The WandererThe Wanderer

This occasional newsletter covers news and information about Plains-wanderer Summer 2019 Issue 6 conservation and management. Past newsletters are available via a link on the Trust for Nature website http://www.trustfornature.org.au/our-conservation-work/priority-species/ plains-wanderer/ and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pedionomidae/ Inside this issue:

Thanks to all of the contributors to this issue. If you have articles that may be of interest to others, please Thermal scanning 1 send copies to the editor David Baker-Gabb at [email protected] cameras Nocturnal monitoring on 3 Plains-wanderer Facebook page the Northern Plains, Vic Have you been on the Plains-wanderer Facebook page? Even if you are not on Facebook, Monitoring on Terrick 4 by pasting the URL into your browser you will be able to view the page. It contains media Terrick National Park articles and social media posts about Plains-wanderers from state agencies, zoos and others. Song meters monitoring 6 It is well worth a look. https://www.facebook.com/Pedionomidae/. calls on Northern Plains A new covenant in 9 Thermal scanning cameras has also been adopted by outback truck Victoria drivers to help avoid collisions with - a potential new tool for improving NSW monitoring: 10 wandering livestock, and has proved very Autumn & Winter Plains-wanderer detection successful. For our trial, custom-built 2019 thermal equipment and expertise on how to Dan Nugent, La Trobe University NSW Plains-wanderer 11 use the device was provided by Monash report, 2018 The Plains-wanderer is a highly cryptic University researcher, Dr Rohan Clarke. species that is typically hard to find because Male Plains-wanderer 13 of its excellent camouflage and strategies display used for avoiding detection by predators. Paddocks for Plains- 14 Over the past 30 years, the most effective wanderers Incentive method for detecting and surveying for the Project Plains-wanderer has been spotlighting from Update for Western 16 vehicles at night. A new piece of technology, Queensland a thermal scanning camera, has recently come Vale Rick Webster 20 onto the wildlife detection scene which has the potential to greatly improve our ability Australian Magpies are 22 to find Plains-wanderers. predatory ‘’

Buttonquail are 23 In autumn this year, a vehicle-mounted shorebirds too thermal scanner (FLIR MD625 NTSC 30hz Captive breeding — 24 thermal vision camera, price= $9,100) was trialled Taronga and Werribee alongside spotlights to assess the potential of this technology to be used as a tool for detecting Plains-wanderers. This type of thermal scanning unit was originally designed as a tool for use on open-water vessels to enable objects, such as other boats, to be FLIR thermal camera fixed to the window of the vehicle using a seen and avoided. In recent years, this camera specially designed mount. Photo: Dan Nugent 2

Thermal scanning cameras (cont)

The thermal camera, fixed on a spotlight wanderers during this survey. It is difficult mount, was rotated from side to side by a to determine if this high number of passenger, thus scanning a 180-degree detections, relative to other sites, is a area. As the vehicle was driven slowly consequence of this particular site having forward, the person rotating the camera more Plains-wanderers at the time of the Heat signatures watched a live video feed on a screen survey, or if the thermal scanner enables from warm- positioned on the dash of the vehicle. individuals to be detected that would have been missed using traditional spotlighting blooded White heat signatures from warm-blooded techniques alone. When this same site was animals were readily distinguished on the (white) could be surveyed three weeks later using only spot- screen from the surrounding cooler grass- lights, no Plains-wanderers were recorded. readily identified land (in shades of grey). When an Given the short time between surveys it is on the screen was seen on the screen, the vehicle was unlikely that all at the site had stopped and the source of the heat from the dispersed, and more probable that at least signature investigated on foot to some individuals were missed when using surrounding, determine the species detected. It was the spotlighting method. Further research cooler, possible to separate birds from mammals into the possible applications of this on the screen, but required further (shades of grey). technology will get underway in early 2020 investigation to identify specific species. as part of a joint project between Monash During this trial, the thermal scanner University, La Trobe University, and Zoos proved to be a very useful tool for Victoria. This research aims to determine detecting Plains-wanderers and other differences in detection rates between grassland fauna. At one site alone it survey techniques and, if thermal detected six Plains-wanderers, other birds technology proves superior, to devise a and numerous Fat-tailed Dunnarts. monitoring plan that incorporates the new Although other observers were doing technology. parallel searches using spotlights, it was the scanner that detected all of the Plains-

Far right: Male Plains-wanderer Photo: Chris Tzaros

Right: Photo of thermal scanner video feed showing a Plains- wanderer (visible at centre of screen) being approached prior to its capture for the captive breeding program at Werribee. Photo: Yvette Pauligk 3

News from the Range States

A decade of nocturnal monitoring on the Northern Plains, Vic.

David Baker-Gabb Much of this increase in 2018 was likely due to immigration from overgrazed The Northern Plains of Victoria are one of drought-affected areas further inland. two known strongholds of the Plains- wanderer, the other being the larger NSW A banded has been recorded moving . North-east South Australia and 124 km from Victoria’s Northern Plains to Much of this south-west Queensland are currently the NSW Riverina. Moreover, there is no recorded as regions of lesser importance increase in 2018 genetic difference between northern for the species. Victoria and NSW Riverina Plains- was likely to due wanderers and so movements between the to immigration The autumn monitoring data from 20 sites two regions may be reasonably common. across Victoria’s Northern Plains show from overgrazed that the regional Plains-wanderer In summer and autumn 2019, conditions drought-affected population crashed by >90% following the were very hot and dry across northern areas further exceptionally wet years of late 2010 Victoria and nearly all of the private through 2011 (Figure 1). The population inland. grassland, which comprises about 70% of remained at a very low ebb for three years, the potential Plains-wanderer there, but began to recover in 2015-17 on the was overgrazed. Reserved eastern (Patho), but not on the western remained in structurally ideal conditions (Lower Avoca) sections of the Northern for Plains-wanderers. Monitoring by Dan Plains. In 2018, there was a marked Nugent in autumn 2019 recorded Plains- increase in the population in the eastern wanderers in only three reserved half of the Northern Plains, to almost grasslands and encounter rates were back reach the population levels of autumn to 2012-14 post-crash levels. 2010. This result appeared to exceed the potential reproductive ability of the regional population there in 2017.

