Western Grasswren Amytornis Textilis Textilis PRIORITY FAUNA P

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Western grasswren Amytornis textilis textilis PRIORITY FAUNA P Description: Earthy brown plumage marked with fine white streaks camouflage the western grasswren in its shrubby habitat. Females have Quick facts a rufous patch on their flanks. This grasswren was previously known as the thick-billed grasswren for its beak, which is heavier than that of other Head-tail: 150 - 200mm grasswren species. It has a squeaky, reeling song and resembles a musical note itself. This species is often seen bouncing about jauntily with its long Average weight: 20 - 25g tail held high between shrubs. Diet and Habitat: Its usual habitat is open saltbush and bluebush Number of eggs: 2 - 3 shrublands. In Shark Bay it prefers open shrubland typical of the country along the road to Monkey Mia. This grasswren is usually shy of humans. Incubation: 15 - 17 days Your best chance of seeing one is very early in the morning when they hop about the ground feeding, often in pairs or family groups. Although Conservation Status they will perch briefly on exposed branches, they dart under cover at the Feral cats and habitat degradation caused first sign of danger. by goats and sheep are believed to have Breeding: Western grasswrens usually breed from July to September, but contributed to their decline. The western grasswren has recovered in Francois Peron may also nest from January to April when good summer rain produces an National Park since removal of sheep and many abundance of insects. Females select sites in thick scrub near the ground goats and cats from Peron Peninsula. and build cup-shaped nests with dry grass, twigs and bark. Nests are sometimes hooded depending on the thickness of the vegetation above the nest. Distribution: Once widespread from coastal Western Australia to central South Australia, this grasswren has declined dramatically over the last century. Today just two subspecies remain, each confined to small discrete areas. The Shark Bay area is important habitat for the subspecies A. textilis textilis and it is proposed for reintroduction to Dirk Hartog Island National Park as part of the Return to 1616 Ecological Restoration Project. Current distribution (approximate) DID YOU KNOW? They have short, rounded wings so they mostly hop and bounce between bushes and grass tufts. Dirk Hartog Island National Park Perth.

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Wirruwana News Spring 2020
GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Wirruwana News Updates From Dirk Hartog Island National Park SPRING 2020 The Dirk Hartog Island National Park Return to 1616 Ecological Restoration Project Stage Two is well under way with four species already translocated to the island including the banded and rufous hare-wallabies, Shark Bay bandicoot and dibbler. With this comes new priorities to keep track of all the new arrivals, build a body of knowledge to pave the way for new recruits, and ensure visitors are provided with information to help protect the new island inhabitants. Cryptic grasswrens The return of native animals to Dirk Hartog Island National Park is well on its way with four species already translocated to the island as part of the Department of Biodiversity, grasswrens. Mist nets are so fine they’re almost invisible. When Conservation and Attractions’ (DBCA) Return to 1616 project. set in the correct place, birds become gently entangled as But the ‘one-way, all-expenses-paid’ trip to their new island they hop or fly into it. home is just the first step in the establishment of sustainable Once this method for capturing grasswrens was perfected, populations on the island. To lay the foundations and ensure individuals were banded with a metal ring and a unique success, lots of information must first be gathered on each combination of colour bands on their legs. Grasswrens can species well before their trip. then be identified from a distance using binoculars or spotting The western grasswren (Amytornis textilis textilis) is currently scopes. This helps researchers to learn about group behaviour, planned for reintroduction to Dirk Hartog Island National Park.
