T HE S TATE OF A USTRALIA’ S B IRDS 2003 Wedge-tailed Eagle. Photo by www.birdphotos.com.au JOIN TODAY! CONSERVATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE By joining Birds Australia, you help Dedicated to the study, conservation and enjoyment of native birds Australia’s wild birds and their and their habitats habitats. Whether you participate Since 1901 Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) has in the activities and research or worked for the conservation of Australasia’s birds and their habitats, principally through just enjoy Australia’s leading bird scientific research. An independent, not-for- magazine Wingspan, your profit organisation, Birds Australia relies on the financial support of companies, trusts and subscription is hard at work, foundations, and private individuals. The organisation inspires the involvement of safeguarding our beautiful birds. thousands of volunteers in its conservation projects and through their generosity and commitment undertakes nationwide and Title First Name localised monitoring of bird populations. Surname 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123 Address Tel: (03) 9882 2622; Fax: (03) 9882 2677; Postcode Email: [email protected] Phone (AH) (BH) Web site: www.birdsaustralia.com.au Email Funding for this report was generously provided by the Vera Moore Foundation Please accept my enclosed cheque for $68 $50 (concession) and the Australian Government’s $108 (family*) or $87 (family concession) payable to Department of Environment and Heritage (formerly Environment Australia). ‘Birds Australia’ or debit my Bankcard Visa Mastercard Vera Moore Foundation Expiry Date / Signature by Penny Olsen, Date / / SCIA.1 Michael Weston, Post to: Birds Australia, 415 Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123 Ross Cunningham, Layout and design: P.A.G.E. Pty Ltd Tel: (03) 9882 2622; Fax: (03) 9882 2677; Email: [email protected] Reproduction and printing: and Andrew Silcocks *Family covers two members at the same address. Membership runs for twelve months. ✂ Courtney Colour Graphics Please enquire for rates for overseas members, and subscriptions to Emu, the journal of ornithology. Supplement to Wingspan, vol. 13, no. 4, CONSERVATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE December 2003 Cover pic: Barking Owl. Photo by Nicholas Birks II The State of Australia’ s Birds 2003 The State of Australia’s Birds 2003 III The State of Australia’s Birds 2003 report is an overview of the status of Australia’s birds, the main threats they face and the conservation actions taken. The report and much of the data in it were collected and largely funded by volunteers. This is an extraordinary expression of concern for Australia’s birds and their habitats. Without such commitment, how are we to understand the state of our birds: which species and bird communities are truly in trouble, where to focus conservation efforts, whether conservation interventions are working? Red-browed Finch. Photo by www.birdphotos.com.au THE KEY FINDINGS INTRODUCTION Favourable news • Knowledge of habitat management by burning is improving, Quite possibly, birds are the The State of Australia’s Birds 2003 on topics such as habitat change, • A concerted effort by dedicated individuals, recovery teams, but an inability to control extensive dry season fires remains (SOAB) is the first in a series of reports freshwater birds, seabirds, shorebirds, landholders and governments has improved the prospects for a threat to several northern grassy woodland species most popular of wild animals. summarising the fortunes of Australia’s and the fate of birds on islands. several threatened species • In the 20 years between Atlases, another introduced birds. It presents population trends and Australia is a large climatically and • Conservation of birds can be compatible with human land species has established and two of the more recently Visible, vibrant and rich in changes for Australian birds over various biogeographically diverse continent uses, for example, sustainable farming and the recreational use established species—Spotted Turtle-Dove and Common time spans—some extending from the with a generally sparse human of beaches Myna—have spread variety, they give pleasure by 1960s—leading up to the present. It is population. Assessing the state of its • The number of volunteers working to monitor and improve • By-catch in Australian pelagic fisheries is a recently identified, intended that this introductory SOAB bird species—in excess of 700— the status of the nation’s birds is increasing major threat to the Flesh-footed Shearwater bringing colour and song to the report sets the baseline for five-yearly presents special challenges. This report • Knowledge of long-term patterns and trends in bird overviews, informed by the Ongoing examines the fortunes of birds at populations is improving There is strong circumstantial evidence that: garden, and enlivening the Atlas of Australian Birds and many other continental and regional scales. The • Most of the more highly threatened species have been listed • Species richness is reduced where native vegetation clearance monitoring programs. These overviews first part is based on the nation-wide, federally and/or by the appropriate State (but preparation of is continuing bush. Birds have long fired will be interspersed with themed reports volunteer-based Atlas of Australian Birds recovery plans lags behind) • Low reporting rates are associated with areas of reduced native • Some seabirds, particularly albatrosses, appear to have vegetation cover human imagination and remain benefited from by-catch reduction measures implemented in • Climate change is compromising high altitude residents Birds as indicators longline fisheries • Broadscale, intensified agriculture, such as cotton growing, a source of enjoyment for many, The state of the nation’s birds feeds into the clearance of native vegetation, • The rate of broadscale clearing of native vegetation has is an increasing threat to bird populations the Australian Government’s State of inappropriate fire regimes and introduced been markedly reduced in New South Wales and food and pests to a few. Their Environment reporting as an indicator of species are common threats to Australia’s preliminary steps have been taken towards its cessation Uncertain news national environmental health. Birds can biodiversity. Australian ecosystems that in Queensland • Unsustainable farming practices, particularly in the vital functions in nature include be useful surrogates or indicators of have been over-simplified through • Our cities provide habitat for a wide and increasing variety of wheat-sheep belt, are joint threats to agriculture and birds biodiversity (the variety of all living agricultural practices are often associated common native birds • Conservation effort has been directed at rare species with seed dispersal, pollination, the things). Monitoring of birds can provide with tree dieback, loss of native species, • Although dynamic, populations of several waterbirds appear relatively little action taken to improve the fortunes of more information on the distribution of soil erosion, salinity and deterioration in to be stable in the long-term common declining species regulation of insect and rodent diversity and signal changes to water quality. A greater diversity of birds • Australia is such a large, diverse country that the monitoring ecosystems. Importantly, birds—often is generally associated with a greater Unfavourable news and conservation of our 700 plus bird species is a complex and populations, and the disposal of noisy, colourful and active during the richness of tree, shrub and ground cover • The implementation of recovery plans is poorly supported demanding task day—are relatively easy to observe, species, as well as a greater range of by governments • The impact of the extended drought and exceptional fires that carrion. They herald the passing which makes monitoring accessible, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and • Populations of several common and widespread woodland burned much of the High Country of the south-east in 2003 unobtrusive, cost efficient and, not invertebrates. So, in addition to being birds of the extensively cleared wheat-sheep belt continue is yet to be revealed of the seasons and reflect the least, enjoyable. a measure of ecosystem diversity, the to decline • Populations of several long-established introduced species are Management for birds cannot be state of our birds can act as an indicator • Populations of several migratory shorebirds show evidence declining, as they are in their natural range health of natural systems. assumed to cover the requirements of all of environmental health and sustainable of long-term decline other life forms. Yet, adversities such as land use. IV The State of Australia’ s Birds 2003 The State of Australia’ s Birds 2003 V (which mainly covers landbirds), response to the identification of species of I. TRENDS IN COMMON AND WIDESPREAD BIRDS coordinated by Birds Australia. high conservation concern in the Action The report begins by taking a look at Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Australian Bustard. Photo by Graeme Chapman continental scale changes in reporting rates 2003 sees much of the country Change in the two decades between and bird species richness over the past emerging from a severe drought—the national Atlases Some major threats to 20 years. Over this period we have seen worst in history—topped in the early The first national Birds Australia Atlas Australian birds rapid change to habitat through clearance,