Left: Female Plains-wanderer Photo: Mark Antos 4

News from the Range States

Monitoring on Terrick Terrick National Park: 2018-19

Mark Antos, Parks Victoria The 2018-19 monitoring period has been Our habitat monitoring revealed that 60% a busy and productive one for our intrepid of over 200 assessment plots had ideal citizen scientists. It resulted in 32 Plains- Plains-wanderer habitat. This has been due It has been a wanderer detections, including the to a combination of dry conditions and the number of years presence of chicks. Most of these birds careful application of conservative grazing were banded and many had genetic regimes. An example of the importance of since so many samples retained. Even more significant is maintaining suitable habitat structure was different sites the fact that birds have been recorded provided in the case of a female Plains- have been from six different paddocks. It has been a wanderer that was banded in April 2018 in number of years since so many different a high-quality paddock. This same bird was occupied within sites have been occupied within Terrick recaptured exactly one year later only Terrick Terrick Terrick National Park (Figure 1). 300 m from the original capture point. Plains-wanderers can show high site National Park. Other species recorded included Curl fidelity if the quality of their habitat is Snakes, Hooded Scalyfoots and Fat-tailed maintained. Dunnarts. Some species, such as Stubble , Little Button-quail and Brown Data generated by the project have been Songlarks were recorded at lower analysed by Dr Nick Schultz of Federation encounter rates than in previous years. University and resulted in a peer-reviewed This may be a reflection of the lower and publication examining the impact of more open grass structure. climate and habitat structure on Plains- Key challenges for the immediate future wanderer occupancy (See M. Antos & N. include careful monitoring and L. Schultz (2019): Climate-mediated management of grassland structure to changes to grassland structure determine ensure it stays in optimum condition habitat suitability for the critically throughout spring, and the development endangered plains-wanderer (Pedionomus of paddock plans based on the latest torquatus), Emu - Austral Ornithology, knowledge to help future management. DOI: 10.1080/01584197.2019.1641415).

Right: The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio releasing a Plains-wanderer. Photos: M Norman 5

Monitoring on Terrick Terrick National Park: 2018-19 (cont)

This monitoring program demonstrates We have had further requests from the that citizen science can make significant Minister’s office to supply photos and contributions to knowledge of Plains- information about grasslands. wanderers and grassland ecology. ... citizen science Other significant achievements have can make included a visit to the grasslands by the significant Hon Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate contributions to Change, Parks Victoria CEO Matt knowledge of Jackson, and senior PV and DELWP Plains-wanderers staff. This provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the grasslands and grassland and the conservation work being done, as ecology. well as allowing participants to meet some of the local staff and volunteers. The Minister saw 10 Plains-wanderers (including chicks), assisted with the banding process, and got to hold and release a Plains-wanderer. Although we were only allocated an hour of the Minister’s time out in the field, we ended up staying until nearly midnight (at her insistence). The Minister was thoroughly captivated by the grasslands and their fauna and also had close encounters with dunnarts, quail, dragons and geckoes.

Top: Habitat assessment being conducted on a frosty September morning. Photo: M Antos

Far left: Parks Victoria CEO Matt Jackson (centre) and the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio (right) assisting Mark Antos with banding a Plains- wanderer.

Left: The Hon Lily ’D Ambrosio with a released Plains-wanderer. Photos: M Norman 6

Song meters monitoring Plains-wanderer calls on Victoria’s Northern Plains

David Baker-Gabb Patho Plains during these six months, and ... in 18 months so it is likely that overall numbers of Between September 2017 and January calling Plains-wanderers will have declined song meters have 2018, adult female Plains-wanderers were there too. This outcome is another detected Plains- recorded calling by 19 (50%) of 38 iteration of an ongoing cycle exhibited operational song meters. Then between wanderers at 21 over many decades whereby private native April and August 2018 calls were recorded grasslands offer habitat for Plains- new sites ... on 14 (52%) of 27 song meters. Lastly, wanderers during benign conditions, but between August 2018 and January 2019, most are then overgrazed during adult females were recorded by 25 (50%) prolonged dry periods. This is not a trivial of 50 song meters. Hence, although the outcome for Plains-wanderers because number of operational song meters has private native grasslands comprise 70% of changed over time, the proportion of the 43 native grasslands with song meters them recording calling adult female Plains on the Patho Plains. The only measure that -wanderers remained consistent during all has thus far proven an effective counter to seasons over a year and a half. This such overgrazing is to formally recognise suggests that the number of Plains- the national significance of these grass- wanderers present on the Northern Plains lands for the species by paying private was also fairly constant over the 18 landowners adequately to protect them for months. the long-term through conservation covenants. Grassland biomass densities also remained generally suitable for Plains-wanderers An important result of this project has throughout this period. Data from the been that in 18 months song meters have latest recording period (January to June detected Plains-wanderers at 21 new sites 2019) have yet to be analysed, but grass- and in doing so have doubled the number land biomass declined markedly in of sites the species is known to occupy on suitability on most private land on the the Patho and Lower Avoca Plains.