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Early South Australian Records of the Western Grasswren Amytornis Textilis Myall
Aerial diving display, with calling, by Black Falcon Falco subniger D.J. Whelan 24 Manning Boulevard, Darley VIC 3440, Australia Email: [email protected] Australian Field Ornithology 2014, 31, 43–49 Early South Australian records of the Western Grasswren Amytornis textilis myall Andrew B. Black South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia Email: [email protected] Summary. Records show that the naturalist–collector F.W. Andrews provided five specimens of the Western Grasswren Amytornis textilis myall from the Gawler Ranges for the South Australian Museum, Adelaide (SAMA), in the 1870s, but there is evidence suggesting that he obtained others in that period. Two of these specimens are retained in the collection of the Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium, and one each in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France, and the Macleay Museum, Sydney. Four ‘Amytis textilis’ sent elsewhere have not been located recently and another two were evidently discarded from the SAMA around 1882. The first of the records that these specimens represent precedes the previously acknowledged earliest observations of the northern Eyre Peninsula– Gawler Ranges subspecies in 1902 by 31 years (Chenery 1903) and the recognition of their taxonomic status by 45 years (Mathews 1916). Introduction The first to publish a report of the Western Grasswren Amytornis textilis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) in South Australia (SA) was Chenery (1903) although he did not name it, simply listing it as ‘Amytis – (?)’. He and Morgan (1924) saw these grasswrens on Nonning and Mount Ive Stations, central Gawler Ranges, in August 1902 and took two specimens, which Morgan donated ~10 years later to the South Australian Museum, Adelaide (SAMA) (B7359 and B7360) (Zietz 1913).
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Amytornis Modestus Inexpectuatus Thick Billed Grasswren
NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee Conservation Assessment of Thick billed Grasswren Amytornis modestus inexpectatus (Matthews, 1912) (Maluridae) B Hope, A Kerle, April 2020 NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis modestus inexpectatus (Matthews, 1912) Distribution: endemic to NSW; [Amytornis modestus occurs in the Northern Territory, South Australia and NSW; 1 other subspecies in NSW]. Current EPBC Act Status: Amytornis modestus listed as Vulnerable (subspecies not listed) Current NSW BC Act Status: Amytornis modestus inexpectatus listed as Critically Endangered Proposed listing on NSW BC Act and EPBC Act: Extinct Conservation Advice: Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis modestus inexpectatus (Matthews, 1912) Summary of Conservation Assessment Amytornis modestus inexpectatus (Matthews, 1912) (Thick-billed Grasswren) found to be eligible for listing as extinct as at the time of this review there is no reasonable doubt that the last member of the species has died. Exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), and throughout its historical range have failed to record any individuals. Habitat change within the inferred range of this species has been substantial and remaining suitable habitat is uncommon and considered to be comprehensively surveyed. Description and Taxonomy Amytornis modestus (North, 1902) (Thick-billed Grasswren) is one of 11 presently recognised species within the purely continental Australian genus Amytornis (Black 2016). Until recently the species A. textilis was recognised across Australia, however since 2010 the eastern and western populations have been placed in A.m modestus (Thick-billed Grasswren) and Amytornis textilis (Western Grasswren), respectively (Christidis et al. 2010). A recent taxonomic assessment identified seven subspecies of A.
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Island Protection – Dirk Hartog Island National Park
Dirk Hartog Island National Park Wirruwana Island Protection 20130233 Full colour logo original Dirk Hartog Island Return to 1616 Logo on light background Return to 1616 Ecological Restoration Project Dirk Hartog Island Return to 1616 Logo on dark background GOVERNMENT OF Dirk Hartog Island WESTERN AUSTRALIA Return to 1616 RECYCLE Please return unwanted brochures to distribution points Above DBCA staff releasing a banded hare-wallaby. Photo - Richard Manning Return to 1616 – Ecological Restoration Project Dirk Hartog Island is Western Australia’s largest island. When visited by Dirk Hartog in 1616, the island was in pristine condition with a rich mammal fauna and flourishing vegetation. Since this first European landing on Australian soil, introduced plants and animals have degraded the island causing the local extinction of native species. Return to 1616 is an ambitious project helping to restore the island’s natural ecosystems. Introduced sheep and goats have been removed because their grazing and trampling damages native plants and reduces the food and shelter available for native animals. Feral cats are efficient hunters and have been eradicated from the island to make it safe for native animal species that are gradually being returned. These are the Shark Bay bandicoot, dibbler, chuditch, brush-tailed mulgara, greater stick-nest rat, desert mouse, Shark Bay mouse, heath mouse, woylie, boodie and western grasswren. In addition, rufous and banded hare-wallabies, have been included to improve their long-term survival. These animals are in need of conservation protection. Some are threatened and others extinct on the mainland. To find out more about the project, visit www.
