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BUSH TRACKS Bush Heritage Australia’s quarterly magazine for active conservation Maggie nose best Tracking feral cats Since naturalist John Young’s rediscovery Evidence suggests that feral cat density on of the population in 2013, a recovery the property is low, but there are at least two in Queensland team led by Bush Heritage Australia, and individuals prowling close to where Night Meet Maggie, a four-legged friend working ornithologists Dr Steve Murphy and Allan Parrots roost during the day. Just one feral hard to protect the world’s only known Burbidge, have been working tirelessly to cat that develops a taste for Night Parrots population of Night Parrots on our newest bring the species back from the brink of would be enough to drive this population, reserve, secured recently with the help of extinction. The first step – to purchase the and possibly the species, into extinction. Bush Heritage supporters. land where this elusive population live – Continued on page 3 has been taken, thanks to Bush Heritage It’s 3am. The sun won’t appear for hours, donors, and the reserve is now under In this issue but for Mark and Glenys Woods and their intensive and careful management. 4 Happy 10th birthday Cravens Peak ever-loyal companion Maggie, work is 8 Discovering the Dugong about to begin. The priority since the purchase has been 9 By the light of the moon managing threats to the Night Parrot After a quick breakfast they jump in the ute 10 Apples and androids: The future population, chiefly feral cats. of wildlife monitoring? and drive 45 minutes to the secret location 11 Bob Brown’s photographic journey in western Queensland where the world’s Mark Woods and trusty companion Maggie are of our reserves only known population of Night Parrots helping in the fight to protect the Night Parrot 12 Yourka family camp has survived. from feral cat predation. Photo Annette Ruzicka. Autumn 2016 BushHeritage.org.au From the CEO Bush Heritage Australia Who we are Twenty-five years ago, a small group There is so much more to do. Habitat Bush Heritage Australia is a of people changed the fate of a precious continues to be destroyed and climate leading conservation organisation, block of forest, destined otherwise for change will continue to challenge our bush protecting millions of hectares of timber harvesting. and its species. But thanks to people like ecologically important land for the you, Bush Heritage can make a difference. benefit of nature and all Australians. They did something practical. They Our financial model, including our new purchased the land, since known as Liffey Why we’re successful capital endowment fund, gives us the ability Reserve, for conservation of its wonderful It’s our way of working that makes to act nimbly when opportunities arise, forests. They didn’t see themselves as Bush Heritage Australia so successful while the foundations beneath us remain visionaries – they just saw an alternative – and makes us optimistic that we strong and steady. to a future they didn’t much like, and can expand our great conservation they pursued that alternative faithfully. But in 2016, our biggest asset is you. Our work to meet the challenges ahead: supporters make all of our work possible. Did they know at the time, that they were • We pursue non‑confrontational, Just like those handful of people, 25 years starting something that would keep rolling, pragmatic solutions to ago, who hoped that enough people cared keep gathering momentum, 25 years and conservation challenges. enough to make a difference, we rely on more into the future? Perhaps not. But • We work closely with our neighbours you to prove them right. Thank you for they certainly hoped there were enough in each community and share the showing that you do care. Australians that cared about the diminishing outcomes and knowledge gained bush and that were willing to act, to make Please celebrate with me, as we embark on for the benefit of all. a difference. our 25th year of protecting the Australian • Everything we do is informed by bush, and pause for a moment to recognise They had every reason to hope. In 2016 good science – aided by our staff how far we’ve come together. And keep a there are 40,000 people who donate regularly ecologists and science partners. look out, later in the year, for our Spring to the alternative that Bush Heritage offers • We have over 40,000 (and growing) newsletter edition, to mark 25 years to the them. Alternatives like buying and protecting committed supporters date, of Bush Heritage Australia. the habitat of the recently rediscovered who enable us to work on a scale Night Parrot; – working with the Wunambal that matters and to implement Cheers, Gaambera people on