Far right: Upturned bulk carriers a waiting conversion to protect song meters from cows. Right: Side view of song meter showing aviary mesh baffles to protect microphone wind socks. Photos: David Baker-Gabb 7

Song meters monitoring Plains-wanderer calls on Victoria’s Northern Plains (cont)

Had nocturnal vehicle-based spotlight surveys observed to arrive in an area, stay a few been conducted at these 21 sites for hundreds days and then move on, particularly in dry of nights per site, then no doubt Plains- times (see P Maher NSW Riverina reports wanderers would have been recorded at most in The Wanderer 2017, 2018). of these sites too, but at much greater cost. ... we should All of the sites on the Lower Avoca Plains are Females that were recorded calling only a not in reserves, and there are very few potentially few times (at about half of the sites on the suitable native grasslands in private hands Northern Plains) were likely to be part of a automatically there. By contrast, there are another 10-20 transient cohort, but these records are assume that potentially suitable private native grasslands included in the combined song meter data records of on the Patho Plains where Plains-wanderers outlined above. Thus, a word of caution: Plains- could occur but are yet to be found. we should not automatically assume that records of Plains-wanderers calling at all wanderers Further interrogation of these data is these new sites means that there are many calling at all enlightening. When all 19 of 38 sites that more resident Plains-wanderer ‘out there’. recorded calling female Plains-wanderers in these new sites spring 2017 were subsequently surveyed at Song meters have also proven to be a very means that effective tool for outreach staff seeking to night, it was found that at ten sites with many there are many calls (>40), 100% had birds with chicks or engage with new landowners. Locating sites with Plains-wanderers greatly juveniles. Conversely, at nine sites with only a more resident facilitates an ongoing discussion with the few calls (eg fewer than 10), only one Plains- owners of the native grasslands. Plains- wanderer was found and there was no wanderers ‘out evidence of breeding. Again in spring 2018, about half of the sites had many calls and there’. were thus likely to have been breeding sites, whereas the other half had few calls (<10) and may have only been visited by transient birds. Plains-wanderers have commonly been

Far left: Male Plains-wanderer. Photo: Chris Tzaros

Left: Common Everlasting. Photo: Worboy 8

Song meters monitoring Plains-wanderer calls on Victoria’s Northern Plains (cont)

Teething problems Australian Magpies sought the small Large birds such as Australian Magpies amount of shade offered by the cages on often perched on song meters mounted on the largely treeless plains. These birds ... spikes solved poles. They pecked holes in about one- then commonly pecked the song meter wind socks. This meant that the corner the bird damage third of the windsocks that protect the microphones and so compromised the blocks of the cages and the central over- problem. data collected. head plate needed to be removed to eliminate the shade they offered and so This problem was initially tackled by dissuade the birds from using the cages. building aviary mesh baffles to minimise Spikes were also attached to the baffles. bird damage. The design of the baffle allows easy opening of the song meter front cover and access to the ports on its side. However, large birds continued to land on the aviary mesh baffles and peck holes in some of the wind socks and so commercially available spikes, that deter birds from landing on buildings, were then added to the aviary mesh baffles. The spikes solved the bird damage problem. Cows are known to chew and disable song meters set on steel posts. To overcome this problem song meters were placed in large steel cages. The cages worked well in protecting the song meters from cows. However, on very hot days (38+ degrees C) families of 5-6

Clockwise from top: Song meters with baffle and spikes. Replacing the top netting after removing corner blocks and central plate. Cage with corner blocks and central plate that shaded Australian Magpies on very hot days. Photos: David Baker-Gabb 9

Another grassland covenant in Victoria

Kirsten Hutchison, Trust for Nature Both of these grasslands were ‘locked up’ during 2009-2014 as part of the Thanks to funding from the federal government’s Bush Tender program. government and the North Central Unfortunately heavy rains during late 2010 CMA, Trust for Nature is now able to and 2011 meant that they became It has taken offer Northern Plains landholders with high quality native grasslands $1,000/ha excessively dense and declined in quality in Andy to manage their grasslands for Plains- the absence of grazing. It has taken Andy several years of wanderers and other fauna and flora several years of judicious grazing to get the judicious grazing under a covenant. covenanted paddocks back to their previous high quality. to get the Andy and Judy McGillivray have recently covenanted covenanted their second paddock. This 129ha high quality native grassland has a paddocks back to large area of red soil and has had more their previous than 20 records of Plains-wanderers, high quality. including breeding records, over the past decade. Two years earlier, Andy and Judy covenanted another 80ha native grass- land.

Left: Andy and Judy McGillivray with an endangered Red Swainson-pea in their newly covenanted grassland. Photo: courtesy The Weekly Times 10

