tracks are difficult to traverse under wet conditions.
Splendid Fairy-wrens live in dense scrub in family groups. As with all fairy-wrens, they have a long cocked tail and males are brilliantly coloured.
Male Splendid Fairy-wren Female Splendid Fairy-wren LAKE DOUGLAS Recreation Reserve Lake Douglas is a man-made seasonal lake created by the damming of a local creek. The lake usually holds water and is known to provide habitat for Pink-eared Duck, Hoary-headed Grebe and Black- fronted Dotterel, otherwise uncommon in the Great Pink-eared Western Woodlands. Duck Eremophila species and other flowering shrubs surrounding the campsites bring in large numbers of honeyeaters and small insectivores when in bloom. Located 12km southwest of Kalgoorlie, access is south of the Great Eastern Highway via Muncaster Road. Follow the signs for 3.5km to the campground. Free short-term camping Black-fronted facilities are provided Dotterel in a large camping area and include picnic tables, wood barbecues and toilets. Access is 2WD to the campsite.
Blue-breasted Fairy-wren a shy, secretive species that forages on the ground and shelters in low bushes. The Great Western Woodlands is one of the strongholds for this species.
Male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren ELACHBUTTING AND BERINGBOODING ROCKS Elachbutting and Beringbooding Rocks are neighbouring granite outcrops. Long exposure to the elements has shaped Elachbutting with its wavelike rock formations and echoing caves. Beringbooding has a balancing rock, large gnamma hole, Aboriginal hand paintings and the largest rock catchment tank in Australia. Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Regent Parrot and Western Corella have been recorded here. Elachbutting Rock is 100km north of Westonia and 70km north-east of Mukinbudin, situated just north of where Hobbs Road meets Elachbutting Road. Beringbooding Rock is 12km north-west of Elachbutting Rock on the corner of Regent Parrot Beringbooding and Cunderin Roads. Elachbutting Rock has free campgrounds and toilets. Beringbooding Rock has picnic facilities and a free campground. There are walk trails at both rocks.
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (subspecies samueli) are impressive black parrots with a tail that has stunning red panels in the males and orange-yellow barred panels in the females. It is recorded in the north west corner of the GWW, such as at Karroun Hill, Jaurdi and Helena & Aurora Range.
Male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Birds recorded at the eight sites to visit Site 1 – Karlkurla Bushland Park Site 2 – Rowles Lagoon Site 3 – Karalee Rock/Boondi Rock Site 4 – Jaurdi Site 5 – Helena and Aurora Range Site 6 – Cave Hill/Victoria Rock Site 7 – Lake Douglas Site 8 – Elachbutting Rock/Beringbooding Rock
KEY TO STATUS IN THE NORTHERN GWW: Bird species that can always be found in the northern GWW LR Locally Resident (holds a home range or territory at one site throughout the year) RR Regionally Resident (can move from place to place in response to changes in food availability, season or conditions) Bird species that are not always found in the northern GWW M Migratory or nomadic (only occurs in the GWW in certain seasons or conditions) V Vagrant (occasional or rare visitor to the northern region of the GWW) Bird species listed as threatened or in need of special protection T Threatened species (EPBC Act) P Specially Protected (Wildlife Conservation Act, WA)
Jacky Winter feeds on insects by hawking in open areas of woodlands. Often perched on dead branches from which they give high-pitched calls; when they land they ‘wag’ their tail side-to-side.