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Chapter 7 References
Cover Page The handle http://hdl.handle.net/1887/62332 holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation Author: Jansen, Justin J.F.J. Title: The ornithology of the Baudin expedition (1800-1804) Date: 2018-05-22 661 Chapter 7 References 662 Chapter 7 - References A Ade, M. S., Frahnert, S. and Stark, Ch. 2001. Analysing databases of Southern African material at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin 77 (2): 325-331. Agardh, C. A. 1821. Species Algarum Rite Cognitae cum Synonymis, Differentiis Specificis et Descriptionibus Succinctis. Lund, Berlin. Agardh, C. A. 1824. Systema Algarum. Lund, Berlin. Åhlander, E., Kullander, S. O. and Fernholm, B. 1997. Ichthyological collection building at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm. pp. 13-25. In Pietsch, T. W. and Anderson, W. D. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication Number 3. Aitinger, J. C. 1626-1631. Kurtzer Und Einfeltiger bericht Von Dem Vogelstellen. Cassel. Albert, H. 1913. The use of oil as a final preservative for specimens, the natural colour of which is to be retained. International Association of Medical Museums IV: 44-45. Aldrovandi, U. 1599–1603. Omithologiae hoc est de avibus historiae Libri XII. Bologna. Alexander, W. B. 1924. White’s Journal of a voyage to New South Wales. Emu 23: 209-215. Aliabadian, M., Alaei-Kakhki, N., Mirshamsi, O., Nijman, V. and Roulin, A. 2017. Phylogeny, biogeography, and diversification of barn owls (Aves: Strigiformes).Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 119 (4): 904-918. Altmann, J. 2012. Zeichnen als beobachten. Die Bildwerke der Baudin-Expedition (1800-1804).
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Thick Billed Grass Wren (Macdonnell Ranges Subspecies)
Threatened Species of the Northern Territory THICK-BILLED GRASSWREN (MacDonnell Ranges subspecies) Amytornis modestus modestus Conservation status Australia: Vulnerable (as A. textilis modestus) Northern Territory: Extinct Photo*: G. Chapman Description The MacDonnell Ranges subspecies of the The thick-billed grass-wren is a small ground thick-billed grasswren A. m. modestus was bird (length 15-20 cm) with a long tail. The formerly present in the Finke River drainage upperparts are dull brown in colour with the underparts being paler fawn. Feathers are streaked with white. The female has a chestnut patch on either side of the breast. The eyes are dark brown, the bill and feet are dark grey. It is distinguished from other subspecies by the particulars of its tail, and from the closely-related western grass-wren by its lighter body colour and heavier bill. *There is no known photo of this taxon. The photo above is of another living sub-species of A. modestus. Distribution A recent taxonomic review separates A. modestus and A. textilis as distinct species (Black et al. 2010). The thick-billed grasswren Previous locations of the MacDonnell Ranges thick-billed grass-wren A. modestus occurred as three subspecies in arid and semi-arid regions of southern basin from Mereenie Bluff and the upper Australia (Higgins et al. 2000), two of which Hugh River south to Lauries Creek, McMinns Creek and the lower Finke (Storr 1977). have been recorded in the Northern Territory (NT). For more information visit www.denr.nt.gov.au A small isolated population of the north- the north-western subspecies persists in the western subspecies A.
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The Behavioural Ecology of the Thick-Billed Grasswren
The behavioural ecology of the thick-billed grasswren Marina (Maria Carolina Johanna) Louter (MSc Biology) A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science and Engineering Flinders University of South Australia Cover image: Typical thick-billed grasswren habitat with chenopod shrubs at Witchelina Nature Reserve in South Australia, and (inset) a thick-billed grasswren (Amytornis modestus raglessi) in the hand. Photos by Marina Louter. ii Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures ................................................................................................................... ix List of Supplementary Material ..................................................................................... xi Thesis Summary .............................................................................................................. xii Declaration...................................................................................................................... xiv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... xv Statement of Authorship/Contribution and Acknowledgment ............................... xviii Chapter 1 General introduction ................................................................ 1 Behavioural conservation framework ...................................................................