NSW Plains-wanderer monitoring: Autumn and Winter 2019

David Parker and 1 site respectively. Fat-tailed Dunnarts Dept Planning, Industry and Environment were recorded at nine sites, a Curl Snake seen on two nights, and on one occasion at No Plains- Following a dry 2018, 2019 started hot Oolambeyan National Park, Sudell’s Frog wanderers were and dry. At the start of the autumn round (aka Common Spadefoot Toad) kept me of monitoring, most sites were dry and recorded during entertained, with 11 individuals recorded much of the Plains-wanderer habitat was across the grid. the autumn round, in poor condition. It wasn’t until the a result which has Easter weekend that some areas received The winter round of Plains-wanderer happened only some welcome rain, with more follow-up monitoring is usually quiet. One female once before, back rain received in the first week of May. Plains-wanderer was observed in habitat in winter 2003. Most of the remaining sites visited after that looked ideal, having benefited from then had a fresh green colour. This wasn’t some rain and destocking. Overall, the the case for all sites, with some properties Plains-wanderer habitat across the sites was missing out on any good falls. The dry showing signs of recovery, looking greener conditions were reflected in the results of and a bit taller, but still a bit sparse. monitoring, with this recent round being one of the quietest since monitoring Australasian Pipits were once again the commenced 20 years ago. most common bird encountered, being recorded at 12 of the 16 sites, but where No Plains-wanderers were recorded observed, their numbers were in single during autumn. Only once before, in figures. Only one was winter 2003, have no birds been observed. encountered. Brown Songlarks were heard calling at two sites. Banded Lapwings were The most commonly encountered species observed breeding at four sites, with some was the Australasian Pipit at 12 sites. Below: Native grassland recovering from incubating eggs while others were looking drought and grazing. However, numbers were low, with ten or after three-quarter grown young. Centre: Nesting Banded Lapwing. fewer individuals seen at the sites. Stubble To cap off the monitoring round a party of Right: Inland Dotterel. Quail, Banded Lapwing and Singing six Inland Dotterels were observed on the Photos: David Parker Bushlarks were observed, but only at 3, 2 final night. 11

NSW Plains-wanderer Report for 2018

Philip Maher, , NSW While we had 50 sightings of Plains- wanderers during 2018, many of these The year 2018 saw one of the lowest rain- were the same birds we located repeatedly falls ever recorded on the Riverine Plain. over subsequent nights. About 30 In the Plains-wanderer country the individuals were seen during the year. Nevinsons recorded just 181mm (7 in) for ... 2018 was the the year near Wanganella, and 151mm (5.9 The year started off well enough with our toughest year for in) at . In short, 2018 was the first outing on 21 January recording a Plains-wanderers toughest year for Plains-wanderers since mating pair and an adult female. There had since we first we first found them north of Wanganella been good rain in December of 2017 that in 1980. had stimulated breeding in January. We found them had no trouble finding Plains-wanderers in north of We went out searching for Plains- February, March, April and July (we did Wanganella in wanderers on a total of 40 occasions in not go out in May or June). 2018 and didn’t find them on 15 1980. occasions, all during spring and summer. By August, with virtually no rain all year, This is the first time in almost 40 years that any paddock that had sheep in it was they have moved out at that time of year. becoming decidedly bare. Despite the dire While we did miss them on a record 17 conditions, the Nevinsons kept sheep out occasions in 2016, that was mostly in the of one paddock and this was the only one dry late summer-autumn period when they that had enough cover for Plains- do sometimes move away. We also had wanderers in August. Even in this paddock trouble finding Plains-wanderers in spring the cover was fairly marginal due to the 2016 when it became so wet we couldn’t lack of rain over the previous couple of drive on the paddocks, and the birds were years. On 14 August we found no less than temporarily flooded out of some eight Plains-wanderers in this paddock, paddocks. Nevertheless, they were still including two courting pairs and a male on present then. Also, we went out searching a nest with eggs! and found them on many more occasions in 2016 than in 2018.

Left: Female Plains-wanderer. Photo: Phil Maher 12

Annual NSW Plains-wanderer Report 2018 (cont)

How incredible that Plains-wanderers were This pair hung around for a bit over a week attempting to breed in such diabolical but with no more rain and only marginal conditions. cover they too moved on.

On 29 August we located a courting pair as Some more rain fell on 13 December (21 The atypical well as a male with tiny chicks. With mm) but it was not enough to entice any climatic virtually no rain in August or September it Plains-wanderers back and by this time they became extremely dry and I believe that all had probably settled in to breed elsewhere, conditions over breeding attempts failed. The male with the and so weren’t inclined to return. the past couple chicks was never seen again. By early of decades have September it was becoming obvious that Conclusion Plains-wanderers were on the move. We While breeding was not successful in 2018, caused recorded a pair on 3 September and a single it is astonishing that Plains-wanderers even environmental female on 7 September. By late September attempted to breed in such dire conditions. upheaval. none could be located in this paddock. On The atypical climatic conditions over the 4 October I did some reconnaissance in past couple of decades have caused another paddock that still had some cover environmental upheaval. The Plains- and located an adult male in a fairly short wanderers are hanging on, but it is certainly time. We went back looking for this male testing them and most other living the next night but he had already moved organisms. While it is important to see on. On 6 October we located an adult pair areas reserved for the Plains-wanderer and back in the original paddock and over the managed correctly, it will amount to nought next couple of weeks we relocated one or if the climate is too challenging for their the other of this pair on six occasions. By survival. Likewise, it is great to have a 24 October this pair had also moved on. captive population as a backup, but if, From 24 October to 6 November we had when they are released into the wild, the an unprecedented eight consecutive misses. climate is too severe for their survival, On 6 November there was 41 mm of rain. nothing will have been achieved. Two nights later a pair of Plains-wanderers was back in the original paddock.