Jacky Winter
Striated Pardalote Striated Pardalote is a very small bird with a yellow throat. They search for insects amongst eucalypt foliage and have a strong two note ‘chip chip’ call. Bird Species Status 1. Karlkurla Lagoon 2. Rowles Rock Rock/Boondi 3. Karalee 4. Jaurdi Range 5. Helena & Aurora Rock Hill/Victoria 6. Cave Douglas Lake 7. 8. Elachbutting Emu, Mound Builder
Emu RR • • • • • •
Malleefowl LR, T • • • • Swan, Duck Black Swan M • Blue-billed Duck V • Musk Duck M • Australian Shelduck M • • Australian Wood Duck M • • Grey Teal RR • • Pacific Black Duck RR • • Australasian Shoveler V • Pink-eared Duck RR • • Hardhead M • Freckled Duck V • Cormorant Little Black Cormorant M • Little Pied Cormorant M • • Heron, Ibis Australian White Ibis V • • Straw-necked Ibis M • White-faced Heron M • • White-necked Heron M • • Yellow-billed Spoonbill V • Grebe Australasian Grebe RR • • • • Hoary-headed Grebe M • • • • Pigeon, Dove Brush Bronzewing V • Common Bronzewing RR • • • • • • • Crested Pigeon RR • • • • • • • • Raptor
Black-breasted Buzzard V • •
Square-tailed Kite M • • • • •
Whistling Kite RR • •
Black-shouldered Kite RR • • • •
Brown Goshawk RR • • • • • • • Bird Species ST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Collard Sparrowhawk RR • • • • •
Spotted Harrier RR • • • •
Wedge-tailed Eagle RR • • • • • • •
Little Eagle RR • • • • • •
Brown Falcon RR • • • • • •
Peregrine Falcon RR, P • • • • •
Australian Hobby RR • • • • • •
Nankeen Kestrel RR • • • • •
Frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouth LR • • • • • Nightjar Australian Owlet-nightjar LR • • • • • • Spotted Nightjar RR • • • • • • Native-hen, Coot Black-tailed Native-hen M •
Eurasian Coot M •
Bustard
Australian Bustard RR • •
Shorebird
Common Sandpiper M •
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper M •
Wood Sandpiper V •
Common Greenshank M •
Banded Stilt M •
Black-winged Stilt M •
Red-necked Avocet M •
Red-capped Plover M • •
Black-fronted Dotterel RR • •
Red-kneed Dotterel M •
Banded Lapwing M • •
Tern
Whiskered Tern M •
Button-Quail
Little Button-quail RR • • •
Painted Button-quail RR • •
Cockatoo, Parrot
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo RR • • •
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo RR, P • • • •
Galah RR • • • • • • •
Little Corella RR •
Western Corella V • • Bird Species ST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cockatiel M • • • •
Purple-crowned Lorikeet RR • • • • • •
Scarlet-chested Parrot M • •
Western Rosella RR • • •
Australian Ringneck RR • • • • • • • •
Regent Parrot RR • • • •
Budgerigar M • • •
Elegant Parrot M •
Mulga Parrot RR • • • •
Cuckoo
Pallid Cuckoo M • • • • • •
Fan-tailed Cuckoo M • • • • •
Black-eared Cuckoo M • • • • • •
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo M • • • • • • • •
Owl
Eastern Barn Owl RR • •
Southern Boobook LR • • • • • •
Kingfisher
Red-backed Kingfisher RR • • • • • •
Sacred Kingfisher M • • • • •
Bee-eater
Rainbow Bee-eater M • • • • • • • •
Treecreeper
Rufous Treecreeper LR • • • • •
White-browed Treecreeper LR •
Fairy-wren
Blue-breasted Fairy-wren LR • • • • • •
Splendid Fairy-wren LR • • • • • • •
White-winged Fairy-wren LR • • • •
Scrubwren, Thornbill & Allies
White-browed Scrubwren LR • • •
Shy Heathwren LR • • •
Rufous Fieldwren LR • •
Redthroat LR • • • • • •
Weebill LR • • • • • • • •
Western Gerygone RR • • • •
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill LR • • • • • • • •
Inland Thornbill LR • • • • • • •
Slaty-backed Thornbill LR • •
Yellow-rumped Thornbill LR • • • • • • • •
Southern Whiteface LR • • • • • Bird Species ST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Pardalote
Spotted Pardalote RR • • •
Striated Pardalote RR • • • • • • • •
Honeyeater, Chat
Red Wattlebird RR • • • • • • • •
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater RR • • • • • • • •
Yellow-throated Miner RR • • • • • • • •
Singing Honeyeater LR • • • • • • • •
White-eared Honeyeater RR • • • • • • • •
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater RR • • • • • • • •
Grey-fronted Honeyeater RR • • • • •
Brown Honeyeater RR • • • • • • • •
Brown-headed Honeyeater RR • • • • • • • •
White-fronted Honeyeater M • • • • • • • •
Purple-gaped Honeyeater V • •
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater V • •
New Holland Honeyeater V •
White-cheeked Honeyeater V • •
Black Honeyeater M • • • •