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Threatened Birds on Dirk Hartog Island: Reconnaissance Survey May 2013
Threatened birds on Dirk Hartog Island: reconnaissance survey May 2013 Allan Burbidge DEC Science Division May 2013 Summary Three threatened bird subspecies are endemic to Dirk Hartog Island: subspecies of the Rufous Fieldwren, Southern Emu-wren and White-winged Fairy-wren (black and white subspecies). The Western (Thick-billed) Grasswren has also been recorded from the island, but is possibly locally extinct. During a reconnaissance survey in May 2013, carried out opportunistically during a survey for Black Rats, Rufous Fieldwrens were found at about 20 locations across the island, and Black and White Fairy-wrens at about five locations. Neither the emu-wren or grasswren were located during this very brief inspection, but recent records exist for the emu-wren and apparently suitable habitat was noted for both taxa, especially in the northern third of the island. A dedicated survey will be carried out in August 2013, to determine current distribution and habitat usage for each of these taxa. Introduction Numerous animals have declined across the Australian arid zone (Letnic 2007) and, in particular, a number of bird species have declined in the Shark Bay region (Johnstone et al. 2000). Several of these are listed as threatened (Garnett et al. 2011). The greatest concentration of threatened bird taxa in the region is on Dirk Hartog Island, where there are three endemic subspecies (Table 1). Common Scientific name Action EPBC status WA status Range name Plan status Dirk Hartog Malurus VU VU Schedule 1 endemic to Island Black- leucopterus (VU) Dirk Hartog and-White leucopterus Island Fairy-wren Dirk Hartog Stipiturus VU not listed Schedule 1 endemic to Island malachurus (VU) Dirk Hartog Southern hartogi Island Emu-wren Western Amytornis LC not listed P4 restricted to Grasswren textilis textilis Shark Bay (Shark Bay area; possibly subspecies) extinct on Dirk Hartog Dirk Hartog Calamanthus VU not listed Schedule 1 endemic to Island Rufous campestris (VU) Dirk Hartog Fieldwren hartogi Island Table 1.
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Threatened Birds on Dirk Hartog Island: Preliminary Report on September 2014 Survey
Threatened birds on Dirk Hartog Island: preliminary report on September 2014 survey Allan H. Burbidge1, Gaynor Dolman2 and Mark Blythman1 1 DPaW Science and Conservation Division Woodvale 2 Molecular Systematics Unit Western Australian Museum 28 July 2015 Summary Three threatened bird subspecies are endemic to Dirk Hartog Island: subspecies of the Rufous Fieldwren, Southern Emu-wren and White-winged Fairy-wren (black and white subspecies). The Western (Thick-billed) Grasswren has also been recorded from the island, but is possibly locally extinct. During a survey in September 2014, we resurveyed birds in 15 of the 34 sampling sites that were established the previous year. Rufous Fieldwrens were found at 15 of the 15 locations, Black and White Fairy-wrens at 7 and Southern Emu-wrens at 5. No grasswrens were located. In addition, two common shrubland inhabiting insectivores, the Variegated Fairy- wren and White-browed Scrubwren, were detected at 9 and 13 sites respectively. These proportions are broadly comparable to those found in the 2013 survey. Preliminary modelling of vegetation data is planned to occur during the latter half of 2015. Once vegetation data are analysed, we will attempt to model the distribution of the target species across the island and use these models to formulate guidelines for management of the threatened bird taxa on the island. Preliminary analysis of genetic samples suggests that the Dirk Hartog Island Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris hartogi is not taxonomically distinct from mainland populations of the species. While the genetic analysis is not yet complete, results to date suggest that C. campestris hartogi is not a valid taxon, and therefore consideration should be given to removing it from the threatened species list.