Right: Barn owl with a Fat-tailed Dunnart Photo: Jan Anderson 13

Annual NSW Plains-wanderer Male Plains-wanderer display Report 2018 (cont)

Conditions have not been quite so harsh Ben Hodgens, Parks Victoria in eastern parts of the NSW Riverine Plain A male Plains-wanderer was seen hiding nor in southern parts of the plain in flat on the ground in Bael Bael Grassland Victoria, so perhaps Plains-wanderers NCR. Once the bird realised he had been have managed to breed there. Hopefully spotted he raised his wings conspicuously when it eventually rains on the Hay Plain, ... as resilient as and then scurried off in on a zig-zag route. the Plains-wanderers will again recolonise Was this to distract the photographer from this tough little their old, favoured breeding grounds. a nearby nest or small chicks? species is, the In 2018 the Nevinsons and I went out 41 times looking for Plains-wanderers and extreme climatic 214 clients joined us. We had 124 birders conditions we are see at least one Plains-wanderer, and 90 now were disappointed not to see any Plains- wanderers (unquestionably a record, experiencing is hopefully not to be repeated!). the main factor threatening its future.

Acknowledgment As always, Trisha and I thank the Nevinson family for putting up with us for nearly 40 years and helping with the operation in many ways.

From top: Male Plains-wanderer hides flat on the ground. The male raises his wings. He scurries away with raised wings Photos: Ben Hodgens 14

Paddocks for Plains-wanderers Incentive Project

Allie Hendy our Species program to assist in the on behalf of Riverina and Murray Local Land Services conservation of this species. There are various programs being run Since 2017, Riverina and Murray LLS concurrently to reverse the long-term ... the project have worked closely with landholders to population decline and increase the numbers roll out the Paddocks for Plains-wanderers aims to have of Plains-wanderers to a level where there is incentive project. This project aims to 100 paddocks a viable wild population. Within NSW, these maintain suitable grassland structure in containing 10,000 programs include: the Riverina that allows the Plains- hectares of • The Paddocks for Plains-wanderers wanderer to persist throughout the year primary habitat incentive project for landholders under a range of environmental by June 2023. • Feral animal control on a landscape conditions. Working with landholders scale who voluntarily choose to manage • Captive breeding programs at various paddocks for livestock and Plains- zoos throughout south-east Australia to wanderers, the project aims to have 100 establish a captive assurance population paddocks containing 10,000 hectares of and provide birds to support recovery primary habitat by June 2023. • Purchase and management of This area of habitat is intended to Oolambeyan National Park by the support approximately 1000 birds, and NSW Government provide a safety-net during periods of • Long term monitoring of Plains- extreme environmental fluctuation wanderer numbers. rendering habitat unsuitable for the Riverina and Murray Local Land Services birds. When favourable conditions (LLS) have received funding from the return, the population can expand out Australian Government’s National Landcare of these areas. Program and the NSW Government’s Saving

NSW LLS Plains-wanderer project officers, left to right: Cassandra Hooke (Hay), Me- gan Purvis (Griffith) and Claire Gannon (). Photo supplied by Allie Hendy 15

Paddocks for Plains-wanderers Incentive Project (cont)

So far, 14 landholders have received funding enabling them to improve grazing management practices, which will assist the Plains-wanderer. ... landholders These landholders have committed to help have committed manage almost 6300 hectares of Plains- to help manage wanderer primary habitat. Additionally, funding is also going to three landscape almost 6300 baiting programs in an effort to reduce fox hectares of Plains populations. These areas are each over -wanderer 10,000 hectares. Bait uptake at the beginning of the program was up to primary habitat. 80-90%. This has dropped to an average of around 10% bait uptake, with an estimated 4,700 foxes removed from these land- scapes over the last 21 months. In the longer-term these areas will be used to release captive-bred birds to give them the best chance of survival.

This project differs from other programs in that it is attempting to work across the landscape to secure an entire population of a species, and aims for a shift in Far left: Blue Devil Erygium ovinum. management practices that will endure Below: Bottle bluebush Maireana irrespective of changing government excavata policies and programs. Photos: Kirsten Hutchinson 16

Plains-wanderer update for western Queensland

Maree Rich and Jane McDonald surveys, with the first bird seen in May Department of Environment and Science, Qld 2014, as reported in the 2016 issue of The Wanderer. Since then there have been two Very little is known about the Plains- more trips where Plains-wanderers were wanderer population in Queensland, recorded: September 2017 and June 2019. with no targeted surveys since 2013. A new collaborative project initiated by During the September 2017 survey, a ... Museums Queensland’s Department of young Plains-wanderer was detected on Victoria, Bush Environment and Science is now the thermal camera at Astrebla Downs NP underway to improve our understanding and confirmed by spotlight. Photos Heritage of their distribution, habitat and revealed it was probably a sub-adult male. Australia, population status. Many partners This bird was seen about 12 km east of University of including Bush Heritage Australia, No 2 Bore in a sparse forbland on red- brown clay soils with ironstone present. Queensland, the Museums Victoria, University of Queensland, the national Plains- national Plains- wanderer Recovery Team, Australian In late June 2019, two young Plains- wanderer Wildlife Conservancy and Queensland wanderers were captured and photo- graphed on the last night of a five night Recovery Team, University of Technology are making this project possible. trip. There probably had been another Australian bird, which flew up from in front of the Wildlife Recent Sightings vehicle two nights earlier just south of No 2 Bore. All three sightings were within 5 Conservancy and Since 2014, thermal imaging cameras have been used to monitor Bilbies km of No 2 Bore where Plains-wanderers Queensland annually at Astrebla Downs National have also been recorded in the past. The University of Park with great success. This has first bird was a young chick about 6-8 weeks old that still had some fluffy down Technology are improved the detection rate of not only Bilbies, but also the other small ground- around its neck and rear, while the other making this dwelling fauna, when compared to spot- was an older male, but probably still only project possible. lighting. There have been a number of a sub-adult. Both birds were seen in sparse Plains-wanderer sightings during these forblands with 10-20% cover on red clay soils with some ironstone present.