Pied Honeyeater M • •
Crimson Chat M • • •
Orange Chat V • •
White-fronted Chat RR • • • •
Babbler
White-browed Babbler LR • • • • • • •
Quail-thrush, Sittella
Chestnut Quail-thrush RR • • • •
Chestnut-breasted Quail- V • thrush
Varied Sittella RR • • • • •
Bellbird, Whistler, Shrike-Thrush
Crested Shrike-tit LR • •
Crested Bellbird LR • • • • • • • •
Gilbert's Whistler LR • • • • •
Golden Whistler LR • • • • •
Rufous Whistler LR • • • • • • • •
Grey Shrike-thrush LR • • • • • • • •
Woodswallow
Black-faced Woodswallow RR • • • •
Dusky Woodswallow RR • • • • • •
Little Woodswallow M • •
Masked Woodswallow M • • • • • • Bird Species ST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cuckoo-shrike, Triller
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike RR • • • • • • •
Ground Cuckoo-Shrike M • • • •
White-winged Triller M • • • • • • •
Butcherbird, Currawong
Grey Butcherbird LR • • • • • • • •
Pied Butcherbird LR • • • • • • •
Australian Magpie LR • • • • • • • •
Grey Currawong LR • • • • • • • •
Fantail, Wagtail
Grey Fantail RR • • • • • • •
Willie Wagtail LR • • • • • • • •
Raven, Crow
Australian Raven LR • • • • • • • •
Little Crow LR • • • • • • •
Torresian Crow RR • • •
Flycatcher, Monarch
Magpie-lark LR • • • • • •
Restless Flycatcher RR •
Robin, Scrub-robin
Jacky Winter LR • •
Hooded Robin LR • • •
Red-capped Robin LR • • • • • • •
Western Yellow Robin LR • • • • •
Southern Scrub-robin LR • • •
Old World Warbler
Brown Songlark RR • • • • • •
Rufous Songlark RR • • • • • •
White eye
Silvereye M •
Martin, Swallow
Fairy Martin M • • •
Tree Martin M • • • • • • •
Welcome Swallow RR • • • • • • •
White-backed Swallow RR • • • • • •
Flowerpecker
Mistletoebird M • • • • •
Finch
Zebra Finch M • • • •
Pipit
Australasian Pipit RR • • • • • • • • Acknowledgements Silhouette Drawings: Judy Blyth: Common Bronzewing. JN Davies: Regent Parrot. K Franklin: White-fronted Honeyeater. Pam Free: Australian Shelduck, Black Swan, Galah. Susan Tingay: Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, Australian Ringneck, Pacific Black Duck, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Black-fronted Dotterel, Brown Honeyeater, Grey Butcherbird, Grey Currawong, Grey Shrike-thrush, Magpie-lark, Mistletoebird, Nankeen Kestrel, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Rainbow Bee-eater, Red Wattlebird, Rufous Treecreeper, Singing Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, Tree Martin, Welcome Swallow, Willie Wagtail, Australian Wood Duck, Yellow-rumped Thornbill. Anonymous: Black-faced Woodswallow, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler. Silhouette Photos: Pam Agar: Coot. Pauline Arnold: Wedge- tailed Eagle. Mark Binns: Pied Butcherbird, Yellow-throated Miner. Wendy Kenworthy: Chestnut-rumped Thornbill. Keith Lightbody: Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, Red-capped Robin (male and female), White-fronted Chat. Michael Morcombe: Chestnut Quail-thrush. Frank O’Connor: Crested Pigeon, Grey Teal, Malleefowl, White- eared Honeyeater. Paul Setchell: Emu. Georgina Steytler: Crested Bellbird, Dusky Woodswallow, Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater. Eric Tan: Weebill. John Vogel: Brown Falcon. Ian Wallace: Hoary-headed Grebe, Peregrine Falcon. Boyd Wykes: Little Woodswallow. Photos: John Anderson: Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (female), Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (male), White-winged Fairy-wren (male). Alan Collins: Blue-breasted Fairy-wren (male). Barry Heinrich: Splendid Fairy-wren (female). Janette Kavanagh: Karlkurla Bushland Park. Shapelle McNee: Helena and Aurora Range. Tim Sargent: Panorama Credo Station, Rowles Lagoon, Jacky Winter, Striated Pardalote. Georgina Steytler: White-winged Fairy-wren (female). Chris Tate: Splendid Fairy-wren (male). Chris Tzaros: Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos, Gilberts’s Whistler (male). Graphic Design: Sharyn Strong – StrongCreative Preparation: Shapelle McNee with assistance from Pam Agar, Liz Fox, Tegan Douglas and Cheryl Gole. Maps: Tegan Douglas
Funding provided by the Thomas Foundation through The Nature Conservancy's David Thomas Challenge and BirdLife Australia major donors. Bird Guide No. 70AB © BirdLife Western Australia. Published DECEMBER 2016. Prepared for the Birds of the Great Western Woodlands Committee.
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