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Amytornis Textilis )
Amytornis 1 WESTER A USTRALIA J OURAL OF O RITHOLOGY Volume 3 (2011) 1-12 ARTICLE Western Australia, home of the Grass-Wren ( Amytornis textilis ) Andrew Black Ornithology Section, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia 5000. Email: [email protected] Abstract. The first grasswrens to be seen by Europeans, at Shark Bay, were given the English name Textile Wren, later the Grass-Wren. Though detected subsequently in many other places in southern Western Australia they then declined dramatically and soon disappeared from all but the place of their original discovery. Specimens collected many hundreds of kilometres apart and in varying environments showed differences that led to their be- ing given many separate names. They were shortly dispersed among Australian and later among North American institutions with none having a fully representative collection. Subsequent extinctions restricted the opportunity to confirm or modify this implicit taxonomic diversity. From evidence presented here I propose that two Western Australian subspecies be recognised as separate, Amytornis textilis textilis of the Shark Bay region and arid north- ern interior and A. t. macrourus of southern eucalypt communities. Keywords . Western Grasswren, morphological diversity, habitat diversity, taxonomy, subspecies macrourus rec- ognised. Introduction lution of the Australian arid zone fauna. In an earlier analysis of the confounding taxonomy The first grasswrens, genus Amytornis (Maluridae), to of the grasswrens Amytornis textilis , modestus and be given scientific description were obtained in 1818 at purnelli Parker (1972) wrote: "The Western Australian Shark Bay Western Australia by Quoy and Gaimard records of textilis will be discussed by Mr. J. Ford (in (1824).
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Checklist of the Birds of Western Australia R.E
Checklist of the Birds of Western Australia R.E. Johnstone and J.C. Darnell Western Australian Museum, Perth, Western Australia 6000 April 2016 ____________________________________ The area covered by this Western Australian Checklist includes the seas and islands of the adjacent continental shelf, including Ashmore Reef. Refer to a separate Checklist for Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Criterion for inclusion of a species or subspecies on the list is, in most cases, supported by tangible evidence i.e. a museum specimen, an archived or published photograph or detailed description, video tape or sound recording. Amendments to the previous Checklist have been carried out with reference to both global and regional publications/checklists. The prime reference material for global coverage has been the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) World Bird List, The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, the Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volume, 1 (Lynx Edicions, Barcelona), A Checklist of the Birds of Britain, 8th edition, the Checklist of North American Birds and, for regional coverage, Zoological Catalogue of Australia volume 37.2 (Columbidae to Coraciidae), The Directory of Australian Birds, Passerines and the Working List of Australian Birds (Birdlife Australia). The advent of molecular investigation into avian taxonomy has required, and still requires, extensive and ongoing revision at all levels – family, generic and specific. This revision to the ‘Checklist of the Birds of Western Australia’ is a collation of the most recent information/research emanating from such studies, together with the inclusion of newly recorded species. As a result of the constant stream of publication of new research in many scientific journals, delays of its incorporation into the prime sources listed above, together with the fact that these are upgraded/re-issued at differing intervals and that their authors may hold varying opinions, these prime references, do on occasion differ.
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Biodiversity and Conservation Science Annual Report 2019-2020
Biodiversity and Conservation Science Annual Report 2019-2020 Acknowledgements This report was prepared by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). For more information contact: Executive Director, Biodiversity and Conservation Science Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 17 Dick Perry Avenue Kensington Western Australia 6151 Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre Western Australia 6983 Telephone (08) 9219 9943 dbca.wa.gov.au The recommended reference for this publication is: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 2020, Biodiversity and Conservation Science Annual Report 2019-20, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth. Images Front cover main photo: Mt Trio, Stirling Range National Park. Photo – Damien Rathbone Front cover top photos left to right: Swan Canning Riverpark. Photo – Kerry Trayler/DBCA Mollerin Rock reserve. Photo – Val English/DBCA Shark Bay bandicoot. Photo – Saul Cowen/DBCA Shark Bay seagrass. Photo – Luke Skinner/DBCA Back cover top photos left to right: Post fire monitoring. Photo – Lachie McCaw/DBCA Kalbarri yellow bells. Photo – Kelly Shepherd/DBCA Western grasswren. Photo – Saul Cowen/DBCA Dragon Rocks Kunzea. Photo – Kelly Shepherd/DBCA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Biodiversity and Conservation Science Annual Report 2019–2020 Director’s Message I am pleased to present our Biodiversity and Conservation Science report for 2019-20 as we continue to deliver on the government’s commitment to build and share biodiversity knowledge for Western Australia. Our Science Strategic Plan and Program Plans articulate how our work contributes to delivery of the biodiversity science priorities for the State as the knowledge generated by our science is essential to ensure we conserve and value add to the unique biodiversity we have around us.
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