Far right: Recording unit and solar panel installed with anti-bird mesh attached, October 2019. Photo: Maree Rich Right: Sub-adult male Plains- wanderer first seen on the thermal imaging camera in September 2017. Photo: Barry Nolan 17

Plains-wanderer update for western Queensland (cont)

Breast feathers from the two birds Australian Pratincoles had already bred captured at Astrebla Downs NP were sent and were still in vast numbers on the to Shandiya Balasubramaniam at Museums high plains of Astrebla Downs NP in Victoria for genetic analysis. These May-June 2019. One hypothesis is that samples will be added to samples from the floodplains provide refuge for the Vic, NSW and SA that Shandiya already Plains-wanderers which move onto the One hypothesis is has, and will bring a greater understanding higher clay plains during and after that the of how the birds from the different areas flooding events when it is too wet or the floodplains are related to each other. vegetation is too dense, and then they move back to the floodplains in the dry provide refuge for Approximate age estimates of the three season when the clay plains have become the Plains- young birds seen in 2017 and 2019 indicate too bare again and can no longer support wanderers, which that conditions were suitable for breeding them. for Plains-wanderers on Astrebla Downs move onto the NP in February-March 2017, November- About 100 km northeast of Astrebla higher clay plains December 2018 and March-April 2019, Downs NP lies Pullen Pullen, a reserve despite ongoing dry conditions in western managed by Bush Heritage Australia during and after Queensland. Heavy rainfall in parts of (BHA). Here the floodwaters from the flooding events ... western and north-western Queensland in Diamantina River also resulted in a pulse early 2018 and 2019 delivered large in native species during 2018-19. Three volumes of floodwaters down the separate Plains-wanderers have been Diamantina River, which runs through spotted in the area in the last two years Diamantina National Park and adjacent to by Nick Leseberg, a PhD candidate from Astrebla Downs NP in March 2018, the University of Queensland, and Alex February 2019 and April 2019. Kutt, an ecologist with BHA.

Ground-nesting birds such as Australian In May 2018, Nick saw a Plains- Pratincoles and Little Button-quail were wanderer scurry off a vehicle track on seen breeding in large numbers on the neighbouring Mt Windsor station at floodplains of the Diamantina River in dusk. He stopped the car straight away April 2018 and March 2019.

Far left: A young Plains-wanderer chick seen southeast of No 2 Bore in June 2019 - note the presence of fluffy down on its neck and absence of long tail feathers. Photo: John Augusteyn Left: Location where a Plains- wanderer was seen in May 2018 on Mt Windsor station. Photo: Nick Leseberg 18

Plains-wanderer update for western Queensland (cont)

and was walking back to where he’d seen it their recordings are yet to be analysed. when it flushed and flew about 20-30 m away. Nick and four other people then To capitalise on the spate of more recent walked up to where it had landed, and Plains-wanderer sightings, a further To capitalise on spent several minutes searching around but round of deployments took place in the spate of more never saw it again. This site was October 2019, resulting in 1 km grids of: recent Plains- characterised by a number of soil cracks • 9 units borrowed from the University and a low forbland. of Queensland deployed on Pullen wanderer Pullen and Mt Windsor in two clusters sightings, a In May 2019, Alex was visiting the at the May 2019 sighting locations and boundary between Pullen Pullen and Mt near the May 2018 location further round of Windsor station when he flushed a bird on • 4 units on Diamantina NP in an area deployments took dusk in an open forbland, but was unable of repeated sightings over ten years place in to re-locate it. The next morning when about 5 km from the previous sighting, • 10 units on Astrebla Downs NP in October 2019. Alex recorded another bird in the daylight, two clusters at the June 2019 sighting but it also evaded further investigation. locations of the young birds. The first location looked a lot like the site The acoustic recording units should be where Nick had seen the Plains-wanderer deployed until June 2020 to cover the year before, while the second location potential breeding events over summer- was an orange-pink gravelly plain with a autumn 2019-20 at all of these sites. The sparse low grassland. annual thermal imaging camera surveys are due again at Astrebla Downs NP in Monitoring May 2020, which coupled with the 2019 Five acoustic recording units were surveys, will give us two points in time deployed at Astrebla Downs NP in where both methods intersect and December 2018 to record Plains-wanderer hopefully provide some clues as to how calls, three near previous sighting locations and when the Plains-wanderers utilise and two in potential habitat. Those units the vast habitat available to them. were retrieved in October 2019 and all

Right: Installing a stock-proof fence around a recording unit at Diamantina National Park. Photo: Jane McDonald 19

Plains-wanderer update for western Queensland (cont)

Daniella Teixeira, from the University of some of the substantial gaps in the Queensland, will analyse all the recordings biological puzzle that is the Plains- We hope to … for the Queensland government using the wanderer in western Queensland. We are … fill in some of Victorian-developed recogniser (thanks to very grateful for the contributions, Karen Rowe and Bec James). Ashleigh efforts and enthusiasm of all the project the substantial Gonzalez has just started an honours partners and hope that by working gaps in the project at Queensland University of together, a little can go a long way. biological puzzle Technology. Ashleigh aims to improve the that is the Plains- efficiency of the recogniser in partnership Results and products from this project with Karen. will be freely available to all the partners, wanderer in researchers and managers of the Plains- western We hope that acoustic monitoring in wanderer, including the National Queensland. combination with other methods such as Recovery team. Stay tuned for our next thermal imaging camera surveys, daylight Queensland update in mid-2020. searches and investigations into Plains- wanderer movements will start to fill in 20