long-term management solutions that endure. plans for their traditional lands; –and • We partner with Aboriginal re-introducing the nationally vulnerable communities, other landowners, Red-tailed Phascogale to our Kojonup Reserve. non‑profits, businesses and We know now that we can make a Gerard O’Neill, Chief Executive governments, because we difference. In 2016 we have come so far. know that by working together Bush Heritage, together with our partners, we can achieve so much more. protect over 6 million hectares of land and • We buy land, and invest in sea, where fire, weeds and feral animals are our partnerships and our managed and over 200 threatened plant Top left: Gerard O’Neill. Photo Bec Walton. growing number of supporters. and animal species Australia-wide find Top right: Liffey Reserve, Bush Heritage’s first Our mission is for the benefit protection and a brighter future. reserve, protected in 1990. Photo Annette Ruzicka. of all Australians, forever. 2 Bush Tracks | Autumn 2016 Left: Dr Stephen Murphy and Rachel Barr will return to the property in April to begin a new Night Parrot research and survey method using more advanced radio tracking and GPS technology. Photo The Australian. Below: With a sense of smell many times more powerful than a human’s, Maggie is a vital weapon in the fight against feral cats. Photo Annette Ruzicka. Continued from cover He smiles and pulls a tennis ball from Working with colleagues at the University Maggie is a one-year-old, short-haired his pocket and Maggie springs back to life, of Melbourne, Steve is examining whether collie specifically trained to sniff and eyes wide and tail wagging. It’s play time. Night Parrots could derive enough water track these predators. “A dog’s sense of “Collies have an incredibly high play drive,” solely from succulent plants that grow in smell is many times more powerful than a Glenys says, “and playing with a tennis ball the area. is the ultimate reward for a job well done.” human’s,” Mark explains. “Maggie’s sense “In April last year we found a Night Parrot Maggie chases the ball in wild excitement. of smell is so highly developed she can sitting right next to a patch of succulent A vigorous game of fetch ensues as Mark distinguish a feral cat from a domestic cat. Sclerolaena. Preliminary modelling makes sure to generously reward Maggie This incredible ability makes them one of indicates that, even on the hottest day, for successfully finding the cat den. the most effective tools in managing and a parrot could indeed get all its water eliminating feral cat populations.” Just one feral cat that develops requirements from as little as 13 grams But today time is crucial. Temperatures a taste for Night Parrots of Sclerolaena without having to venture are set to reach 45 degrees by 9am, and the to a water source. Understanding where heat can cause Maggie to pant excessively, would be enough to drive Night Parrots spend their time is very blocking her finely tuned nasal receptors. this population, and possibly important because it means we can target those areas for feral cat control.” Immediately after arriving at the site the species, into extinction. It’s insights like these that will ensure that Maggie leaps from the car and is hard at But before long they are back at work. Bush Heritage’s newest reserve will achieve work, quickly picking up a scent along one Soon Maggie seems to have picked up a its goal of providing a secure place for of the creek lines. Mark and Glenys are in fresh scent and they are off again, ready Night Parrots to live forever. hot pursuit, following Maggie through the to track and eradicate one of the most cracked and dry creekbeds. Mark watches serious threats to Night Parrots. Maggie extra closely when she is ‘scenting’. If she finds a cat or den she has been While Mark, Glenys and their highly trained trained to immediately sit, and Mark sniffer dogs will continue to work on the must swing into action. property, Bush Heritage is also investing in other strategies to remove feral cats from Maggie keeps her head anchored to the this critically important area. ground, criss-crossing the creek line and weaving amongst the trees and logs. She “The difficult thing about cat control in this leads them over a ridge and stops to a situation is that we are targeting specific dead halt. She sits. cats,” says Steve Murphy, the ornithologist who successfully trapped and tracked a Save the Night Parrot Mark steps past Maggie and, seeing they Night Parrot in 2015. “It’s hard enough to Thanks for your support to help save have arrived at a potential cat den, he remove just any old cat from the bush, let the only population of the elusive looks for signs of life.

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