Vale Rick Webster

Ian Davidson, Philip Maher, David Parker and David This was followed by a contract to Baker-Gabb survey the Birchip area in Victoria in Ian, Philip and David all wrote eulogies for 2000. In between times Rick and Philip Rick Webster shortly after his death on 12 undertook surveys for Plains-wanderers Environmental March 2019, and I (DBG) have combined in the NSW Riverina. Around this time campaigner and their recollections with some of my own. Rick also surveyed Trust for Nature field biologist We all have a strong connection with the grasslands in Victoria for Plains- Riverina and it was there during the 1980s wanderers. Then in 2002, Rick, Gail and Rick Webster that we got to meet Rick, a young wildlife their two children joined DBG on a field passed away on biologist with a laid-back manner and a trip to western Qld to search for Plains- 12 March 2019. love of the bush. At that time he was wanderers on Diamantina and Astrebla studying Superb Parrots for the NSW National parks. Forestry Commission and worked closely with Philip. Around this time he also met In 1998 Ian contracted Rick on a his partner Gail, who worked in the shoestring budget to undertake a rapid Forestry office in Deniliquin, and they condition assessment of Travelling Stock soon became long-standing local residents. Reserves in southern NSW. Two years Rick continued his association with Superb later he had completed over 600 Parrots over many years and was widely assessments from the Snowy Mountains recognised as a species expert who kept to . meticulous records. Rick was a giant amongst independent By the late 1980s, Rick was working out of field biologists, brave in the face of Eden for NSW Forestry doing pre-logging condemnation when he was the only bird surveys with Philip, followed by voice for the environment in public similar surveys in the mountains behind meetings, for example, when Taree. In between times he undertook championing controversial species like surveys for Regent Honeyeaters through Plains-wanders or environmental much of eastern NSW. Rick also surveyed watering from those with vested inter- and reported on Regent Parrots along the ests. Rick never took the easy way out. . If there was one word that sums up Rick and his environmental work it is In the mid-1990s Rick and Philip under- integrity. took owl surveys in the Victorian High Country. With Gail’s assistance, Rick ran After a successful career with Ecosurveys, Ecosurveys for nearly 30 years as one of a Rick was hand-picked to work in his handful of independent environmental beloved red gum forests with Ian and consultancies in south-east Australia. Rick other like-minded people in the adaptive undertook regional surveys for Plains- management unit in NSW National wanderers in all four range States. Rick was Parks. This group tackled thorny

contracted by Birds Australia to undertake management issues like ecological

Plains-wanderer surveys in South Australia thinning in red gum forests, and best in 1995. practice uses of environmental water in 21

Vale Rick Webster

the red gum reserves, writing the rule book as they went. Rick confided in Ian that this was the only government job he would have ever done, and he loved the camaraderie and the challenges of the Our natural work. systems have lost

With a change in government priorities a great champion, reducing the impact of the adaptive and all those who management unit, Rick was open to the knew him have idea of working with a private lost a wonderful organisation: the Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group. His stay was too short, friend. and whilst he had a huge impact, he lamented to the last that there was still so much to do! He received the news before his passing that Ken and the Wingillie Trust had named the wetland with all the birds Rick’s Wetland in his honour, and he was greatly moved.

This brief summary of Rick’s A plaque erected inside a bird hide on a red gum wetland in Rick environmental work possibly suggests he Webster’s honour showing Rick at was a dour, serious bloke, but all his work doing what he loved, wetland friends knew he had a dry, razor-sharp wit. bird surveys. He was really funny! His one-liners Photo: Ian Davidson whispered under his breath in tense meetings when a big-noter was ‘pumping his gums’ were legendary.

Those who joined Rick on his favourite extracurricular activities of surfing and cycling with the Deniliquin Cycling Club were equally aware of how amusing Rick could be. Yarning and having a laugh about how absurd the world could be over a beer at the end of a long field day with Rick was one of life’s pleasures.

Our natural systems have lost a great champion, and all those who knew him have lost a wonderful friend. Our thoughts are with Rick’s life-long partner Gail and their two children Courtney and Lachlan. 22

Australian Magpies are predatory butcherbirds

David Baker-Gabb territorial ‘butcherbirds’.

A genetic study published in 2013 showed that On very hot days families of 5-6 Australian the is most closely related Magpies took up residence inside some of the ... we may have to the Black and that these two cages around song meters, seeking relief underestimated species are in turn related to a group that afforded by the small amount of shade the includes the five other species of butcherbirds. their potential cages provided. These families commonly fan out as they forage across grasslands and may Australian Magpies mainly eat invertebrates, impact on join in cooperative pursuit of small birds that but given their close relationship to butcher- threatened they disturb. Australian Magpies can be very birds, it should come as no surprise that territorial and I have seen Magpies in grassland birds Magpies also eat small mammals and birds, determined pursuit of birds such as such as the including the Plains-wanderer. Simon Bennett Australasian Pipits as they climb ever higher (Emu 83: 1-11, 1983) recorded one Plains- Plains- until the small bird is no longer visible. I had wanderer killed by an Australian Magpie and wanderer. thought that such Magpies were just being two killed by birds of prey. There are particularly aggressive, but seeing one catch a additional records of Magpies killing and Fairy Martin in flight, and then kill and eat it, eating New Zealand chicks and several changed my perspective. Most grassland observations of them taking Hooded Plover blocks have a family group of these predatory chicks (Grainne Maguire in litt.), and so it is ‘butcherbirds’, and given the large numbers of likely that they eat Plains-wanderer chicks too. Australian Magpies in southern Australian agri- Australian Magpies have benefitted from cultural landscapes, we may have underesti- agriculture and tree planting on plains grass- mated their potential impact on threatened lands. It is likely that Magpie populations have grassland birds such as the Plains-wanderer. increased in many grasslands because trees Further reading: have commonly been planted along roadsides Kearns, A; Joseph, L; Cook, Lyn G. (2013). A Multilocus and around houses, sheds and stockyards. Coalescent Analysis of the Speciation History of the Australo- Trees provide important nesting sites and a Papuan Butcherbirds and their Allies. source of shade on very hot days for these Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 66 (3): 941–52

Far right: Magpie killing and eating two Hooded Plover chicks. Photo supplied by: Grainne Maguire

Right: Magpie attacking a Noisy Miner fledgling which its parents are trying to defend. Photo: Peter Murrowood 23

Button-quail are shorebirds too

David Baker-Gabb Both sexes cooperate in building a nest

Between 1893 and 1981, taxonomists on the ground, but normally only the male incubates the eggs and tends the thought that the Plains-wanderer was young, while the female may go on to related to button-quail and placed it in the mate with other males. ... recent order along with other groups of birds such as bustards and rails. Then in morphological 1981 Storrs Olson and David Steadman Further reading and genetic closely studied the bone structure of Plains Paton TA, Baker AJ, Groth JG, studies have -wanderers and concluded that they were Barrowclough GF (2003). placed the in fact shorebirds (Charariiformes), and RAG-1 sequences resolve phylogenetic relationships within charadriiform birds. distantly related to seedsnipe in South Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 29 (2): button-quail America. This conclusion was confirmed 268–78. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00098- 8. PMID 13678682. among the by later genetic work. shorebirds. Paton TA, & Baker AJ (2006). Sequences from 14 More recent morphological and genetic mitochondrial genes provide a well-supported phylogeny of studies have placed the button-quail the Charadriiform birds congruent with the nuclear RAG-1 tree. among the shorebirds () Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 39 (3): too, distantly reuniting them with the 657–67. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.01.011. PMID 16531 Plains-wanderer once again. These recent 074 studies also suggest that the shorebirds evolved in Gondwanaland.

There are 16 species of button-quail which mainly inhabit grasslands and shrublands in Australia (7 species), Asia, and Africa. Like the Plains-wanderer, female button-quail are larger and more richly coloured.

Far left:Red -chested Button-quail. Photo: Mick Roderick

Left: Painted Button-quail. Photo: HBW Alive 24

Captive breeding of Plains-wanderers—Taronga

Mark O’Riordan, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW Blood is taken and analysed as well as We have now been out on six collection a body x-ray conducted, which will trips in the Riverina area of NSW. improve our understanding of Plains- Once a year, each Currently, Taronga Western Plains Zoo wanderer overall health and physiology. We take photos of each bird to keep as bird undergoes a (TWPZ) has nine wild founders (5.4). The team will be out collecting one more records. The birds are then transported health female from the wild in the first week of back to the aviaries. examination. December. The plan is to pair this female Over September-October, one of the with the lone wild male. This will give us pairs has engaged in breeding behaviours our quota of five breeding wild pairs for and we observed mating numerous times 2019. overnight. At this stage we have not We also hold seven first-generation (F1) observed nest building and no eggs have Plains-wanderers at TWPZ. Of these F1, been laid, but we are confident about one pair is housed together for breeding, a heading in the right direction. female and male are housed on their own and three brothers are housed together.

Once a year, each bird undergoes a health examination. This year we did four individual birds at a time which meant catching the birds with nets and placing them in a specially designed transport box. The birds are then brought to the wildlife hospital and given a general anaesthetic. A full examination is then conducted by our vets.

Right: Vet Michelle Campbell checking an X-ray during Plains-wanderer health checks. Photo: Rick Stevens

Far right: Feather duster acts as a surrogate parent for artificially reared chick at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Photo: Yvette Pauligk 25

Captive breeding of Plains-wanderers—Werribee

Yvette Pauligk, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Victoria females and one male were identified as Ahead of the 2018-19 breeding season in being needed by the captive breeding Victoria we focused on recording and program. interpreting a range of unusual behaviours In September 2019 a collection trip was Werribee Zoo and vocalisations displayed by all of the undertaken in Victoria (by Zoos Victoria captive Plains-wanderers. From October returned from and David Baker-Gabb) and in NSW (by 2018 to April 2019 the four pairs of this collecting trip Taronga Zoo and David Parker from captive birds exhibited breeding OEH). Werribee Zoo returned from this with three behaviours. We had great success with one collecting trip with three females from females from pair laying two clutches and another two Victoria and one young male from NSW. pairs laying one clutch each. Victoria and one Fast approaching is the 2019-20 breeding young male from Out of the four clutches, two were parent season which will commence with four reared, one was artificially reared, and the NSW. pairs of wild founders at Werribee. last was abandoned. Thirteen young were Despite some great successes, there have produced, with 12 surviving to adulthood. also been some setbacks in the past to During this period a range of data was learn from. There is still a lot to learn collected in relation to breeding about this species and we hope to behaviours and timing. continue with more successes in the After the breeding season we undertook coming year. health examinations of all birds to ensure they were in good condition. Following this work, an analysis was undertaken of our current collection and how many additional founder birds we would require from the wild for the following year. From Please send contributions these discussions, an additional three and comments to: David Baker-Gabb, editor

Far left:: Captive-bred chick comes in at 22 gms. Left: Male Plains-wanderer with his captive-bred chicks at Werribee. Photos: Yvette Pauligk